new antennas - did they wise up?

[hah at srv.net]

>As I was parked behind a new A6 today I happened to notice a minor detail 
that had
>escaped me until now:  it had a fixed, yet flexible antenna mast (i.e.,
>non-retractible).  It looked stock.  Is this true?
>
>I've always thought that retractible power antennas were the most 
ridiculous items
>because of their cost, complexity, inevitable failure, and only marginally
>significant functionality (I'm sure dealers love replacing them though).  
Any idea
>how much that fixed unit for the A6 would set you back?  When my power 
antenna goes
>on my 90Q you can bet that's what I'll go for.
>
>I also just passed a new A8 that doesn't have any antenna at all.  Just 
out of
>curiosity, where is it?

Was it an A6 wagon?

It has been common for a number of years for Audi sedans (since about 1989) 
to have an antenna diguised as part of the rear window defroster grid. No 
power antenna to retract/break, more aerodynamic, etc. (This doesn't 
explain your 90q, what's up with that?) Sometimes there is another one in 
the front windshield. Apparently this is not so suitable for wagon hatch 
glass, though (what, the wires crack in hinge areas? never!) so avants tend 
to have the amplified Fuba antenna introduced on the 16v Scirocco in 1986. 
Originally installed because the distributor on the 16v head wasn't 
shielded from the fender-mount antenna like the 8v distributor on the front 
of the block was, the Fuba has now come to be attached to any VW that is to 
be marketed as "sporty" - unless all the new distributorless ignition 
systems generate too much interference for any kind of antenna on the front 
of the car...

HTH
Henry Harper
http://www.srv.net/~hah
1991 200 quattro, 112k, one in the glass, one in the windshield but the 
Kenwood only uses the back one
1988 GTI 16v, 217k, floppy bee-sting thing out back