raybarnes

This photo confirms my belief that the ASF holds up very well (sic). :-)

Jkay

that the Jaguar monocoque frame THEORETICALLY is much stronger than the Audi spaceframe, but it actually ended up being weaker.

A sad screwup by Ford/Jaguar.

ryoung

Our SCCA race car has a very good tubular steel space frame. Because the SCCA is trying to control car cost, our class rules prohibit the more expensive but even stronger and more rigid monocoque construction.

There is one exception: The driver's legs extend in front of the front tires. Even though they're surrounded by the space frame, a crush box of monocoque construction is required in the nose for protection of his feet and legs.

<img src="http://www.pccchicago.com/images/paul/midohio/doninforumlasm.JPG">

raybarnes

Once again, very interesting stuff. Perhaps, Jaguar/Ford didn't want to try to be accused of copying Audi, yet by going a different direction, they came up with something that wasn't as good.

Somehow I wonder why they didn't do comparative crash tests between the two models early on in the development process. Wouldn't that have brought up the comparative weakness of the Jaguar frame?

Great posts, I'm enjoying them.

Ray

Jkay

monocoque frames are (normally) stronger than spaceframes. Jaguar used monocoque, Audi used spaceframe. Jaguar's torsional rigidity is well below Audi's. This doesn't have to do with crash-worthiness. It has to do with rigidity, and thus, handling.

Jaguar/Ford has the better TYPE of chassis but bungled it so badly that it actually came out worse.

raybarnes

I'm curious as to how this affects crashworthiness too. Safety is my primary interest in this car.

By the way, when my '97 is freshly washed, it looks somewhat similar to yours - also aluminum silver paint. :-)

Jkay

something about this color steals the blue out of a cloudless sky, and dazzles me still.

raybarnes

I think I know exactly what you mean. I dig this color too, it's pretty close to fine light aquamarine blue.

One thing I've neglected to mention about my '97, the paint finish is still quite lustrous and bright.

Ray

hillpc

I had a huge oak tree come down on my garage during an ice storm in March 2017. Caved in the roof, breaking the structural 2x10 and 2x8 side beams, and was stopped by the A-pillar of my 1997 A8 on a lift while the trans was out, breaking the windshield and denting the A-pillar. (Saved my '67 Firebird 400 convertible on the other lift from any damage.) After I drilled a 3/4" hole in the A-pillar from the inside (on a friend's advice), hoping to pound out the dent from the inside (cutting through the right front sunroof drain hose in the process - aargh!), I saw that the outer A-pillar surface is just cosmetic, with the ASF box underneath for strength. The actual windshield mounting surface had been dented only 0.040". So I needed no body work before replacing the windshield, since the sealant easily took up that small amount. The windshield guy installed a free length of rubber windshield edge molding, saving me the cost of replacing the expensive factory molding. (But it has a cosmetic gap at the top corners. Good enough to get the car on the road.) I decided not to fix the outer dent, just to drive it with a dent. Hell, the car is silver, the aluminum underneath is silver, and paint chipped off of surfaces doesn't make the metal rust. More details about the sunroof tubing repair at https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a8-...illar-2942838/

I'm impressed with the ASF.