Yikes...I need to mod my A6 more...
08-15-2006, 08:15 AM
#1
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Yikes...I need to mod my A6 more...
To keep some miles off my A6, I grabbed my mother's car (04 Bonneville GXP) to do some trips with as she puts no miles on her cars... I was not expecting to like it. She bought the car becuase she liked the color and the seats... go figure. When I first saw it 2 years ago, I was shocked. Carbon fiber trim, 18" wheels, painted calipers, suede inserts and a big honking American Northstar V8. Never really drove it until this past week as they are in Florida for a month.
I drive my A6 over to pick it up with a friend. On the way back, we stopped side by side on a back road. This car pulled away from my A6 off the line and was then side by side for the rest of the run to 60. Crap... my mother's "old lady" car can take me.
Through the corners, I was equally shocked. This car is smooth, tight and has no body roll to speak of (BIG car too.. same weight as the A6).
In general, this car has nothing on the A6 for class or fit and finish. The mix of carbon fiber and cheap plastic are a bit odd. The engine is superb though, and the exhaust note is 100% beautiful. The transmission sucks though, and the torque steer is horrible (way too much power for a FWD car). The steering wheel jerks at full power shifts. Also, it is hard to leave the line above 1/4 throttle without chirping the tires. Needless to say, it ain't no quattro!
Anyway... just a quick suprise and a quick need now for a chip and H-Sports so if I ever come up to my mother on the highway with her casino buddies, I will not be embarresed!!! For a big American car... I was fairly impressed (though not rushing to buy one).
My camera is on the fritz right now, but this is the car (her's is a beautiful deep red pearl though).
<img src="http://www.modernracer.com/images/pontiacbonnevillegxpback1.jpg">
I drive my A6 over to pick it up with a friend. On the way back, we stopped side by side on a back road. This car pulled away from my A6 off the line and was then side by side for the rest of the run to 60. Crap... my mother's "old lady" car can take me.
Through the corners, I was equally shocked. This car is smooth, tight and has no body roll to speak of (BIG car too.. same weight as the A6).
In general, this car has nothing on the A6 for class or fit and finish. The mix of carbon fiber and cheap plastic are a bit odd. The engine is superb though, and the exhaust note is 100% beautiful. The transmission sucks though, and the torque steer is horrible (way too much power for a FWD car). The steering wheel jerks at full power shifts. Also, it is hard to leave the line above 1/4 throttle without chirping the tires. Needless to say, it ain't no quattro!
Anyway... just a quick suprise and a quick need now for a chip and H-Sports so if I ever come up to my mother on the highway with her casino buddies, I will not be embarresed!!! For a big American car... I was fairly impressed (though not rushing to buy one).
My camera is on the fritz right now, but this is the car (her's is a beautiful deep red pearl though).
<img src="http://www.modernracer.com/images/pontiacbonnevillegxpback1.jpg">
08-15-2006, 09:51 AM
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Don't feel bad, my 85yr old Gmother has a SC'd XJ8. She often comments on.....
how she, loves "taking young punks off the line".
She has told me she knows her car is faster than mine. Too funny.
She has told me she knows her car is faster than mine. Too funny.
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08-15-2006, 11:15 AM
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My last 2 cars were bonevilles
and I still see both on a regular basis, sold one to a neighbor, and the other to a coworker. Bonevilles are about the only american car that I can honestly say that I'd consider purchasing another of. the GXP is fast, and decent, and I miss alot of the features that I had in my last one (18 way adjustable seats, heads-up display, perforated leather, room to work in the engine compartment, no timing belt, etc.) for an american car, they handle decently too, and pickup has always been nice. but I will say, I am much happier with the overall experience in my A6 than the Bonnevilles. I don't really care for the suspension used in them (it's good, but not as balanced to me), the tranny is junk (I replaced 2 tranny's in my last one), the tires do cirp and squeal too easily (the new avalons are worse though), BUT I will say, after driving the same drivetrain for so long, I managed to learn the shift points and pedal positioning to near instinct, so I could control the engine and tranny exactly like I wanted to (I could easily get the car to skip gears when needed).
the previous owner of my last car? my 73 year old grandmother (69 when I bought it from her).
the previous owner of my last car? my 73 year old grandmother (69 when I bought it from her).