M-Spec's cars: Track photos (Post 104)

[ND4SPD]

Awesome car! Should we call you S-Spec now?

 

[Sage]

BUT: do one thing to make it even more beautiful. […]

You’re giving design tips to someone who bought a Z4 M.

Awesome car, M! Love how badass it looks with the extra vents and the CF spoilers.

 

[Turbo Lag]

One word:

Jealous.

 

[Pupik]

Thanks to all the Audi brainwashing* I received, I got used to all the trapezoidal grilles, Duke. The S-models are less chromey, but the RS4 grill has a total black-out option (see the parts department).


* (Actually, Audi let me follow my own road...The valve-spring dork technique, for which I've never followed.)

 

[///M-Spec]

Thanks again for all the kind words...

Most cameras should have something to adjust the exposure by a few stops one way or the other. Or a way to adjust if it is spot metered or center weight, et cetera. I'm not sure what your camera allows though, since I have no clue what you have as far as cameras go, since you did "save for web" in Photoshop and stripped the exif data off the pictures

As for handling over exposure in the post processing phase, you can use the "Shadow Highlight" tool under Image > Adjustments to correct things a bit.

It's a Canon EOS Rebel XS and came with a mini telephone sized manual. Maybe I'll crack it open and read up on what it can do.

When did you pick this thing up?

Very nice car. I'm very impressed with the condition it is in. It looks amazing. Are the mechanicals all about as sound as the rest of the car looks?

About three weeks ago. The car drives like it has 15-20k miles on it. Except for the shocks are slightly soft in rebound. I don't know if that is how it's supposed to be, since I haven't driven a brand new B7 S4, but I suspect the OE Audi shocks, like BMWs, start to decline in the 40s and are done by 50,000 miles.

Otherwise, the car is in perfect mechanical condition. Still under factory warranty as well and covered under CPO warranty till late 2011.

Awesome car! Should we call you S-Spec now?

TY. I think I'll just keep the name. You guys can still call me "that crotchety old fart".

You’re giving design tips to someone who bought a Z4 M.

Awesome car, M! Love how badass it looks with the extra vents and the CF spoilers.

Yeah Duke, not all of us has design sensibilities firmly entrenched in the mid '90s and are fundamentally afraid of change

and TY, I'm glad you like my conventional and unimaginatively styled (except for that AWESOME grill) three box sedan


M

 

[Duke]

Yeah Duke, not all of us has design sensibilities firmly entrenched in the mid '90s and are fundamentally afraid of change

Good proportions are not rooted in any particular era... unfortunately, bad proportions are all the rage in this era!

 

[Azuremen]

Thanks again for all the kind words...

It's a Canon EOS Rebel XS and came with a mini telephone sized manual. Maybe I'll crack it open and read up on what it can do.

M

Funny story that, my XTi is rather similar. You likely have the same 18-55mm IS lens I have as well. Only major difference I see is it uses the SD format cards and has the "live view" feature, which makes it slightly more novice friendly.

There is a button that says "AV" on the back near the upper right corner of the display. Holding that and moving the click wheel near the shutter button will adjust the exposure settings. At least in the manual modes; full auto is not something I use on the camera. Normally, I am in the "Av" mode on the selector, which is Aperture Priority. From there, I set the ISO number to 100 or 200 for daylight, and the f value to 8.0 or so.

Just don't leave it in auto mode... kind of like getting an M5, but never turning on all the power, leaving all the driving assists on, and never putting it in manual mode, or even rapid shift mode.

 

[///M-Spec]

Good proportions are not rooted in any particular era... unfortunately, bad proportions are all the rage in this era!

If you're talking about the grill, there's no magic proportion or formula that stipulates what size grill is proper. It's a decorative element and can be whatever size works with the intent of the design.

The only reason why the Trout Pout looked strange at first is because everyone was used to a car's grill being in a particular size range. Audi challenged everyone to rethink how a grill can be applied. I admit I was skeptical at first, but it didn't take long for the design to look 'correct' to me. This was long before I even considered buying one (or two, as the case is).

The Type 57SC Atlantic, revered by many to be the most beautiful car ever made, has a massive grill compared to the size of the front end.




M

 

[Duke]

That looks much smaller in proportion to the frontal area than the recent Audis; to me, anyway. The other thing that truly annoys me about all of the recent widemouths - 2010 Mazda 3, the original B9 Tribeca monstrosity, the previous A4, among others - is that a fair portion of the alleged "grille" is actually blanked off. I dislike that from a design standpoint.

Maybe it's an architect thing.

Regardless, I don't mean to be dragging your thread down, because you've got one hell of a driver there. I'd love to have an Avant in Nogaro Blue parked in my garage. 👍

 

[///M-Spec]

That looks much smaller in proportion to the frontal area than the recent Audis; to me, anyway. The other thing that truly annoys me about all of the recent widemouths - 2010 Mazda 3, the original B9 Tribeca monstrosity, the previous A4, among others - is that a fair portion of the alleged "grille" is actually blanked off. I dislike that from a design standpoint.

Maybe it's an architect thing.

Yeah, underneath, there's still a metal bumper that runs across the width of the car. But I accept that a grille is a wholly decorative element in car design --it doesn't NEED to be a trapezoid or two kidneys or a big metallic shield thingie. I figure once you accept that a grille is 95% style and 5% function, it doesn't HAVE to be any particular shape or size --provided it admits enough air to cool the engine and it's ancillaries.

Interestingly, I find the grille on the current A6 to be somewhat unattractive. That is too big and prominent --for my tastes. I couldn't tell you exactly why the S4's grille looks fine to me but the A6's doesn't. It's not really a rational thing. You can't really argue about it, because there's nothing to agree on.

Regardless, I don't mean to be dragging your thread down, because you've got one hell of a driver there. I'd love to have an Avant in Nogaro Blue parked in my garage. 👍

Nah, don't worry about it man. I know you well enough to see that's not your intent.

Besides, my cheeky comment was mostly directed at a certain somebody who seems to think he's the Final Arbiter of Good Design... *COUGH*Olsen*COUGH*

There's a gorgeous Imola Yellow Avant here in town. Pre-Trout Pout. The thing is hot!


M

 

[TheCracker]

Beautiful car, mate! BUT: do one thing to make it even more beautiful. Take it to a great paint shop and have the black band behind the front license plate painted to match the body. It will improve the front end looks 1000%. It looks to be even easier to do on the S4 because it is a shiny black paint, not the textured molded matte black like a standard A4.

I think with the licence plate band painted body colour it looks too similar to the out-going model. It might of looked a bit brash when it first was used, but i now really like the big-mouth style of modern Audi grills. Although it does look better on the A4 and A8 than it does on the A3 and A6.



Nice looking car though M-Spec 👍 There's a nice previous-gen S4 Avant in a slightly darker silver/grey down the road from me that i envy every time i pass. I'm just waiting for the day when the owner puts a 'for sale' sign in it's window.

 

[Omnis]

The Type 57SC Atlantic, revered by many to be the most beautiful car ever made, has a massive grill compared to the size of the front end.




M

Yeah but it's ugly as sin. The Audi looks great though.

 

[///M-Spec]

Yeah but it's ugly as sin.

Ralph Lauren, The Museum of Fine Arts, about 10 million dollars and a couple 'Best of Show's at Pebble Beach would disagree with you.


M

 

[///M-Spec]

I got my photos from the pro who was at Lightning a few weeks ago. Here's a couple that I touched up.








In case you were wondering, yes, I did get the point by and pass that M3 eventually. He made me *work* for it though ..and yes, it does look like I'm off line slightly in that photo. Figures that when he gets a good shot off, I'm off the line and BEHIND an M3


M

 

[Swift]

You Suck M-Spec!!!

I'm glad it went well and you had a good time!

 

[Duke]

I think with the licence plate band painted body colour it looks too similar to the out-going model.

My point exactly. I really really dislike the fishmouth. The way you 'shopped that back there is perfect - updated detailing but without the huge overscaled maw.

///M, I'm envious. It looks like a really good time. I've missed 2 opportunities to get to track days with friends. If you go back let me know again so I can plan better.

 

[///M-Spec]

10 pts, Swift

I'm thinking about VIR in the spring, depending on who is offering an event. That is Swift's home track as well... wanna get something together?


M

 

[Swift]

VIR is SO SWEET. though my car is in no shape to go there, I would love to go done with you guys! Let's PM about it.