RE: Stiffy

[Peter Henriksen <peterhe@microsoft.com>]

I'd hate to see what the my 200 would've weighed if it hadn't been based
on a light weight platform, then. It's already at around 3700lbs...
- peter, peterhe@microsoft.com, redmond, wa
  91 200qw
  94 acura legend gs
  80 mazda 626
  O-

>----------
>From: 	Eliot Lim[SMTP:eliot@u.washington.edu]
>Sent: 	Wednesday, April 10, 1996 6:04 PM
>To: 	Peter Henriksen
>Cc: 	'quattro@coimbra.ans.net'; 'jefj@lightspd.wa.com'
>Subject: 	RE: Stiffy
>
>On Wed, 10 Apr 1996, Peter Henriksen wrote:
>
>> No creaking when cornering in my 200 Avant. However, there are a number
>> of other creaks and groans, mostly from the seats and dash, that I
>> wouldn't expect in a $48,000-when-new car. Don't get me wrong - I love
>> the car and it doesn't really bother me, but I don't think they should
>> be there, is all.
>
>remember that your car was originally made with light weight as one of
>its
>top priorities, since it was to be powered by nothing more extravagant
>than a 2.2 liter normally aspirated 5.  the original aero-5000 (what is
>the internal name?  b3? b4?) had great handling, good performance for
>the
>standards of its time, good economy, excellent crashworthiness.  in a
>lot
>of ways it was an excellent car, a lot of it brought about by its light
>weight.
>
>as you can guess by now, light weight does have its downside.  the
>200Q20V and v8 had substantial structural reinforcements but it was
>still basically the same lightweight original 5000.  a drive in the
>newer 100 or S4 will reveal quite a difference in structural rigidity.
>the newer cars also seemed to have better rigidity per pound of car.
>
>if you want to feel better, go take a drive in a 5 year old lexus or
>infiniti Q45.  my v8 feels brand new compared to those even though i
>have stiff shocks and sidewalls.  dunno about benzes tho...
>
>:)
>
>eliot
>
>