[BiturboS4] Rumor(s) Behind The New S4

[jysap at cs.com]

Ian,

I could "nit pick" on certain points in your response to my post, but the following statement sums up everything. PT Barnum said "there is a SUCKER born every minute."

>The average american buyer will see the magic phrase "V8" and snap it
>up.

jy


Ian McCloghrie <ian at codrus.com> wrote:

>On Sep 26, 2002 jysap at cs.com wrote:
>> The other factor is economic. If the RS6 is being positioned by Audi NA
>> against the M5 sedan, then a significant amount of the Audi (performance
>> oriented)car buying mkt will be LEFT OUT.
>
>The RS6 is automatic-only.  The performance-oriented crowd doesn't
>care about it.
>
>> Thus, the only option for those who want the panache of owning a TT, or
>> that "smack u back into your seat feeling" of driving a (twin) Turbo will
>> have no other option than a MY 2000-2002 S4.
>
>Uh.  What panache?  I seriously doubt a significant percentage of S4
>buyers picked the car because it's a twin turbo.  They picked it
>because it's fast.  A 350hp V8 is fast too.
>
>> ly stable. Remember, for basically $1k, I can purchase a chip and get nearly
>> the same performance of the NEW 8 cyl non-turbo S4. If I make exhaust
>> upgrades too, I can probably exceed the specs of the NEW 8 cyl non turbo
>> S4 for about $4k.
>
>Few people cross shop stock new cars against modified used ones.  Hanging
>out on an enthusiast mailing list you get a skewed view of the
>demographic.
>
>> Why would I pay a premium (over the MSRP of a 2.7T S4) of $8-$10k for a NEW
>> S4? It offers NO significant performance upgrades over the 2.7TT S4.
>> Anyone willing to spend $45k+ for that car (the NEW S4), needs a lobotomy,
>> in my opinion.
>
>Everyone's entitled to an opinion.
>
>There are plenty of reasons for buying a new S4 over a used one.  To
>start with, it comes with a warranty.  It has that new car smell, and
>you get to pick the color and options.  It'll probably have a much
>nicer nav system, and you can get a much better loan when you buy a
>new car.  Plus you're driving today's new, hot model, rather than
>yesterday's old tired one.
>
>Lastly, lots of people stay away from used turbo cars.  You never know
>how the previous owner treated it, and when it might blow up on you.
>
>Maybe you don't agree with those reasons, but you're in the minority
>there.
>
>> I think the NEW S4 is a mistake.Your money would be better spent trying to
>> purchase an RS6 (good luck due to the limited importation to NA), or the
>> next generation BMW M3 (rumored to be an 8 cyl), which should have BETTER
>> specs than the NEW 8 cyl S4 for the premium (in MSRP) that u will be
>
>I expect the new S4 will wind up costing about $5K less than the
>current M3.  That's how Audi positions most of their cars.  A
>propeller badge just commands a higher prestige premium than four
>rings here in the US.
>
>I also don't think it's likely that any next-gen M3 with a V8 will
>come in anywhere less than $5K more than the current M3.  I've never
>seem BMW drop the price when they brought out a new model, have you?
>
>> paying. I think Audi should have positioned the RS6 to compete with the
>> new BMW M3 and have an RS8 compete against the M5. That is how I would
>> have positioned things in North America (NA).
>
>Yeah, I think it'd be great if car companies sold me cars below cost, too.
>I doubt they'd stay in business long doing it, though.
>
>> superior to the existing model - I believe that Audi failed on this po
>> int with the NEW 8 cyl S4) controls the value of an automobile.
>
>It's only the enthusiast turbo snob who doesn't believe the new S4 is
>better than the old one.  Audi doesn't care about enthusiasts, they're
>a tiny percentage of the market.  They're more trouble than they're
>worth with warranty claims on chipped turbos.
>
>The average american buyer will see the magic phrase "V8" and snap it
>up.
>
>--Ian
>