RE: 4k coupe?

[JustaxPHX@aol.com]

>(I amazed the folks at an autocross clinic by driving my 4000 2-door around a
skidpad for three full laps with the
>inside rear wheel about a foot off the ground.)

I started autocrossing in an ''81 2-door 4000 -- without a sunroof, even! --
and likewise amazed people by lifting the inside rear wheel off the ground in
corners.  By the end of my first year, I managed to win a 7th place trophy at
the SCCA Solo II Nationals but the wear-and-tear that my co-driver and I put
on the car (34 events x 2 drivers!) caused the bodyshell to start breaking
apart ... mind you, we had the car pulling over 1g on Yokohama RS2s!

>and the car's stability in rough, high-speed corners was exemplary.

I did several open-track events with it as well and there were very few cars
that I couldn't stay with in the turns ... they'd open up 10-12 car lengths on
me down the main straight but I would be on their bumper again within three
turns.  The car definitely rolled like a pig, though -- we measured it at 7
degrees per g, which is three times what the 3rd generation Camaro did -- and
this did take some getting used to.

>The other variant on the 4000 was the 5+5, which used the familiar
>2144cc 5-cylinder engine and a 5-speed gearbox of unknown ratios.  This
>was to be the "performance" version of the small Audi, though it was
>somewhat rushed and reviewers of the day didn't like the nose-heavy
>handling.  (And the 4-cyl 1588cc 4000 *was* a very sweet car in the
>corners.)  

Like many others, I figured this was the "holy grail" of 4000s ... until I
drove one.  In fact, I was so disappointed by the first one I drove that I
tracked down a second one, figuring that it would have to be better.  Not so
... the power delivery was sluggish and the extra weight up front really
screwed up the handling.  Perhaps it works much better for roadracing -- the
SCCA classified it in ITB -- but my 4-cyl 4000 would trounce it around an
autocross course. 

>The key differences were an improved upper strut bushing at the front (which
overcame the sluggish
>response of steering with the 5-cylinder over the nose of the 5+5) and
relocated rear suspension components, >moving the leading ends of the torsion
beam axle 21mm upwards to provide less roll understeer at the
>rear.

Road & Track mentioned these changes in their initial review of the Coupe but
on the one that I measured, there was no difference in the rear suspension
that I could find.  Audi's bodyshop manual tends to confirm this as well,
which makes me wonder where R&T got their info (I also remember their first
review of the 4000 claimed the fuel tank was *under* the rear seat instead of
*behind* it ... this goes to prove you can't believe everything you read.)

Although I need another car like I need another hole in my head, I keep an eye
out for a clean 4000 2-door ... I've also been tempted by Todd Candey's
project car, wherein he grafted a 4kq floorpan into a 5+5 bodyshell.  With a
little bodywork -- I'm thinking Ur-Q fender flairs -- it has potential to be a
really neat car.  :^)

JG