Also, ive got a road test in an Aus mag that comapres STI with Z and Audi. Makes for some good reading. If someone can tell me how to post it, or maybe create a pdf file, ill happily scan the pages.

I have no clue what to do after ive scanned each page

 

As an S4 owner i can attest to that. Love the Z, beautiful car, but it won't beat a well driven AWD car out of the hole

 

Well driven is the key there. As a former S4 owner, I know that if the S4 driver bogs off the line, there is no recovery. If the S4 driver nails it or is close to nailing it, the he's gone til at least second.

 

Well driven is definitely the key, i speak from someone with rather embarrasing experience there, but another lesson learned i guess! How do you like the Z compared to the S4, not really in the same catagory, but in terms of driving excitement ect, it seems like an all around great car, i've been considering geting one for awhile (hence my presence in this forum)

 

They are two different cars. If you are a person with obligations like a family or something that requires cargo and person room, the Z can't be your only car. But as far as driving excitment, Z wins hands down. Plus it gets so much attention. I just went on a roadtrip this weekend from NY to MD to VA to WV. I had no less than 20 people on the highway either ask me about the car or give me the thumbs up. Don't get me wrong, i loved the S4. It was just way to unreliable. Too much went wrong.

Are you on audiworld?

 

I had a race with a modified wrx sedan(loud exhaust,?) First was a rolling start My Z beat it easy. Second race off the line. Damn the wrx had the first jump at the green light. Got me about a car length to 70mph. I was slowing gaining on him before we had to slow up for the light coming up. Those wrxs have a good launch.

 

I don't want to pick a fight with anyone here but why don't you guys see the Mid Ohio threads and ask the Z guys who was passing who a few weekends ago... I have a WRX and it's on the stock turbo and boost.

I'll give you a hint... I didn't have to let a Z by the entire weekend.

 

You will prolong the life of the clutch if you dump it.... But by doing this, you also shorten the life of your transmission. If you slip the clutch out during a launch, you will decrease the life of the clutch, but you prolong the life of your transmission.

Now, If you had to chose which to replace on your car, would you chose to replace your clutch, or your gearbox?

I personally would rather replace a clutch on my car....much cheaper than a new transmission.

 

The auto mags will tell you that you should dump the cluctch at high revs simply because they do not own the car. They beat all cars to an inch of their lives to receive the 0-60 times and the 1/4 times that they print up. They don't care if the tranny breaks.... they don't have to repair it...

But if you actually own the car, you definitely do not want to be dropping the clutch on ANY AWD car. It will only result in broken driveline parts... It is as simple as that.

As for the bigger heavier body being desinged for our market, I really don't think so. The car went up in weight in order to accomodate chassis reinforcements and other tweeks that would come in handy in the WRC circuit.

And FYI, the Renault Clio Sport is not sold in North America/Canada... Infact, Renault no longer sells cars here.... Has been this way for a few years now...

 

Jon - The WRX that you raced most likely had an Axleback or catback exhaust if you beat it from a roll on race. Those parts alone don't do too much on the WRX. If the boost was turned up, and the driver had BPU mods and a piggyback, then the race would have been dead even from a roll.

The thing about these cars is that sometimes, you never know what you are going to get... Sometimes, they have all the bodykits and what not, but are bone stock, with a muffler providing noise out back, and sometimes, they can look absolutely OEM and be modded to the gills under the hood. Most of the time, you will find out just how modded they are especially during roll on races when WHP is what counts...