M-aybe it's more....

[QSHIPQ <QSHIPQ@aol.com>]

Dave:
You miss the point.  I too would hardly buy one, certainly enjoyed playing
"speed racer" with it for a week tho.  Comparing your RS2 to it might be a
little on the orange side of some apples.  I might direct you to the 540i for
a more "apple-like" fruit.  Bottom line is, the M3 exists, in it's glory,
without challenge for almost 5 years now, same with the 540i.  The S cars
failed to even make a comparo, and bang for bux, the bavarians held rank
regardless.  What it does show, IMO, is that here is a company commited to
performance, not catching up to it.  

All this performance enthusiasm is available as "upgrades" from the dealer as
well as aftermarket.  The fever is so high that, the day most rags got to
debut the 318tii here in the states, no less than 5 tuners had already put the
"M"-unition into it, including stateside.  Der Technik claims aside, the
bavarians are more focused on the ads' mission, the ultimate driving machine.
Rumors of the S8, vs a 400HP M5.  Braking that's barely adequate for the RS2
sportsmachine, massive rotors and binders on the spritely boy racer 40kUSD M3.

4 years after the fact, the S4 still hasn't hit stateside.  And the M3 has 2
and 4 door versions of the car, with a new chassis due pretty quick.  Track
behavior is my passion, but hardly my exclusive rate.  I own 2 type 44 wagons,
both tuned for street not track, in fact combined, both have seen maybe
20minutes total.  However, I also see a bunch of posts on awd as "the
advantage".  Sorry, I don't buy it.  Not rain or shine, btdrovet.  

What the awd argument really is about, the ability to effortlessly drive in an
7-8/10ths world.  And for that awd in an audi is a winner.  I don't for a
second believe that it goes any higher than that, because some basic chassis
and dynamic issues hinder those claims.  When you venture into that last
3/10th world, a lot more enters the mix than awd.  So much more, that awd
actually becomes the hinderance to true performance (your RS2 maybe excepted,
haven't btdt) to the street cars.  

BMW has a bad taste in their mouth over the 325IX.  But it was a half-assed
attempt at awd at best, however still a good solid chassis and handler with
resale way above any comparable audi of the vintage.  

So, I look at a sweet package with all the right elements from a performance
evaluation.  Still a boy racer.  However this old 44 chassis cremudgeon sure
would like to see Audi offer up a equal or better package.  And learn
something of chassis dynamics by one of the best stock chassis tuners in the
world.  Given the attitude of marketing, service, and parts at the Rings,
maybe the lecture needs to be on more than just product.  

My .02, and contgrats on the union (make sure you share the torsen posts...)

Scott Justusson
QSHIPQ@aol.com