Was at a red light, and some guy in a lowered civic sat there and revved me. I ignored him. Kept doing it at every red light. Finally, I revved back. The light turned green, We both popped the clutched and floored it. I felt the quattro distribute the torque, and I shot out. Saw him spin his tires. hehehe. 4 paws on the ground is better than two! :-)<p>Albert Blk 1.8TQ <br>Just 215 miles on it! :0

<br>Guys,<p>I smoked a souped-up Neon last night coming home from a night club. Then I ran into my neighbor's college-aged son's tuned up VW Corrado on the winding highway home. <p>I think we were very close from 0-60 (or he had me slightly beat). I believe I was more torquey at highway speeds. Regardless, I backed off once my speedo went past 100 mph (even though there was no traffic). That's a bit dangerous for my blood!<p>That Corrado is quite a car.......<p>Rick WETT 2.8 A4 Tip<p>

Is this what a4 ownership is all about? I beat a neon, saturn and a B-B-B-BMW in the rain!!??<br>truly pathetic.....it is for this very reason i'm having doubts about considering buying an a4. <p>

Growing tired of bashings in the forums... especially by anonymous posts.<p>98.5 A4QMS2.8 Avant.

Can I get a hallelujah my brother... <br>I have a friend with a Mustang 5liter V8, and he loves how fast it is. Until the faitful day that I dusted him over a long stretch of a curving road; he still doesn't like to talk about that. The kicker is that I was in a 1987 5000 (and I wasn't making payments)<p>Harley<br>

i might be more inclined to get the a4 if the customer base seemed a little more mature.<br>seems fair----- what don't you understand?

Get a life.<p>If your observation truly have a weight in your buying decisions, you need more self-esteem.

<br>Owning an A4 isn't an instant cure for social skills. Are you sure that you would fit in in a more mature crowd?

I'm a 40 year old clinical psychologist who likes to have fun once in a while and take risks on occasion. I enjoy the sporty nature of the A4 and like going head to head with other makes and models. Most of the folks on the board don't mind reading this stuff as long as it doesn't get out of hand. Some folks actually do enjoy reading this stuff.<p>I've been on this board almost two years and came on board originally when I came home from a three month hospital stay after I had been nearly killed in the 95 S6 I had bought three weeks earlier. As far as I know the accident had nothing to do with excessive speed, but may have been tied to my trusting quattro too much. <br>Basically, a Ford Escort wagon barreled through my passenger side and came within 12 inches of me. I was told the driver's compartment was the only survivable seat area. The other driver broke her heel. <p> I had a severe head injury so I don't remember anything about the accident. It was raining so hard they couldn't find skid marks. Anyway, I was unconscious for seven weeks and barely made it. The docs said they wouldn't have been able to save me five years earlier.<p>Currently, I walk with a limp and my speech isn't quite back yet after two and a half years. I may never fully recover. Excuse me if I enjoy my car's potential on occasion.<p>Rick <br>

You ALL brag about beating this car and that car ON THE STREET! But except for the guys in NorCal A4, I don't see A SINGLE ONE OF YOU at a REAL racing event! So you beat a hopped up Civic, that don't mean CRAP! The guy also could have been some dork who didn't fix his car up correctly (only for SHOW like some others around), or also might have been a very poor driver. If you really want bragging rights, GO to a local AutoX and THEN see how you do up against REAL drivers. You'll probably go running home with your tail between your legs when some ex National Champ in a Civic shows you what a real diver can do up against your show car. Even Joe Goeke from Team Butt Heat, a way, WAY, better driver than I am (in an A4) got 3rd place in the Nationals - 1st going to a stock Integra! And it is exactly this crap that is turning me off to A4's!<p>And before you try blasting me for my other post about the M3, JUST REMEMBER, . . . I HAVE been racing for years, and have the trophies and newsletters to back it up!

I bought the A4 because I had thought it was a great car, and that it was an enthusiest's car with a long racing heritage and a Car Club (with active members) to join as well. Boy was I ever wrong! All I see is stoplight drag racers and lowered showboats. And these type of bull dropping comments above sure are NOT going to endear the A4 to other FUTURE buyers. Hell, I own an A4 now, and it is making me sour on it!<p>And you want to bash me for my comments? Sure, go ahead, . . . but FIRST before you do, . . . . you had better go to an AutoX with me and BEAT ME for the RIGHT to do it! Otherwise SHUT UP! And so far as I can tell, . . . SteveS, Corey, Cathleen, Sharon, and Jack are the ONLY ones so far with that RIGHT! And though they haven't beat me yet (because we are too far away to compete), at least they DO know what they are doing/saying.<p>And UnAbimMer - go for the M Coupe!

Please unabimmer buy an A4 and be on our side! I'm sadened by the fact that you don't wan't to be associated with the A4 community. Buying a new car is a big decision and all things must be taken into account. Such as who else is driving them. I swore that if my neighbor Bill, who I can't stand, bought one I would have to get something else. But I got lucky, he bought a Ford. A4 ownership isn't about anything. First and foremost it's safe transportation. Anything after that is a plus. I believe most people like it because there are many after market parts that one can use to individualize the vehicle. A car is nothing more than 4 wheels and and an engine. It doesn't define who we are. First and foremost I am a husband and a son and a friend. Then I am an airline pilot, an owner to my dog, and someday a father to my children. That is who I am and it is incidental that for 3 or 4 years I drive an Audi. Sure it's fun but it is not who I am.

Why don't you sell the sport of Auto-X in a positive way instead of bashing people. You will probably get more people interested. I'm planning on taking an Auto-X course next season to see if I'm interested in it.<p>Mark (98.5 2.8 QMS)

Albert just bought his A4. I remember my first few launches in the rain. It's part of what makes Quattro fun. Actually, it never stops being fun.<p>Mark (98.5 2.8 QMS)

Where I live some of the Brothas drive E36 BMWs and Acura legends. If you were to see how they look while driving you would think that they couldn't see over the Dashboard. The seat is leaned way back; they have their wrists over the top of the steering wheel. And they stare at everyone with a mean look. They act as if they are on top of the world. I don't see any brothas posing behing the wheel of an A4. Except for me I don't see any brothas driving A4's at all. My point is that I can understand not liking a car because of its associations. But sometimes you can deprive yourself of something really good. For me to say I would never own a BMW E36 because of the people that are driving them is stupid. But it's also true. In the northeast, the A4 owners are conservative. I see a lot more jerks driving BMWs than I do Audis. Its all in the demographics.

Got the 1.8T and wants to AutoX with us. Remember me talking about that?<p>I think he's just enjoying his first moments behind a new car. His FIRST new car.<p>That's all.<p>:)<p>Chris Gröos

I've been reading the forum for a couple of months now and I'm impressed by the shared knowledge and enjoy the spirit of the discussions, generally. But when I read owners brag about beating this car or that on the street it makes me laugh. I mean, the A4 is not even a fast car. And racing on the street with some stranger is foolish. <p>I have my own reasons for orderng the A4. But like Mike suggested, this play racing crap is distasteful, and if this is what A4 owners are into, it makes me wonder if I made the right choice.<p><br>

Mike already knows my standing on drag racing in an A4....I don't condone anything exceedly fast on surface streets...But the comment I don't understand is the one "I am wondering if I made the right choice". Why would what other drivers do have a bearing on whether or not you buy a car?. I don't get it. I buy a car on its merits....nice well put together european sport sedan that looks and drives fantastically. I really don't care what other drivers do that also have A4s.<p>Crazy drivers buy all kinds of nice cars....does that mean you wouldn't consider the car just because you saw some idiot driving in an unsafe manner. Its the person, not the car.<p>One other thing, I like the fact that A4s are still less prevalent than BMWs. I only see a few on the freeway and surface streets. In California, BMWs are a dime a dozen...they are everywhere....both being driven crazily and like the little old lady from Pasadena.<p>This is not a flame...I am just trying to understand your comment and mikes.<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM

First off, who cares if you (whoever started this chain) won some street race with a Honda/Toyota, BMW/whatever. Great for you. The audi isn't a dragster and will lose a lot of these races.<p>As for those who are bashing all of the rest of us A4 owners based on the tired ramblings of a few wantabees who have way too much time on their hands, you also need to take a look at yourself. If you bought your car because you wanted to belong to a certain sterotypical group of owners, you need to get real: THERE ARE SOME REAL *******S WHO OWN AUDI A4's!<p>I bought my 98.5 2.8QMS Audi because its a great car and I love to drive it. I even love falling in line with M3's, GS400's, and Corvettes twisting through the mountains. If I raced any of these, I would lose, but I don't care, I just love to drive. I hope this is true of many of the rest of you.

Mark, you are correct. But I have been trying that approach and it was not working, so I thought a little shock therapy might help, but I am wrong. Plus it was very late and I had been on the road for over 8 hours, and every bone in my body is aching from all the walking (and uphill/downhill) at Laguna Seca. So I was a wee bit cranky. Sorry :(

Steve, I was getting tired of my Ford Contour SE, and I was looking for another car. As I was somewhat starting to get those old SCCA urges, I was looking for a car that was sporty and fun to drive. But except for the RX7, I was not interested in any other Japanese made car (after having had a Mirage Turbo, CRX Si, and the GF's Honda Accord - all feeling a bit "lite", and I had gotten spoiled by the solid feel of the Contour which was designed in Europe - aka: Mondeo ), so I was looking for a Euro car, specifically a German car. At first I was looking at Golf GTi, then the Jetta, . . . . but wanted a wee bit more room. So I saw the new Passat, wow! But then a friend told me to look at the Audi A4. Well, at first I thought nah! I remember all too well back when I wanted the old Coupe (couldn't afford the Quattro Coupe sadly), way too many folks told me about the lack of dependability and the high co$t of parts & labor. I also remember about how many clunker 5000's I see on the road and said YECH! But then I saw that the A4 was being raced in Europe, and so thought to myself Hmmmm, . . . . I could get the A4 and have a car that races on the track and can root for, as well as see on TV. Then I heard about the Quattro Club and thought GEE, a Car Club too! Instantly it brought back FOND memories of my old Triumph and Lotus Car Club days, and so I thought I could finally get together with folks that thought the same as I did - Sports Car RACING.<p>Now, it did help that I really liked the style of the A4, so it was almost a no brainer. I will admit, I have ALWAYS loved the BMW's, specially the E30 M3 (oh those fender flares and POWER!), but because too many have BMW's here, and I had it in the back of my head that they were too priced out of my range, I got the A4. Now, some will say "why did I get the Auto/TIP"??? Cause at the time I didn't know the AutoX bug would hit me, and very hard. And so I also decided on the A4 because with the Tip, I could have the Auto for when in heavy traffic, and the TIP for my "sporting" moods. Then the AutoX bug DID hit me, and now I am not competitive because of the trans, and I have also found I am in the lower SCCA classes that are not as quick as the classes I was used to being in.<p>So now, the TIP is not competitive, then add that there is hardly the turnouts to meetings as I was used to, the posts about dangerous drag racing (as well as the fact that in the old days, a true SPORST CAR nut looked at drag races as lepers), the main trend of most to just make their car only look good, the LACK of any comradrie (which I again was looking for as in the old clubs I was in), and being the only Audi (except for Gary) to show up at AutoX events here in SoCal - well it has really put a sour taste in my mouth for the choice I made. I had thought I was not just buying a car, but also getting back some of my old fun times with the guys. So there IS a point (for me) where what others do, influences my buying decision.<p>Now on the other hand, in just a few short days this weekend, I found more of what I was searching for with the BMW crowd than I found here in 6 months. And THAT IS going to have an effect on me for my next purchase. Well, that, and the fact that the M3 (after having drivien it now for more than a test drive) has proven to me that I CAN be competitive in it, and even more so in the M Coupe. <p>Now this is NOT a reflection on you Steve, nor Corey, Jack, Sharon, Cathleen, Robert, Lake, and the so very few of you others who DO have the proper enthusism, but you guys are just too far away, and the list is too damn small.<p>And in closing, . . . . I am reminded of an old add in a magazine for the Triumph Spitfire. It pictured a guy and girl in the car next to a WWII Spitfire fighter plane. The caption read: "Not only do you get a car and a girl, but a piece of history". Well, when I bought the Audi, I had mislead myself thinking not only was I buying a car, but that I was buying into racing history, and though not a girl (mine is STILL backordered from Triumph!!!!! <G>), a group of people that were also into racing like myself.<p>I hope I made my points clear enough.

Cause I only still have my old 1/24 CLASSIC cars:<p>Cox LaCugaracha<br> including: 1 Ferrari 330 P4 body<br> 1 Chapparell body kit with tall movable wing<p>Classic Stinger (with large spoiler that would pop up during braking)<p>Home built special with rewound French motor and a genuine Cheteah body kit<p>And if you want to go HO scale, I still have my complet Aurora "Stirling Moss" racing set and over 50 various Aurora and Tyco cars. And from what I remember:<br>Maseati Merak<br>AC Cobra LeMans Coupe<br>AC Cobra<br>Ferrari 512 LM<br>Ford GT40<br>Ford "J" car (RARE)<br>Ford Mustang<br>Ford Torrino<br>and many more that I can not remember (cuz its all still at the parent's house). I also have an original Lionel train set that my Grandfather had owned too!

We'll put! Short and sweet.

been there done that ------HORRIBLE CAR!!! gives me the willies about going AWD again.

Too many BMWs-yes, Too many MB-yes, Too many Audis-getting there.....None of<br>these cars are as 'exclusive' as they used to be and anyone who buys an a4 thinking<br>they are ' exclusive' is foolish....I see as many of them as any other brand, B-B-B-BMW included.<br>I'm not buying a car because of what other drivers do with it I was only commenting on<br>something caught my attention.....and i'm pissed that its been turned around as the sole<br>buy or not buy an A4.

And I fully appreciate that my decision to buy the A4 should not depend upon the childish bravado over foolish driving behavior displayed on this forum by a few owners. <p>But there's an ethos associated with car models over time; certain people seem to buy certain cars. It's one of the reasons I don't want to drive a BMW. <p>Like you, I've owned a lot of cars. For me, mostly either British or Japanese. This time around I wanted a piece of the German driving experience, and my wife wanted 4-wheel drive since we live in the Northeast, and neither of us wanted an SUV. I often spend years contemplating my next car purchase; the '99 A4 was a well-considered and logical choice. <p>You're right, crazy drivers buy all kinds of cars. But I've never seen so much street racing nonsense as I do on this forum from enthusiast owners of the other cars I've owned (among them: a couple of old MG's, Miata, Fiat Spyder, '66 Mustang, Prelude, Saab (which I admit sucked)). Call me a snob, but I'd prefer to be associated with owners who restrict the bravado to the track. Especially since the A4 is a sedan with average street performance ability.<br>

......I appreciate your points and I respect the fact that you're in to AutoX. I also respect your and Steve S's comments about drag racing on the street. It's just plain dangerous.<p>I really got my adreneline pumped up with the hopped up Neon on because there were a bunch of loud, obnoxious, and probably drunk high school or college kids in the car and I wanted to simultaneously show them what a real German car could do AND I wanted to get as far away from them as possible.<p>The Corrado I mentioned belongs to a friend/neighbor's son and I wanted to test my car against a VW Corrado, which I really respect (and said so in my post). I didn't realize I was going so fast (with that sweet, smooth V6) and backed of my speed as soon as I could. <p> I pretty much try to stay within 10 mph of posted speed limits and so 99.9% of the time I'm legal or close to legal on the road. I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in four years. I don't need to be reminded by others to drive safely after my big accident. I'm reminded of it every day when I try to walk or talk. <p>I do detect a hint of something that bothers me about your posts. There's a bit of an *air of superiority* that comes out toward people who aren't racing their cars professionally. I believe there's more to this car than professional racing.<p>We're all driving enthusiasts, and German car enthusiasts in particular - wherever we drive our cars: streets, race tracks, or autoxing events.<p>Part of my enthusiasm about the A4 is that it is a quick car (not fast, but quick). Even with the Tip (the sloshamatic) the car is fun to drive. With the installation of a good ECU chip, the auto A4's performance is very close to a stock manual's.<p>There's not many ways for just plain "street drivers" like me to show our enthusiasm for our cars. I'm not skilled enough to get involved in professional racing events. I'd really be afraid I'd damage my car. So I dabble in a little "one upmanship" on the road. I try to keep my behavior legal or close to legal at all times.<p>For me, the thrill of driving fast is not where it's at. I like well done transitions: 0-60 and 60-0, cornering, and high RPM driving. It's the feel and the sound of the engine, the feeling of weight and purpose of the car, and the sensation of G-forces on the corners. It's kinda hard to explain. You know what I mean.<p>But, these are things all of us can enjoy, not just the professional racers among us. The A4 is one hell of a well-balanced car. It's quick, safe, beautiful, and a good point A to point B car. I think all of us can appreciate this fine machine, not just professional racers. :-)<p>Rick<br>

I'm getting pretty turned off too by the (increasing?) focus on blowing off one car or another from stop lights or on the Interstate. As fun as it surely is, it is exactly the behaviour that gives sports cars ridiculous insurance rates and allows municipalities to focus on speeding. And as you indicate - it proves nothing in terms of driving skill.<p>IMO there's a world of difference between testing your limits on a lightly travelled part of Rte 100 in VT or PCH than racing stop light to stoplight or pegging the speedo on the freeway. (Talk about missing the point....get a Starsky and Hutchmobile if you want to drag, not a tautly sprung, free -reving, light weight, balanced sport sedan.<p>Similarly anyone who has spent anytime on the race course ( as either a driver or spectator) knows there is a huge difference between race driving...even closed course Point2point rally or Autox...and street performance.<p>In any event I think there is a world of difference in the slanging matches that exist on this board about who's got the better brand/faster car and your post.

Rick, I in no way mean to give off a "air of superiority", no way. Those who know me can tell you I am far from that. Perhpas what you confuse with that is my frustration with those who absolutely refuse to try an AutoX, yet continually drag race on the streets, and have no skills or temperment at all for it. Lets just say, . . . . that we ALL do have that urge to splurge on the streets once in awhile, and I can understand that. But to do it when not knowing what you are doing, nor what to do in case of an emergency manuever is needed, is dangerous to us all. So even IF you don't like to AutoX, I would still STRONGLY urge you to go to at least one, or at the bare minimum, go to one of the Audi Club Driving Schools, before you take your life, and the lives of others around you, into your hands. Then at least you have some idea of what to do, or the limits of your and your car.<p>A case in point, reflexes. As I have AutoX'd for years, as well as driven through many winters in Chicago, and even an ICE Race once in awhile, I have a builtin response to when the rearend of the car breaks away - countersteer. I don't even think about it, I just do it. Now, if you are new to all this, and you try to drag race someone and while doing so hit a patch of water and start to wipeout, you don't have that instant response, nor the knowledge of what to do in that situation. So what happens? You might wipeout big time, maybe roll over, or slam into a car with a family and kill them. In certain situations, IF you even have to stop and think about what to do, its too late. And these responses are learned through time and practice, AutoX or Schools. And an AutoX is actually a VERY safe place to do this at, and you won't wreck your car. Hell, my car is in MORE danger in a parking lot, than on an AutoX course.<p>Anyway, at LEAST go to a Driving School - its not all about racing. They put you on skid pads and braking tests to see what your skills are, then teach you what you need to know to be a BETTER driver. THEN go ahead a drag if you want, but at least you can handle both yourself and your car better. And those who think they are TOO GOOD for this (yet never have done it), are only fooling themselves and please don't drive fast near me or my family!<p>So I hope this dispells what you thought of as an "air of superiority", and instead more instructional.

Good for you........................your choice of vehicle obviously means enough to you<br>that you spending time on this bb instead of over at the porn sites.<p>please do not assume what my reasons are in choosing a car as you don't know them.