S4 vs. Cadillac w/Northstar

["Graydon D. Stuckey" <graydon@apollo.gmi.edu>]

On Sat, 24 Feb 1996 Nivi@aol.com wrote:

> The car to the left, a Citation, and the Caddy both get off the line faster
> than me - "oh no, going to lose this one"...then the turbo kicks in, second
> gear, catch up, and in third, the Caddy is back there in my rear view
> mirror....    :-))   AMAZING!

With all due respect to the S4 (it's certainly a much better car than any
Cadillac made up 'til '97), I think you encountered an inferior driver.  I
think that the cars are fairly equal in terms of straight line
acceleration.  The STS has 300 HP, and the torque band although maybe a
little lower than the turbo at 3000 rpm, is very broad and usable.  In
fact, at teh GM proving grounds, test drivers have found that the STS will
pretty much keep up with a 'Vette for the first hundred feet or so.  I
really don't remember the numbers for the two cars (surely someone has
those handy) but the A8 with 3700 pounds and 295HP felt roughly equal to
the STS in terms of acceleration.  I am not going after the STSs quite yet
in my hopped up 5KCSTQ - I don't like being beaten. :-)

Wait a minute, have you hopped up your S4?  "That changes everything" as 
the other famous 'murican carmaker says. :-)  Also, if it was an Eldo or 
an SLS with the 275 HP engine, that would make a difference in your favour.

Later,								
Graydon D. Stuckey								
graydon@apollo.gmi.edu								
Flint, Michigan   USA
'86 Audi 5000 CS Turbo Quattro, GDS Racing Stage II				
'85 Mazda RX7 GS 12A-leaning-towards-a-13B-soon