LONG RANT, was Re: New S4 engine

[Chris Dyer]

Interesting...not the good kind either.

I dunno about the rest of the list, but this whole W engine crap seems like, 
well, crap.  Why?  Have you seen the cutaway drawings of one of these 
things?!  And Ferdinand's own peeps don't like this engine, according to 
industry articles I've read. So if the engineers and designers don't embrace 
it...

But hey, I'm open, the proof's in the pudding, yadda yadda. *RANT ON*

Some other decisions bother me...(surprise!) like no more platform sharing. 
Well, that's what almost got VW out of the American market in the early 
90's. And, if consumers can't differentiate a Vw from an Audi (and therefore 
can't justify the extra cost of an Audi), then who's fault is that? "Gee, 
let's take an A6 quattro avant, replace the steering wheel and grill, charge 
$15k less and have a really nice Passat. *one year later* "Hmm, I wonder why 
our a6 avants are selling so poorly--folks are going to the other side of 
the dealership to buy Passats. I am one confused board chairman."

Ah-HAH! Caught! See, Ferdy wants VW to move upscale, to compete w/M-B (his 
words!). But here in the US, VW's are perceived to be poor-man's M-B's & 
Bimmers. Not actual M-B's and Bimmers. Not actual competitor of *gasp* 
*duh!* AUDI!  So bring the prices down, change the options available, maybe 
bring the Polo & perhaps the Lupo here to compete w/Toyota, Kia, etc. and 
tighten your butts for the (possible) forthcoming recession.  Note to Ferdy: 
as w/the $55k '93 Toyota Supra Turbo, no one's going to ante up for a 
super-expensive VW here in the States; but they will for an Audi. As long as 
there isn't a similar version for cheaper accross the lot.

Sharing seat belt clickers is one thing; making the same friggin' car w/two 
prices is another! (yes, i know they're not the SAME, but close enough for 
my, um, purposes.)

Last: it's not working? Huh? Ferdy, hell-oooo, both VW & Audi have had 
record sales over the past couple years. One chink in the armour and the 
tank explodes? Nuh-uh. A little product tweak here, marketing tweak there.

*RANT OFF*  *flame suit on*

PS: Ferdy, did you get my resume for product manager?


>From: "Roa, Greg" <groa at Cinergy.com>
>To: "'quattro at audifans.com'" <quattro at audifans.com>
>Subject: New S4 engine
>Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 08:18:22 -0500
>
>Was reading last night on the new car and driver, and happened to notice a
>little blurb about the S4.  They stated that the new S4 will not have the
>2.7tt, but instead be carrying a W-8.  Anyone heard about this before?  I
>was kind of surprised that they would abandon the 2.7tt so quick.  Having
>too many turbo failures?
>
>Greg Roa
>Cincinnati, OH
>86' 4kcsq
>93' 90CS
>83' 944

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