Re: Marketing 101

["James M. Simone" <jmsimone@ix.netcom.com>]

Chris Maresca wrote:

> <SOAPBOX>
>
> ...
>
> The real world truth is that none of us should ever get close enough
to
> the edge for it to make any difference, at least not on _public_
roads.
> And if you do, you were probably overdue for some greenery on your car

> anyway.

Got a point there. :-)

> THAT SAID, in order to drive a Quattro fast & safe, you _*MUST*_ be
aware
> of the dynamics of the car, but this applies to _any_ new car (new to
you
> that is), regardless of make, chassis, tires, whatever.  The fact is,
it
> takes +/- 3 months to learn the in's and out's of a car's handling
> (assuming no track time...).  Until your brain 'figures it out', you
> should proceed with caution.
>

Thanks for the reminder. I drive on a winding mountain road everyday as
the
major part of my commute. With my FWD Sentra-SER I could push it to the
limit,
even in the rain. I tried to approach those limits last night in my
three week
old A4 1.8T qms. Boy, did I feel like a teenage driver again!

> ...
>
> In the wet, the equation changes.  Except on winding roads, the CQ is
> significantly more secure, faster and more reassuring.  On winding
slick
> roads, the tires lose grip like any other car (e.g. four wheel slides)
and
> you have to be mindful of the Torsen UOU, which is easily corrected.
In
> snow and ice, ...

Gotta learn that one still.

> BTW, I believe that the changing chassis dynamics is not unique to the

> Torsen Audi's, I have felt it in other AWD/4WD vehicles.  Many
vehicles
> that distribute power among all four wheels seem to have this, it
seems to
> be inherent in changing drive ends dynamically.
>
> ... ;-)
>

You know I never really thought about the difference in handling at the
limit
that Quattro would make. I guess I figured it would be all gravy, but I
guess
TANSTAFL!

Jim