Re: V8 Quattro Newbie - maybe (long)

[Eliot Lim <eliot@u.washington.edu>]

(wow, this turned out to be longer than i expected...)


hi guys, i would take a '90 over a '91 auto because:

1) the '90 has a lower final drive ratio 4.11 vs. 3.73.  this
is significant because even with a 4.11 ratio, the v8 auto is
slow off the line.  i can only imagine that it will be worse with
the 3.73.

(later model years retained the 3.73 ratio, but then had a big boost
in engine displacement, so the '91 auto is quite possibly the worst
performing variant)

2) the '90 has very nice bucket seats whicle the '91 auto
has the fat bottomed seats.


tranny firmware:

to see if you have the smart tranny brains, shift the car into "M" 
mode, gear in 3 or D and accelerate very gently from rest.  if the tranny
rapidly shifts 1,2,3 you have the much more preferable updated tranny
firmware.  if it starts off at 3 and does not shift, you have the older
dumber firmware.   the newer brains are much more responsive to your
right foot than the older one.


UFO brakes:

if you are not going to race the car or do lots of track time, don't
bother with UFOs.  the reduction in unsprung weight of the converted
brakes (much smoother ride), not to mention the much lower rate of
replacement is far more preferable IMO. 

i put over 70,000 miles on the converted brakes and they are still on
original pads and rotors.  the car has never gone to the track though... 


stereo:

it is not true that you cannot put in aftermarket head units, because
that is exactly what i did and it works perfectly.  shops tend to be
reluctant to do the job not because the stuff is incompatible but
because the alternator noise is a real bitch to eliminate.  i have a
sony in dash CD now that sounds much better than the bose unit.
the rest of the bose system is pure stock and has never failed all
these years!


servotronic steering:

easily unpluggable (not installed in '90 cars).  provides you with honda
style one-finger numb as cotton steering feel. 



my car has 100K and change now and i have to say that the car has held up
incredibly well for 7 years, unlike its resale value.. :( :( :( unlike the
horror stories you hear about other v8s mine has aged very slowly (some
interior creaks), has never left me stranded ever and has never driven me
into the poor house.  fuel consumption rarely exceeds 21 mpg of super
though...  

i believe the key to my good experience with the car is the fact that it
was well maintained.  the most serious thing that has happened was the
loud buzzing of a fuel pump about to fail.. still, i made a 1500 mile trip
through montana and alberta and made it back.  the engine has been
absolutely trouble free since the car was new. 

recently i suffered a rash of bulb burnouts, interior, parking, indicator,
license plate holder, glove... amazing how consistent their lives were.
7 year lifespan.

i have never owned any other car for this long ever.  the v8 was so well
made and designed that it has been all things to me:  

- being able to take delight in its engineering specification
- being able to enjoy all its subtleties as a driving machine
- being able to sit in the worst traffic jams or tackle the most 
hostile city driving without protest
- being able to use it as a long distance tourer and
- being comforted by its warm luxurious interior.

it's a great car, very underrated.  just make sure you find one that
is well cared for.  i wonder if i will end up keeping this car for 30
years!


eliot