AudHaus

I'm trying to decide whether to take my A8 or my TT to the Audi event at Watkins Glen. I've never had my A8 on the track, so I would love to try it out. But other than having 310 HP coming out of the toe of the boot, it doesn't seem like it would be nearly as much fun as the TT, which is great fun at the Glen.

The upside of the A8 is the 6+ hour drive each way, and the 310HP up the hill from the toe of the boot. The downside of the TT is the 6+ hour drive with the roar of the wind noise from the roof rack with track tires on them. The upside of the TT is that it is a hoot on the track, especially keeping your right foot planted from turn 1 to the end of the back straight, and its handling through the bus stop and the boot. I suspect that most of these things might very well be the downside of the A8.

I'm looking for opinions from someone who has tracked their A8. Responses from people who have tracked both an A8 and a smaller car or sports car are especially appreciated.

Thanks.
98 A8
00 TT

ryoung

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along with me of course. Since this was his first time at a track, he was in the beginner group, but I know he had a ball. Unfortunately, I don't think he visits this forum.

I'm leaving tommorrow for Mid-Ohio. Last year at M-O, I was the only A8/S8 in the group of 60 cars. This year, there will be at least one more; EscapA8 will be there in his A8. Will you be at the Glen on July 15/16? If so, I'm sure you'll be able to coax a track report from EscapA8 before then.

My biased recommendation -- Take the A8. On the track, it's amazing how this big car seems to shrink in size, and I think you'll surprise yourself and others with it's performance.<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/9376.phtml">S8 at Grattan</a></li></ul>

barryl

Hello,

At WGI, the more HP the more fun. I would think that that if you
have track tires for your A8 you should be at full throttle from the
exit of T1 until you brake for the bus stop chicane. Unless your
TT has a lot of power the A8 will turn faster laps.

Disclaimer: I have never ridden in an Audi at WGI. Lots of other
cars, but no Audis.

Good luck,
Barry

AudHaus

The fact that the tires are lousy is what scares me thinking about turn 2 and the esses.

AudHaus

You're right about the fact that when pushed, the car is surprisingly more nimble than it feels like it ought to be. I'll think it over.

Yes, I'll be there in July, either in a amethyst grey A8, or a silver FWD TT. I've always leaned towards the A8 for this event, but when I actually committed to it, I began to have my doubts and worry about it.

ryoung

.
but I'm a poor judge as to how this compares to an A8. I only drove one A8 for about 30 minutes ... about two years ago.

That 30 minutes was long enough, though, to convince me to put a deposit down on an S8 about 8 months before the first S8 arrived in the U.S. [My car is registered at S-car.org as #S800001.]

BTW, if those Goodyear's are on their last leg, rather than wallowing around on mushy tires, you'd certainly better enjoy the Glen with some good high performance rubber. Is it really worth getting that last 1/16" of wear out of the old tires?

April

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/3127/audi_line_up_arosc.jpg"></center><p>
AROSC ( Alfa Romeo of Southern California ) driver's school at the streets of Willow Springs. Hard on the brakes for big cars there. Smaller would be better. On the big track at Willow, the A6 2.7t and S8 rock !

AudHaus

I figure I'll trash 'em at the track and replace them with something nice.

Don't forget, my TT is my track car -- this is just a one-time thing to play with it on the track.