Importing S2 (Was: Ersatz S2)

["George & Deanna Achorn" <coolidge@tidalwave.net>]

Hey,
    Reading the writeup on the ersatz S2 got me to thinking. Which years was
the S2 produced? Is it possible it was made during the same years as
American 90 Coupes being built? That may just be a little too lucky if it
is.

    The Rally Golf for VW is importable because of two factors. First, the
2-door Golf had been crash tested  with a 1.8 liter 4cyl for the US market
in '90, and the G60 engine (1.8 w/ supercharger)  had been federalized in
the US for the Corrado. Doing the math, some industious NHTSA importer
legalized the '90 G60 Rally Golf.

    Using the same theory here, the Audi Coupe Quattro  of '90 and '91 crash
tested, combined with the US federalization of the 20V turbo found in 200Ts
and S4 and S6 would make the S2 somewhat of an importable car, but only in
Coupe form as the gen 2 US Audi 90 ('93+) was never crash tested with the I5
from what I understand. Only V6 versions were sold here.

    Now if I remember correctly, the S2 didn't go into production until the
new grille was implemented in '92/'93 so the question is, if crash standards
were changed between '91 and those years. If not, the crash test results
might be retroactive similar to the somewhat confirmed importation of the
'95 Canadian Corrado VR6 to the US where only '94s were sold.

    Still, this would not be a cheap venture. To drive it away from the
importer, the guy would first have to install front US bumpers, front US
headlights, US spec airbags (upgrade to Audi sport wheel?), etc. for the car
to pass, and the process would be drawn out for the first guy to try it. Not
to mention the fact that there are tarriffs involved too, but from the 27K
figure thrown out as cost on the Ersatz, and since you could take your euro
headlights and bumpers home and reaffix them to the car for free, it might
be economically feasible.

Just a thought.-George