New Addition

[KaraK]

As most of you are probably aware from sonic's earlier post (linky) there has been a new addition to the Fearless Fleet(TM) - me, sonic and our mate dan have all pitched in and bought S4Miss' old urS4 to act as our new track beastie. Anyway I took the opportunity today (given the fact that it is a Bank Holiday and unhealthily sunny) to give the car a quick going over. While I doubt Fatty has anything to worry about she scrubbed up respectably:

[macspring]

Nice,

seems too nice to track?

[Acidburn]

Speak to knight rider s4, he might have the boot lid panel sonic damaged in the accident, as above still seems a bit nice to track but since thats what its been brought for.

Not sure if its just the pictures but the front wheels look spaced out more than the rear

[S2central.net]

I dunno why you'd buy an Avant just to whore it round a track... Thats what Coupes & Saloons are for... Looks too nice as others have said.

I'm not saying a well driven / sorted Avant can't be quick or fun on the track - its just not really supposed to be there - except as a chase / crew / support vehicle complete with tow bar to bring the tracktoy out to play... That's what I would do in fantasy land !!

[S2central.net]

I might even buy it off you if the price is right !!!!!

[Knight Rider S4]

Sure there is rear lights still on the Audi 100 avant that is getting stripped ..

Just checked


Same apart from reverse lights

[Key Walshe]

Quick reply to the estate car insult here

BTCC 1994, Volvo 850 estate. Some thought it was merely a marketing campaign to generate interest and kudos in what was becoming a stagnant brand! However, it was proven in wind tunnel tests by TWR that the estate car was more aerodynamic than the saloon version. Not just that, it offered more downforce due to the long, flat roof over the saloon. The only reason they stopped racing it in 95 was the rule change allowing rear wings, making the estates redundant as their advantages were lost.

I know racing a car in a professional series, by a huge team like TWR, with the backing of Volvo is a little different to tracking a 15yr old Audi urS4 for fun, but so long as its lightened to the best degree and setup well suspension wise then it should be fun - and quick!! TWR also found that the wider track and length of the 850 (similar sizes to an A6/100) made it very, very stable in fast flowing corners, if a little sluggish on the tighter stuff!

Its a shame to take such a car off the road and onto the track, it looks too complete and tidy for that. But, I see no reason why it can't be done... All the best with it whatever you decide, I say restore it to its best lol

[Acidburn]

agree with the above, also will add that mk1/2 escort estates have been proven to be quicker than the saloons

[KaraK]

how did I know this was going to re-ignite the avant vs the world holy war again?

I'll have to admit that although I'm aware of some of the advantages an estate config can potentially offer on track (stability etc) I'd probably have to say that a part of me (and I can't necessarily speak for the other two here) just likes the idea of doing something a little bit different. You don't see that many fast estates on track - and who wants to do the same as everyone else?

The track car project has begun as andy spent a good chunk of saturday afternoon removing large amounts of the interior

Knight Rider - so you think the bit off the 100 should fit ok?

[Acidburn]

karak - afaik that bit will fit fine, you'd need both sides plus the numberplate panel as its not a 1 piece section like whats on yours afaik.

Get some cop lights behind the grill for combe

[S2central.net]

Oh well - there's another perfectly good Avant 'ruined' then... Just cos its 'different' dont always mean its good. Sure they can be quick and fun as I said earlier - just not what the Avant was built to do and it looks stupid on a race track IMHO. Thats why you don't see them often. Each to their own though - theres tons of cheap untidy Coupes about that would have been ultimately better suited to this project than what looks to be a tidy S4 Avant.

If its to be a full time trackday car - then it needs to be fully stripped, lightened, caged (and painted white) before you do anything else. You could have started with a much untidier car - why step 1 of the project was to wash it I'll never know. Oh no - Step 1 was to crash it on the way home.

I'm not coming over well here... I wish you lads luck with the project but I think it is fundamentally flawed from the outset. I'm not saying it can't be quick or fun - just wish you hadn't sacrificed an S4 Avant for the cause - they are rare enough as it is.

Paul

how did I know this was going to re-ignite the avant vs the world holy war again?

I'll have to admit that although I'm aware of some of the advantages an estate config can potentially offer on track (stability etc) I'd probably have to say that a part of me (and I can't necessarily speak for the other two here) just likes the idea of doing something a little bit different. You don't see that many fast estates on track - and who wants to do the same as everyone else?

The track car project has begun as andy spent a good chunk of saturday afternoon removing large amounts of the interior

Knight Rider - so you think the bit off the 100 should fit ok?

[Rusty]

Strip it, cage it, bucket it, add 500bhp and drive it like you stole it. Job done ... those poor, poor tyres... :mischeif:

While coupes are undoubtedly the nicest to look at, the body is pretty wobbly and the suspension a little dated in design... nothing that can't be sorted but at £5k an ABY now, not cheap... if the S4/6 didn't weight more than Jupiter then I'd consider one myself

Mind you, anyone else remember the gold C3 100 avant with the S2 jump in it at ADI a few years ago. Pimpmobile...

And Paul's right, white ones are fastest!

[lind4hl]

the only thing i can say is that avant´s on track looks awesome

good luck

[KaraK]

Paul - if it makes you feel any better the car is nowhere near as tidy as the photos make out, the body work has quite a few dings and scuffs on it and alot of the interior (particularly the seats) really has seen better days. Rest assured we are not taking a minter and shredding it for our own amusement. So yes large amounts of weight reduction and bucket seats are definately in the plan. IMO a well sorted track car is a perfectly respectable 2nd lease of life for a car like this and yes I intend on making sure she is as clean as is feasible

Oh and for the record it wasn't crashed "on the way home" - it was crashed several days later on a routine trip through to windermere to see our mechanic, and as I'm sure you've seen from Andy's thread that certainly wasn't in the plan!

[Sonic]

The order was infact

1) Drive it home
2) Crash it (we know it can surive a crash now, and to be fair it looked like it has been used to ram-raid something before)
3) Strip it
4) Clean it (Notice how i wasnt cleaning it )

After seeing matt and ben's avant's ragging it round the ring no one can tell me the avant's dont go well on track, or even a lazy s8 . I had the "superior rear suspension" line drilled into me when i did the rear brake upgrade on the coupe.

The s4 appears to be in good nick mechanically but ill get some macro shots of the 5" scrape along the rear quarter for you guys. Its never going to be a concours, but then thats not what its for. Nothing wrong with giving it a clean to get the most out of it, something which a few of you will be alien to. And anyway, its got to look good from a distance on track.

The reason the S4 was bought over anything different, avant or coupe, is price. If anyone wants to buy the s4 off me so that i can buy a similar spec'd coupe be my guest! It looks fugly as hell which is why we wont be afraid to give it some ***** on track

That said, i dont think i could bare to see another coupe being destroyed on track