Re: Alfa patriotism

[JJK1204@domain.elided]

In a message dated 2/10/00 2:18:30 PM Central Standard Time, V3rd3go@domain.elided 
writes:

<< Is an Audi as involving to drive as an Alfa ? Never ! Can you ever feel an 
 easy comarderie with a BMW like your Alfa ? Never ! Can either of these cars 
 smoke our nicely styled Italian butts ? YES !
 
 April
 '87 Milano Verde
 214,700 (s)miles
 OK I'll climb into the bomb shelter now
  >>
No flames from me, as an owner of an 87 Audi 5000 Turbo Quattro which I can 
compare to my 87 Milano Platinum I will admit that in acceleration and skid 
pad types of driving the Quattro is quicker. In the snow, with the same make 
and model tires the Quattro kicks Alfa butt bad. But last October at Road 
America at Elkhart Lake I compared the two on the 4 mile road course. I admit 
that first, I am not a very good driver, second that my Milano's engine is 
tired and third, that I had better, not wider tires on the Alfa. The Milano 
is so sweet. The Audi is a boat. After a couple of laps on Saturday I blew 
the front donut on the Alfa, towed it home and drove the Audi back for 
Sunday. After a tech inspection I went out for three laps, one warm-up and 
two hot ones. Then I parked it and watched. Besides turning much slower times 
that the Alfas time, it was frightening in the corners with way too much body 
roll in front. Just too much weight in over and in front of the front wheels. 
Admittedly the cars are quite different in their intended markets, I'm sure 
that a Ur-Quattro, the original coupe, would avail itself far better than my 
wife's highway cruiser.

John Katos

------------------------------