$500 ignition coil???

[Mike Arman <armanmik@n-jcenter.com>]

>

>From: Michael Williams <daserde@ucla.edu>
<<snip>>
>
>My friend has this ignition coil, i cant rmemeber the brand, but he said 
>that he payed about 4 or 5 hundred for it, and would give it to me for 
>50.   Apparently it gives  MUCH hotter spark.  What do you guys think, 
>would this make a difference on an 85 4kQ?

Only difference is that people would look at you strangely if you said you
had a $500 ignition coil. Very strangely. Even at Audi parts prices!


>Would it do damage?

Only damage would be to your wallet.

>
>Michael Sheridan Williams
>
>My new one: 1985 4000 S Quattro
>175,000+ miles, and going like a new car
>

Mike, this kind of BS has been around for years and years. If he'll sell it
to you for $50 and you really, really want it, fine, but it won't make any
particular difference. 
In the bad old days, ignition coils were feeble and didn't last long, but
what is usually wrong is the general decrepitude of the plugs and plug
wires, rotor, cap, points (remember them?), condenser, etc., so a "hot"
coil compensates for this wear and tear.

It's kind of like maintaining speed by adding gas to compensate for brakes
dragging.

I also note that the FTC made Splitfire stop selling their product because
it did not deliver the claims made in the advertising . . . 

Best Regards,

Mike Arman