Two weekends ago, while instructing at the “Xtreme Xperience” thingamajig, I totes made a new friend.
Her name is Kristin Treager and she is a criminal defense attorney (that’s useful for me, mais bien sur) who moonlights as a PCA club racer and, ahem, budding automotive journalist. She sent me this video tonight, I think because she misinterpreted an email I sent her that said “I’d like to see some videos of you in action, preferably by yourself.”
I am completely certain that you, the male reader of this website, will enjoy this video thoroughly — right until the end when some really scary guy pops up and starts yelling at you. Also, watching the editing (or lack thereof) makes me realize just how hard Nick and Matt from LeftLane used to work on my videos. As a further cavil, the whole speeding-up-the-footage-to-simulate-speed thing doesn’t work, it’s never worked, it should be grounds for lethal injection. But who cares about that when Kristin’s here to tell you about the paddle shifting? Enjoy.
Christ, that was horrible. She seems like a lovely young lady and is probably a better driver than I am…but journalism is not for her.
I did enjoy the John Calipari cameo at the end though.
Well not perfect, I don’t she was the weak link in that video.
Aw man, I thought you meant me. Then I remembered what a hack I am and clicked on the jump.
After watching that video, I am feeling a lot better about my efforts. It’s all the worst elements of early 80’s public television “Motorweek” and “Cribs”
Mhm, a classic beauty. Amooth lines, bulging hips, the front overhang, lush lips and black outlined eyes. The Audi 5’er sure beats all other Audis ever made (what did you think I was talking about ?)
Sure, it owes a lot of its to the classy ’72 Gran Torino but the lines, and egg-crate grille goes back to Exners beatiful Ghia built concepts from the early 50’s, which again ‘inspired’ the Karmann Ghia. And offcourse, the Karmann Ghia was quite possibly the only good looking sporty VAG coupe before the A5s, so it’s heritage is obvious I guess.
Making new friends is also a good thing I guess.
Exceptionally bad. But light years better than anything I’ve ever done on video.
Odd little diphthong in the way she says “five” and “padal” though.
I’m amused by the other comments. I guess I’m not alone! I was going to say: easy on the eyes, but she’s no Chris Harris. The terrible music, the sped up filming, the attire that overly emphasizes her body - she can do better. If she genuinely likes cars, and can drive, she ought to drop all this cheesy stuff; she should take herself more seriously with her outfit, and take her viewers more seriously by not producing a bad (by 1980s standards) music video.
“of course I’m going to choose dynamic, I’m a race car driver”
😀
I love the in depth performance/handling report:
“this thing can move, let me tell you”
“the paddle shifting is right on command: it lets you down shift when you want to”
better watch out Jack, your R&T articles may be in jeopardy 😉
Does one normally worry about blipping the throttle while an automatic transmission downshifts? That’s as far as I got. I guess I’ll also mention that those brake rotors do not appear to be ceramic.
Agree that they not carbon ceramic discs. They are a German design that uses a conventional iron ring with an aluminum hat, connected by pins. They are common on (surprise) performance cars from the German OEs.
-a brake engineer
Not bad.
But there must be something wrong with my computer. The video stopped before she got out the bucket of soapy water and sponge and started giving that baby a bath.
That’s where it should have started, if you ask me.
I’m kind of out of my zaftig blonde phase but still.
I don’t think anyone with a waist that small is ‘ zaftig ‘ .
-Nate
That was probably one of the worst “road test” videos I’ve ever seen. She’s no Alex Dykes, by any stretch. Recap: what do I know about the RS5 now that I didn’t know 5 minutes ago? It can move! Thanks.
I’ve met them both, and she’s no Alex Dykes in the flesh, either 🙂