ModSpace

The Ultimate Sleeper, Audi S4 (B5)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:10:00 +0000

In 1998 I owned an Audi A4 2.8 Quattro. Not the fastest car on the market but at the time I felt it was one of the best looking. It was black with black interior, huge 16" wheels. This was my initial introduction to German engineering as I was more interested in the performance of the domestics (this was during the time of supercharged Mustang’s, Camaro’s, and Corvette’s). The A4 was classy and adequate for around town cruising but not a real contender against some of the more highly modified cars.

It wasn’t until 2000 did I realize it’s potential. That year, Audi had released a modified version of an already great selling car, the S4. Powered by a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 rated at 250 horsepower and 258 ft-lbs. of torque, the S4 was civilized enough for daily driving and at the same time, eager for the occasional spirited highway run. The impressive numbers can be attributed to Audi's use of ultra high-tech components like variable camshafts, five-valve-per-cylinder heads, and a dual-stage composite intake manifold. Audi's engineers were especially proud of the S4's flat powerband that boasts full torque at a low 1,850 rpm, an important attribute considering the typical lack of low end grunt associated with turbo engines.

At the time, this was by far the fastest car I had driven. Although it had more HP than the regular A4, one thing that I could not get over was how Audi really didn’t do much to differentiate the S4 from the A4’s. With subtle styling cues, 6 spoke 17” wheels, and S4 badges sprinkled liberally around the car, it could easily be mistaken for its brother. But because of the lack in styling that scream, “hey look at me”, this could be the reason why I chose the S4 as my ultimate sleeper pick. On the other hand, with a few simple bolt-on’s, one could expect to wake an all wheel drive sleeping monster.

Now Porsche fans, you might want to stop reading at this point because it’s about to get ugly. A few years ago, I was on my way to Chicago driving my newly purchased CLK55 when I saw two sets of headlights quickly approaching in my rear view. Thinking it would be a couple of Exotics closing in on me, I sped up to a least try to catch a glimpse. It wasn’t until they passed me was it shockingly evident what types of cars they were. One of the vehicles was a black S4 and the other was a burgundy 996TT. Typically, it would be easy to speculate who the winner of this competitive driving experience should be but the results were a little surprising, and this was no ordinary S4 needless to say. Out in front was the S4, with what seemed to be the 996TT almost limping behind it.

At this moment, rejoicing Audi owners around the world are thinking, “How could it get any better?!” Well it doesn’t. First and foremost, I am a fan of the S4 but, from what I’ve seen and read regarding its reliability has left me far from impressed. Still plagued by electrical gremlins and minor mechanical issues, the unleashed monster can quickly turn and bite you if not properly maintained. Audi clearly made a comeback with the S4 but still carried over a little bit of the reputation it had from the 80’s.

Bottom line, if I were looking for a vehicle I could highly modify while still being able to squeeze a few friends or maybe a car seat in the rear, the Audi S4 would definitely be one of my top picks. With the release of the new “S” cars, purchasing a B5 S4 has become very reasonable and affordable. In fact, it is highly likely you may find a used Audi that has already been somewhat modified. Tuners such as STaSIS Engineering, GIAC, and APR have made it possible to see HP numbers in the 400’s with the right types of upgrades but, remember to keep a few dollars stashed away for a rainy day. With the S4, it may rain often and you may need more than just an umbrella to keep you dry.

(Full Spec information can be found on Audiworld)

Acura NSX: Passion to Acquisition. Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:51:00 +0000

Since the original post on the F355, much controversy has revolved around the Ferrari vs. NSX comparison. With that being said, we decided to draft an article about a vehicle owned by one of the ModSpace Editor's. This is his story about how he came to grips with his passion for the NSX.

In 1991 my first car was a 1984 Honda Prelude. With a mere 100hp and a 5spd manual. I thought this car was the end all, be all of automobilia as we know it. These days we scoff at the notion of a car having any cajones with that little horsepower. Was it fast? No. Was it quick, agile, and tight, and provided great driver feedback? You bet your 89' Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card it did!

Back then I really wasn't into cars that much. This was probably due to a sibling angst between my brother and I. Like most brothers, it was my job to despise anything that he did. The Prelude, being the "hand me down" from my brother, bore the license plate "MYNSX84". Jim, was a little ahead of his time with cars constantly doing research at the library (no Internet back then) which inadvertently sparked my interest. Maybe at the time, he knew something most of us didn't. Regardless, I made fun of him to no end for it, partly because I was younger, but more so because I was naive. The Prelude really was just that, a prelude to something greater to come, the NSX.

In 1990 Honda finally released the long awaited answer to the likes of Ferrari and Porsche. Like a child, his obsession for the NSX was annoying enough for me to buy him the coveted hardcover NSX brochure as a Christmas present. After months of him drooling over the book and it's photos, we decided it was time to see one up close and made the trek to the Chicago Auto Show. That day I finally understood the passion. What was it about this car that made me disregard the racing heritage of others? To this day, I'm not exactly sure but right then and there, I promised myself that I would own one.

In 15 years of production, roughly 8,000 examples were sent to the U.S. In November of 2006, I acquired my dream car…(To be continued)

(Photos courtesy of original owner)

Exotics in the Midwest?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:06:00 +0000

With blistering summers and frigid winters, not many consider buying sportscars, let alone exotics in the Midwest. But here along the Wisconsin/ Illinois border, you’ll find more than just cheese and farmland. Enthusiasts and car clubs meet on a regular basis but one such club happens to be a little more special than the others. This club consists of cars with the likes of Saleen S7, Ford GT, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Corvette, and more. But when your car starts to look like all the other exotics on the road where do you go to separate from the pack?

Simple, you take your ordinary exotic to a place called Autowerks. A guy named Lance Briggs from the Chicago Bears does. Autowerks, located in Northbrook, IL is a business that thrives off of enthusiasts constantly searching for unsurpassed performance and custom modifications. Founded on the premise that the customer deserves the best, their state of the art 50,000 square foot facility was designed with the customer in mind. From their luxurious customer lounge with Internet workstations, coffee bar and children’s play area to their indoor car showroom and accessory center, they spare no expense as they strive for perfection.

In addition, they often host gatherings at their facility to highlight exciting cars they have worked on. So, next time you find yourself in the Midwest looking for a great place to spend some time (and some money) visit Autowerks, you won't be disappointed. In addition, if you want to be a part of the largest car gatherings in the Midwest, keep your eyes peeled for updates on ModSpace. We will try to post local event as they arise or feel free contact us so that we can add you to our mailing list.

Cruisin Napa Valley, In A BMW M5

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:44:00 +0000

Last month, my family and I took a trip to San Francisco to visit the "In-laws". There was much debate about whether or not I wanted to go but as the mention of an M5 came into the conversation, my tune quickly changed. Although not truly considered a "Supercar" the BMW M5 is powerful enough to compete with and often times beat most sports cars on the road today. Oh, and did we forget, it has four doors!

Upon landing, we rushed to the baggage claim, swiftly picked up our things and headed outside where the M5 awaited. A little background regarding this particular car. It is currently being driven by my wife's sister who, since it's purchase, has backed it into a pole, and has the transmission go out twice (due to her inability to properly work the SMG). Needless to say, it has never been driven the way BMW engineers had originally intended. We spent the evening tooling around San Fran checking the sites, going down to Fisherman's Wharf, yawn! I know, not very exciting but, tomorrow was the big day and so I had to pace myself.

Until then, I had never driven an M5 so like any car enthusiast, I was etremely excited to get behind the wheel and find out what this vehicle was made of. My inability to suppress my excitement undoubtedly did not win any brownie points from my wife as she emphatically made it a point to remind me that this vacation was not about a car but about spending time with the family. Drifting off into lala land as I received my reprimand, I couldn't help but wonder if there would be enough open road to fully appreciate the marvels of BMW's engineering.

The next morning, I got the lowdown on how to drive the M5. Partially insulted, I almost felt like I had to remind my in-law of all the performance cars I had driven in the past. Nonetheless, I took it in stride as I climbed into the cockpit and planned our excursion into the iDrive. Now, if you've never used an iDrive in a BMW make no mistake, it takes a lot of getting used to. But, if you can master the toggling and twisting of the iDrive knob, you will begin to find it a little easier to scroll through the screen selections and accomplish navigational and entertainment tasks.

Pulling out of the parking garage, I was cautioned to keep the M5 in Passive mode which restricts power and doesn't allow for full HP usage. Little did my in-law know that I had already researched the M dynamic button before the trip. The M dynamic mode gives you the ability to launch the M5 into outer space with one touch of a button on the steering wheel. Depressing the button and mashing the pedal as we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge, I suddenly felt the tire roasting 507 horses come to life. With the windows down, one could hear the rumbling of the exhaust as if those same horses were trying to escape through the muffler.

Although I personally would have preferred a manual gearbox, BMW does not offer it for the M5 but instead sells consumers on the 7-speed SMG Drivelogic system which features gear-change paddles on the steering wheel and a selection lever on the central console. According to BMW, gears change within milliseconds, without having to reduce speed, decrease engine power or use a clutch. Special functions such as slip recognition or hill recognition adapt to the gear shift points required by the given driving conditions. Maximum acceleration comes courtesy of Launch Control: it ensures that speed is maintained across the entire range of gear changes.

Again, I don't claim to be a professional driver but, the SMG system is something I've never really gotten used too. If you've test driven a BMW or are planning too, try stepping on the gas and shifting with the paddles. You'll then notice a very violent jerk as the transmission attempts the switch from gear to gear. Having driven an M3 with SMG, I've actually discovered a way to alleviate the whiplash effect by slightly easing off the gas, up shifting, then giving it gas again almost simultaneously. Downshifting is a different story.

The hour and a half drive from San Francisco to Napa went quickly, mainly due to a little highway run with a 911 Carrera who was unarguably no match for the M5. "What, he wanted to race!", I said to my wife as she stared at me with her piercing eyes. "You think everyone wants to race!", she quickly shot back. Oh well, we were in Wine Country, we managed to avoiding a speeding ticket on HWY 101, and most importantly, I was driving an M5 for the day. What more could one ask for?

Oh Those Germans!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:17:00 +0000

There is a game that I like to play with my friends where we ask one another, “If you could have any car in the world, what would it be?” Ever play this game? We start with our list of million dollar cars such as the Bugatti Veyron, the newly released Lamborghini Reventon, or the McLaren F1. Maybe a little out of our price range so we blurt out cars that would be more affordable like the Enzo Ferrari, Pagani Zonda, or maybe a Porsche Carrera GT? Well unless you’re playing this game with someone named Bill Gates, who could literally own all of them, the chances of actually getting behind the wheel of any of these Supercars is right about slim to none.

So you continue to narrow your selections down even further. This game continues until we are thinking something somewhat affordable and slightly practical around the $100,000 mark. Realistically, one could purchase a nicely used Ferrari or even a 911 Turbo for this price but leave some money in the budget or forget that college education fund you were saving for the kids because maintenance is going to cost you an arm, leg, or other valuable appendage to keep your toy running in tip top condition.

You want something fast and somewhat exclusive (let’s face it, who want to pull up to the same car while stopped at a light) but can’t think of anything worthy enough to be blessed by your driving skills. Well my friend, I have some options that just might surprise you. In this day and age, classes of highly tuned car drivers are becoming younger and younger. I personally know a few business professionals that have forgone the idea of high rent living to instead purchase a vehicle that they will later go on and spend thousands to modify.

These options I’m referring to won’t need much tuning and are just as fast as some of the exotics, right out of the box. Oh, and did I mention the practicality? It’s no surprise that cars such as the Mercedes C63 find their way to the top of my list. With four doors and a 6.3L 32-valve V-8 pumping out an impressive 451HP stock, this miniature rocket ship can propel a family to the grocery store in 4.3 seconds, everyday. Try that in a Ferrari (warning, they are not daily driver friendly)! And in this day in age of increased fuel cost, the gas mileage will most definitely save you a few more bucks.

Belligerently styled, 18” AMG wheels, flared fenders, and the AMG High-Performance braking system consisting of 360 x 36mm, 6-piston-brake calipers, this is the Mercedes you wish your Grandfather had! In the cockpit, the driver is not overwhelmed by too many gizmos, gauges, and buttons as Mercedes tried to give the driver a more aggressive racecar-like driving feel. To round out this racecar experience, Mercedes also includes bolstered sports seats that keep you planted by hugging you tighter than Grandma while still offering overall quality and comfort.

Now, I won’t bore you with all the technical details of engine specifications and suspension components but I will tell you that the lateral acceleration is enough to satisfy even the hungriest of HP junkies. Besides, since we live in the age of entitlement, most drivers don’t really care about lateral G’s through a corner or optimal gear ratios but instead, want to know that their vehicle is fast enough to take on the worthiest of sports cars and beat them on the street versus on a track. Not that we would contribute to such delinquent behavior because it’s illegal, right?

Moderately priced in the mid $50K’s, this makes for one of the fastest, most affordable, and in my opinion most stylish 4 door sedan on the market. Don’t expect to be manually shifting through the gears on your way out of the dealership though as Mercedes still hasn’t answered the call to offer a 6 speed manual transmission. No worries. While I wait, I will continue to appreciate what AMG has done to revitalize the Mercedes brand and appreciate how they are meeting the needs of a growing but younger demographic of buyer.

Aftermarket exhaust for Ferrari F355

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:03:00 +0000

Although the F355 I reviewed had a Tubi exhaust installed, there were at least a few more highly recommended exhausts that many argue will: increase HP, improve throttle response, and increase exhaust note. Personally, I feel that any aftermarket exhaust installed on a vehicle is bound to improve the exhaust note but don't expect substantial increases in HP. Of the top exhaust I have researched for Ferrari, only a few stand out, mainly in part to their popularity. Below is my list of the top 3:

Tubi

Most often when people think Ferrari and exhaust, Tubi is the first thing that comes to mind (at least from what I've heard). Not much information on their site other than parts.

Capristo

Just as the Tubi site, Capristo's claim to fame with their exhaust is a louder "sound" over stock but again, no emphasis on any HP gains. An interesting option however is the use of carbon or stainless steel for the final pipe and an overall Diameter of 70mm.

Larini

Of the three, this one is by far my favorite especially with the intricate design of the system. My philosophy on exhausts is continually being reinforced in the sense that VERY little HP gain is seen through the exhaust but if you are going to spend this kind of money for an exhaust system, at least get one that is the most aesthetically pleasing.

During my test drive, my test subject did have a little more "pep" than other F355's however, this was not in part to an exhaust system exclusively. Without the addition of the other performance parts, it makes one wonder if replacing the exhaust right away is necessary or should one wait until they develop the common problems such as bad cats or melted headers before making the switch? So the question remains, is one exhaust better than the other? Well if you do the research on forums such as Ferrarichat, you'll find forum members who too go back and forth resulting in the same conclusion: Depending on what you budget for a new exhaust, and given it's going on a Ferrari, expect to pay a premium. This premium is usually the determining factor which sways consumers from purchasing one over the other.

ROH Wheel Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:24:00 +0000

Product Description:

Modena is lovingly hand crafted and features a beautifully cast center spoke section, bolted to a fully polished outer rim section using stainless steel high tensile assembly bolts. This elegantly styled 5-spoke wheel has taken the European market by storm. Available in both 18" and 19" sizes, with a variety of finishes including the stunning new Chrome Shadow finish.

ModSpace Review:

In person, these wheels looked stunning. At the event in which the owner had his car, every person I spoke to loved the classic, almost stock appearance of the wheel and also felt the true 3-piece design added a flare of sophistication and prestige. Additionally, the shadow chrome finish was not overpowering in the sense of the word "chrome" and thankfully did not give the F355 a "bling" effect.

The wheels were purchased from Revolution Wheel and Tire out of Canada due to the fact that you won't find many US distributors that carry them. The US distributors I did speak too however were not very knowledgeable about the wheels, had ridiculous ship times, and almost doubled the cost of Revolution Wheel and Tire. Customer service at RW&T was very good as they were willing to answer shipping questions even after business hours.

Now for the bad part. Although they state the build time to be approximately 4-6 weeks, be prepared to wait even longer especially if they will be custom made. The ordeal does not end there. Upon completion, they will be shipped from Australia to Canada where they will have to clear customs. Once they have cleared in Canada, they will ship to you where they will again have to clear US customs. Lastly, there will be some ridiculous freight, storage, and customs tax that will need to be paid but in the end it will all be worth it.

Ferrari, No Longer Safe From The Aftermarket

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:38:00 +0000

OK, some of you may be thinking, "Ferrari, what more do you need to do to it?" Well, in this day and age, even the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche are not immune from the tuning market. Whether it be performance upgrades, wheels, or a kickin' system, people are spending billions of dollars a year for the price of "individuality" even in the face of a troubled economy.

Take for instance one such owner. I had the pleasure of meeting this gentleman at an Exotic Car meet in Lake Geneva, WI last year who subsequently, allowed me to take a brief joy ride in his Ferrari F355. Even at first glance, you could immediately tell it was not stock. With 19" ROH Modena wheels imported from Australia wrapped in Michelin PS2's, the rear stance of the car looked extremely wide. To top it off, the owner had lowered the vehicle 1" by adding a set of H&R lowering springs. Coined the "Death Star", this F355 was darkened all the way around to include replacing the front and rear bumpers with European bumpers (no side markers), tinting the windows, and tinting the rear taillights. The front bumper indicators were also replaced with clear indicators to remove any indication of US Spec, amber markings. In my opinion, this was the best F355 I had ever seen.

Moving to the interior of the vehicle, you could tell the owner took great care in keeping somewhat of a factory look but changed out a few problematic pieces such as the sticky, plastic parts with carbon fiber from Powerspeed (earlier model Ferrari's were infamous for these somewhat questionable parts). The massive sill plates were then covered with CF inlaid with the silver CF Ferrari logo. The gauges, console and other minor interior pieces were also covered. Lastly, the owner added new aluminum pedals for the driver as well as an aluminum kick plate for the passenger to give it more of a challenge car feel. Upgrading the head unit to make it Ipod friendly was also necessary because let's face it, who carries cd's in their car anymore?

What impressed me the most however was not the stealthy styling, or the CF upgrades but more the engine and performance parts. Coupled to high flow cats and a Tubi exhaust, the F1 wail of this Ferrari was incredible. This was evident from the initial twist of the ignition. Now I know exhaust parts alone do not add much if any HP but the sound, oh the sound is worth every penny. The owner did reassure me though that I would feel "a little bit more kick" compared to other F355's I may have driven due to the addition of an ECU upgrade. Excitedly, I could not wait to jump in and test her out.

From what I've noticed on other F355's I've driven in the past, the steering is typically light and the clutch stiff but hey, this IS a true driver's car. With the addition of the lowering springs, the increase in handling was evident. This F355 felt more planted and I also felt like I was able to really "throw" it into corners without fear of losing the rearend. First gear still seemed a little short but after you've made it into second, you were really able to feel the horse come to life as they threw you back into your seat. I was able to do a highway run with my buddies Acura NSX and the results were more than impressive. As the image of the Acura NSX grew smaller in the rear view mirror, I could only imagine the look on his face as he picked pieces of rubber from his teeth while choking on the exhaust fumes of the F355.

(To view the Ferrari F355's stock specifications, visit Cars.com)

Regional Events

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:11:00 +0000

West Coast

Mountain

Midwest

Sept 13, 2008 - 3:30 PM - HP Performance Fall Installation - (More details to follow)
Oct 31, 2008 - Road America - March of Dimes Road America Event Sponsored By Concours Motors (Track Event)

East Coast

Parts Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 05:38:00 +0000

ROH Wheels
Ferrari F355 Exhaust

Contact Us

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 04:45:00 +0000

ModSpace was created for the enjoyment of all auto-enthusiast who find pleasure in modifying or improving their vehicle to suit their individual needs. Whether it be performance, aesthetic, or sound system related, we will review and give our subjective opinion on products or vehicles we feel readers may be interested in reading about. Likewise, if there is a product you would like for us to review or would like general information on, we will try to do the research, hopefully test some of these products, and post our comments as soon as possible.

As in any magazine publication or online forum, it is with your support that we can continue to bring meaningful content to the reader. We will not discriminate amongst imports, domestics, euros, or exotics. As long as you like cars and can appreciate the artistry of others, then you will definitely enjoy this site. Reader comments are more than welcome but please keep the comments clean and constructive. Since the Editors are located in Chicago, we will initially post information on local gatherings and events (road course or otherwise). However, if you would like to inform others about an event in your area, feel free to contact us and we will post it here. Thanks for visiting the site and stay tuned for more exciting articles and contests in the future.

You can use the following form to contact the Editors. Your email will be read, but due to the large numbers of emails received each day (and a severe lack of spare time!) a reply may not be prompt.

Automobiles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 21:45:00 +0000

Acura

Aston Martin

Audi

Bentley

BMW

Cadillac

Camero

Corvette

Dodge

Ferrari

Ford

Infiniti

Jaguar

Lamborghini

Land Rover

Lexus

Lotus

Maserati

Maybach

Mercedes Benz

Mini

Porsche

Rolls Royce

Saab

Volkswagen

Volvo

ModSpace Archives

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 21:05:00 +0000

Do you need to find a particular post on ModSpace? Here is a good place to start.
You can browse through the monthly archives, take a look through the different categories or simply search the whole blog to find the posts which interest you the most.

Monthly Archive

2008

August September October November December

Categories

Articles

Parts Review

Auto Reviews

Site Sponsors

Official Sites

Misc

About The Editors

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:16:00 +0000

ModSpace was created by a couple of guys who share a passion for detailing, modifying, and of course the most important, driving cars. In the past, we have had to opportunity to test drive vehicles such as Ferrari, Lotus, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, and Audi. Now keep in mind we are not professional drivers nor do we possess any equipment to give you exact statistical data but we can at least try to verbalize our driving experiences so that the reader can share with us the feeling of being behind the wheel of these elite cars. Lastly, we do not claim to be experts but we have conducted countless hours researching parts and performing our own modifications/ installations. With that being said, we would at least like to be your resource for individual projects you may be thinking about in the future.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 05:48:00 +0000