Bilstein/Eibach on 91 200q

[Sargent Schutt <sargent@symposiafoundation.org>]

Hi all, 

Just an update in the suspension department:

I had the Eibach/Bilstein combo installed from Sportwheels in CO. The
result is dramatically improved control, without too much harshness. My
father has the same car with H&R/Boge turbogas/neoprene(?) subframe
bushings. His car rides much harder, but has crisper turn-in feel (this
may also be partly attributable to the feel of my heavier UFO’s v. his
retro-brakes)

My car (Bil/Eib) feels very capable at triple digits, whereas before it
felt marginally better than my grandfathers oldsmobile. The ride height
is only lowered 3/4”, which is barely perceptable to others than myself.
I like this for snow-going capability as well as overall mobility on
parking lot entrances, etc. Not to mention the car is less likely to
invoke the ire of Johnny-Law, Officer Bob, and other cohorts.

A couple of the Editor’s from European Car drove it Wednesday at the
photo shoot in Riverside and were quite impressed. “The quintessential
Audi value” ”This thing is a LOT of FUN!!”  and other such comments. Oh,
also “Needs new rubber!” but I knew that. Hopefully they got some good
shots. Look for it (and about 8 other cars) on the cover of an upcoming
issue of European Car (prolly a few months away?). They didn’t have time
for the 86 5ktq :( as another group kept us from starting on time. 

On the high-speed track I easily kept up on the corners with an 89 M3
(M3 driver skills questionable, though), and could have easily passed in
the straights (TAP chip/spring) but passing was an official no-no. :(

In lower speed, flat, tight corners the eibachs were too soft, but the
bottom line is this is a big, heavy, all wheel drive car and it ain’t
ever gonna dance through the cones and such without some weight loss in
the front end, stiffer, lower springs, and a quicker steering gear,
among other things. 

So, bottom line, anyone looking for a good suspension upgrade that will
last for a good long while without compromising day to day drivablility
and comfort, this is a very pleasing set-up. I really gotta watch
myself, though, as the car feels much more comfortable at triple digits,
too. 100 feels like 60, and so on up the scale... :-)

sorry for excessive, wordy bandwidth

Sarge
91 200q Bilstein/Eibach, TAP, etc.
86 5ktq I.A. stock susp, for sale shortly...