A6-V8 here

[ccohen5@compuserve.com]

As some may recall I was waiting for news of an A6 V8 that had
been held up in Boston by the EPA for a month. Many thanks to all
who emailed with suggestions as to how I could replace this car
with another. As I was discussing these options with my dealer who
was equally frustrated, a transporter arrived with my car on its
deck. So at last I am delivered of an A6-V8 and what a great car
this is. Mine is Santorin Blue which reminds me of a RN Torpedo
which is quite the best blue I have ever seen. I have the melange
interior which I suspect will wear better than it looks. Actually
its great except that Audi has gone for that Japanese tradition of
a steering wheel colour matched to the interior. I am one of those
tradionalists that like my steering wheel black or wood which is
PUC today.
     The rest of the interior is tasteful, but there is abolutely
no room for any accessory switches or even the telltales of my
K40 radar detector. These are going on the overhead panel, which
is not ideal. I am installing Catz spots to compensate for the
lack of peripheral light from the Xenons, and that switch will
also go on the overhead.
     It has 500 miles on it after a weekend running around the
twisties in W. VA. And it is I suppose, like the experience of
moving from a 4000 to the V8. Smooth power, precise steering, with
no twitchiness on Dunlop 9000s at 38 psi. Even at that pressure it
does not ride like the brick that the demo version I tested.
     Another observation - all you guys who have celebrated the
survival of the 4000/5000/100 series are going to be put out of
business if you have any aspirations of doing the same thing with
these new Audis. Virtually nothing is servicable without special
tools. In fact that handbooks dont even give you the tire
pressures. With or without the Xenon lights they dont indicate
that any light bulbs can be changed by the user, right down to the
number plate or trunk lights. So this car is designed for the non
enthusiast porker stock broker who does not care how it works just
that it has the appropriate status, looks cool (hmmm) and is in
your face. I hate to classify myself with this desription cos I
dont see myself this way, but I am sure that the car will end up
in the hands of most who look and smell like that. What I wonder
is whether Audi has taken such an indifferent paerspective with
the new S4 owners, or even the 1.8T which is the most tunable
engine since the Ford 1.6 OHC.
     Sorry about the bandwidth, but I needed to vent after a 6 
month wait. BTW, does anyone have suggestions for a snow tire and 
wheel combo, there is once agian nothing in the handbook.
     colin