[s-cars] new "//S Line"... Badge Engineering anyone?

[Krasusky Paul (WQQ2PXK)]

Please pass that soapbox...  ah, OK, thanks.

So I'm reading the 1/04 Q Quarterly article on the new TT 3.2 DSG and
thinking, hmmm, sounds cool, whatever.  I quickly scan the article's
highlights before I read it and note a little chart where Audi has plotted
out their model lines, etc., and I see a reference to "//S Line", but don't
think too much of it...

...until I read the article.  Then, worse, I closely inspect the pictures of
the new TT and see <gasp> what appears to be an "//S Line" badge on the
lower side quarter before the wheel arch.  WTF!?!?  

Sad to see Audi falling way of BMW and MB...  IMUnsolicitedO, BMW has deeply
degraded and diluted the true meaning of BMW M GmBH by slapping that once
powerful but now rather silly ///M badge unto every valve stem cap, steering
wheel, shift knob, and alloy wheel it could find in it's inventory.  And
while MB is not quite as guilty with their AMG line, they're darn close,
similar but different to BMW.  While that AMG badge still does pack the
punch to follow it's mouth, it seems to be everywhere I look and too show-y
(anyone note the recent CL600's use of "Biturbo V12" splashed rather gaudily
on each mid-fender???  GREAT f'n car, STUPID f'n badge.  Ridiculous.

ANYwho...  so sad to see Audi following this path of pathetic Badge
Engineering.  Oh goody, I can now get an nice nifty //S Line badge to go on
my car but cannot order the "real" Recaros for my RS6 or a 6 spd for my //S6
Avant (in my pretend world)...  there's justice for ya.

<end rant>  Sorry, I needed to vent.  So, who's the first to don one of
these gems on their UrS???  Maybe I'll slap one on Pizzo's Evo next time I
see him...  or Burig's Viggen for that matter...  

-P WTF!? K.
'95 //S Line 6
'58 TR Line 3A