'Americanized' Spider...

[JeffreyOlson@domain.elided]

In response:

What I meant by the '86 Spider feeling 'Americanized' 
compared to the '78 is primarily due to the additional 
weight, accessories, and trim that seem to clutter the 
car and make it more difficult to maintain.  The 
electric windows and mirrors in particular!  It seems 
absurd to put this equipment in a small convertible and 
dress up the car with spoilers and such.  

I removed the spring spacers on the '78 so the car sat a 
little lower and handled better.  The '86 is stock and 
always seems to be on its tippy toes!  Either way, 
the '78 always felt faster and I definitely could drive 
it more aggressively with more confidence than the '86.  
Don't get me wrong, the '86 is fun but the '78 was 
REALLY fun! 

As for the rear gear ratio, my ignorance shows through!  
I was always under the impression that the 'Euro' cars 
had the 4.10:1 ratio.  Supposedly all are limited-slip?

I once had a '80 'Euro' BMW 635CSI that was about 300 or 
so pounds lighter than the US equivalent and had about 
37 more HP.  Really incredible car compared the the US 
version!  Had a 3.07:1 rear end while the US had a 
3.25:1.  Not a big difference but the 'Euro' car just 
didn't feel right at US highway speeds.  At 100+ MPH the 
gearing was perfect!  Too bad it was such a grey-market 
rust bucket...

Jeff

Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 09:56:34 +0200
From: "Neil Cotie (EED)" <Neil.Cotie@domain.elided>
Subject: Axle ratios

(paraphrased)

From the Euro perspective this is a bit funny - 2 liter 
GTV, Spiders and I think 
also 1750's have always had 4,1 axles and not 4,56.  
4,56 in a 2 liter is North 
America-only, so if anything your '78 should be 
called "Americanized".

I can assure you that a 2 liter with 4,56 on a European 
highway is frustrating.
You buzz along at 5-5,5k rpm, going only around 85-95 
mph, and the bimmers and 
everything else with a motor of 2 liters or more just 
fly by.  

With my warmed-over 2-liter my car's top speed is rev-
limited, not 
power-limited.  To hit 7k rpm in 5th is ridiculously 
easy and you don't even 
feel you're going that fast, except for the noise.  I am 
about to change to a 
4,1 axle to make my ex-Canada GTV quite simply more 
usable and more economical.

Cheers,
Neil
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided