Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"[ a m z ]" <amz.REMOVETHIS@eskimo.REMOVETHIS.com> wrote in message
news:rqMef.79$8U4.3572@news.uswest.net...
>
> Audiworld is the next step.
>
> My gut and brain are telling me that the #3 (non-Audi dealer) car is not
the
> way to go, but my heart says, "blaaaaaccckkkk.... Tiptronnnnnnic..."
:-)

Hmm... the thing that immediately struck me about no 3 was the word
"alignment". That really is one of the things you can't put right on a
quattro - after all, if it could be put right, why hasn't it been done?

No 1 is getting very close to timing belt time - 60k miles is plenty.

Not sure about the "only replace all four tyres at once" point. That was
allegedly true on the pre-Torsen diff cars, but it isn't specified now - and
in any event how is one supposed to deal with the fact that the fronts
always wear more quickly than the rears?

The post-facelift cars (mid-'99 on in Europe, but I'm not sure about the
position in North America, where I presume you are) are probably worth going
for if you can find one.

Expensive cars to run, but go for it - no comparison with an A6.

Regards

Jonathan

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"[ a m z ]" <amz.REMOVETHIS@eskimo.REMOVETHIS.com> wrote in message
news:rqMef.79$8U4.3572@news.uswest.net...
>
> Audiworld is the next step.
>
> My gut and brain are telling me that the #3 (non-Audi dealer) car is not
the
> way to go, but my heart says, "blaaaaaccckkkk.... Tiptronnnnnnic..."
:-)

Hmm... the thing that immediately struck me about no 3 was the word
"alignment". That really is one of the things you can't put right on a
quattro - after all, if it could be put right, why hasn't it been done?

No 1 is getting very close to timing belt time - 60k miles is plenty.

Not sure about the "only replace all four tyres at once" point. That was
allegedly true on the pre-Torsen diff cars, but it isn't specified now - and
in any event how is one supposed to deal with the fact that the fronts
always wear more quickly than the rears?

The post-facelift cars (mid-'99 on in Europe, but I'm not sure about the
position in North America, where I presume you are) are probably worth going
for if you can find one.

Expensive cars to run, but go for it - no comparison with an A6.

Regards

Jonathan

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"[ a m z ]" <amz.REMOVETHIS@eskimo.REMOVETHIS.com> wrote in message
news:rqMef.79$8U4.3572@news.uswest.net...
>
> Audiworld is the next step.
>
> My gut and brain are telling me that the #3 (non-Audi dealer) car is not
the
> way to go, but my heart says, "blaaaaaccckkkk.... Tiptronnnnnnic..."
:-)

Hmm... the thing that immediately struck me about no 3 was the word
"alignment". That really is one of the things you can't put right on a
quattro - after all, if it could be put right, why hasn't it been done?

No 1 is getting very close to timing belt time - 60k miles is plenty.

Not sure about the "only replace all four tyres at once" point. That was
allegedly true on the pre-Torsen diff cars, but it isn't specified now - and
in any event how is one supposed to deal with the fact that the fronts
always wear more quickly than the rears?

The post-facelift cars (mid-'99 on in Europe, but I'm not sure about the
position in North America, where I presume you are) are probably worth going
for if you can find one.

Expensive cars to run, but go for it - no comparison with an A6.

Regards

Jonathan

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"Jonathan Morton" wrote:
>
> Hmm... the thing that immediately struck me about no 3 was the word
> "alignment". That really is one of the things you can't put right on a
> quattro - after all, if it could be put right, why hasn't it been done?

I checked CarFax and the dealer just bought the car at auction a week or so
ago. Based on the RF tire wear, it has been out of alignment for some time.
Dealer replaced the brakes and both front tires just the other day (after my
test drive).

Are you saying that once an A8 quattro goes out of alignment, you'll never
get it back again??

What are your thoughts about a 1997 straight auto vs. a 1998 with Tiptronic?
I'm most concerned about punching it to pass or needing to get moving
quickly in tight traffic.

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"Jonathan Morton" wrote:
>
> Hmm... the thing that immediately struck me about no 3 was the word
> "alignment". That really is one of the things you can't put right on a
> quattro - after all, if it could be put right, why hasn't it been done?

I checked CarFax and the dealer just bought the car at auction a week or so
ago. Based on the RF tire wear, it has been out of alignment for some time.
Dealer replaced the brakes and both front tires just the other day (after my
test drive).

Are you saying that once an A8 quattro goes out of alignment, you'll never
get it back again??

What are your thoughts about a 1997 straight auto vs. a 1998 with Tiptronic?
I'm most concerned about punching it to pass or needing to get moving
quickly in tight traffic.

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"Jonathan Morton" wrote:
>
> Hmm... the thing that immediately struck me about no 3 was the word
> "alignment". That really is one of the things you can't put right on a
> quattro - after all, if it could be put right, why hasn't it been done?

I checked CarFax and the dealer just bought the car at auction a week or so
ago. Based on the RF tire wear, it has been out of alignment for some time.
Dealer replaced the brakes and both front tires just the other day (after my
test drive).

Are you saying that once an A8 quattro goes out of alignment, you'll never
get it back again??

What are your thoughts about a 1997 straight auto vs. a 1998 with Tiptronic?
I'm most concerned about punching it to pass or needing to get moving
quickly in tight traffic.

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"Jonathan Morton" wrote:
>
> Hmm... the thing that immediately struck me about no 3 was the word
> "alignment". That really is one of the things you can't put right on a
> quattro - after all, if it could be put right, why hasn't it been done?

I checked CarFax and the dealer just bought the car at auction a week or so
ago. Based on the RF tire wear, it has been out of alignment for some time.
Dealer replaced the brakes and both front tires just the other day (after my
test drive).

Are you saying that once an A8 quattro goes out of alignment, you'll never
get it back again??

What are your thoughts about a 1997 straight auto vs. a 1998 with Tiptronic?
I'm most concerned about punching it to pass or needing to get moving
quickly in tight traffic.

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"[ a m z ]" <amz.REMOVETHIS@eskimo.REMOVETHIS.com> wrote in message
news:w0Pef.99$8U4.5367@news.uswest.net...
> "Jonathan Morton" wrote:
> >
> > Hmm... the thing that immediately struck me about no 3 was the word
> > "alignment". That really is one of the things you can't put right on a
> > quattro - after all, if it could be put right, why hasn't it been done?
>
> I checked CarFax and the dealer just bought the car at auction a week or
so
> ago. Based on the RF tire wear, it has been out of alignment for some
time.
> Dealer replaced the brakes and both front tires just the other day (after
my
> test drive).
>
> Are you saying that once an A8 quattro goes out of alignment, you'll never
> get it back again??

I'm just thinking that the reason for the lack of alignment *might* be crash
damage causing the car to be out of true.

Even when properly set up, these cars do eat front tyres - especially the
inner edges.

> What are your thoughts about a 1997 straight auto vs. a 1998 with
Tiptronic?
> I'm most concerned about punching it to pass or needing to get moving
> quickly in tight traffic.

Well, mine's a 2000-model with Tiptronic - though I have to say I very
rarely use the Tip. Even with the conventional 4-speed auto you won't suffer
from lack of performance.

Regards

Jonathan

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"[ a m z ]" <amz.REMOVETHIS@eskimo.REMOVETHIS.com> wrote in message
news:w0Pef.99$8U4.5367@news.uswest.net...
> "Jonathan Morton" wrote:
> >
> > Hmm... the thing that immediately struck me about no 3 was the word
> > "alignment". That really is one of the things you can't put right on a
> > quattro - after all, if it could be put right, why hasn't it been done?
>
> I checked CarFax and the dealer just bought the car at auction a week or
so
> ago. Based on the RF tire wear, it has been out of alignment for some
time.
> Dealer replaced the brakes and both front tires just the other day (after
my
> test drive).
>
> Are you saying that once an A8 quattro goes out of alignment, you'll never
> get it back again??

I'm just thinking that the reason for the lack of alignment *might* be crash
damage causing the car to be out of true.

Even when properly set up, these cars do eat front tyres - especially the
inner edges.

> What are your thoughts about a 1997 straight auto vs. a 1998 with
Tiptronic?
> I'm most concerned about punching it to pass or needing to get moving
> quickly in tight traffic.

Well, mine's a 2000-model with Tiptronic - though I have to say I very
rarely use the Tip. Even with the conventional 4-speed auto you won't suffer
from lack of performance.

Regards

Jonathan

Re: Thoughts & suggestions wanted re: Audi A8
 

"[ a m z ]" <amz.REMOVETHIS@eskimo.REMOVETHIS.com> wrote in message
news:w0Pef.99$8U4.5367@news.uswest.net...
> "Jonathan Morton" wrote:
> >
> > Hmm... the thing that immediately struck me about no 3 was the word
> > "alignment". That really is one of the things you can't put right on a
> > quattro - after all, if it could be put right, why hasn't it been done?
>
> I checked CarFax and the dealer just bought the car at auction a week or
so
> ago. Based on the RF tire wear, it has been out of alignment for some
time.
> Dealer replaced the brakes and both front tires just the other day (after
my
> test drive).
>
> Are you saying that once an A8 quattro goes out of alignment, you'll never
> get it back again??

I'm just thinking that the reason for the lack of alignment *might* be crash
damage causing the car to be out of true.

Even when properly set up, these cars do eat front tyres - especially the
inner edges.

> What are your thoughts about a 1997 straight auto vs. a 1998 with
Tiptronic?
> I'm most concerned about punching it to pass or needing to get moving
> quickly in tight traffic.

Well, mine's a 2000-model with Tiptronic - though I have to say I very
rarely use the Tip. Even with the conventional 4-speed auto you won't suffer
from lack of performance.

Regards

Jonathan