Lucas

Today we had a quattro experience day.<br>It was run by Astre German Automotive who is the Australian distributors for Audi.<br>The instructors where Brad Jones (Australian TOCA Champion 1998), Team driver Cameron McConville and a guy called Kai-Uwe Jochims (Mainiac & Great Driver)<br>Besides all the usual stuff of wet road control ,slalom to get the hang of quattro and ABS usage, there was a legendary demonstration of what quattro can really do by Kai-Uwe (You gotta see this guy in action). He had a prepared run of about 700meters around the race track where he took a car full of audi owners around, creating overstear etc on the ride of their life.<br>This guy looked out of control, but he wasn't. Started with a new set of tires on a 2.8 A6Q<br>after 6 runs the belts where showing. It was Great.<br>They had a BMW 318i also at the slalom run, the BMW no comp i definately will never buy one now, it was a wet sponge compared to the A4's.<br>Also I got to drive the new 1999 1.8TQM with 180HP.<br>First impression was the clutch pedal felt in the right position, the clutch releases about half way down, not at the top of the pedal.<br>180HP, big improvement in torque over old 150HP model.<br>New allow wheels, look very similar to the Ronal R28.<br>Trip Computer now standard.<br>Every thing else was cosmetic.<p>Otherwise I wished i video taped that Kai-Uwe guy doing his stuff.<br>If he ever comes over to USA for Audi check him out, then there should some cheap ex-demo<br>cars for sale after he finnishes with them.<br>

Jim S

Just curious..

Lucas

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Graham

<br>What a blast. I did the quattro experience here in Sydney last Tuesday, after going out there on the Sunday to take some photos for the Club Audi Australia magazine and upcoming web site.<p>We had the same demo at the end of the day too, with Kai taking us around on Tuesday and an even more carzy Swedish driver by the name of Jerry was doing the honours on Sunday. And this was in an A8 too, never thought I would see (or be in one) of those being thrown around like a rally car and smoking all four tyres when sliding through 180 degrees to a halt. <p>I too thought the 180hp motor was better than the old stock unit....though still a fair way to go to match yours or even mine.<p>Graham