What kind of cars do you own? What are your wheel/tire combos?

Wow, what timing ... I have eliminated some of my vehicles to make room for an addition. I actually have 4 cars which will most likely always be with me due to the sweat equity I have put into them.

95 Olds Cutlass Supreme Convertible
Pearl White w/pearl graphics (ghost flames)
18" Fittipaldi Formula's w/245/40-18 HTR Z II

95 Dodge Avenger ES
After-market turbo, exhaust, injectors, throttle body & suspension components
17" ARI Illusions / Potenza RE71

56 Chevrolet Belair
406 small block / 12.8-1 compression, aluminum rods, forged crank, 312 duration cam (6.75e/6.25i lift @.050), 1350 strip dominator carb, Comp. Engineering wheelie bars, four link, drag launch coils, hooker super comp headers, flowmaster 2 chamber muffs, = 700+ h.p. @ rear tires
Detroit locker 3.73 gears w/auburn carrier
15" chrome reverses w/ drag radials (10.2 1/4 mile)

85 MBZ 500 SEC (to be delivered sun.)
will have 18" Carlsson 1/6 evo's / pilot sports after resto

5 leading candidates for new car are:

'00 Audi A6 2.7 bi-turbo
'00 Audi A6 4.2
'99 MBZ C43(19,000 miles mint cond.)
'01 MBZ C-Class (prob 320)
'00 Lincoln LS (V-8)
opinions would be welcomed for the new car selection.

------------------
Luke Pavlick
Performance Specialist (ASE Certified Master Tech)
Please, call me to place orders (800-428-8355 ext. 362)
or mention my name for on-line orders
(click banner at top of the page
to visit Tire Rack web site)

I know it's an american car, but the Lincoln LS is an awesome looking and performing sedan. Me, I would either go for the 2001 C320 or Lincoln LS.

Can't go wrong with a C43. Listen to that exhaust.

luke, nice cars you got going there...in my opinion, i would take the c43 only if u sold trhe 500sec..dont really need the small liter a6 with turbo when you have that 56 belair of yours pushing out more horses than 10 civic dx's...in my opinion, the audi a6 is a beautiful car...one of the best european stylings out there behind the mercedes...go for the 4 liter a6...that would be my choice..any a6 going down the road with those awesome purplish-blue xenon lights turns my head everytime...good luck..and thanks for the tires...they are absolutely beautiful...cant wait to get the lugs from cec, and then i can finally put them on...

Ben

Luke,
Go with the 2.7 A6. The twin turbo motor has FAR more upgrade potential than the 4.2 V8. Do a stage 2-3 upgrade on the twin-turbo and you are pushing 320 or 350HP (stage 2-3 respectively) Cost should be $1800 for stage 2 and $4300 for stage 3. The C43 is also a top pick but sort of a different animal than the A6. (smaller, etc)

I'd wait to see how the new C-class turns out before jumping in there. Never been a fan of the LS. There are too many other (better IMO) options out there.

Hope this helps...Lee

I notice a lot of enthusiasm for Audi cars. I haven't followed this marque since 3 of my friends bought 5000s new, and all got eaten alive on repairs. Has Audi turned it around since the 70s and early 80s? They sure look clean, but are they reliable?

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JCE
87 300E, 65k miles
Smoke Silver

Though I don't know many people (personally, readings non-wistanding) who have the A4-6-8 those who I do know have been ultra positive. At the very least they seem to be a good car to get into early (new or near new) and keep through warranty period. You can get an extended warranty for any of those cars for $1-2.5K which would make big repairs up to 100K miles nearly moot.

I will say that the interior fit/finish is excellent and the paintwork is easily on par with the other germans. How well they look after 100K miles has yet to be seen, but in all fairness there has been some question as to the ultra-longtermability of the latest MB models...

Just my pair of cents...Lee

PS were I going "non-benz" for my next car...probably an S4.

Lee,
My wife won't let me have an S4 because she says that I would over modify it and end up with another impractical car like the cars I already have. Plus she would like something a little larger.

Thanks, Luke

------------------
Luke Pavlick
Performance Specialist (ASE Certified Master Tech)
Please, call me to place orders (800-428-8355 ext. 362)
or mention my name for on-line orders
(click banner at top of the page
to visit Tire Rack web site)

Luke,
That is why the A6 2.7TT is a good pick. You can have something mid-size (E-class, 5-series, etc) that still has the upgrade potential of the S4. BTW, according to the specs I've read on them (from Audi USA) there is only a 100-150lb weight difference between the S4 and A6 2.7. (automatic to automatic/manual to manual of course)

BTW, the upgrade kits for the S4/A6 2.7 are as follows:

stage 1: 295HP, 12.5 lbs of boost, $625
stage 2: 320HP, 14.5 lbs of boost, $1845
stage 3: 350HP, 17.0 lbs of boost, $4385
stage 4: 400+HP, 20.0 lbs of boost, $6895

All but stage 4 are street legal and seem like they wouldn't pose any significant problems for daily driver-ness. Besides, if you were to get something adjustable so that you can turn it down when she drives it...

Just an idea...Lee