Re: V8 Handling/brakes

[Eliot Lim <eliot@u.washington.edu>]

On Mon, 18 Sep 1995, David Huddleson wrote:

> Can you tell me more on the transmission software upgrade for the Audi V8?
> My dad has a 1991 V8 which is about to finish its 4-year Warranty in November
> and maybe he should have this addressed while it is still under warranty.

audi to the best of my knowledge never had a 4 yr warranty, my guess is
that your dad's car is no longer under warranty unless of course he
purchased it in late 1992.  the upgraded software may already be installed
on a 1991 model.  this was a undocumented change, so there is no easy way
to find out for sure.   i suppose you can open up the box and look at
the EPROM revision codes.
  
as far as the dealers are concerned it is exactly the same part, but i can
testify that it transformed the slushbox from a total unresponsive slug
into something much much more predictable and smart in terms of making
shifting decisions.

a slushbox 91 V8 is in a more dire situation.. to make itself look good on
paper (EPA mileage), audi raised the final drive ratio from 4.11 to 3.73,
so i think that even with good software the hardware is already working
against you.  i'd recommend that people avoid the slush V8.. it has the
wrong final drive ratio and also the dreaded servotronic steering (easily
disabled, tho) and the sporty bucket seats were replaced with those
far more gentle to fat bottoms..  demographics at work ya know...

in 1991 all the sporty "features" were preserved in the 5 speed V8 (does
it have servotronic?) but those who wanted slush with sportiness were
basically out of luck, falling into the tiniest of cracks of the marketing
surveys.

i still think that a 1990 car is still the most desirable.. the 4.2 liter
cars are extremely rare, have servotronic and fat bottomed seats and are
quite a bit more expensive.


eliot