Re: A4 "Better" than an M3 for 6K?

[Robert Myers <rmyers@wvit.wvnet.edu>]

---snip---

Todd,

True "performance speeds" can vary.  65 or 75 on packed snow on the
interstate is a quite comfortable cruise in my '89 200TQ.  Higher speeds
would be perfectly controllable but might require a bit more close attention
than makes for a comfortable cruise.  A bit of "pucker factor" can come into
play, you know.  Some might consider such speeds in such conditions as true
performance driving.  The VA smokey who flagged me down last winter on I-64
20 miles from the WV border surely thought so.  I stopped because I'm a nice
guy.  Besides, his radio is much faster than my Q.  :-)  After a bit of
"Yessir, yessir, yessir" from me, I simply drove off and left him (with a
smug grin on my face).  He couldn't even begin to keep up.  

65 to 70 mph up a steep, moderately winding, mountain road in 8 inches of
deeply rutted and more or less fresh snow is *really* fun.  Blowing by
lesser vehicles going up (well, attempting to go up that same road while
fish-tailing or sliding into the ditch and really having *serious* struggles
doing it) provides bunches of good feelings.  

These are conditions frequently encountered in my
used-to-be-before-I-retired daily commute.  Give me a Q over a M3 any time
in the true crud.  I'd wager you don't encounter those conditions very often
in LA land, huh?  :-)

OTOH, the M3 is *very* impressive on good roads.  :-)

BTW, wasn't the original discussion about an A4 vs. a 325i?  Or was it an
A4Q vs. the 325I or some other similar combination?

>Bob:
>
>You make a good point.  Then again, who goes whipping around at REAL
>"performance speeds" when it is wet/slushy/snowy?  Not me in LA, that's
>for sure (too much oil on the heavily trodden roads when wet).
>
>BTW, if you follow this line of reasoning, any A4Q can be said to smoke
>a Porsche Turbo/Ferrari F50-F40/Callaway Corvette/etc, if you are only
>talking about inclement conditions.  IMHO, when most people speak of
>their performance, thay are speaking of dry conditions.
>
>The 6K figure is way low.  How do I know?  I recently drove both cars
>(in the wet mind you) on the same day, and 6K worth of mods will simply
>not get the A4Q to the M3 range (in the dry).

___
   Bob
****************************************************
*  Robert L. Myers         rmyers@wvit.wvnet.edu>  *
*  Rt. 1, Box 57            304-574-2372           *
*  Fayetteville, WV 25840                          *
*  Obligatory quattro and sleddog-L references:    *
*  My 3 huskies enjoy riding in my '89 200TQ       *
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