[s-cars] Re: S-CAR-List Digest, Vol 7, Issue 57 - Mustang v. S6
Larry C Leung
l.leung at juno.com
Sat May 15 14:43:07 EDT 2004
The only reason that UrS cars are "great values" is because they
are most simply put, and no offense meant; old. The fact is, and
as I recently posted, the contemporary M3 to the UrS series
(which was even availible as a rather small 4-dr) and even the
Fox Platform Mustangs and F-bodies, were better handling cars
out of the box than the S-cars. And, I thought that the original
question was on the handling of the cars, not the other qualities
such as all weather capabilities, comfort, room, etc. Also, consider
original purchase price points. Mustangs and Camaros were
roughly 60% of the cost of an UrS. The quality of the cars shows.
Doesn't effect their handling, eh? If you want a cheap, wicked
fast, great handling ride (with probable parts falling off), consider
a used 95/6 Pony car. Now, if handling and performance were
the primary considerations, which car would be a better "value".
Buy the car because you enjoy it. But also compare it to things
without overt expectations. An S-car is a fine performing luxury
sedan. It is NOT a Pony Car, a Sports Car, a WRC car, etc.
Enjoy it, modify it as you see fit, drive it. Just don't expect it
to be the winner in a heads up, equal driver contest of speed.
Bear in mind, there are many sucky drivers out there. I've had
many a really fast and capable car been schooled by me, even
when driving my late Dad's Subie Legacy slushbox wagon (the
winter beater, keeps the Audi's clean and shiny when I want to),
simply because the driver wasn't as capable. Not saying I'm the
next Michael Schumaker, but impromptu on the road comparo's
mean NOTHING. For handling with little risk, go to an autocross.
For shear speed and acceleration, go to a local drag. For shear
outright capability, go to a track day. If you don't want to wear out
rubber, or access to other vehicles are limited, have faith in the
magazines that test the cars. Read several, compile the results, make
decisions that way. Other comparisions are simply too subjective to
be conclusive.
Enough said.
LL - NY
> Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 10:03:31 -0400
> From: "Mark Strangways" <strangconst at rogers.com>
> Subject: Re: how great is the S-car-- Re: mustang vs S-Car -- Re:
> [s-cars] RE:Stebro
> To: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Message-ID: <018201c43a85$67b9fcc0$0200000a at Dell>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Maybe you should also factor in the current prices for these cars.
> I am not about to say the S-pig is better than a M series,
> mustang,
> vette... whatever. Maybe even a new Mini cooper is better.
> Not the point here. The car was designed in the late 80's early
> 90's. IMHO
> which is worth S**T, I think they did pretty good.
>
> I am sure the purist engineers "Wanted" better hardware, and some
> bean
> counter decided NO..
> After all, Audi is not BMW. They do not have the same following, the
> target
> market is not necessarily aimed at those of us who track these cars,
> or even
> those who participate in spirited street sessions.
>
> Now, lets look at an M-series with it's great package out of the
> box.. Cost
> Please ? What is it going to cost ?
> Even with all the chips, shocks, spring, rims, tires, HSRSB, HSRB,
> Happersized whatever I am (almost) sure cost for cost the Audi is
> cheaper. I
> can drive my s-car in the worst winter day, try that in a M.
>
> I guess what I am trying to say is the car offers excellent value,
> and even
> with it's improvements I believe it is still great value.
>
> Mark
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill Clancy" <clancybill at yahoo.com>
> To: "Bill Clancy" <clancybill at yahoo.com>; "alexander witham"
> <alexander_witham at yahoo.com>; <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 1:00 AM
> Subject: how great is the S-car-- Re: mustang vs S-Car -- Re:
> [s-cars]
> RE:Stebro
>
>
> > I'm not sure the point that you are making. I think I agree but
> I am not
> > quite getting your point.
> >
> > my thing is... I like the S6 sedan. but it handles like shit,
> the
> > turbo/engine has software bugs, and it can't brake to save it's
> ass.
> >
> > An M3 out of the box needs nothing. the Audi is disappointing.
> >
> > for a while I had both the 90 supercoupe and the 95 S6. Yes, the
> S6 is
> > more refined and is great for a road trip but a road trip in the
> supercoupe
> > can't be beat. It's fast, it handles superbly, gets 27 mpg on
> the
> highway,
> > it has a sunroof, power everything and it needs nothing from
> stock.
> >
> > the fact that all of us on this email list have to rebuild our
> Audis...
> > well, I don't know the words....
> > I love it on a road trip and it is a great ski car. but anyone
> who
> thinks
> > that it is the cat's ass and the "greatest car on the road" is
> just
> feeling
> > that way to save face.
> >
> > why do I make such remarks? because I like it, but I am frustrated
> with
> the
> > car I have. And I blame Audi.
> >
> > Let's imagine this (fictional) situation...
> > "hey I just bought a new Ferrari . next i am going to change the
> springs
> > put koni yellows in it and chip it, then change the wheels and get
> some
> > Lamborghini brakes." Then I'll have a nice car.
> > --sounds silly huh?
> >
> >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "alexander witham" <alexander_witham at yahoo.com>
> > > To: "Bill Clancy" <clancybill at yahoo.com>
> > > Sent: Friday, May 14, 2004 7:17 PM
> > > Subject: Re: mustang vs S-Car -- Re: [s-cars] RE: Stebro
> > >
> > >
> > > > Bill,
> > > >
> > > > I agree with your statement, however, I think you'll
> > > > find that the weight difference between the SC (I
> > > > assume you mean the '89 through '93) and the S-car is
> > > > far less than 1000lbs. I believe, in fact, that
> > > > they're within 100lbs of each other. Both are heavy
> > > > cars.
> > > > Also, bear in mind that neither the M3 nor the SC can
> > > > accommodate so many as comfortably and in such luxury.
> > > > In '92 when the original S4 was offered to the US
> > > > market, you really had only three other choices for
> > > > high performance sedans, and they were the Taurus SHO,
> > > > the BMW M5, and the MB 500E. The latter two made the
> > > > S-car look downright inexpensive. I agree that the
> > > > S-car could have been made to handle much better out
> > > > of the box, but this was back when Audi didn't yet
> > > > know what they were trying to achieve. They offered
> > > > one of the swiftest cars on the market, but
> > > > compromised on the car's handling to accommodate what
> > > > they understood the US market desired. You'll be hard
> > > > pressed to find a better real world all rounder than
> > > > the UrS cars for the same kind of money.
> > > > Personally, I think even Audi's current S cars are too
> > > > soft around the middle. Even the mighty RS6 doesn't do
> > > > everything I think it should. I would like to see an R
> > > > model, that's pure racing, sort of like BMW's M3CSL.
> > > >
> > > > Alex
> > > >
> > > > --- Bill Clancy <clancybill at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > > > yes, I am sure you can get it to handle better with
> > > > > suspension upgrades.
> > > > > Mine is mostly stock.
> > > > >
> > > > > I bought mine in 98 with 50K on it. As I said, I
> > > > > think it's a great car
> > > > > but it just doesn't handle. It's a heavy 4 door
> > > > > sedan. Just because it's
> > > > > German doesn't mean it's a better handling car than
> > > > > an American built one.
> > > > > Take the T-Bird Supercoupe for example. It has
> > > > > independent rear suspension
> > > > > (like the audi), has stiffer springs, a sway bar, a
> > > > > much lower center of
> > > > > gravity and is about 1000 lbs lighter. The
> > > > > steering ratio was much less
> > > > > and had negative 5 degrees of caster. It was glued
> > > > > to the road. It was
> > > > > the best handling car that i have owned.
> > > > >
> > > > > My friend has a 97 M3. He didn't have to
> > > > > disassemble it and install after
> > > > > market springs / shocks, replace the brakes with
> > > > > ones from a Porsche etc...
> > > > > and it came with 17" wheels. The S6 is a great
> > > > > concept, but it seems that
> > > > > so many parts need to be upgraded to make it what it
> > > > > should be. I like my
> > > > > S6, but I think it performs poorly in too many areas
> > > > > if it is left with
> > > > > stock parts.
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: "steve powers" <steve at thepowers.net>
> > > > > To: "Theodore Chen" <tedebearp at yahoo.com>; "TM"
> > > > > <t44tq at mindspring.com>;
> > > > > "'matt ludwig'" <matt.ludwig2 at verizon.net>; "'//Scar
> > > > > //Scar list'"
> > > > > <s-car-list at audifans.com>; "Bill Clancy"
> > > > > <clancybill at yahoo.com>
> > > > > Sent: Friday, May 14, 2004 2:45 PM
> > > > > Subject: Re: mustang vs S-Car -- Re: [s-cars] RE:
> > > > > Stebro
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > Bill:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > I've owned a mustangs, a Z28, a T-bird
> > > > > supercoupe. I like the Audi
> > > > > > > because
> > > > > > > it's all wheel drive and seats 4, and it's a bit
> > > > > more appropriate when
> > > > > > > taking a customer and your boss out for lunch.
> > > > > But I have to say it's
> > > > > > > about the worst handling car that i've owned.
> > > > > I'm sure it gets better
> > > > > > > with
> > > > > > > stiffer springs, a rear sway bar, 18 inch wheels
> > > > > etc, but stock it
> > > > > handles
> > > > > > > like an 87 Lincoln Town Car.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > When did you purchase yours? and with how many
> > > > > miles? This may be a factor
> > > > > > on how you judge the ride. In my experience, the
> > > > > S6/S4 handles way better
> > > > > > than _any_ T-bird and probably most Camaros. Late
> > > > > model Camaros are piggy.
> > > > > > Mustangs are much lighter and if well equipped,
> > > > > will perform better.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > For comparison I bought my S6 Avant in '95 with 7
> > > > > miles on it. All miles
> > > > > on
> > > > > > my car are mine. It rode great, though tended to
> > > > > roll a bit when it was
> > > > > > stock. It's far from that now and has numerous
> > > > > suspension upgrades since.
> > > > > It
> > > > > > performed very well at the recent club autocross
> > > > > event. It just turned
> > > > > 105k
> > > > > > this AM.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Steve Powers
> > > > > > anxiously awaiting an HRSB
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > S-CAR-List mailing list
> > > > > S-CAR-List at audifans.com
> > > > > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/s-car-list
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > __________________________________
> > > > Do you Yahoo!?
> > > > SBC Yahoo! - Internet access at a great low price.
> > > > http://promo.yahoo.com/sbc/
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
>
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> End of S-CAR-List Digest, Vol 7, Issue 57
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