Re: Boating with an S4

["Matt Rooke" <mrooke@fcpa.fujitsu.com>]

>In fact, it probably states in the manual that you shouldn't attempt to tow
>with the vehicle.
>
>My guess is that if you can afford a latter-model 'S' car, you can afford a
>(small, used) pickup truck.

Hey- the root of this mishap was not towing per-se.  It was 1) inattentive
driving, and 2) poor installation of the hitch.  A jet-ski doesn't weigh
much, I really don't see that as an abusive application of an S-car.  The
execution, on the other hand, may qualify for a Darwin award.

I don't have an S4, but wouldn't hesitate to tow a trailer with a properly
mounted hitch.  In fact, I bet the S4 is a pretty good road warrior with
a reasonably small trailer.  Maybe not a heavy ski boat, but a jet-ski- no
problem (other than that I hate the noisy things).  What sets Audis apart
from the competition (esp. BMW) is with that performance you also get
durability and utility far beyond "performance" driving.  These are not
fragile cars!

I'd trust an Audi for towing before one of those little Japanese trucks, thats
for sure. IMO, AWD makes a superior vehicle for launching boats.  2WD just
has too little traction to pull back up from the launch, in many situations.
How many times have you seen a pickup back down the ramp, launch a boat,
then proceed to wheelspin on the slimy submerged pavement and slide further
_down_ when attempting to pull back up? (no weight over drive axle).

Matt Rooke
'91cq, no trailer hitch, but only because I don't own a trailer.