Re: Sports Steering Wheel on A4Q?

[dan_masi@MENTORG.COM (Dan Masi)]

On Jul 11,  8:58am, Jay@aol.com wrote:
> Subject: Sports Steering Wheel on A4Q?
> I found my dream A4Q already on its way from the U.S. dock

Oh, that sounds familiar!  I, too, found the same thing on Feb 10,
so I gived 'em my money.  Four months later, I get my A4Q.  :-(

(I'm sure yours will arrive w/ no problems!)

> What makes a steering wheel sporty?

Another $150 or so.  :-)

The stock wheel on the A4 is the standard 4-spoke design, *large*
rectagularish center with spokes at 8, 10, 2, and 4 o'clock.

The sport steering wheel is a three-spoke design (3, 6, and 9).
It has a small circular center.  The wrap is thicker leather,
the wheel is designed to reduce vibration by 20% over the stock
wheel or something like that.

At first, I didn't want the sport wheel, but the car that
was (supposedly) coming in was perfect in every respect except that
it had the sport wheel installed, so I opted to take it.  I'm
glad I did... the look has really grown on me, it offers good
visability (though I wonder if they actually did put an airbag
into that little tiny hub!), and the feel is superb.

> Is it available aftermarket if I decide I simply can't live
> without it?

No, but the dealer can swap a sport wheel into your car when
it gets there.  Go to the dealership and try out both... if
you want to see what the standard wheel looks like and all the
A4s there have sport wheels, sit in an A6.

Dan Masi
'96 A4Q