Re: Importing S2 (Was: Ersatz S2)

["Scott Wood" <s1wood@ibm.net>]

I have articles from R&T and Sports Car Illustrated from, I believe 1990
and 1991 (I don't have facts on which years it was actually produced for
its full run) with the S2 featured and the thing looks IDENTICAL to the US
CQ.  I will get the articles out and compare to mine in the drive if you
would like.  I think the bumpers (at least the covers) even looked
identical.  The 'corporate' grill was certainly on the car in 1990.  I have
photos of the car with the hood up, and I swear it looks like you could
change some attaching hardware to the 'frame' (unibody) and literally
attach the S2 hood to a US CQ.  I have thought about this, and would like
to get the components to get mine to S2 specs (springs, hubs, MOTOR, etc.)
but have found no way to get the information together.  Granted, I haven't
been relentless about it, yet, but the general consensus is 'can't be
done'.  I disagree and there would just be something special about doing it
as the factory would have instead of a bunch of potentially mismatched
components from the aftermarket. (Not a slam to anyone, considering
2Bennett, etc is certainly on MY list, but I would be concerned about my
ability to get all the right 'stuff' together. - anyone want to spend
considerable bench racing time helping, let me know!)  You know what I
mean?  Like an M5, 540, M3, etc kind of performance and refinement.

Be interested in hearing from you, and anyone else.

Scott Wood
1990 CQ
Charlotte, NC

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> From: George & Deanna Achorn <coolidge@tidalwave.net>
> To: brandon@cardinalventures.com
> Cc: Audi <quattro@coimbra.ans.net>
> Subject: Importing S2 (Was: Ersatz S2)
> Date: Friday, November 06, 1998 4:34 PM
> 
> 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
>