[s-cars] A little S-car philosophy

[Philip Mische]

Hi, my name is Phil and I haven't twisted a wrench on my S-car in 14 hours.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Forgie" <forgied at direct.ca>
To: "s-cars" <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 2:34 AM
Subject: [s-cars] A little S-car philosophy


> S-car Gruppees:  Just before the New Year, I posted the following to the
> AudidoodiWorld list (where I thought I contribute some S-car
> knowledge).   I know that some of you (Hap, Sean, etc)  saw the posting
> there and responded. After the help that I just got on my rear brake
> calper problem, I thought that it was appropriate to post here.  Don't
> worry about the details I used for examples,  just think of the overall
> sentiment.  I hope you like it:
> 
> ********************
> 
> The recent discussion the S-car design prompted me to renew some
> thinking about the
>  UrS-car, its design, depreciation, the cost of parts replacement,
> addiction and love/hate relationships.
> 
>  The UrS-car is really a technological marvel. There is a tonne of
> engineering in the car. A scary amount when  you (I) think about it.
> Lots of really great designs. Some of which can be "fatal" when they
> fail.
> 
>  For example, the engine group engineers must have been given the task
> of finding more horsepower for the  AAN over the 3B. One of the main
> ways they did that was to improve the ignition system. This involved
> replacing the distributor, Hall sender and single coil of the the 3B
> with the Power Output stages (POS), the  five coil Coil Pack and the cam
> position sensor (CPS) that we now "enjoy". This gained 10 hp over say,
> the  3B (or equivalent) in the 1991 200 20vtq. At what cost? Now, as the
> cars age and out live their design lives  (say, 10 years) we have issues
> with POSs, the coil packs and the CPS. Personally, I have had the CPS
> go.  This means the car is dead (only resting) until you spend $300 for
> the parts (plus labour).
> 
> When the car was  new, these new and special parts represented only a
> small fraction of the overall cost of the car. Now, these parts
> represent a  much higher percentage of the cars residual value.
> 
>  A good example of this is the dual mass flywheel. Obviously, somebody
> in the drive train design team  thought that this was a great idea when
> compared to the convention single mass flywheel and spring clutch
> plate. Sure there were extra costs but, hey, a $1000 part system at that
> time (1992) represented only about  2% of the overall retail cost (say
> around $50K). However, now, as the cars depreciate, the clutch and dual
> mass flywheel system still costs about the same but the car has
> depreciated to $10K (or less). Now these  parts represent about 10% of
> the value of the car. The AAN motors now represent, say, 30% to 40% of
> the  remaining value of the car. And on it goes.
> 
>  I can see now why these cars depreciate so rapidly. On the open market
> to the unknowing car buyer,  these cars represent more of a liability
> than an asset in the sense of the potential absolute and relative costs
> to fix the car increase with each year the car ages.
> 
>  Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint), to the
> informed, the S-car now represents an  unbelievable value in terms of
> performance and luxury when compared to most other used cars and even
> many new 2004 cars at the dealer. Its just that once the car has you, it
> takes a hold of you like an addiction or  a really high maintenance
> woman. It just needs, needs, needs. Buy me this. Buy me that. And on it
> goes.
> 
>  This evolves into some kind of wierd love/hate relationship. I "love"
> my car (I love my wife more - but its close  some days). But I hate my
> car when the fuel pump, or the CPS or serpentine belt tensioners die
> with no warning,  stranding me wherever I happen to be, convenient or
> not. That's when nasty thoughts of selling "my  Prescious" come to mind.
> But then it gets fixed and everything is wonderful again.
> 
>  Conclusions: I don't have any. I think this list is sort of the "AA"
> group for S-car
>  owners. ("Hi, my name's Dave and I am addicted to my S-car". S-car
> Gruppees:: "Hi, Dave").
> 
>  And like "AA", we need the support to carry on. Unfortunately, its not
> to break the addiction but to support it.  But, hey, I can quit anytime.
> If I wanted. Really. Trust me. Honest. ;>)
> 
>  Dave F (in snowy Vancouver BC) (Where's my rain, Dude?)
> 
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