uk evo magazine review of tt and 20v (long ish but funny

[ggthack@swansea.ac.uk (Graham Thackrah)]

Hello,

Bought it this morning, all THREE pounds! Well it looks like better value than
top gear magazine at least, loads of editorial on a good mix of cars. Everything
from Ferraris and Astons (battleships) to Subaru imprezas and even a d reg
Peugot 205 XS (come on Phil and Jim, you know them). The review of the two
audi's is alright. THe first bit about the 20v quattro in the alps will make you
grin as they dribble on suitably about the handling and all round experience
of grip, and feedback both through your hands via the steering and your other 
senses through engine noise etc. Well it made me grin anyway, 4k for a b reg
ur q in the latest newsletter? maybe if I sold everything I own, hmmmmmmm.

Anyhow, they whinge a bit about slow steering but revel in the fact that it 
remains sensitive to small inputs no matter how stressed things get. 

"Early quattros were criticised for their understeer but, with its highly 
effecitve Torsen differential, the nose weighting effect of the long five 
cylinder engine isn't so apparent in the 20v model. Consequently it's 
beautifully fluid and adjustable, power flowing to where it's needed rather 
than in a fixed 50:50 balance front to rear."

Ahem.

Moving swiftly on...

Brief tech overview of new TT.

Driving impressions, swifter turn in than 20v, front drivey (sic) feel to it.
Sounds like their description of its 4wd sys that it is a fwd with more applied
to the rear when it detects front wheel slip.

"... initial turn into a corner, it reacts like a hot hatch, leaning on the
front-end grip, reacting swiftly to the first half-turn of lock. It's from this
point onwards you feel the torque transferring to the rear wheels, robbing you 
of some steering weight and feedback, but allowing you to plant the throttle
without fear of cremating the front tyres."

duck!

"The surprise comes in tight downhill corners, when the same spirited attack
reveals the TT's only on limit flaw. WHen the road is fallign away from you
rather than rising up ahead of youthe playful flick of opposite lock bevomes a 
more serious half-turn or more of vital correction. It feels like the TT
switches from four wheel drive as soon as youback off, exacerbating the weight 
transfer and increasing the amount and speed of correction. It's not 
catastrophic butit does put a dent in your confidence on unknown roads."

Well I don't know about you lot but that sounds to me like they've identified
some interesting handling traits in the new car. THey don't mention the old
car in this context, I wouldn't like to say why. I'd read the article before
making any of your own judgements, *if* I get thechance I'll scan it and post it
on some web space I can get my hands on this afternoon, sorry if I don't make it
but I pick up my new (alright new to me anyhow) Naim nait 3 amp this afternoon,
if the nice people in the shop can get their hands on a phono board that is.

In summary an interesting article. I finished it and flicked to the underbonnet
pics of the new Aston Martin Vantage 600, to quote performance car on the old
version, " an engine that wouldn't look out of place in the belly of a cross
channel ferry." If I had 250k STERLING, I'd buy.... er well I'd buy a sport
quattro and look for a one careful owner AM Vantage a year later.

Cherio.

Graham.

P.S. I bet that 4k b reg 100k mile ur q in the uk newsletter would need a bit 
of work, anyone know anything about it?