jeremey clarkson's quattro moment

[Dave Eaton <Dave.Eaton@clear.net.nz>]

i picked up a book on sale for $20 at the local store.  jeremy clarkson's 
100 best cars.  in it he details the quattro of course, and his special 
quattro moment.  enjoy.

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q


"I'd driven the original quattro on a number of occasions and considered it 
a nice little diversion, but nothing desperately special.  It 
revolutionised rallying of course, thanks to the grippy four-wheel drive, 
but the heavy five-cylinder engine was slung way out front of the front 
axle which made understeer a problem.  And there was turbo lag too.  Like I 
said, it was an interesting car but I didn't really see it as a potential 
classic.

But then in the Autumn of 1989, I found myself driving out what would turn 
out to be the last of the original quattros - the 20 valve.  And I can 
think of few occasions when a car made such a dramatic impression.  Yes, 
the engine was still in completely the wrong place and there was an awful 
digital dashboard, but that car gripped and shifted like I simply could not 
believe.

The new 20 valve, 2.2-litre engine churned out 220 bhp and all of it was 
put to use though a new, torque sensing differential that sent power to 
whichever end of the car was best able to handle it.  So, going into a 
corner it was as neutral as Betty Boothroyd.   Then, coming out the other 
side, power shot to the back where the weight was.  Magnificent.

And safe.  Coming up to a village, I saw a chance to overtake a lorry 
before we hit the 30 mph zone - so I dropped a couple of cogs and marveling 
at how the turbo lag had been banished, surged past the truck...

And into the most frightening moment of my entire motoring career because 
there in front of the lorry was a car turning right - right across my bows. 
 There was nothing for it.   I had to turn right too, even though I was 
doing ... well let's say a little more than 60 mph.   A right-angled bend 
when you're doing a mile a minute?  Impossible?

Not if you have a 20 valve quattro, it isn't.  That car, take it from me, 
is a lifesaver.  I guess it was a bit silly to have that hatchback rear end 
without fitting fold down rear seats - same as the Alfa GTV6- but other 
than this, I maintained then and I still maintain now, that few cars have 
been so complete.  -Jeremy Clarkson"