RE: Sad reactions to S4 drive etc AND quattro experience track day

["Greg and Gill Spark" <sparkg@wave.co.nz>]

Having read the posts on this subject I wonder if the original poster drove
the same car I have driven recently at an Audi sponsored Quattro Experience
day.

I had the opportunity to drive an S8 (latest version with 5V heads), S3, S4,
TT coupe (2WD :(   ). Before I comment I should point out that I have a 1996
1.8T A4 chipped to 187hp (mtm) with K&N and Remus rear box.

Having seen Ronin I was keen to emulate the driving in the S8 but the
instructors put paid to that!! :)

S8 - hard to believe that such a big car (yes - it does still feel big) can
handle so well and power is intoxicating especially with the sound effects.
Pity about the price but you do get what you pay for.

TT coupe - great little fun car - probably the most tactile Audi I've driven
yet. It has a delicious feel of slight oversteer when pushed to the limit
under power - weird considering it's FWD. Not a practical ownership prospect
though, those rear seats are pointless and dangerous if the rear passengers
are taller than 4ft6!

S3 - great looking hatch and quick but much more lag than I expected (more
than my car) which I think is always going to be a problem with tweaked
1.8Ts - too small capacity. Handling wasn't as tight as I expected either -
the TT was much more communicative especially in the steering dept.

Saved the best till last: the S4 - beautifully balanced package with
incredible acceleration (torque/ton best in Audi range) and tight accurate
handling and steering. It has been criticised for being a bit sterile in the
feel department but I can't help thinking this is a reflection of it being
viceless - everything is so damn _precise_ - oh it IS a german car after
all!!! As for the turbo lag referred to in the posts on this subject - it
wasn't at home when I drove the car - felt like a large capacity V8 (and
I've driven plenty of those).

My 0.02c worth.

Hi to Dave Eaton, Avi, Scott, Phil and others - I've been loosely lurking
recently having been a regular contributor about 18 months ago - pleased to
see the Torsen debate continues on relentlessly!!!

Greg Spark
'96 A4 (still) - was going to be changed for S3 but now S4 (see above) when
the pennys grow!
MTM187hp, K&N, Remus, 17 Ronals 235/45 Falken, Kamei sportgrille, still
awesome after 70000kms