audi coupe

[Kwattro at aol.com]

No, the A3 and A4 are on different platforms (the A3 and the Golf share a 
platform, the Passat and A4 share a platform, although the plaforms may in 
fact be very similar - as far as I know.  The S3 has a tricked out 1.8T 
motor, and the S4 has a bi-turbo V6 2.7 - very different motors.  Doesn't the 
A3/S3 also have a different (VW) all-wheel drive system, as well?  
Regardless, there is no market for these cars in the US right now - who the 
hell would want to buy a 30,000$ hot hatch that wasn't (for all intents and 
purposes) much faster than a Bettle turbo?  And wouldn't the S3 be in direct 
competition with a certain Audi coupe?  The American market is much, much 
different than that of the Europeans - witness the gradual influx of wagons 
back into the US, a shock to many.  The Jetta wagon is coming over, and the 3 
series Touring appears to be a hit.  I believe that the BMW is going to be 
available with the diesel motor coming in 2001, although again there isn't 
the same market - gas prices, while at what we con
sider an all time high, are roughly 1/3 to 1/2 the best prices in Germany.  
There is a great article on a neat car in the latest Motor Trend - the 
Mercedes built Smart Car, which I saw a bunch of in Southern Germany.  
However, realistically, these cars would only work in two areas - LA/San Fran 
area of California, and the Megalopolis between New Jersey and Portsmouth, 
New Hampshire.  And for those who would argue "I would buy one if they came 
here", take a look around - how much of the car market are we?  Imagine 10% 
of Audi's sales for one year - what would that be?  Not many cars....not 
enough to justify, in their minds, the degridation of the marques' name by 
introduction of a lower model - this works for VW and the Lupo, too...
Just my thoughts,,,
Later!
Carter J
Kwattro at aol.com