Re: '90 V8Q: A few odds and ends...

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

On Sat, 13 Apr 1996, Randall C. Markarian wrote:

> > 5)  The "miles until out of gas" feature on my MFA is very erratic.

>Totally innacurate gauge!
>  As far as I know Audi discontinued this in the trip
> computers a couple of years later because of this.

yes, you are correct.  93 cars onwards had the trip computer deleted
because of this.  lots of 90 v8s had the entire dash replaced to fix
what is really just a buggy eprom.  i remember my mechanic shrugging
at how much $$$ audi was blowing because they did not trust the
dealers to replace eproms.  my v8 has gotten the new dash with
a miles to empty indicator that works nicely.

i guess v8 shoppers should look for this in addition to the UFO brake
conversion as well as the tranny software upgrade.

i wonder if the a8 will also arrive minus a trip computer.  it is
truly strange that audis in other markets have always had the computer
available either as an option or standard while those in the US are
still in this state.  i've seen pictures in european rags of the a4
with a trip computer.  of course the american one doesn't have one,
while the cheaper VWs have one.  it sucks!  i know this is nitpicky,
but to have something like an S4 with so much boost and no boost
gauge is probably like joe "CR" accord not having his cupholders!

i was also told that for $850 you could purchase a *factory* 7yr/100K
warranty for new VWs.  this is bumper-to-bumper as far as i can tell.
not only does audi warranty run out at 50K vs VW's standard 10yr/100K
powertrain, they do not even have a factory extended warranty
available for extra money.  grrrrrr.  when the passat/a6 twins come
out who on earth would want the a6 when all the good bits could
be gotten on the passat for less money and better protection?

eliot