[V8] it wouldn't be an Audi if...

[dsaad at icehouse.net]

Hmmm,
tough to answer for sure but for me, it is the push back in the seat, the
sound of the motor working hard (nothing sounds better than a V8 wide
open!), and the fact that gravity is on my side. I can take corners with
much more confidence knowing that there is no invisible hand waiting to
slap me off the road. The drive up to the local ski hill is blast for that
reason - but I usually don't push it at all on the downhill. Too much work
to stay in control. And - to be clear, this is summer driving - not on the
snow. I have never so much as scuffed a tire during the winter yet you
pass a wreak almost every time you go up there. Usually the "perp" is a
subaru with nice big fat tires and a killer stereo. Toyota trucks are a
close second. Oddly, I think Suburbans take third.

And Cobram - I had a trip last year up to Stanley that I would not want to
do on a bike even if I rode one ( I don't unless you count my Vespa :-).
It is 130 miles each way and I made the trip in 4.5 hours which included
30 minutes for dinner. Normally this trip is 2.75 hours each way with
traffic. This particular trip was late at night and there was absolutely
no traffic. In the V8 it was quiet and comfy. On a bike it would have to
be grueling. There are tons of people out there riding them though. And I
should emphasize the "tons". These are usually big people on big harleys
in big herds making big noise.

Dave

> Dave -
>
> I have to ask what is the inherent driving pleasure we derive from driving
> a "a long steep grade that the V8 loves to
> fly up?"
>
> I have a similar hill near my home that I "Love" to drive up fast.  Is it
> the power full on?  the confidence of a constant radius curve? the
> g-forces experienced? control?
>
> I occasionally drive mountain canyon roads here in Colorado, but enjoy the
> uphill much more that down hill.
>
> Scott
> Too many V8s
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 1 Jun 2013 18:34:12 -0600
> From: Dave Saad <dsaad at icehouse.net>
> To: v8audi List <V8 at audifans.com>
> Subject: [V8] it wouldn't be an Audi if...
> Message-ID: <696D65AA-0395-4BAF-8194-DA8AF69BAC0D at icehouse.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> something didn't go wrong on a simple little road trip.
> I
>  got to take my normally garaged V8 out for a spin today and overall it
> ran great. The total trip was about 80 miles and included the very fun
> Horse Shoe Bend Hill - which is a long steep grade that the V8 loves to
> fly up.  It easily did it in 5th gear with power to spare, and mileage
> appears to be very good. The problem was that I stopped about 15 minutes
>  after the hill climb to do a little shopping for a graduation gift. As
> we pulled into the parking lot my wife noticed the smoke coming from
> under the hood. I think this is only a small oil leak that of course
> drips onto the exhaust.  I have not yet found the leak and in fact the
> motor appears to be very clean and dry with very few minor exceptions. I
>  think this is only an embarrassment at this point - no major problem or
>  cost involved - it just makes my wife not like the car. Nothing new
> there. The problem though is when I left the store, the engine stumbled a
>  little as I pulled out into fast moving traffic. The store is o
>  n a
>  60MPH highway and you need to pull out and get moving fast. At the next
>  stop light I noticed that when I "blip" the throttle, the tach
> initially drops to about 200RPM and then takes off like normal. Power
> seemed to be lagging a little -  it came on eventually but there was an
> uncomfortable delay. Earlier in the trip I did not notice this. I am
> thinking it may be heat related.
> I do recall the check engine light
> flashing on briefly a few weeks ago but it went away and I never
> bothered to read the codes out.
> So - enough rambling - does this symptom ring a bell for anyone?
>
> Dave