[s-cars] Audi Pikes Peak Concept

[jimk at spotgraphicsinc.com]

Message: 2
Date: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 19:33:29 -0800
From: Greg Johnson <gregsj2 at attbi.com>
To: s-car-list at audifans.com
Subject: [s-cars] Audi Pikes Peak Concept

Just what the world needs, another Fugly SUV that weighs about 3 tons
and g=
ets around 10 mpg.

- Just for the record, I don't consider the 18-20mpg average of my S4 to
be anything ecologically earth-shattering.  I know a few  of you out
there seem to consistently get in the upper 20's, but still fail to
understand how.

OK S-car Crew, it's time for a totally non-scientific m=
arketing poll.  Which would you be more likely to purchase, a 500HP Audi
SU=
V or a 350HP Audi TT.  Vote often ;>).

- Neither.  The SUV is totally pointless and doesn't do anything that
something like an Avantissimo /A8 Avant couldn't do except maybe do the
Rubicon Trail, but how many people are taking their $80k trucks out
there anyway.  I just think it's funny that it wasn't that long ago that
Audi was publicly bagging on SUV's in their TV ads and now it appears to
be the route they're going.  However, I suppose I see their motivation
(well, $'s anyway).  What is even funnier is the way that many of the
leaders in the mass-market SUV industry are already looking to the next
big thing, large "crossovers" like the Chrysler Pacifica etc., 7
passenger wagons with all-wheel drive and good-sized engines - Frankly,
a segemtn that Audi could easily be at the forefront of but probably
won't be.
And in the case of the 350hp TT, please.   The thing is still kind of
heavy, and the all-wheel drive system is still basically a front driver,
unless I totally missed something.  Any serious driver would probably
head straight for a Carrera 4, even if it is $30k more.  Factor resale
value in, and you're probably going to end up better off in the P-car.

Just my $.02
Jim K - very bitter today but not sure why.