[s-cars] The Audi as a Fiat

Fri Jul 21 12:24:22 EDT 2006

No, the Passat 1.8T is longitudinal orientation in the B5 chassis cars.

'04 or '04.5 Passat 4Motions were available with a 5-speed manual and
1.8Tcombo, but it was a very rare combo in wagon form.

Taka

On 7/21/06, Pasqualoni, James E <james.pasqualoni at gs.com> wrote:
>
> The first and biggest issue IMO is that the 1.8t motor is horizontally
> opposed in orientation and therefore utilizes the Haldex AWD system, not
> Torsen.  Too much front bias unless you do the Haldex ecu mod.
> Furthermore, I don't know that any 5-sp 4M Wagons were imported, just
> sedans, and only for 1 model yr.  My wife drives an 03 B5.5 Pussat 4M V6
> mit Torsen.  *BUT* it's a slush-box.  In 50k miles, all I've done
> (besides oil changes/air filters, etc) are rear pads and rotors.  Rock
> solid (knock on wood).  Car will literally drive sideways in winter for
> as long as you want it to.  Actually quite tossable in the snow.
>
> Just my $.02
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
> [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of hoog23 at aol.com
> Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 9:21 AM
> To: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] The Audi as a Fiat
>
> Sort of back on original topic.  (I'm just going to throw this out there
> so not too many flames please.)
>
> Anyone ever consider a b5.5 Passat 4motion 5-spd?
>
> Yes underpowered compared to a stock UrS car but its about the same size
> and its got quattro.
>
> Maybe with a chip, A8 brake upgrade and different suspension it would be
> acceptible?  Mileage would be better.
>
> Did vw ever get the quality issues worked out with the later years?  My
> wife had a '98 1.8t when it first came out and ended up being a
> maintenance nightmare (nick named it the POSsat).  The warranty back
> then was only like 2yrs/24k.  Control arms, water leaking into cabin
> (sound familiar) and even the radiator went at less than 50k.  Best
> thing about that car was the brakes were actually pretty good.  In the
> end I couldn't give it away.
>
> Dave
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pkrasusky at ups.com
> To: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Cc: wmahoney at disk.com; stevevoit at comcast.net
> Sent: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:48 AM
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] The Audi as a Fiat
>
>
>
> Steve nailed it and Baloney 2nd'd:
>
> <<<Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:36:49 -0500
> From: "Bill Mahoney" <wmahoney at disk.com>
> Subject: [s-cars]  The Audi as a Fiat +danger Will Robinson
> To: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
>
> SteVo,
>
> A very nice dribble of wordsmithing you have made here.  I couldn't have
> said it better myself.  In fact I was thinking of writing something
> similar, but let's just go with yours.  Yes.
>
> I must add that some of those new Alfa's, due here by the next decade,
> remind us why we like curvy styling and things that go along with it.
>
> Also-
>
> There may never be another Sfest so don't miss the opportunity to attend
> what could be the finale and put some faces with the banter.  "Sometimes
> ya just gotta say, shoot; I'm goin'"
>
> Bill~bad gas mileage and tires that wear too quickly~M>>>
>
>
>
>
> Steve-
>
> Couldn't have said any of it any better.  I esp. like your quote of
> they're all turning left while you're going straight ahead.  Amazes me
> the mfg's don't frickin LISTEN.  I've been beating this same drum pretty
> hard here lately too.  Trying to think of UrS replacement options and it
> ain't easy.  Nothing compares, esp. in feel - all new cars lack this
> especially lately.
>
> And all the new crap is filled to the max with fart sensors and electro
> doodads no one gives a flying F about.  You all might remember my quote
> about sitting in der neu //S8 @ the Streets of Tomorrow RS4 event.  We
> all sat in it and looked around in marvel / bewilderment of the sheer
> GLUT of frickin 'things' they cram into that car.  And I started keenly
> pointing out "that won't work in a year, that in two, this in three, and
> heck this within weeks".  Answers to questions nobody friggin asked, I
> say.  Our BMW flogs at the Tit Event further evidenced this fact,
> they're near the worst offenders.  Coupled with Bangleisms they've lost
> me for good unless they change course.  Benz is in same boat, I always
> find humor in chatting with the Service Advisors about the 'issues'
> they're seeing on the new ones.  SCARY - no thanks.
>
> And all those 'features' adds up to money, weight, crap reliability, and
> over complexity that you cannot fix yourself, nor cheaply.  WTF?  Buy
> one of these out of warranty in a few years?  HA!  Finance companies
> better start writing 30 year notes on these things to afford the
> maintenance.
>
> Craig Lebakken cracked me up yesterday off list.  He went ahead and did
> the absurd.  Bought himself a near showroom perfect '72 GMC Jimmy from a
> one owner little old lady who used it to tow horses.  Except the hood
> that the horse literally bit, it its a complete unbelievable time
> capsule.  I'd been saying that recently, instead of spending $8-20k on a
> replacement car of recent vintage, I'm totally tempted to buy some sort
> of time capsule or restoration from the glory days.  Kudos to Craig, I
> say.  Trendsetter, and, what a score he found.
>
> Mfg's need to stop spending R&D $ on useless junk and spend R&D on
> making a f'n window switch that works longer than 90 days or turbos that
> blow every 40k or or or or or.  And I suggest taking this retrotrend of
> recent a few steps further...  make a new car retro, in that it's
> de-optioned.  We want less frills, less weight, less $, and less
> complexity / things to go wrong.  John Q. Public does, too... they just
> don't know it as they're fleeced by the marketeers who tell them the
> latest they 'must have'.
>
> Wish some sort of 'movement' would be started toward this end.
> Unfortunately I'm not delusional (well, OK I am but not in this regard)
> and know it'll get far worse before slightly better - if at all.  I find
> myself sounding like some old codger who shuns technology and is afraid
> of change - and I'm only 33!  While I'm not afraid of it, I'm afraid of
> the direction the mfg's have chosen to take it.
>
> And...  don't ask what I'll be replacing my car with.  You'll never
> guess, won't believe, and won't accept it as unghey - but - I don't
> care.  We'll see what happens, when the time comes.
>
> -Paul
>
>
> ps.  Baloney does make a good //SFest point...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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