It was crossing Hoover Dam to the Arizona side this past weekend. Didn't get to see the plates (MFR or otherwise). Silver or tan metallic in color. I did however see the badge and hear the diesel engine/exhaust note.

I hope this means TDI A4's are on the way or being considered.

Yes, they all do testing in that area. It's only 2 hours to death valley and the feds have an epa center on the Nevada/AZ line, not far from Hoover.

Good catch Chris!

Now, what were you doing in the Vegas area?

Mike S

I was in Vegas for Elaine's friends wedding and a short vacation.

Things I saw while in Vegas:

Hoover Dam
3 hookers getting arrested, one was pregnant
Elvis
Neil Diamond
A basketball player with 12 skanks in tow
Tyson Beckford with a mowhawk and goatee, flipping the bird
Some bald guy (maybe a boxer)
lots of fake bewbees (even old ones)
That guy that Paula Abdul messed around with, selling his CDs
B7 TDI
Drove a Solstice on a test track (felt heavy, under powered)
Red Rock Canyon
Joshua trees
California Kingsnake
Chipmonks
Blacktail jack rabbit
Roadrunner
Family of Burros
Ansel Adams Exhibit

What was he doing nealing in Vegas? ; )


Where did you drive the solstice?

We picked up our new Subie Impreza wagon yesterday (stacker car). 2006, new, white with grey/black interior. 5spd, blah, blah.

Dealer gave me a $200 credit for the OEM tires, so it has 225/50-16 Avon M550AS's on it already. Really a nice tire, so far.

Mike S

The Solstice was part of a GM Drive event near the corner of Paradise Road and Sahara Avenue leased by General Motors from the Sahara Hotel & Casino.

Only the Solstice and CTS-V were manuals. Everything else was auto. Funniest car on the track, a Buick.

Cool on the Subie. Next year would be great for a West Coast track event trip.<ul><li><a href="http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/gm_thedrive.html?f=m0at&amp;t=stripat">GM the Drive</a></li></ul>

It was a torque monster and frugal most of the time. It was optioned like an S4, except for the motor. As these cars keep getting heavier with safety and structural rigidity, I am not sure 2 litres of displacement is enough. But it's a step in the right direction. I have been a diesel fan for a long time and I look forward to driving one with common rail injection burning the new low sulfer stuff. Thanks for the info Mike.

It was amazing, especially in that heavy car. I also drove 2.0TDi which had 150hp in stock form...that was in a Golf and that thing could haul ass.
I'd buy a new A3 2.0TDi in a heartbeat. A4 with 3.0 would be really good too!

Basically it's as fast as a B5 S4 stock, but it gets 30mpg city/highway combined.

Would rather have the 3.0 as well, but I'll take the 2.0. 1.9's suck, though, as you noted.

Cheers,

Mike S