Re: Audi A5 Minivan/SUV Thread

["George S Achorn III" <coolidge@nicom.com>]

Mike Arman Wrote:

>I think this is a bad idea (Nomex on!). Reason: Audi 4 wheel drive
engenders
>confidence and a tendency to drive a little faster, especially on curves.

Since I threw out the A5 Minivan idea I'll defend my position. I disagree
with Mike and here is why:
	First let me state that it is my belief that not all Audi drivers drive on
the limit. Many of the A6/100 series cars are driven by older drivers who
are not quite as aggressive. Sorry, not to generalize against older
drivers, but at 25 I can tell you I am not on the edge like I was at 18,
and ditto for my friends.
	Besides, price alone will dictate that this will not be a young person's
car. I belive that is Plymouth's department.
	Second, have you ever driven a minivan. I have. My inlaws have a 93 Dodge
Caravan awd, and it handles better than my mom's New Yorker, both based on
the K-car chassis. It even handled better than my wife's Daytona (pre
Corrado days, I won her over).

>Unless Audi can repeal ALL of the laws of physics, shortly after the A5
SUV
>is released, we will have a plague of rollover accidents because
>enthusiastic, confident Audi drivers are stuffing their top heavy, tall
SUVs
>into curves at speeds that are just too high for top heavy, tall SUVs.

	I think you are thinking of Suzuki Samurais and Isuzu Troopers. These cars
are raised and have high center of gravity. Again, if I may sight my own
experience, pre-marriage I had a 95 Grand Cherokee with Up Country
Suspension (this raises it an inch and tightens it for better off road
performance). In trying to make an exit around the front of a Bus, this all
wheel drive equipped Jeep did a slight power slide on dry pavement, and
NEVER went to roll.
	From this I get 2 things, if you tune the suspension right it's hard to
roll, and minivans should handle better than SUVs, a minivan being what I
proposed.

>Further, this type of vehicle is very sensitive to crosswinds and gusts.
The

	So's my Jetta GLX.

>reason for the reasonable safety record of SUVs here in the US is the
>comparatively low speed limit. These vehicles work OK at 55-60, or even 65
>MPH, but if you go much faster, become a real handful - aerodynamics of a
>large brick, ya know? 

	Not so, I have logged drive time in the Dodge Caravan, Jeep Grand Cherokee
and a Ford Econoline Van, and I can tell you there is a big stability
difference from the first two to the last. That difference is larger than
that between my sister's 93 90CS and the Caravan.

>(Now add bad, windy, wet weather, plus an SUV-load of
>yelling kids and a distracted yuppie-mommy secure in the idea that her
>all-wheel-drive up-market expensive Audi SUV can handle anything and she's
>invulnerable!) (No stereotypes intended - just observation.)

	If I had my kid in my car, trust me that I would drive completely
different.

>Next stop is 60 Minutes: "Audi is killing America's children - Round
Two!!!"

	As long as they build a minivan with a 5mph bumper they are okay I think.
	Last, in my defense I will sight 2 examples. 1. It's more than a rumor
that our friends over at Porsche want to get into the SUV and minivan
segments. I think that they know more than we do about handling, and they
also have alot more of a high performance rep to hurt than Audi does in the
US. 2. I have 3 letters and 1 word for you ... GMC and Typhoon. It's been
done.
	LAter-G