Some have suggested I shouldn't admit this, but I damn near bought one.
At the 99 Monterey Historics (it WAS Audi's year
), I had just finished having a short discussion with Leno while we both stood enjoying a stack of Kirkham bodies near the Shelby area (first I'd heard that Mormons have fun), when Cheerleader and I checked out the Series 1. Had a nice conversation with a dealer from Florida (boasted he sold more than anyone else) and set up a drive in the evening after the track events shut down for the day.
Drove it around the hills above Monterey (mostly 68 towards Pacific Grove). This was, of course, a non-supercharged model, but I still felt it had some nice power. The Olds motor did need more revs than a typical V8 than we were used to, but it was enough to test the suspension. Yes, there was some creaking and cowl shake, but less than the POS Viper roadster we had rented for a week in Hawaii a few months earlier, and it definitly sounded better. Actually, my biggest problem was (you guessed it) being able to fit in the damn thing...footwell especially. The dealer and I talked about things we could do to make it fit better (maybe there would've been a Series 1 "J" model
). The dash, doors, and convertable top left a bit to be desired, but I'd say it was no worse (better in some respects) than the Viper at the time...both far behind a Vette.
The next time I rode in one, I was at the mercy of that crazed Director of Fun, Gary Patterson, who did his best to unravel me in Vegas during VICE (2002) in a supercharged model. Different car entirely...and I don't just mean the gobs of power. Better interior fitment, very little cowl shake, etc. Maybe this should've been the car they were selling in 99.
Cheerleader liked the Series 1, and we actually did some talking with the Florida dealer. I'm not afraid to admit it, the bad press made me walk away as much as anything.