Nurburgring 24: #89 Derichs Rennwagen e.V. Audi A8

This has got to be the most out-of-place car in the race right now.

It's got the W12 engine, Quattro, an automatic transmission, power steering, Porsche 996 brakes, wood paneling, and weighs a trim 1,650 kilos (3,600 pounds).  The strategy is zero to one tire change for the entire race!  I'll bet these guys will be the least fatigued after the race.

Chinese-market Audi A4L ad

Tesla Model S, BMW, Mercedes, Audi room, price, acceleration comparisons

A friend asked me to compare the Model S with its competition.  It is supposed to compete with the mid-sized 5-series, E-class, and A6, but I want to look at everyone's roominess first:

The most obvious stat is luggage space.  The Model S has a hatchback configuration which doubles its rear luggage capacity vis-a-vis the competition.  Plus, it's got a front trunk, a la Porsches, that has 8.1 cubic feet of space.

The Model S comes with various batteries.  The more expensive batteries accelerate faster and have longer ranges.  I've chosen two variations of the Tesla along with two engine variations from each of the German marques' mid-sized cars and looked at their prices and 0 to 60 times.

The cars of Infineon's parking lot

A glorious day was had in Sonoma today.  Everyone had their babies out.  On the way to the track, I saw TWO 500Es (one with a weird integrated whale-tail like spoiler), a Rolls-Royce Ghost, and a ruby red Suzuki Swift GTi.  As you can see, there was something in the lot for everybody.

P.S. There will be a full write-up on Hooniverse.

Audi 100 Coupe S and Audi A7

Via Jalopnik Opposite Lock

Audi Quattro Moby Dick ad

This reminds me.  Moby Dick has gone unread in my Kindle for almost a year now.

Corruption in China, a case study

Chinese sanitation worker pay stub.  Monthly net income: 1,061.08 RMB = $168.14.  Source.

Chinese government and Communist Party officials are a bit extravagant with their car purchases.  For example,

• a $560,000 chocolate-colored Bentley registered in Beijing to the CCP,
• the People's Liberation Army has a $330,000 black Maserati, and
• about 20,000 Audi A6s are owned by government officials.

So the well-meaning central government wants to curb excessive spending by limiting the cost of the cars and their engine sizes.  So what happens as a result?  There is a run on "2.0 liter" badges to downgrade the luxury cars.  And what's worse?  The corrupt officials demand inflated receipts on these badge purchases to pad their expense accounts.  Un-f'ing-believable.

Source.

VW Phaeton oil filter/cartridge

Phew, what a relief.  The Phaeton's cartridge is actually sort of normal (although I am more familiar with the spin-on filters) and easily obtainable.  It basically fits most (but not all) Audis and VWs with the 4.2 liter V8 or 6.0 liter V12.

Detailed oil change instructions for the Phaeton here.

Carspotting: Christmas Porsche and blue Audi Allroad

Nice 912 in the foreground and a rare blue Allroad in the back.