Re: A Vehicle to bind me over

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

> From quattro-owner@swiss.ans.net Wed Sep 21 21:09:19 1994
> From: michaelb@compnews.co.uk (Mike Burton)
> Date: Wed, 21 Sep 1994 23:19:23 +0000
> X-Phone-Number: +44 430 432480
> X-Fax-Number: +44 430 432458
> X-Mailer: Mail User's Shell (7.2.5 10/14/92)
> To: quattro@swiss.ans.net
> Subject: A Vehicle to bind me over
> Sender: quattro-owner@swiss.ans.net
> Reply-To: quattro@swiss.ans.net
> Content-Length: 738
> 
> Since I can't quite afford a Quattro Turbo yet, I went out tonight and bought
> a Range Rover 3.5Ltr V8 :-)
> Dont matter what you put in it, what you tow with it, it has "stacks and
> stacks" of torque.
> Should keep me happy for a bit, thing is, if it grows on me, I'll go out and
> by a better one instead of a quattro.
> They are "The Best 4x4 by Far"
> I challenge anyone to a tow rope contest ? (I.E you tie the two vehicles
> together at the back, and see which pulls the other one backwards).
> 
> I don't know if you get Range Rovers in America, let me know....
> 

Yes, we get them, and as luck would have it, my local VW/Porsche/Audi
dealer sells them.  One of my friends was looking for an expensive
vehicle (image of primary importance to him) and we took one for a
drive.  It was like going back 20 years in automotive techology.  I
couldn't believe how much noise the Buick-based 3.5 l pushrod-V8 made
at low speeds.  I found that much mechanical commotion tiring and very
annoying at only 25 mph or so.  The transmission lends new meaning to
the word slushbox.  Once at highway speed, road and wind noise gained
parity with the engine, making it tolerable.

Being able to win a tow contest (a common daily event?) is a high price
to pay for singularly high levels of noise and vibration, a very poor
ride compared to most any car, lousy handling and braking, as well as
horrendous gas mileage.  And a recent test in Auto, Motor, und Sport
shows that, when equipped with four snow tires, even 2wd cars generally
outperform SUVs in up to 30 cm (one foot) of snow and on packed snow.

Even my image-conscious friend could not justify all the negatives
required to exude the idle-rich aura associated with this vehicle.
(he bought a 300SL)

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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:
  1975    1978    1982       1986        1989      1992      1995
   VW ->  Audi -> Audi  -> Mercedes -> Mercedes -> Audi -> Mercedes
Scirocco Fox GTI  4000S    190E 2.3    190E 2.6    100CS     S320

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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