Picked up my new 1990 CQ! (long)

[Jimmy Pribble]

I like it!

- a billion miles
- red (needs a paint job)
- Abt springs (Anybody know the rate on these?)
- BOGE Turbo Gas shocks
- aftermarket strut bar
- Delrin bushings
- no rear swaybar, but the PO had begun the retrofit (I just need a rear subframe from a '91 CQ or I need to do some welding)
- Schroth Rallye 3 harness

Otherwise, the car is stock. Here are my general impressions (keep in mind that my previous car was an UrS4, so much of this is the inevitable comparisons):

* The suspension is tight. I'm guessing that the Abt springs are more firm than most. It's my understanding that this was the case with the Abt UrS4 application. I'm sure the (squeaky) Delrin bushings also tighten things up quite a bit.

* Pedals are closer together than in the UrS4. I keep catching the brake when I clutch-in. I'll adapt.

* Shifter throw is better and shorter, although I prefer Reverse to be up and to the left, off of the "H" (UrS4), rather than down and back (CQ).

* Gauges are a bit better than the UrS4. Even though the light-grey faces of the UrS4 have nice gee-whiz factor and look really sharp during the day, at night they are difficult to see and in mid-light (like at dusk), they are practically impossible to read. The CQ gauges have the same style (very legible), but are in the more traditional white-on-black, so legibility is never a problem day or night. Also, the UrS4 wastes one of the gauge spots on an analog clock. The CQ has a nice digital clock in the tach, which frees up a spot for the voltmeter, making a complete compliment of gauges. The UrS4 gets points for having all of the gauges up top, rather than the Audi-style pod down near the gearchange lever.

* Trip computer. Only the '92 UrS4 had one, so I didn't get one in my car. Nice to have, except it is showing that I am only getting 18-22 mpg! Is that normal? Maybe I will pull the fuse on that thing. That is depressing to drive a slow car AND have bad gas mileage.

* The CC head unit has good functionality, but it looks like it came out of my dad's 1977 Pontiac. Can the modern head units be retrofit?

All in all I am very pleased with this car. With it being at least 665 lbs. lighter than my last car, I expect I will have much more fun in the twisties and on the track with this car, especially with its very tight suspension.

As I have already mentioned, this car will be the recipient of the UrS4 motor and tranny in a few months. In the meantime, I will be fixing up the other aspects of the car to get it ready (wheels, tires, brakes, etc.). I will be documenting the conversion on my site and I will drop links, when I do stuff.

This is a good group! Thanks for the advice and good flow of information.

Later,

[®ob]

my Dad STILL has one of those...Grand Prix with a 455 in it...but it doesn't have that climate control...but it does have one snazzy 8 track player if you would like to upgrade yours

[Zamboni]

The climate control head unit is actually a GM sourced part! I've seen it in several late 80's Cadillacs.
You should check out http://www.20v.org. It's the bible for these cars. The 20v list on Rennlist is also very active.
http://www.rennlist.org/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=audi20v

B.Stern
1990 Lago Blue Coupe Quattro
72k miles