So had a friends Maserati Spyder to drive for the Monterey week in August and naturally I was making comparisons. God I loved the power of that V8. God the mileage sucked even worse than the STR. It did feel more potent byt that's just butt dyno talkin'. Passing was just a huge push of HP and torque with a paddler shifter tranny that wasn't doing any of that GD learning/thinking crap. It just went!

At really slower speeds around town and in parking lots that tranny was horrible though. I think I'd rather have the manual 6 speed box. It's no replacement for the STR in that regard.

But one thing that certainly is a lot better is the steering. It's quite a bit quicker, has just the right amount of boost and has better feedback so that got me wondering.

Has anyone made a quicker ratio rack for the STR? It would help the car a lot I think.

 

I wonder if these guys could do it?

Steering Rack, Short Ratio, Small Chassis Audi - 034Motorsport | Performance Parts for Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen

A bit pricey perhaps?

 

Ya but which car would you rather pay for repairs on? lol

 

Clutch job for the paddle shifter is $4K but the engines have been pretty bullet proof thus far. I have no idea on all of the trim stuff. I image it's worse than Jag in price and possibly durability.

The spyder was no way as solid as my STR, lot's of cowl shake and stuff but it still handled better.

I just want the better steering. That and a way to lobotomize the learning nature of the computers on my car. LOL

 

Except that the value is a lot more solid than an stype!
And do not forget that the intention of the cars is completely different. The spyder cambio corsa also has the gearbox in the back of the car so better weight distribution.

 

Umm, last I checked, at least in the US, a Masser will depreciate at the same rate as the Jag, if not faster. Remember, the Masser starts at a much higher price point as well.

I wonder... Hmmm...
See, the Mercedes nerds put the adaptive memory on it's own circuit in the Chrysler's NAG1 five speed. It has the same crappy adaptive tendencies that the ZF had, with one wonderful little trick... You pull a fuse and voila, adaptive memory cleared. I also find it funny that they put it on a volatile memory chip..

Spending most of the time putzing around, my car starts to feel sluggish. I pull fuse 11 and she wakes right up... Even chirps 1-2 and 2-3 shifts with the tune in it...