Hijack this thread: The Sequel!!

[WestCoastSVX]

Originally posted by Andy
It is true indeed, and with great sadness, but sometimes my head must rule my heart. The SVX has a knackered centre diff, A faulty steering rack, a noisy wheel bearing and a dent in the side from a recent accident. The dealer offered £3750 on trade in (about $25,000 at current exchange rates) so it was a good deal.

On a more serious note, we have 2 kids, and with my Father's recent passing, we now need a car which can transport 3 adults and 2 children in safety. We had been coping, but my wife finds the trunk a little cramped.

I found the Forester a little slow after the SVX, but I may get the Prodrive upgrade, which gives a 25% increase in bhp and a 30% increase in torque. I wonder if I can have it done without the wife noticing?

Sounds like you made the right decision. And you definitely will always be among friends here, no matter what you drive!

Now a couple questions: Did you misplace a comma, or did you actually get $25,000 for your SVX?

You found the Forester slow compared to the SVX? Didn't you get an XT, which at least in the U.S. is like 2 seconds FASTER 0-60 than the SVX? Maybe you are talking about over 100mph?

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by Andy
It is true indeed, and with great sadness, but sometimes my head must rule my heart.

[Andy]

Originally posted by MacGyver


You found the Forester slow compared to the SVX? Didn't you get an XT, which at least in the U.S. is like 2 seconds FASTER 0-60 than the SVX? Maybe you are talking about over 100mph?

Unfortunately, we don't get the 2.5 XT like you do just the measly 2.0 from the WRX so the 0-60 is a pathetic 7.9 secs. The Prodrive upgrade puts it into STi territory. I will miss the top speed even if I upgrade because of the drag.

[WestCoastSVX]

Ahh that's too bad. But sounds like it might be fun if you can manage to sneak that prodrive upgrade in there past "the boss".

I hear you on the top speed though, even if you could get it into SVX territory, I'd feel a lot safer at speed in the SVX.

On the plus side though, you'll be a lot more comfortable the next time 5 of you need to go somewhere, or you have a lot of gear to haul, etc. I definitely need something like that.

If the SVX was a woman, Id slap her ass

[Alycone]

Oh good, I can log on tonight, I was suffering terrible withdrawal for a few hours.

[Seraph]

If SVX were a woman....

I'd draw her (not that I can draw) because she is perfect (for me)

[Andy]

Even though I have placed an order for a Forester XT, I wasn't about to cancel the Audi test day which I had already booked.

At 9am Yesterday morning I arrived at the Audi dealership where I was presented with the keys for an A3 3.2 manual. After a briefing from the salesman, I fired it up and noticed that there were only 190 miles on the clock.

The 3.2 engine produces 250 bhp and with a lighter body, I was expecting something just a little livelier than the SVX. My 1st prod of the throttle proved me wrong, this thing is a beast, violent even, no subtlety here.

The acceleration was neck-snapping, the clutch was on-off and the transmission was hard. I am sure that with a few more miles on the clock, things would soften up a little, but this is never going to be a relaxing cruiser.

Getting smooth changes proved to be difficult except at very low and very high revs. 'Normal' acceleration involved a crack for the neck when pulling away, and two cracks when changing gear. Great fun, but very tiring. The suspension seemed over stiff, even for this type of car, giving my dentures a good rattling, but also giving a high degree of feel to the already direct steering.

The Quattro system and wide rubber gave excellent handling, although the traction control was a little too intrusive, and not switchable. Why drive a manual with this sort of power if power slides are impossible?

After 6 hours I returned to the dealer and exchanged keys for a bright YELLOW Audi TT 3.2 DSG. This was so I could try out this revolutionary new transmission.



With the same engine as the A3, I was expecting fireworks, particularly as it is a lighter car, so I snicked it into 'D' and pulled away carefully. I disappeared down the road rapidly, but smoothly, without a single jolt. Every gearchange was like silk, the only clue that they were changing at all was from the rasping exhaust, but this is no sluggish auto, the acceleration figures are better than the manual 'box but without the effort or the jerkiness. I tried everything to upset it during my all too brief 1 hour test, but the electronics could always second guess what I was going to do.

The TT was proving to be the more useable car all-round, the suspension worked much better and the DSG was perfectly suited the the engine. Even the seats were more comfortable.

A quick pull of the lever put me into manual mode. I could now change gear with either the stick or paddles behind the wheel. The paddles quicky became quite natural, but in many ways superfluous as the auto mode is just so good. The real use for manual is on the race track, or more commonly to control engine braking on hills.

The final trick is the launch control. Select 'sport' mode, disable the ESP, hold the brake and throttle together and the revs stay at 3500. simply release the brake for the fastest road car launch I have ever experienced.

I believe that in 10 years time, the conventional auto transmission will be virtually obsolete, with DSG type transmissions taking over in all but the cheapest cars. (Patents permitting)

So, would I buy one?

The answer would be No.

The A3 styling and interior layout is less than pleasing to me. The gauges are surrounded by red information displays which I found unnecessary and distracting. I have become used to a red dash light being a warning. The TT was nice, but I need more than 2 seats. The price is also beyond my means, so I will be sticking with the Forester for now. I just hope that Subaru are able to incorporate this trasmission in their future models.

[WestCoastSVX]

Andy - sounds like you had another fun day!

That transmission on the TT sounds great, I agree that if it is all you say it is, hopefully that will be the way of transmissions in the future.

[GreenMarine]

Andy, What happened to that picture of your "Wife" that ya posted??

[Andy]

Originally posted by GreenMarineSVX
Andy, What happened to that picture of your "Wife" that ya posted??

Seems that someone couldn't see the joke. Maybe a little close to home?

[Alycone]

Well, it was a bit nauseating.

[GreenMarine]

I wasn't sure if it really was your wife or not so I had to delete my origional reply to that...


Origionally what I posted was **" Oh my God I'm BLIND!!!"**

But like I said, I didn't know if it really was your wife so I deleted it to avoid people hating me again

[WestCoastSVX]

Wow, what a gentleman!

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by MacGyver
Wow, what a gentleman!

Yeah, but we hate him anyway.

J/K Marine. It really is nice to have a gentleman in our midst.