quattro at the limit, reality check

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

folks, by definition any car at the limit is probably not somewhere you want
to visit too often unless you're on a circuit -or going around a wet
round-about :-).  many cars are nervous at the limit, and manufacturers seek
to soften the nervousness in various ways.  however,

the 1st generation ur-quattro (locked centre quattro) earned a bad
reputation for going backwards off the road.  suddenly.  audi responded by
redesigning elements of the rear suspension for the later wr models.

we have a clearly documentated case where unpredictable handling in a type
44 was cleared up comprehensively by an alignment of the rear suspension.
if memory serves phil rose had the same experience with his type 44.

we have had another lister complaining of unpredictable behaviour in his
generation 1 quattro (5k) which is now having it's suspension brought back
to spec.

my old wr ('85 generation 1 quattro) got put on it's roof in a field (some
way in i might add) by a driver who complained that when he went into a
sudden avoidance manouever, the car got away on him.

so, standing back here, we have hearsay evidence that consistent quattro
behaviour at the limit requires a car in alignment.  at the least.
regardless of the centre diff.

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q
'89 mb 2.3-16