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Compare on the street/track
My .02 cents
This thread hs been trounced before when PDQ innocently mentioned his
brothers 3000GT Mitsu VR4. I didn't add anything then but I will add a bit
now. Uh more than a bit.
BTTC is a good comparison of what works in regards to which or all ends of
a car drive it. They are equal on so many levels that yes you can say AWD
wins. No contest. Same goes for IMSA and SCCA.
On the track at an event? Well was it this year or last year at the LRP
Qclub event that one little yellow RX7TT was kicking butt out there. In
it's run group it was swallowing cars. And some well modded cars at that,
UrQs included.
At these events you need to compare these cars as equals in my view. Why?
Cpmpare a light RWD car to a heavy FWD or AWD car? Compare them 'cause
they are what you can buy. Thats it.
We drive what we like. When you can go to a track event and the tech guy
can say, Oh! you have a Quattro? "Go run with the AWD Z28 over there so it
is fair". When there is an AWD RX7 that weighs 3500lbs, compare away.
There aren't any RWD Vr4s or FWD M3s. So you've got to compare what we
drive to what they drive. An M3 is a great balanced smooth powerful car
for a track event. A 5k must have a bucket of money thrown at it to
compare. Alot of cars are just better on a track out of the box than a
5ktq.
On the street? I've been driving my Xr for the last 2 days in the ice on
D40s.. YIKES. Not a good scenario. 275hp on ice with RWD. Not my choice
but the clutch MC in the 5k died, now fixed and picked up in a few hrs.
I'd rather auto-cross the Xr over the 5ktq anyday. The xr is traction
limited but the 5k is bigger, heavier with far slower steering. Could the
5k be modded enough to compare? Maybe but I like the power oversteer in
the Xr. I like the fast steering in the Xr. Will AWD make up for the
difference? I don't think so. A Neon will cream many other cars at
auto-cross, yet be itself creamed on a road course.
Power down early out of a turn? AWD will win out over my Xr. I'll be on a
fine edge in the Xr as the boost goes slamming in with 300lb/ft. Sometimes
I like that.
Again we made the choice to drive our Audis whether they be FWD or AWD. I
made a choice to drive a big heavy 4 door. There are amny reasons to drive
what you like. Youlike AWD in a big car? Get a 5k/200 or a V8. Small car?
Get an A4 or a 4KQ. Whatever.
Come on think of all the stuff you HATE about your Audi? The Camaro guys
could draw a list too. Do they have to deflate their spare tire to get it
out as UrQ owners seem to have to do? The cringe at snow and rain. We
laugh. We live with Barco lounger seats and cars that have half the
electrical system fail 'cause a liscence late light burned out.
Ridiculous!
I might add that you've got to remember there ar alot of people out there
both on the list and not who have never driven a powerful RWD car. Or a
well handling one.
Think of how long FWD has been dominent in the market and you could argue
that many out there have never driven a RWD car period. EVER!
So I'm afraid I fall into the "I drive an Audi because of Quattro" group.
I wouldn't be driving a FWD 5kt. Not to knock the car, I just wouldn't. I
know there are others. I for one don't wonder how I lived all these years
and have survived many miles without quattro.
I adapt. Different cars will always shine over others in different
conditions. It is up to us to choose our weapon, it may not always be best
however.
Neil