Re: Does 1993- 90CS have Servotronic or no? (was: Total of Audi 80 - Final Chapter)

[John Greenstreet <jgreenst@motown.ge.com>]

> From quattro-owner@swiss.ans.net Tue Sep  6 17:44:25 1994
> Date: Tue, 6 Sep 94 16:34:29 EDT
> From: newbold@banshee.camb.inmet.com (Chris Newbold)

> > Date: Tue, 30 Aug 1994 09:33:56 +0500
> > From: u3109@calv1.cray.com (Mike W. Young)
> 
> > On Mon Aug 29 17:50:08 1994
> > David_Wagner@dgc.ceo.dg.com wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > >4. We've now leased her a '94 90S (pearl), which she *loves*
> > >   (I actually like it too, which is unusual since it's a slushbox)
> > >   That V6 is a sweet engine, nice *relatively* low-end torque (peaks
> > >   at 3000 RPM vs. my QC's 4500... The servotronic is a little weird
> > >   to get used to, but otherwise the car handles very well and it is
> > >   *real* solid and *REAL* quiet...
> > 
> > Hi David, I was also mistaken about the vague steering in my '93 90CS
> > we can attribute it to plain ol' over assist, and not to Servotronic.
> > 
> >...
> > 
> > John Greenstreet suggested the lack of Servotronic, and I checked with the
> > dealer and Audi USA, and the 90 series does not have Servotronic available
> > in the USA. All the better for us.
> >...
> 
> Hmmm. The window sticker and the manual for my 1993 90CS both mention that
> the car has "variable-assist" power steering. Does Audi's "normal" power
> steering system (i.e. non-Servotronic) have variable assist?

The "variable assist" in this case means engine-speed-variable assist,
as clarified in the 1994 Audi model range brochure.  Here, assistance
varies with engine RPM, and this system is used in all 90's as well as
the discontinued base 100 model.  Road-speed dependent assist
(servotronic) is used in all current 100s and the S4, as well as the
Ferrari 456 and all high-zoot BMWs.

In my experience with several 100s, I have found that the amount of
assist can vary widely--mine has a lot at low speeds, a friend's is
almost unassisted.  So I would not make any judgements based on the
presence or absence of Servotronic, but rather evaluate how that
particular car really drives under various conditions.  No one would
ever guess that my friend's '93 100S has Servotronic (and after eliot's
news about disconnecting it, I wonder if it's working!  I'll have to
get it checked-out right away :^)  ).

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John Greenstreet, Senior Engineer           (jgreenst@motown.ge.com)
Martin Marietta Government Electronic Systems    Moorestown NJ 08057
WPI Class of '75, Temple Class of '94

My new car history:
1972     1975       1978      1982       1986        1989      1992
 VW  ->   VW    ->  Audi  ->  Audi  -> Mercedes -> Mercedes -> Audi
SBug   Scirocco   Fox GTI     4000S    190E 2.3    190E 2.6    100CS

POSSLQ's* new car history:
         1978       1981       1985      1988        1990      1993
       Triumph ->  Toyota ->  Toyota  ->  VW    ->   Audi   -> Audi
       Spitfire    Tercel     Corolla   Jetta GL      80       90S

*POSSLQ = Person of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters
Note: All Audis and Mercedes above were sold to friends or family.
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