tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82641101453223561902024-03-13T10:45:18.263-07:00The DoubleM Audi S5Owner/driver Michael McCafferty ("Double M") starts with a new 2011 Audi S5 and evolves it into an extraordinary road machine and daily driver.Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-49865298412419783122018-06-15T13:27:00.000-07:002018-06-15T13:34:38.932-07:00Over the curb and down the road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YYv14nqcF3w/WyQfX7OeF2I/AAAAAAAAJA8/RKr0tyviK2IZu0M0u9dbXKhRaFlqLLPIQCLcBGAs/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1518" height="248" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YYv14nqcF3w/WyQfX7OeF2I/AAAAAAAAJA8/RKr0tyviK2IZu0M0u9dbXKhRaFlqLLPIQCLcBGAs/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The DoubleM Audi is now in the hands of a totally ecstatic new owner, and I miss it already.<br />
Shown here in pre-delivery wash mode by Bobby Kik of <a href="http://kiksmobiledetailing.com/" target="_blank">Kik's Mobile Detailing,</a> the only one to wash the car in the almost 8 years I've owned the car.<br />
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Flawless condition, with only 27,103 miles, new rubber, and still the smell of new leather. A truly excellent road car.<br />
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That now leaves me with just the one car, and that's all I need, being the Minimalist that I am:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8yQuD0hcdg/WyQiq-xxN7I/AAAAAAAAJBY/JteADKzfaJs1DxW2IcLu3l4qHvpE2l6egCLcBGAs/s1600/MMcaliforniaT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="906" height="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8yQuD0hcdg/WyQiq-xxN7I/AAAAAAAAJBY/JteADKzfaJs1DxW2IcLu3l4qHvpE2l6egCLcBGAs/s640/MMcaliforniaT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm really enjoying the open-cockpit driving, a reminder of my adventures in the biplane:<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SB7LZMkQH1o/WyQgkS8V8_I/AAAAAAAAJBM/snnmyjlHFZccwCezdvqazDVHqS5mPDCRQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-05-01%2Bat%2B4.58.40%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="928" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SB7LZMkQH1o/WyQgkS8V8_I/AAAAAAAAJBM/snnmyjlHFZccwCezdvqazDVHqS5mPDCRQCLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-05-01%2Bat%2B4.58.40%2BPM.png" width="247" /></a></div>
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(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1452895953/&tag=michaelmccaffe00" target="_blank">Check out the reviews on Amazon</a>)</div>
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Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-48023285688908474142016-04-25T09:24:00.000-07:002016-04-25T14:48:32.502-07:00About the DoubleM Audi S5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Driving, for me, is a lot like flying. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's an intensely physical experience: creating great sounds and full-body G-forces, while moving at high speed. There is also the mental experience: solving a real-time navigation puzzle under constantly changing conditions, while avoiding contact with other vehicles and objects.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Parking is limited to one car per unit at the condo, so I need a daily driver, and of course it needs to be a road machine, fast, tight, strong. A coupe. Low profile. A good start toward a custom road machine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />This is the story of the MM Audi S5, the extensive improvements made thereupon, and some driving adventures.</span></div>
Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-13592607499024357742016-04-25T08:56:00.000-07:002016-04-25T09:05:52.331-07:00Stealth mode<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
To celebrate the 5th anniversary of my new Audi S5, I figured it should have a facelift. I have long thought that it should have painted over tail lights, and get de-badged to give it a low-profile Mafia gangsta look. <a href="http://www.customautobody.com/" target="_blank">Custom Auto Body</a> in San Diego did the work. Me like! :) You?</div>
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Before: </div>
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Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-90953451717384157712016-02-02T17:17:00.001-08:002016-02-02T17:17:23.126-08:00Fresh Rubber!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next to more horsepower, fresh rubber is the most satisfying thing you can do to get back that lovin' feeling in your 5 year old ride. These s<span style="line-height: 1.38;">weet and silky smooth Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 tires are rated at 189 mph, but I'll probably be going a little slower than that. All the work was done by Discount Tire in Solana Beach. I've been buying all my tires there for many years! </span></span></span></div>
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Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-55663694685110455602015-12-27T13:52:00.000-08:002015-12-27T14:12:46.142-08:00New Legacy license plate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new "Legacy" license plate looks awesome! </span><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Now I need a yellow dot for you know where. Then paint the tail lights, lower valance, and splitter black, and remove logos (de-badge)... That will complete the plan for the rear. Then new tires and and new look for the front end.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I requested a half-space before the COM, but </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">I think they missed that. Now I have an excuse to re-visit the pretty redhead at Triple A. :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://dblm.com/" target="_blank">Check out DBLM.com</a></span></div>
Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-31126361396993006482015-10-16T17:10:00.001-07:002016-04-25T09:42:08.505-07:00California Legacy License Plates<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_2c" style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.38; overflow: hidden; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">My new "Legacy" license plate is on order. California is now selling the old-style plates for the first time in 50 years. It will look great on my black Audi. All I need is an orange dot I can stick before the COM, and I've got 3 months to find one. Why does it take 3 months to make a license plate? 70+ years ago, it took only 3 months to go from concept drawing on the back of an envelope to the first flying P-51 Mustang, the greatest fighter plane of WWII. Seems like we haven't progressed much... </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">This is the current plate. It just arrived after a similar 3 month wait. I ordered it before I knew that the way-cool Legacy plates were available. :(</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The little black dot before the COM is a Velcro stick-on...</span></span><br />
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Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-87905429337807663502015-04-22T13:20:00.000-07:002015-10-16T17:18:27.479-07:00Out of warranty!Somehow I thought I had a 5-year warranty, but now they tell me it's 4 years.<br />
Bummer. <br />
Now I have to pay.<br />
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The "Service Due" light has been on for a few months,<br />
but I put so few miles on the car that it hasn't been a priority.<br />
Just turned 19,000 miles after 4 and a half years.<br />
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Audi Miramar figures it should have a 35,000 mile service,<br />
and they want 380 bucks for the work, parts and labor, tax, etc.<br />
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And then I remembered my favorite independent, <a href="http://www.purems.com/" target="_blank">Pure Motorsports</a>, who did the work on the grille, exhaust, brakes, and chip.<br />
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It has been a couple of years since I have had my car in their shop, but the owner, Michael, remembers me.<br />
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They quoted 217 bucks. So I go for it.<br />
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:)<br />
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<br />Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-61609223303776970372015-02-10T08:15:00.000-08:002015-02-10T08:15:03.839-08:00Begin1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Ferrari will have to wait a bit longer while I jump into a new startup with both feet. To celebrate, I got a fresh plate for the daily driver.<br />
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With the arrival of my new license plate, I am drawn to the opportunity for low cost advertising, I just ordered a black custom license frame bracket with "BeginItNow.com" printed on the lower space between the screws. On the upper space, the single-word question: "Startup?" (SeaSweet Software is too long)<br />
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To compensate for the extra clutter, I should de-badge the rear end, removing the Audi rings and the S5, darken the tail lights, and paint all black that completely superfluous silver air splitter. That would focus all attention on the message, not the medium. <br />
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Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-7793271954565432532014-07-22T18:15:00.000-07:002014-07-22T18:15:48.862-07:00Epic Night Drive!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">This is an iPhone photo of my Audi navigation system display. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">It was an EPIC night to be driving on the freeways in SoCal. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Just after sunset. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">70 degrees, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">clear, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">no wind, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">summer in San Diego,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I got a hot car, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">plenty of gas, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">and no place else I gotta be. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">No self-driving-car owner will ever have as much fun as I had last night.</span></span></span><br />
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<br />Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-21833444653225656782013-10-30T19:29:00.002-07:002013-10-30T19:33:14.762-07:00Way cheaper than a new Audi S5!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBOOWwiIJwg/UnG_bBVuCNI/AAAAAAAACIg/SguDqrqJePE/s1600/1005370_10151669563571825_1632929722_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBOOWwiIJwg/UnG_bBVuCNI/AAAAAAAACIg/SguDqrqJePE/s400/1005370_10151669563571825_1632929722_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's a lot less expensive to get a new license plate </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">than it is to get a new car. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">:)</span></span><span style="background-color: black; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After 3 years of driving this car,</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have put only 13,000 miles on it!</span></span><br />
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Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-35805051322243728982012-12-29T10:06:00.000-08:002014-02-03T21:14:30.471-08:00Pedal faster!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(before)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The stock pedals were an embarrassment and I replaced them with pedals of a competition nature, lightweight, drilled aluminum, etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These custom pedals come in two flavors: with or without rubber blivits in the holes in the pedals. I, being a minimalist, chose the without blivits option. Naturally I have been regretting my choice for the last two years of ownership. Everywhere I see high performance pedals they always have blivits. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I have been finally moved to order the blivits as a Christmas gift to myself. And today, in the fullness of time, I have achieved pedal Nirvana, with blivits. And all is right with the world...</span><br />
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The pedals were custom made by:</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1785136736" style="color: #7f7f7f; text-decoration: none;">Ultimate Pedals</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1785136736" style="color: #7f7f7f; text-decoration: none;">990 Stinson Way #205</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1785136736" style="color: #7f7f7f; text-decoration: none;">West Palm Beach, FL 33411</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1785136736" style="color: #7f7f7f; text-decoration: none;">561-798-6588</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ultimatepedals.com/" style="color: #7f7f7f; text-decoration: none;">http://www.ultimatepedals.com/</a></div>
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Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-7625629772433841532012-08-29T10:53:00.001-07:002012-08-30T09:59:27.732-07:00Audi RS5!<span style="font-size: large;">I got a call last night saying that there is an RS5 in blue sitting at the dealership unclaimed and available for sale.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tempting!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But I decided to stay with my S5 because I have better brakes (Brembo), and better looking brakes, and it would be a hassle to switch them over to the new RS5. There's not *that* much difference between my car and the RS5, except the extra few horsepower, the pushbutton start, and a handful of other minor differences that I can live without. And, the blue is a bit bright for my preferences right now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's really just another shiny object, a toy, a distraction...<br /><br />Consider the wise words of </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Henry_David_Thoreau/" style="font-size: x-large;">Henry David Thoreau</a>: <span style="font-size: large;">A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone. <br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-73792264395139351292012-08-02T21:39:00.000-07:002012-08-02T21:46:15.594-07:00Road trip!<h2>
Del Mar to Santa Barbara to </h2>
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Ragged Point (Big Sur) to </h2>
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Half Moon Bay </h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">along the awesome Pacific Coast Highway, CA route 1.</span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Spec-freakin-tacular!</span><br />
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<br />Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-85297872659834308792012-02-26T11:55:00.000-08:002012-02-26T11:55:52.048-08:00New Logo for door<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W7HlR78PfKo/T0qNfj3G4nI/AAAAAAAABhY/tEPN55PYgfM/s1600/228359_10150180212481825_588331824_7184965_7964311_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W7HlR78PfKo/T0qNfj3G4nI/AAAAAAAABhY/tEPN55PYgfM/s320/228359_10150180212481825_588331824_7184965_7964311_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An updated logo has been developed using the collaborative efforts of <a href="http://99designs.com/">99designs.com</a> and is being used on <a href="http://doublemsystems.com/">Double M Systems</a> branded websites. We expect to update the Audi S5 driver's door to reflect this change.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</div>Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-54299190422108774732011-07-31T12:45:00.000-07:002014-07-20T17:12:17.693-07:00Photos by David Newhardt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">all photos in this post are copyright 2011 by <a href="http://www.davidnewhardt.com/">David Newhardt</a></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">David Newhardt is a good friend, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">quite probably the </span><span style="font-size: large;">best </span><span style="font-size: large;">automotive photographer</span><span style="font-size: large;"> in the world.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He has more than 60 auto photo products listed on Amazon.com </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">where he is either the sole author/photographer </span><span style="font-size: large;">or a significant contributor with photo and/or text. </span><span style="font-size: large;">He's a great automotive writer too.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lately he has branched out into TV appearances </span><span style="font-size: large;">and even cameos in major motion pictures </span><span style="font-size: large;">(Ironman 2, for example).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Recently, Dave drove down from Pasadena for a visit, </span><span style="font-size: large;">and to take some shots of my continuously improving Audi.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here are a few of my favorite shots from that session.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thank you, big time, Dave!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pMQ8stXFGIo/TjXXveFeYfI/AAAAAAAABQg/SXCM_7hbnTs/s1600/SprintPhoto_bodvoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pMQ8stXFGIo/TjXXveFeYfI/AAAAAAAABQg/SXCM_7hbnTs/s400/SprintPhoto_bodvoe.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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This last photo, above, is a bonus shot by Dave Newhardt, of another car I used to own, way back when... It is 1 of only 3 hand-built bodies for a 1959 Corvette, built by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrozzeria_Scaglietti" target="_blank">Scaglietti</a> (Ferrari body builder).</div>
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The photo was taken while on display on Rodeo Drive in LA during the recent Father's Day car show.</div>
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The car is now in the <a href="http://www.petersen.org/">Petersen museum in Los Angeles</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.michaelmccafferty.com/mmmvette.htm">Read this neat story of the Scaglietti Corvette!</a></div>
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Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-24049288588888218192011-07-15T13:19:00.000-07:002011-07-31T18:20:52.165-07:00Brembo!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yesterday was a big day for the Audi and me. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We got Brembo brakes installed, front and rear! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wow!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you're going fast,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">you need to be able to stop fast.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cxJxAOyJb8U/TiCdR0l5LLI/AAAAAAAABJU/trVo4L5A-tQ/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cxJxAOyJb8U/TiCdR0l5LLI/AAAAAAAABJU/trVo4L5A-tQ/s400/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-17nO6hKVmFs/TiCdUfh2urI/AAAAAAAABJY/mJgO9fDp3o8/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-17nO6hKVmFs/TiCdUfh2urI/AAAAAAAABJY/mJgO9fDp3o8/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Calipers up front have 6 pistons, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">calipers in the rear have </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">four pistons</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Drilled, oversized rotors.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Brembo has lots of reasons why</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">their brakes are the best.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And most racing teams agree.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ferrari too, of course.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Why would I drive with anything less?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Installation by Michael Kim at <a href="http://www.purems.com/">PURE Motorsport</a>.</span></div>Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-54144075530234962372011-06-27T17:17:00.000-07:002011-06-27T17:18:08.126-07:00AWE cat-back exhaust sounds for Audi S5<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://michaelmccafferty.com/AudiS5exhaust.m4a"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Click Here</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">to download a sound clip </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">of the new AWE exhaust system </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">for my Audi S5</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It was recorded on my iPhone,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and the recording is a bit weak, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">so turn your speakers UP!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-20411907658373019092011-06-17T17:30:00.000-07:002011-06-17T17:30:04.082-07:00Wheel spacers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0n0doT-82SU/TfvxAb30CXI/AAAAAAAABDk/hSr0IYAzZdU/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0n0doT-82SU/TfvxAb30CXI/AAAAAAAABDk/hSr0IYAzZdU/s400/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Along with the exhaust system improvements, I took advantage of the pit stop by getting the wheel spacers added (20mm rear, 5mm front). Just barely noticeable, but the overall sense of purpose of the car has improved.Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-48196337258862126872011-06-17T15:14:00.000-07:002011-06-17T15:14:03.026-07:00Upgraded exhaust: AWE Tuning cat backAfter two months of waiting for AWE Tuning to ship what surely must be one of their first of the new touring class exhaust systems for the S5 Audi... it finally arrived.<br />
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Totally worth the wait. It's like a whole new driving experience, a whole new machine.<br />
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I selected the black chrome tips. I'm thinking the tips could (should) be longer.<br />
I'll post some sound files here soon.<br />
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All work done by Michael Kim at PURE Motorsport, San Diego.Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-21701653333977992902011-03-12T15:30:00.000-08:002011-03-12T15:39:06.170-08:00Never enough horsepower!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SudrN09-mYI/TXwAq1NinXI/AAAAAAAABCM/Q67q0TNt15g/s1600/APR+dyno.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SudrN09-mYI/TXwAq1NinXI/AAAAAAAABCM/Q67q0TNt15g/s400/APR+dyno.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Today I splurged for the <a href="http://www.goapr.com/">APR</a> upgrade to the control chip. It's a minimal increase in horsepower and torque, as shown by the graph above, but what the heck, right? You never have enough (or too much) horsepower. The work was done by <a href="http://www.purems.com/">PURE Motorsport</a>.<br />
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While I was there, I also ordered some wheel spacers and a slightly more aggressive exhaust system. There's probably not a lot more I can do to this S5 while I'm waiting for the <a href="http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q2/2011_audi_rs5-first_drive_review">Audi RS5</a> to come to the USA sometime later this year...Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-52028321751250209072011-02-26T17:09:00.000-08:002011-02-26T17:09:46.121-08:00Pinstripe Logo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xa5unQU8o4Y/TWmZCeFRzUI/AAAAAAAABBg/4GlMm15XiOo/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xa5unQU8o4Y/TWmZCeFRzUI/AAAAAAAABBg/4GlMm15XiOo/s320/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I never had a car with pinstriping before, so I figured what the heck, go for it. After doing some Googling, I found Manuel Cisneros in El Cajon, who also builds some superfine hot rods. I gave him a photo of the pinstriping that was on my biplane, and asked if he could do something like it, with the wings, but make it a lot more low-profile, and put it on the driver's door just below the window. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I look at almost everything I do as a prototype, because with "continuous improvement" as the over-riding philosophy, you have to start somewhere. I figure this is just a start on a succession of improvements in the development of a logo I can use on business cards, websites, etc. It also goes along nicely with my new interest in "angel" investing. (Angel... wings... get it?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the photo I gave Manny Cisneros to work from:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--wa5KFxjoRo/TWmj31EQIBI/AAAAAAAABBo/SBTBR-LaJ4w/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-26+at+5.04.04+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--wa5KFxjoRo/TWmj31EQIBI/AAAAAAAABBo/SBTBR-LaJ4w/s320/Screen+shot+2011-02-26+at+5.04.04+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It shows the pinstriping on my biplane as it was in 1997, in Roskilde, Denmark. The kid in the cockpit was hanging around watching airplanes, and it was kind of obvious he wanted to check out my biplane, so I popped him in the cockpit and took his photo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pinstriping on the biplane was done in 1996 by the artist who did pinstriping for Dave Perewitz who builds custom Harleys on the east coast. I stopped there on a flight around the USA and my wingman Art Annecharico introduced us and I got the pinstriping job done late at night, for free! Wow! The job for the Audi wasn't free. :(</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The wings are supposed to be similar to the wings on the <a href="http://wacoclassic.com/">Waco factory</a> logo:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pT0zsb8HlY4/TWmcmr3kDoI/AAAAAAAABBk/JKzemHDbT3Q/s1600/WACO+Classic+Aircraft.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pT0zsb8HlY4/TWmcmr3kDoI/AAAAAAAABBk/JKzemHDbT3Q/s1600/WACO+Classic+Aircraft.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-3826528186780045982011-02-13T21:20:00.000-08:002011-02-13T21:20:13.520-08:00Grille, before and afterI saw a stock version of my car and couldn't resist the opportunity to pull up next to it for a "before and after" photo:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-toK9vRN2WtQ/TVi69C1NYDI/AAAAAAAABBE/cgfjUy37ImU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-toK9vRN2WtQ/TVi69C1NYDI/AAAAAAAABBE/cgfjUy37ImU/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
To me, it's just no contest! What say you?Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-22855567074049683752011-01-26T22:13:00.000-08:002011-03-16T12:24:41.202-07:00Photo Update: new grille and pedals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_irTlTjsTWq0/TUEM0-mGkpI/AAAAAAAABAw/3aGSXnKxz8c/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_irTlTjsTWq0/TUEM0-mGkpI/AAAAAAAABAw/3aGSXnKxz8c/s400/IMG_0986.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_irTlTjsTWq0/TUEM3EuS7fI/AAAAAAAABA0/mD8P8vqtRms/s1600/IMG_0985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_irTlTjsTWq0/TUEM3EuS7fI/AAAAAAAABA0/mD8P8vqtRms/s400/IMG_0985.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The pedals were custom made by:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1785136736">Ultimate Pedals</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1785136736">990 Stinson Way #205</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1785136736">West Palm Beach, FL 33411</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1785136736">561-798-6588</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ultimatepedals.com/">http://www.ultimatepedals.com/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-11643012980456342752011-01-26T21:43:00.000-08:002011-01-26T21:43:20.845-08:00S5 photo from Germany<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just received this photo from a friend in Germany. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I sure like how it shows front and rear wheels spitting out rocks!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_irTlTjsTWq0/TUEFTT8utDI/AAAAAAAABAs/bQ_Clgkh_uw/s1600/image004.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_irTlTjsTWq0/TUEFTT8utDI/AAAAAAAABAs/bQ_Clgkh_uw/s400/image004.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8264110145322356190.post-2714535228595773032010-12-21T16:25:00.000-08:002010-12-21T16:27:07.226-08:00Mini Road TripLast week I drove over the mountains and down into the desert for an over-nighter to watch the meteor showers. The sky where I live, by the oceanfront, is usually overcast at night, so if you want to have clear skies for viewing the Geminid meteor showers, you want to head to the desert.<br />
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Well, it was a good excuse to take my new car on a fun road trip. Although it was less than 90 minutes, each way, it has some fun long stretches of relatively open country roads, as well as plenty of curves, and up and down grades of serious proportions.<br />
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It was a great drive. Epic.<br />
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The essence of driving, for me, is the same as the essence of flying. It's all about the ability to instantaneously create, and modulate, full body G-forces, while moving at high speed, and while simultaneously solving a real-time 3-D navigation puzzle under constantly changing conditions. <br />
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The best part is the G-forces. The all-over body feeling of heaviness, the pressure of being thrown back into your seat, to one side or the other. This, and the constant steering, flexes the arms and shoulders, and that just plain feels good.<br />
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Audi notes: I want more horsepower (of course). Best: the grip of all four wheels being powered, and working together. The software that applies the power is very strong. "Dynamic Mode" is the best for these roads. And it's more fun too. 18mpg.Michael McCaffertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06551762165327568554noreply@blogger.com0