...get a lot of tickets. Tonight on my way home from Monterey I stopped at a small dealership just to "check out the inventory". As luck would have it, they had a single '03 4.2, Light Silver Metallic/Ebony, Sport, Premium, Cold Weather, On Star, and Parktronic. After I went through the requisite drooling, the only salesman on duty asked me if I wanted to drive it; I of course obliged, as I wanted to once again do the A/B test of stock 4.2 suspension vs. my new Eibach set-up.

To my surprise, he wrote down my driver's license stats, handed me the key, and told me to go have fun with his $54,000 car. (He couldn't leave since he was on duty alone.) I let the car gently warm up while taking surface streets to Hwy. 1 out of Seaside; once on the freeway, I let 'er rip. (No worrys - I didn't do anything that shouldn't be done with a not-yet-broken-in engine.)

I was reminded of how frigging amazing the 4.2 is. Compared to my 2.8, the thing simply explodes. The power, the sounds, even the idle sounds good from the cabin. I gotta have one, period. A little further up the coast, I phoned my sales guy at Rector and "my" 4.2 is still in stock. To make matters worse, he got my 1.9% financing approved today through Audi Financial Services; they'll hold the deal for 30 days. Now all I have to do is sell my 2.8. So far, no luck in that department. The moment it goes, though, I'm joining the 4.2 ranks. Hell - getting tickets in that thing might even be worth it.

Oh, BTW, the 4.2 sport suspension felt fine. It wasn't quite as tight as my Eibach set-up, but it was fine. Damn! Now I can't use that as an excuse to not buy a new car.

- Mike

 

I wonder what it will do heading into Turn 2?

 

I thought that was what the seat belts were for.

I thoroughly love my 2002 4.2, I could care less that a 2.7T will beat me in the 0-60 thing, or that my gearing is pretty tall, or whatever else. If I could go very much faster I would be too dangerous to myself and others.

My brilliant black/ebony A6 with its flared fenders and slightly raised back end is absolutely sex on tires. It is the only 4.2 on the Island of Hawaii, and when I drive up to a hotel and the valet guys come to get the keys, the BMWs, Mercedes Benzs, Jags, and other sundry luxomobiles are ignored stone cold. I always get the question: what is THAT?, etc etc.

If I were you I'd do the deal and trade your 2.8, let it go and forget it. The worst thing about getting the 4.2 was waiting for the break-in period to be over.

Oh, and the sport suspension is a must if you plan to test the speed of the car. My non-sport suspension does float a bit over 100mph.

--BEAU

 

Can you imagine it through the corkscrew?!

 

Have you tried CarMax?

 

The Corkscrew will not be its strength. That's a lot of mass to move through those two turns.

 

No, not yet. Closest branch is in Sac'to. Will keep in mind, though.

 

Helps to have a stealth color and who really expects a wagon (S6) to go that fast.

It's the one thing I like about Audis, just stealthy enough.

 

It is really a great car. I got the sport version and handling and pickup is just excellent. I had ordered a M5 but after a test drive I was sold. Anymore power and I'd really be in trouble.

 

My car got sprinkled outside the restaurant tonight, so to blow the water off, I drove as fast as I could for a block or two every now and then on the way home. No problem getting to 85 and back down before the next light.

And, you can get out of dangerous or questionable situations on the road by simply pressing the gas.... Say there is a weaving car near you, or sitting in someone's blind spot who seem like they may change lanes into you.

Pedal down... problem solved.

Be aware it drinks gas just as fast as it eats up highway. With your job, you'd better be getting ACTUAL expenses for travel, not a mileage allowance. Brutal gas bills.... OK, they're still worth it. But, I don't commute in it.

The 2.7T is a better commuting car, because it only gulps gas when you need it to.