RE: Audi A9: Will It Be A Coupe?

[Zod]

They sell the A8 with fwd in some markets, I believe.

[Mermaid]

Zod said:

They sell the A8 with fwd in some markets, I believe.

Thanks

I was not aware of that, but really can't see much take-up of the fwd version.

[VictorMeldrew]

Mermaid said:

Thanks

I was not aware of that, but really can't see much take-up of the fwd version.

Not sure that's true any more. My 2.8 A8 was 2WD, but I think from 2004 on they are all 4WD.

Someone moaned that Audi don't have any RWD cars in their range - why would they make RWD when 4WD is superior? That would be like deciding to built three wheelers because Reliant managed with only three.

Personally I think an A9 coupe could work - but I'm struggling to imagine the LWB variant! Caught my first sight of an A7 on the road yesterday, in black, and I have to say that while I couldn't see the point before now, and I thought it looked, well, Panamera-ish, on the page, it certainly has presence in the metal. An A9 you would guess will be more of the same. The idea of a softtop this size is appealing - presumably this is something being enabled by the new mixed materials platform Audi are moving to - as if I wanted a 4 seater softtop at the moment I'd have to trade down considerably from the A8 to the A5.

The A2 is possibly making a comeback by the way - which is great, we had one and I'd get another, they are fantastic little tardis's and it was a realshame when it went out of production.

[Zod]

"4wd is superior"?

You're going to have to justify that rather extraordinary claim.

[Mermaid]

VictorMeldrew said:

The A2 is possibly making a comeback by the way - which is great, we had one and I'd get another, they are fantastic little tardis's and it was a realshame when it went out of production.

My A2 is 7 years old, and yet looks a timeless design and people take notice of it - mostly positive.
Autocar mentions the replacement "could be 800kgs - using Audi's new multimaterial space frame (MSF) technology. MSF mixes steel, aluminium and fibre-reinforced plastics - using rivets,screws and bonding - into a single structure and will replace Audi's pure-aluminium ASF constuction. Thus technology will be used on all future models, for the A4 up to the Q7". Vorsprung durch Technik.

[Essex Exile]

The Skoda Complete and utter bks, has got a ring to it

[Mermaid]

Zod said:

"4wd is superior"?

You're going to have to justify that rather extraordinary claim.

Would you have opted for a 2wd X5 it it was available?

It's horses for courses.

[VictorMeldrew]

Zod said:

"4wd is superior"?

You're going to have to justify that rather extraordinary claim.

As the owner of a 4WD Audi and a 2WD TVR actually I don't think I am.

[Zod]

VictorMeldrew said:

s the owner of a 4WD Audi and a 2WD TVR actually I don't think I am.

Oh, here's the authority: Victor has an Audi and a TVR and he declares that 4wd is superior.

Do you live in Siberia, Victor, with mud to cope with whenever you are not snow- and icebound?

[blearyeyedboy]

Personally, I'm looking forward to the A0 skateboard.

[Zod]

Mermaid said:

Would you have opted for a 2wd X5 it it was available?

It's horses for courses.

Of course I wouldn't and of course it's horse for courses, making Victor's statement ridiculous.

Would I opt for a 4wd DB9 or M5? No.

[Mermaid]

Zod said:

Mermaid said:

Would you have opted for a 2wd X5 it it was available?

It's horses for courses.

Of course I wouldn't and of course it's horse for courses, making Victor's statement ridiculous.

Would I opt for a 4wd DB9 or M5? No.

& yet Porsche 911 Turbo fans would not have expected a 4wd for this ultimate symbol of motoring pleasure. And many looked down it in the early days. I don't rule out a 4WD M5 (I expect it would be better than an Audi 4WD system).

A 4WD M3/GT3 - now that's more unlikely.

[hornetrider]

Mermaid said:

& yet Porsche 911 Turbo fans would not have expected a 4wd for this ultimate symbol of motoring pleasure.

Is the Turbo 'Ultimate'? Or would that be the GT2?

[Zod]

Mermaid said:

& yet Porsche 911 Turbo fans would not have expected a 4wd for this ultimate symbol of motoring pleasure. And many looked down it in the early days. I don't rule out a 4WD M5 (I expect it would be better than an Audi 4WD system).

A 4WD M3/GT3 - now that's more unlikely.

but would you rather have a turbo or a GT3?

[Mermaid]

hornetrider said:

Mermaid said:

& yet Porsche 911 Turbo fans would not have expected a 4wd for this ultimate symbol of motoring pleasure.

Is the Turbo 'Ultimate'? Or would that be the GT2?

Sorry I forgot about the GT2 for there are so few , and a rare beast on the road. And AFAIK both cars were introduced around the same time in 1995 - a few months apart maybe.

The 993 Turbo was the "mass" market product.

[Mermaid]

Zod said:

but would you rather have a turbo or a GT3?

In my younger, and many days and at the 'Ring, the GT3 of course.

But now on the pot holed rainy streets of Blighty....

[fatboy b]

Zod said:

Mermaid said:

Would you have opted for a 2wd X5 it it was available?

It's horses for courses.

Of course I wouldn't and of course it's horse for courses, making Victor's statement ridiculous.

Would I opt for a 4wd DB9 or M5? No.

I think it's a given that 4wd is superior in normal road conditions where you want to press on a bit around the bends and get off the line in the wet. My E46 M3 used to struggle like crazy to pull out of a side road on to a main road in busy traffic. The A5 Quattro takes it in it's stride.

[Zod]

fatboy b said:

I think it's a given that 4wd is superior in normal road conditions where you want to press on a bit around the bends and get off the line in the wet. My E46 M3 used to struggle like crazy to pull out of a side road on to a main road in busy traffic. The A5 Quattro takes it in it's stride.

All you need is the MDM mode in DSC that the CSL, M5 and M6 have that allows slip, so you don't get that infuriating situation where DSC keeps cutting the power to the wheels. It's never going to get off like a 4wd in the wet, but it's more fun.

[Mermaid]

Zod said:

fatboy b said:

I think it's a given that 4wd is superior in normal road conditions where you want to press on a bit around the bends and get off the line in the wet. My E46 M3 used to struggle like crazy to pull out of a side road on to a main road in busy traffic. The A5 Quattro takes it in it's stride.

All you need is the MDM mode in DSC that the CSL, M5 and M6 have that allows slip, so you don't get that infuriating situation where DSC keeps cutting the power to the wheels. It's never going to get off like a 4wd in the wet, but it's more fun.

Not every M/RS driver is a superior driver/petrolhead familiar with all the technical issues, and a very tiny percentage want fun all the time... times have changed

E30 M3's - 15k built, E46 M3 = 90k?
Audi S2 = 2000, RS4 B7 - 15k

Ownership has been broadened and diluted.

[Zod]

If BMW take that element out of the M cars, they will have killed the ethos (and the X5 M /X6 M are well on the way to doing so). If the car is just a fast car that is easy to drive and doesn't reward skill, then what is the point? I don't want to sound like one of the resident chestwig wearers, so I'll add that I approve of BMW's fitment of sophisticated traction control and braking systems, but it's nice to be able to switch them off and also, even when they are active to be rewarded for driving well.