What vehicle will be a worthy replacement for your sedan when it is time?
07-06-2022, 11:32 AM
#4231
Registered Member
I just took a quick look at the car before it gets set up through service and was disappointed by some small things, but the good news is that skipping some features will save a significant amount of money. The color is "Black Raven" and unfortunately it is a plain gloss black- not metallic at all. The massaging seats only have one type of massage in the lower back with 3 settings. So I would not spend $2,600 over the sport seats with the suede inserts for that feature (I can easily save $2,600 here). The dark gray wheels look cool in motion, but are a bit plain to look at otherwise (Saves me $600 if I opt out- still a bit torn). The suede on the steering wheel looks really cheap (saves some more $$ lol). The car also feels a bit big to me (maybe just because I know it weighs 3,800 lbs?). It should be all set up and ready for me to drive tomorrow and hopefully it drives smaller than it feels. It also had a lot of settings, but they seem pretty straight forward.
On the plus side the radio sounds pretty good- nice improvement over the Bose in the ATS-V. The interior is also a nice upgrade over the previous generation and the digital dash is worlds better than the plastic fantastic dash in the ATS-V.
I never thought about flipping the car, but I get it at employee pricing which is a nice discount off of msrp. Maybe keep both cars for a little while and sell the one I like the least. I think the Blackwing would make me miss the Subaru in the snow. I had a lot of fun this winter with that car.
On the plus side the radio sounds pretty good- nice improvement over the Bose in the ATS-V. The interior is also a nice upgrade over the previous generation and the digital dash is worlds better than the plastic fantastic dash in the ATS-V.
I never thought about flipping the car, but I get it at employee pricing which is a nice discount off of msrp. Maybe keep both cars for a little while and sell the one I like the least. I think the Blackwing would make me miss the Subaru in the snow. I had a lot of fun this winter with that car.
You are right on the money about the car shrinking in size based on how it drives. The car did feel big initially, but because there is a lot of power along with great steering and handling it felt like a much smaller car after driving it for a short period. It was quite tail happy driving through roundabouts in the sportier settings of the stability control. Fortunately, it was completely controllable, but it does give me some concern for winter driving as the G37 was ok with snow tires, but my STI is glued to the road in the winter with LSD's at both ends. Much more fun to drive in the snow.
Honestly, that is what I am struggling with in trying to convince myself to get a Blackwing. The Blackwing is a much nicer and faster car and it would be much faster on track. However, I only do 2-3 track days/yr. in my most track-friendly years vs. 30+ days of driving sideways in the snow where the STI would excel. Two of my Cadillac stores are getting in 6 spd. manuals so hopefully one arrives unsold that I can drive to make a final decision.
Gold flecks? Does your wife's car look metallic? The Blackwing I looked at appeared to just be a gloss/piano black with no metallic flake in the paint.
Honestly, that is what I am struggling with in trying to convince myself to get a Blackwing. The Blackwing is a much nicer and faster car and it would be much faster on track. However, I only do 2-3 track days/yr. in my most track-friendly years vs. 30+ days of driving sideways in the snow where the STI would excel. Two of my Cadillac stores are getting in 6 spd. manuals so hopefully one arrives unsold that I can drive to make a final decision.
Gold flecks? Does your wife's car look metallic? The Blackwing I looked at appeared to just be a gloss/piano black with no metallic flake in the paint.
If I keep 2 cars I would get a new Z as my second car. I have done the 2 car thing before and would really prefer to have one car that does it all- the swiss army knife of cars. The STI does a pretty good job of that.
Motorcycles are definitely faster. However, I lost a really good friend to a motorcycle accident so I swore to keep my fun on four wheels.
You are dead on about the "land of grid." I grew up in Janesville where we have things we like to call "corners" and "hills." They don't exist in Appleton, but there are some good twisty roads not too far away.
Motorcycles are definitely faster. However, I lost a really good friend to a motorcycle accident so I swore to keep my fun on four wheels.
You are dead on about the "land of grid." I grew up in Janesville where we have things we like to call "corners" and "hills." They don't exist in Appleton, but there are some good twisty roads not too far away.
BTW. the gold accents on the STi look good!
07-06-2022, 11:56 AM
#4232
[QUOTE=RobC7;4312736]Not an average car, just look at the prices of v2 CTS-Vs. If it's a manual and a wagon, low mileage ones are way over original MSRP. If it's just a manual, it will be around that 75% mark (obviously there are a number of factors that play into the price).
QUOTE]
I was following the prices of the CTS-V cars for some time and up until late 2019 you could still get a low mileage manual version for the mid $40-$50K, now I'm seeing most of the V2 versions for $70K to over $100K. Even with the ridiculous dealer markup, the CT5-V Blackwing is only around $80K. Crazy times were in
QUOTE]
I was following the prices of the CTS-V cars for some time and up until late 2019 you could still get a low mileage manual version for the mid $40-$50K, now I'm seeing most of the V2 versions for $70K to over $100K. Even with the ridiculous dealer markup, the CT5-V Blackwing is only around $80K. Crazy times were in
07-06-2022, 11:59 AM
#4233
You are right on the money about the car shrinking in size based on how it drives. The car did feel big initially, but because there is a lot of power along with great steering and handling it felt like a much smaller car after driving it for a short period. It was quite tail happy driving through roundabouts in the sportier settings of the stability control. Fortunately, it was completely controllable, but it does give me some concern for winter driving as the G37 was ok with snow tires, but my STI is glued to the road in the winter with LSD's at both ends. Much more fun to drive in the snow.
Honestly, that is what I am struggling with in trying to convince myself to get a Blackwing. The Blackwing is a much nicer and faster car and it would be much faster on track. However, I only do 2-3 track days/yr. in my most track-friendly years vs. 30+ days of driving sideways in the snow where the STI would excel. Two of my Cadillac stores are getting in 6 spd. manuals so hopefully one arrives unsold that I can drive to make a final decision.
Gold flecks? Does your wife's car look metallic? The Blackwing I looked at appeared to just be a gloss/piano black with no metallic flake in the paint.
Honestly, that is what I am struggling with in trying to convince myself to get a Blackwing. The Blackwing is a much nicer and faster car and it would be much faster on track. However, I only do 2-3 track days/yr. in my most track-friendly years vs. 30+ days of driving sideways in the snow where the STI would excel. Two of my Cadillac stores are getting in 6 spd. manuals so hopefully one arrives unsold that I can drive to make a final decision.
Gold flecks? Does your wife's car look metallic? The Blackwing I looked at appeared to just be a gloss/piano black with no metallic flake in the paint.
07-06-2022, 12:04 PM
#4234
Still miss my ol Goat, although mine was a bit older than 16 years, maybe 56?
07-08-2022, 04:15 PM
#4235
When you say "extended lug type" do you mean you got longer wheel studs to account for the threads normally covered up by the spacers?
The STi is much more fun in the snow but what if I told you you can have the same type of sideways fun in the BW in the dry?
I don't think the Z would fulfill your driving expectation. I would guess you would go down the modification rabbit hole like you did with the G.
BTW. the gold accents on the STi look good!
I don't think the Z would fulfill your driving expectation. I would guess you would go down the modification rabbit hole like you did with the G.
BTW. the gold accents on the STi look good!
I think I would go down the modification rabbit hole with just about any car I have, but I don't think I would get a Z until my daughter is old enough to ride in it.
For me Blackwing vs. my STI is a tough comparison because the STI AWD is so good in the snow which ultimately makes it a lot more practical for a lot more driving days compared to a few track days a year where the Blackwing would really shine. The Blackwing is also a significant increase in price and I am struggling to justify another $25-$35k for better performance at 2-3 track days a year while I have a lot less fun in the snow for 3-5+ months straight.
The switch to Blackwing very recently got a bit more difficult as I just bought a Cobb Redline carbon fiber intake and Accessport (what were you saying earlier about modification rabbit hole? lol) for the STI. That woke the car up quite a bit where it does not feel slow to me anymore. Ironically, the very next day Cobb announced that they now have a "next gen" stage 2 package for my car with a new fuel system. Very interesting...
I still want to drive the Blackwing with a 6 spd. manual so fingers crossed the two stores in my dealer group that are supposed to get them later this month don't sell them first. But that is going to have to be a hell of a car to convince me. The A/T Blackwing was definitely built better than my car and it was fun and fast with a lot more power, but I did not feel like the steering, suspension, handling, etc. were much better than my car.
Hopefully, I get a good look at that color in direct sunlight. It was partly cloudy the day I drove the Blackwing, but it just looked like a plain gloss black to me and the team lead at that store told me the Black Raven color was just a gloss black without metallic. I'll take another look.
07-08-2022, 05:56 PM
#4237
I did look into thicker spacers with the bolts attached, but worried about the original wheel stud nuts coming loose or the spacers moving around on the wheel studs and causing damage on track. I could get longer wheel studs (not a lot of fun to replace), but then I would probably need open lug nuts which look ok on race cars, but a bit silly on the street. Or is that what you are running? When I looked at a quality set of the thicker spacers they cost almost as much as 2 wheels with the correct offset that would also allow me to run wider wheels and tires so it is kind of a no brainer if I do get serious about track days.
Last edited by 4DRZ; 07-08-2022 at 06:03 PM.
07-17-2022, 08:41 AM
#4238
Administrator
iTrader: (9)
2022 Audi RS e-tron GT
Four to five years ago, one of my friends traded in his STi for a Tesla Model S P100d, and his car was my first experience driving a Tesla. Damn good one, too, because the P100d was a full-sized rocket. Fast forward to this week, and he traded it in at our local Audi dealership for the only RS e-tron GT in the area. Well, the only one ever sold here at least. Then last night he brought it over to the house for some show & tell, and he let me take it on a long ride around town, winding backroads, hills, and highway. Here's a picture of it on my parking pad behind the house. Ignore the wheel gap... he raised the car to get up my driveway, because it can do that. 
First up, as you can imagine, this is an expensive car. The e-tron is Audis line of EVs, and most people might associate e-tron with their crossover. But the e-tron GT is their full-size sport sedan. And within that model, the RS is their top-of-line sport sedan. With the wheel and CF trim package, carbide brakes and 4-wheel steering, this car stickers over $150,000. Personally, I cant wrap my head around owning a $150,000 car, and for that matter I cant imagine him owning a car worth more than his little house, but hes in his late 60s, a somewhat reclusive widower, and it makes him happy. So... huzzah!
When he first mentioned he was interested in this car, he sent me some pics and I immediately dumped all over the baby blue color, and the unimaginative wheels. However, in person the color is totally different than any picture you can take. Its more of a light, steel blue... grey actually. Its hard to explain, but in person its gorgeous. (And it damn well better be.) The wheels however... meh. Dont know why Audi thinks these are worth $4000 each, but again... meh.
The car overall is huge, with crazy wide tires. Its wide, long and low. Or rather, its as low or high as you want it to be, with height adjustment. The headlights and taillights are freaking gorgeous at night, like jewelry, and again, they better be. The interior is a really rewarding place, with sport seats that seem pulled from a fighter jet, completely enveloping you in a soft, leather grip.
On the road, and in a straight line, full acceleration is frightening, just like his old Tesla. Its the kind of scare like youre falling out of control. Takes a few launches before you can manage the experience. Ive never been skydiving, but... well, thats where my mind goes.
What the e-tron GT does with exception that the Tesla was only pretty good at, is handing. 5000 pounds low to the ground, with AWD and four wheel steering and huge rolling rubber means this is a slot car. I pushed it a number of times and never once felt any slip or squeal. Pretty amazing.
Surprisingly, it doesnt have that one-pedal braking feature... you have to use both, accelerator to go and brake pedal to stop. Also, Audi creates an audio and visceral feedback noise making this car sound like a spaceship inside and out. Its not awful, but its not normal either, whatever normal is. This is not a normal car.
So, is the Audi RS e-tron GT a next car in this thread? LOL, no way, not in a million years. But it is an amazing full-sized sport sedan, and driving it like I did last night was an incredible experience. I think the closest comparison would be the Lexus LC 500 Sport Coupe, but with rear doors (and equally useless back seats.) Seriously, as huge as this car is, the rear seat area is claustrophobic and uncomfortable.
As Ferris said, It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
First up, as you can imagine, this is an expensive car. The e-tron is Audis line of EVs, and most people might associate e-tron with their crossover. But the e-tron GT is their full-size sport sedan. And within that model, the RS is their top-of-line sport sedan. With the wheel and CF trim package, carbide brakes and 4-wheel steering, this car stickers over $150,000. Personally, I cant wrap my head around owning a $150,000 car, and for that matter I cant imagine him owning a car worth more than his little house, but hes in his late 60s, a somewhat reclusive widower, and it makes him happy. So... huzzah!
When he first mentioned he was interested in this car, he sent me some pics and I immediately dumped all over the baby blue color, and the unimaginative wheels. However, in person the color is totally different than any picture you can take. Its more of a light, steel blue... grey actually. Its hard to explain, but in person its gorgeous. (And it damn well better be.) The wheels however... meh. Dont know why Audi thinks these are worth $4000 each, but again... meh.
The car overall is huge, with crazy wide tires. Its wide, long and low. Or rather, its as low or high as you want it to be, with height adjustment. The headlights and taillights are freaking gorgeous at night, like jewelry, and again, they better be. The interior is a really rewarding place, with sport seats that seem pulled from a fighter jet, completely enveloping you in a soft, leather grip.
On the road, and in a straight line, full acceleration is frightening, just like his old Tesla. Its the kind of scare like youre falling out of control. Takes a few launches before you can manage the experience. Ive never been skydiving, but... well, thats where my mind goes.
What the e-tron GT does with exception that the Tesla was only pretty good at, is handing. 5000 pounds low to the ground, with AWD and four wheel steering and huge rolling rubber means this is a slot car. I pushed it a number of times and never once felt any slip or squeal. Pretty amazing.
Surprisingly, it doesnt have that one-pedal braking feature... you have to use both, accelerator to go and brake pedal to stop. Also, Audi creates an audio and visceral feedback noise making this car sound like a spaceship inside and out. Its not awful, but its not normal either, whatever normal is. This is not a normal car.
So, is the Audi RS e-tron GT a next car in this thread? LOL, no way, not in a million years. But it is an amazing full-sized sport sedan, and driving it like I did last night was an incredible experience. I think the closest comparison would be the Lexus LC 500 Sport Coupe, but with rear doors (and equally useless back seats.) Seriously, as huge as this car is, the rear seat area is claustrophobic and uncomfortable.
As Ferris said, It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
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Lego_Maniac (07-17-2022)
07-17-2022, 11:45 AM
#4239
Registered Member
07-17-2022, 12:55 PM
#4241
Administrator
iTrader: (9)
However, this ridiculously expensive Audi does not. The wheels on the passenger side sweep back, and the wheels on the drivers side sweep forward. (sigh)
Yes and no. Yes, obviously, it's a GT car and could eat up highway miles effortlessly. No, because the range is only 230 miles on a full charge.
07-17-2022, 01:18 PM
#4242
^^My stinger has these goofed up wheels too. Fortunately i'm not a wheel nut so these things don't really matter.... So long as they're round and true - the wheels that is. My only beef with them is the effort it takes to clean. Too many spokes.
230 miles will barely get your out of PRIL! I think a reasonable EV range should be in the 400-500mi range at least. Charging time under 10 min. Otherwise what's the point of this car... To race light to light?
230 miles will barely get your out of PRIL! I think a reasonable EV range should be in the 400-500mi range at least. Charging time under 10 min. Otherwise what's the point of this car... To race light to light?
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Lego_Maniac (07-17-2022)
07-17-2022, 04:45 PM
#4244
Registered Member
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Lego_Maniac (07-17-2022)
07-17-2022, 05:56 PM
#4245
I admit that statement came off a little "harsh." By no means do I begrudge anyone anything. I just lean a little bit more toward the "practical" side of the spectrum versus the "frivolous" side.
I totally agree in freedom to choose. I'll likely be in the ground pushing up daisies for the tree huggers before these EV's become mandatory and ICE's become banned.
Ah well, Cosė č la vita...
I totally agree in freedom to choose. I'll likely be in the ground pushing up daisies for the tree huggers before these EV's become mandatory and ICE's become banned.
Ah well, Cosė č la vita...