Audi switch to RWD?

[PDLJames <jamesp@sk.sympatico.ca>]

I wouldn't plan AUDI's future on a MOTOR TREND wanna-be magazine
review.  CAR magazine (UK) had a whole different view of the A8. The
BMW and LEXUS were considered old fuddy duddy hat.  Read both magazines
and come to your owm logical conclusion.


Greg East wrote:
> 
> I've been pondering the A8's recent poor showing in the C&D luxury
> sedan comparison, Audi's relative position in the automotive
> hierarchy, as well as the many discussions on the list regarding the
> relative merits of quattro AWD in the dry and it occurs to me that
> Audi should consider returning to rear wheel drive on their base cars.
> 
> The normal advantages of front wheel drive are packaging and traction.
> In Audi's case (A3 excepted) there is no packaging advantage to FWD
> since the engines are mounted longitudinally and accomodations have to
> be made for a tunnel for the rear drive shaft in quattro models.
> People that are truly concerned about traction have a superior option
> in quattro. So why stick with FWD?
> 
> If Audi is ever going to be a serious player in the near luxury class
> in the US (outside of the snow states) I contend that a switch to RWD
> is needed. Even such bastions of FWD as Toyota and Nissan reached this
> conclusion with the LS400 and Q45. Even as a diehard quattro
> enthusiast I would have a tough time deciding between a 200 lb.
> lighter, RWD A4 1.8t and a quattro version of the same car. I happen
> to live in Colorado so I suspect I would still choose the quattro, but
> if I lived in LA I'm not so sure.
> 
> Anyway, food for thought...and doesn't a RWD TTs Spyder sound like a
> blast?
> 
> Greg East
> '86 4kcsq
> Loveland, Colorado
> USA

-- 
 Patrick James
 Regina, Saskatchewan ,Can
 jamesp@sk.sympatico.ca
 Yeah, Baby....Shagadelic!!!