Audi A3... why dont they import to US? (wasRe: Wheel size of a 2001 TTq?

[TM]

Brett-
If the car hasn't been DOT-certified, then technically, you're right-
it does not pass US crash standards. However, that doesn't mean it can't
pass, that's all I was trying to say, sorry if I came off as harsh. ;-)

The V8 can most definitely be mated to a 6-speed, the RS6 being the only
car
that cannot- note the UrS 4.2, the V8 3.6 and 4.2, the S6 Plus and the
S8 all
being V8 powered cars with a 5- or 6-speed without this torque issue.

The RS2 and RS4 are also cars with relatively high torque outputs w/o
any issues w/ a manual transmission.

With the exception of the RS6, Audi's reason is a flat-out cop-out for
the US market, even their own offerings in Europe contradict their
reasoning.

Taka

-----Original Message-----
From: Brett Dikeman [mailto:brett at cloud9.net]
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 1:09 AM
To: TM; quattro at audifans.com
Subject: RE: Audi A3... why dont they import to US? (wasRe: Wheel size
of a 2001 TTq?


At 9:53 PM -0500 3/26/03, TM wrote:

>You've got it wrong- the cost of DOT certification is the major reason,

>when factored into potential sales. The A3 crash tests are fine, it
>doesn't, AFAIK, "fail" the US crash standards.

I heard it was an issue of -it did not pass US crash standards-.
Sorry.  That's what I heard.

Also, for the viewers at home, let's remind everyone we're talking
about the original A3, not the new incarnation.


>Same problem with getting the 6-speed manual with the V8 engines- the
>potential sales are too low, so they decided against it. We'll see if
>this changes with the introduction of the S4 4.2.

Audi has repeatedly stated the reason the V8 was not coming with a 6
speed was they didn't have a tranny that could take the torque.  It
may have been a cop-out, but that's what they said.

Brett
--
----
"They that give up essential liberty to obtain temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin
http://www.users.cloud9.net/~brett/