[s-cars] RS6

[Theodore Chen]

--- "Robin St.Clair" <uberseehandel at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> The same poster, I think, speculated about a BMW XM - the car which Hans
> Stuck hustled round the Nordschleife in an 8 minute-ish time was extensively
> modified by the M division of BMW. Mark you, Hansi could hustle a Buick
> pretty damn quick round the Nordschleife.

in fact, wasn't that the X5 that got the V12 from the BMW V12 LMR?

> A number of posters are condemning the RS6 automatic Gearbox untried and
> unseen. As the only person I know who habitually double declutches as a
> matter of course on a daily basis (put it down to a rural upbringing),

hey, so do i.  i developed that habit for racing, and i do it as a matter
of course on the street.  i almost can't do a heel-toe downshift without
a double-clutch.

> Now, I don't know anybody else who has driven it and
> still demands an automatic gearbox.

gotta drive one.  when is it coming here?

> Similarly, the "but it doesn't have the driving dynamics of a BMW" school of
> argument no longer applies, you have good feedback and can put the rear end
> where you want it, this car is competent. By the way, many real M5
> afficionados bitch about what a pig the current M5 is with its front end
> heaviness (by afficionado, I mean those who drive the car hard rather than
> the bar hard).

yeah, word is that the E34 M5 was a far better-handling car.  i still
haven't gotten around to taking my friend up on his offer to drive his
E39 M5, but the E34 M5 was a sweet car.  loved the engine.

> The problem with "soft suspensioned" S4s in North America is 3-fold, the
> quality of the roads, the expectations of the drivers and the perception by
> AOA that they are delivering what is required. I recently drove a firmly
> sprunk RS4 in Germany which I thought perfect, even on Autobahn with with
> huge expansion gaps. Somebody else thought it was a boneshaker on British
> roads, which tend to be better than the US roads I have driven on. I suspect
> there is no answer to this question.

i recently drove my friend's A4 1.8T avant with sport suspension (17"
wheels).  it handles better than my '92 S4 (stock suspension and 16"
wheels, 225/50/16 dunlop SP8000s).  noticeably sharper turn-in and
steering response, less push.  and it has a better ride.  i'm now
pondering whether upsizing the tires to 245/45/16 or changing to
17" wheels with 255/40/17 woudl make enough of a difference to be
worthwhile.

one of the best-handling sedans i've driven in a while is the lincoln LS.
no joke.  that car has a very nice suspension.  it combines a magic carpet
ride with unflappable handling.  it handled undulating pavement better
than the 540i.  and that makes my S4 seem dated.  these cars, after all,
have many more years of development in them.

-teddy


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