some musings on Audi's, the autobahn, and why our cars are the way they are
09-05-2003, 06:24 PM
#22
New Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Great post. Cars are designed around the enviroment that they are used. Thus Italian cars have
a certain feel, Swedish cars have a certain feel, Japanese cars have a certain feel, and American cars have a certain feel. Each car manufacture builds there cars to reflect the enviroment in which they are primarily used.
Of course with the global market manufactures are tweeking their cars to appeal to a broader public in hopes of winning sales.
Look at what Cadillac is doing with the CTS-V. They took the car to Germany to develope it because their American target market likes the feel of German cars.
If we understand a car in its historical context then we should be able to appreciate that car for why it was designed the way it was.
It does not mean we have to like the car but a least we can appreciate the car for what it is.
Great post 2.7tDallas
rmg
Of course with the global market manufactures are tweeking their cars to appeal to a broader public in hopes of winning sales.
Look at what Cadillac is doing with the CTS-V. They took the car to Germany to develope it because their American target market likes the feel of German cars.
If we understand a car in its historical context then we should be able to appreciate that car for why it was designed the way it was.
It does not mean we have to like the car but a least we can appreciate the car for what it is.
Great post 2.7tDallas
rmg
09-05-2003, 07:33 PM
#23
AudiWorld Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yep, WV Turnpike is great.
All of my 7000 miles this past summer had the WV Turnpike as part of every trip. (From Raleigh, NC to Charleston, WV and/or L'ville, KY).
It's fun to go on the curvy northern part (the 60 mph section) at 80 mph if traffic allows. I smile every time I take the marked 55 mph turns at 80 mph without breaking a sweat. I love quattro!
In past years the troopers have patrolled the northern section, but I didn't see one all summer. Still, I made sure another car was ahead of me on every turn (ok, most turns) so my V1 could pick up on their radar.
It's also fun to charge up the very steep hills, particularly the 7 mile "hill" up to Flat Top while normal cars wheeze their way up in the middle lane. :-)
It's fun to go on the curvy northern part (the 60 mph section) at 80 mph if traffic allows. I smile every time I take the marked 55 mph turns at 80 mph without breaking a sweat. I love quattro!
In past years the troopers have patrolled the northern section, but I didn't see one all summer. Still, I made sure another car was ahead of me on every turn (ok, most turns) so my V1 could pick up on their radar.
It's also fun to charge up the very steep hills, particularly the 7 mile "hill" up to Flat Top while normal cars wheeze their way up in the middle lane. :-)
09-05-2003, 08:25 PM
#24
AudiWorld Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That leads to the question: Why not US gearing?
Certainly US sales volume warrants it. Great post, but we don't have autobahns where we can can routinely enjoy pulling out from 60 to 120. I'd eagerly give up the passing power at 90 mph for better 0-60 acceleration as long I could still loaf along in 5th at 80 and get 22mpg.
09-05-2003, 08:26 PM
#25
I respectfully disagree.... qualified
1. My '99 2.8 A6 could barely get out of its own way 60-100 mph. A very poor excuse for a modern naturally aspirated V6. Absolutely gutless. (I haven't driven the 3.0 version). That's why I switched to an S6.
2. Floaty is not good at speed (or in corners). It is good only at boulevard speeds (0-70) in a straight line. Above that, firmer is better. That's why I switched to an S6.
3. The brakes suck. Over boosted, difficult to modulate, grabby. Both on my A6 and S6. My biggest disappointment with the S6 is the crappy brakes. Highlighted everytime I drive my Porsche.
All that said, however, I still own two Audi's: value and Quattro relative to BMW and Mercedes.
Andy
PS: And, yes, I have driven the Autobahn.
2. Floaty is not good at speed (or in corners). It is good only at boulevard speeds (0-70) in a straight line. Above that, firmer is better. That's why I switched to an S6.
3. The brakes suck. Over boosted, difficult to modulate, grabby. Both on my A6 and S6. My biggest disappointment with the S6 is the crappy brakes. Highlighted everytime I drive my Porsche.
All that said, however, I still own two Audi's: value and Quattro relative to BMW and Mercedes.
Andy
PS: And, yes, I have driven the Autobahn.
09-05-2003, 10:10 PM
#28
AudiWorld Senior Member
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Panic braking is a way of life on the autobahn. Every few miles you have to mash the brakes
when some 1-liter car is passing a truck on a hill, or you come up on the numerous construction zones, where you have 2.2 meters of space to fit your car. The back roads (SE of Baden Baden, for instance) are much more fun.
09-05-2003, 10:40 PM
#29
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 3,833
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I believe the majority of cars sold over there actually have small displacement engines...
And are the reason you had to brake as often as you did on the Autobahn.
I think you were lucky to get the brand new A8 side of the experiance, but I don't think that most people (in Europe) do!
But, yeah, i like roadtripping my Audi, just like everyone else. =)
I think you were lucky to get the brand new A8 side of the experiance, but I don't think that most people (in Europe) do!
But, yeah, i like roadtripping my Audi, just like everyone else. =)
