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Audi S5: not enough, or too much? - Page 3

post #31 of 43
4/24/07 at 4:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dormouse View Post
This design is much more inspired than the lackluster A6. Audi, with it's jaded and sterile Bauhausian design philosophy

What's wrong with Bauhaus? Since Audi turned away from it, their cars have looked like abortions. There's not a single Audi now that I would compare favorably with the 2000 model year equivalent, except perhaps the A3.
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post #32 of 43
4/24/07 at 5:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SGladwell View Post
There's not a single Audi now that I would compare favorably with the 2000 model year equivalent, except perhaps the A3.

I agree that the current Audis are lackluster. Probably because they've yet to fully extend themselves from their Bauhausian design philosophy. Merely altering the headlamps and offering a new grille only made them look worse.

Quote:
What's wrong with Bauhaus? Since Audi turned away from it, their cars have looked like abortions.

I think their minimalist stylings work to a certain extent, but there's only so much attitude one can infuse into a brick. The TT was probably their best design. Admittedly, some of their concepts from early 2000 were really stunning, e.g., the Avantissimo and the Steppenwolf when they were first introduced. They've unfortunately lost some of the talent responsible for those designs.
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post #33 of 43
4/24/07 at 7:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LabelKing View Post
Do modern Porsches still have that high-pitched whine of the '60s 911/912 models? Those are so loud in the cabin, conversations aren't quite possible.


The sound you described is either the fan of the air-cooled motor, or the gear box. Modern 911s (post 1998) are water-cooled and overall much more refined for road use, and have lost much of its character (try getting one to lift throttle oversteer). Having said that, on the 996 models, Porsche has engineered the air-cooled "sound" into the motor and you do hear a high pitched whine from the inside of the car when driving. I do not know if this is still the case with the latest 997 models since I have no personal experience.
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post #34 of 43
4/24/07 at 8:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Yew View Post
Audis are like German Honda Accords: competent, but soulless.

--Andre

To me, the "soul" factor of automobiles was lost somewhere in the late 90's with the introduction of modern traction control systems. At the same time, the capability of automobiles have exceeded the capability of the average drivers by a significant margin. The thrill of being "at the limit" is hardly experienced anymore, even at the track, few can do justice to the ability of the cars they are driving.
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post #35 of 43
4/24/07 at 8:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LabelKing View Post
BMWs are the Jocelyn Wildenstein of the car world:

http://wesclark.com/am/jocelyn.jpg

Are you a fan of Amanda lePore?

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post #36 of 43
4/24/07 at 12:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dormouse View Post
I think their minimalist stylings work to a certain extent, but there's only so much attitude one can infuse into a brick. The TT was probably their best design. Admittedly, some of their concepts from early 2000 were really stunning, e.g., the Avantissimo and the Steppenwolf when they were first introduced. They've unfortunately lost some of the talent responsible for those designs.


I hear alot of raves about the first gen TT design, especially when it was introduced. To me, it always looked like a squished VW New Beetle (I guess it basically is). I do think the interior design was/is very nice. I am happy you mentioned the Steppenwolf, this was a fantastic design that was one of Audis greatest imo.
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post #37 of 43
4/24/07 at 1:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tiger02 View Post
Are you a fan of Amanda lePore?


I like Amanda Lepore although she is still well-known for the true cult value which accompanies these types of figures.

If she were a car, she would have to be a custom conversion.
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post #38 of 43
4/24/07 at 3:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tiger02 View Post
Are you a fan of Amanda lePore?

OMG. She's like the Borrelli of women.

--Andre
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post #39 of 43
4/24/07 at 3:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by maomao1980 View Post
Modern 911s (post 1998) are water-cooled and overall much more refined for road use, and have lost much of its character (try getting one to lift throttle oversteer).

Usually TTO (trailing throttle oversteer) is considered a bad handling characteristic due to the 911's backwards design, and I'm happy to drive a more predictable car.

But I agree that modern cars are well beyond the capabilities of 99.9 percent of drivers out there. It's so absurd that 300 HP is not considered ridiculous amounts of horsepower anymore, and heavy uber sedans have to use super wide rubber just to manage their weight.

--Andre
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post #40 of 43
4/24/07 at 9:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by maomao1980 View Post
The sound you described is either the fan of the air-cooled motor, or the gear box. Modern 911s (post 1998) are water-cooled and overall much more refined for road use, and have lost much of its character (try getting one to lift throttle oversteer). Having said that, on the 996 models, Porsche has engineered the air-cooled "sound" into the motor and you do hear a high pitched whine from the inside of the car when driving. I do not know if this is still the case with the latest 997 models since I have no personal experience.

The old Porsches all had comprehensive owner's manuals that described how to set timing, carb.idle, changing filters, and even how to adjust your linkage. I suspect they expected the owners to do most of the basic maintenance themselves.

Try that with a new car, even a really basic Toyota.
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post #41 of 43
4/25/07 at 2:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dormouse View Post
I agree that the current Audis are lackluster. Probably because they've yet to fully extend themselves from their Bauhausian design philosophy.
Quote:
The TT was probably their best design.
I thought the A2, A6, and A8 were all amazing looking, and the A4 was the best looking car in its class. Now the only modern sedans from anyone that aren't just cringeworthy are some of the Volvos and the Citroën C6.
Quote:
They've unfortunately lost some of the talent responsible for those designs.
Yeah, they've pretty much sucked since Freeman Thomas left, and unfortunately his stuff at Chrysler wasn't as good as his Audi stuff. I see his influence in the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, though, which are the best-looking American cars to my eyes since the Chrysler Airflow and Cord 810.
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post #42 of 43
4/25/07 at 2:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LabelKing View Post
The old Porsches all had comprehensive owner's manuals that described how to set timing, carb.idle, changing filters, and even how to adjust your linkage. I suspect they expected the owners to do most of the basic maintenance themselves.

Try that with a new car, even a really basic Toyota.

Most new cars nowaday comes with a plastic cover that keeps almost the entire engine bay undercover. The average Joe wouldn't even know how to remove this cover.
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post #43 of 43
4/25/07 at 2:48am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by maomao1980 View Post
Most new cars nowaday comes with a plastic cover that keeps almost the entire engine bay undercover. The average Joe wouldn't even know how to remove this cover.

Even if he could remove the cover, tinkering with a car run by 20 different computers is entirely a different problem. With the amount of computer controlled electronics found in today's cars, the do-it-yourself days are over, even for gear heads.
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