nt

The S8 is reportedly coming to the US in a year or so. You could bring one over now for a year and then send it back when they arrive at the dealerships :-)

nt

Just look at the S4 forum, you will know how delay....delay......delay....until "you don't know if you can get your S4 when the E46 M3 arrives....". I have heard from my dealer that the S8 will be here in about one year or 2 but as Audi's typical inefficient management of product introduction, I would guess the S8 will be here at 2004 and RS8 at 2008. Luckily, I got an S8 Audi brochure from Audi.de ;otherwise, I can start dreaming about. Here's the my biggest advise to Audi of America/Canada:
BMW, Mercedes and Saab are hurrying to introduce their high performance vehicles on the market but from the S4 delay case. You should get the S4, RS4, S6 and S8 here as soon as possible. Otherwise, even the long behind-than-large-carmaker Swedish aeroplane company will get the 9-5 Aero or future 9-3 Viggen quicker than you guys get the S4 here.
I really LOVE Audis, but don't know where's happened with their management team for North America. Maybe they should kill those 60 minutes editors before we can get some more efficient management here for we North American Audi freaks.
Thanks for venting
Tom
97 A4 1.8TQMS
99 JETTA IV GLS 2.0

Can we say "torque steer" boys and girls? What do you expect from a souped up chevy crap-a-lier?

Opel Vectra and one GM-owned UK brand called Cavalier. Its the same basic platform for all the Saabs and the new Saturn L-Series.

GM's brand in the UK. Never heard of a euro-only Cavalier. You're probably right though. After seeing a Pontiac Parisienne in Paris I don't think any car names will surprise me. (yes the biggest boat Pontiac ever made)

Torque steer comment still applies, but the Vectra is a better car than the Crapalier.

Todd W

which is exactly the same car as the Opel in other European countries with different brand name just like Pontiac TransSport and Chevrolet Venture's relationship to Opel Vectra and Vauxhall Vectra.
Wondering how those American land yacht drive on those narrow streets in Paris?
I agree the Saab 9-3 Viggen has extremely obvious torque steer problem as with many high-powered FWD vehicles, but you have to agree that 9-3 is one of the best FWD sports sedans on the market.
Not only the Vectra is a better car than Chevy Crapalier but even Saturn's new L-Series is a way superior car than many Chevrolets (probably except Corvette) because of its good basic structure which is the samme platform as Saab 9-3/9-5.
Tom
97 A4 1.8TQMS
99 JETTA IV GLS 2.0

I REALLY wanted to know how that drove in Paris, and then Ronin came out 6 months later.

Yeah, I know all about Opel & Vauxhall. I have been keeping current too, since I read CAR magazine. I have no idea when I might go back next time. Need to get a job over there sometime soon.

Saturns are better cars than other GM's, but I m not that impressed with the Corvette yet. Wait until they get it right just before changing it again a la ZR1, Fiero & Corvair. The 9-3 is OK but not stellar. I would never own a high perforamnce FWD car, my dad has a 92 SHO which is fun but no FWD since then has impressed me. I am trying to convince him to replace it with a Lincoln LS (5spd V6) instead of a Chrysler 300M. I would rather have a RWD with traction and stability than any currently available FWD. Of course, AWD is the best way to go but no American cars have it. There are no European car dealerships within 120 miles of where my parents live in FL.

Went car shopping with friends a couple of weeks ago. Looked at 9-3 and A4 Avant. The 9-3 looked so second rate, especially inside, that no one was interested in a test drive. We had fun driving the A4 though :-)

Todd W
86 5KTQ 1.8bar and growing :)
83 UrQ

Saab 9-3's quality of fit-and-finish and materials are somewhat behind what the A4 and E46's standards especially those plasticky feel inside; however, the handling control feel of the whole car doesn't far behind those two German sports sedan benchmarks.
Comparing the Lincoln LS-V6 and Chrysler 300M should be interesting especially when the LS has 5-speed maunal and standard sports package (in stick form). 300M feels somewhat cumbersome when you consider it as a sports sedan but the LS seems more closer when most of its competitors are A6, 5-Series and 9-5. I will take the Lincoln LS V6, IMHO!
Maybe the best solution is to get him trade his SHO for an A6 2.7T 6-speed sports package with some aftermarket stuffs on it!
Yes, Saturn is superior than most GM products but their overall balance still way behind some Japanese and German competitors in terms of refinement and quality, IMHO.
Tom
97 A4 1.8TQMS
99 JETTA IV GLS 2.0

The headroom and legroom are great in the 300M, but I have hopes that they will be adequate in the LS. I agree that the LS sounds much more interesting, but I have not driven one yet. The 300M that I drove did not have the optional sports package, so I can't give it a fair review either.

As for me, I just want my 5KTQ back! It hasn't been running in over 6 weeks and I am getting really impatient. The UrQ is neat, but it needs attention too and the a/c doesn't work (I'm in Dallas).

Todd W

Hi Todd:
Its mysterious when you say there's no closest Audi dealer within 200 miles from your house while most BMW, Mercedes and Lexus dealers are almost everywhere in North America.
I hope your 5000TQ will gets better soon while the Ur-Quattro as a classic. I dreamed of owing an Audi when I was a kid during some rally session saw some Ur-Quattro and Sport Quattro perform flawlessly until I finally owned an A4.
Hope you can go test drive the sports package 300M soon and compares with Lincoln LS-V6. They are all both nice cars but I prefer the package of the LS simply because previous Lincolns are land yachts while the LS feels like a German cars.
Tom
97 A4 1.8TQMS
99 JETTA IV GLS 2.0

I test drove an LS8. I waited months to driv ethe car - it looks cool and seemed promising with all of the hype. The car did not have the steering wheel or interior options shown at that Lincoln web site. The ads say wood and leather, but the brochure and dealer assure that the wood is all fake - old-growth plastic. All could be forgiven with the very reasonable price.

But then the car self-destructs during the test-drive. Every computer system failed. The speedo stopped working during the 75 MPH highway test. The transmission was stuck in third gear. The ABS gave out. The traction control system failed. The dealer could only apologize in embarrassment as they retired the car. Maybe it will be good once they get the bugs out - you know what they say about first year designs.

Hi Mammy:
Its too bad the dealer gave you the improper vehicle for test drive especially those with problems. Lincoln LS is a high expectation vehicle where a lot of people who associated with Lincoln as land yachts will go for a test drive, including myself. Lincoln will definitely lose some potential customers as they don't notice their dealer gave some faulty one for test drive. I have an appointment for LS V8 sports package test drive sometimes before middle of October cause the Canadian allocation of the next 5 months is a complete sold off. Ford Canada has to get some out of the batch for test drive.
Tom
97 A4 1.8TQMS
99 JETTA IV GLS 2.0

modify an existing A8 with the S8 suspension and Wheels, and throw a bit of work into the engine. You will be lacking the 6 speed, but then again, would you really want a car that size in manual?

Ned

The stick shift is essential for the car to truly be an S8. The automatic just takes all the fun out of the sporting aspect of driving. IMHO

Please do not "dis" Saabs which are not GM US based. They are Euro based and I give them much credit for hanging in the US market without good $$help from a bigger auto maker (or even the largest auto maker) such as GM. Remember, Audi is a suped-up VW which is good and also remember that Audi is responsible for many new safty regulations for all cars and trucks. Remember all the recall and accidents caused by Audi. Audi, Saab, BMW, Benz, Volvo's and Jag's are all good and exciting cars.

This discussion died long ago, let it rest.