Ever wonder why the newer Audis (and other cars) are sooo heavy?

[Dan DiBiase]

Ingo Rautenberg <i.rautenberg at waratap.com> wrote:  So does Csaba Csere of Car and Driver is his musings from October of  
last year:

http://www.caranddriver.com/columns/9981/the-steering-column.html

Personally, I'd rather have a car that doesn't do everything under  
the sun.  One who dabbles in many things but is master of none is  
considered a dilettante. And for a car to do the same is  
unconscionable.  And it directly impacts quality and reliability.   
Creature comforts are fine, but they should not come at the EXPENSE  
of reliability and hence value retention.  Toyota understands this.   
I wish Audi did.  People have been talking about Audi not getting  
their marketing strategy right -- but even with a great strategy, you  
need an excellent product if you want to succeed.  I suggest a  
serious re-examination by Audi of what Audi wants to be...

But  Ingo, Csere doesn't even really mention the increase in creature  comforts, nor does he mention safety equipment - side impact beams,  airbags, computers to power electronic safety devices like ABS and  Stability Control - these have all added significant weight. Sure, his  point is that most cars are still steel - but I'm not sure it's really  fair to compare a bike with a car anyways. The regulations are  different. I can feel the weight in my Audi, but to me it feels like  'good' weight - I always feel very safe in the car, both passively  (rigid body, plenty of airbags) and actively (ESP, ABS,  quattro  and good power/handling). 
  
  I think that maybe Audi and VW are straightening themselves out a bit,  marketing-wise, now that VW has killed off the Phaeton, it's version of  the A8. Never understood that. And going back to it's value/performace  roots with the Rabbit/GTI makes sense, leaving the luxury/sports end of  the brands to Audi. So I think they are clearer than they were 18  months ago, when it seemed like VW wanted to compete with Audi.
  
  Dan D
  '04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
  Central NJ USA