RE: Fastest stickiest Audi? Opinions welcome.

["PAT MARTIN" <MARDKINS@msn.com>]

Even though I think awd is great one point to consider.  These cars that are 
running in the touring cars have a wee bit more power than most of our stock 
bombers.  The effects of AWD might be exaggerated because the HP can counter 
act the disadvantages of AWD in the dry. JMVHO 

BTW I still have not heard the answer from my friend Mr. Steadi...
<<<clipped from previous post>>>
So if we take that to a test and say we have 2 cars.  Both weight the same and 
have the same power.  But one is all wheel drive and one is rear wheel drive.  
Will the one with rear wheel drive lose the drag because it does not attain 
optimum traction?  I think the 2 wheel drive car would lose because even 
though the all wheel drive car did not achieve optimum traction it still had 
more traction due to all 4 wheels driving it.  Not to mention the fact that 
how many drivers can modulate the throttle that well to get that optimum 
grip(10% slip) on ACCELERATION.  It is much easier to do on braking.  

Pat Martin
864000csq 2 1/2 cat back, H&R-Boge,advanced and loving it.  Drilled and 
stopping it.  Koenig Cobra 16x7 with AVS Intermediates, K&N.
95 subaru legacy 
Bothell, Wa.
In message <2.2.32.19960929180021.006e1f2c@e-z.net> Fringe Ryder writes:

> Philosophically, I guess the question would be:
> 
> Is AWD theoretically superior in dry conditions?

> I haven't seen any evidence that AWD is superior in dry conditions, but that
> may be simply because BMW focuses on sportier driving than Audi.

Evidence is easy.  In the British Touring Car Championships that finished last 

weekend, the AWD Audis carried a 30kg weight penalty over the RWD BMWs.  And 
won both the drivers' and the manufacturers' championships. 

BMW, and others, asked for the weight penalty because the Audis simply wiped 
them out in the first five races of the season.  Same engine size, same weight 

limit, same tyres.  AWD first, every time.  Once by half a lap in a 20-lap 
race.  And just like Group B in 1983 -the only way to stop AWD winning is to 
change the rules to discriminate against it.

BMW concentrate on image, not on sporty driving.  If you take a standard A4Q 
and invest in tuning packages to equal the price of an M3, you have a package 
that holds an M3 in a straight line and just disappears at the first bend.

If you saw the first heat last weekend at Brands Hatch, you'd know why the 
Audis are so superior.  There was a 'nasty' halfway round the first lap, and 
none of the RWDs had sufficient grip in reserve to avoid it.  Look at the 
head-
on slow motion shot of Bintcliffe steering round the out-of-control RWDs - 
it's 
an object lesson in what AWD vs RWD is all about.

--
 Phil Payne
 phil@sievers.com
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club