[s-cars] FW: CANADIAN ARTICLE: 1981-1991 Audi quattro

[W. Bean]

Thanks Tim.  It's always good to see an article like this make the mass media.  The sad irony though, is the use of "historical" in your commentary.  If Audi continues to turn it's back on the cars that helped define its image, and that it has relied on heavily for advertising of late, they will lose all but the examples they have tucked away in Ingolstadt.  The list of NLA parts for these cars is extensive, and growing on a daily basis.  Basic parts required to keep a car road-worthy, such as ball joints, are no longer available for many models, not just rare cars like Ur-quattros, my B3 Coupe or any of a host of others.  That's just the very small tip of the iceberg. Other marques, such as Mercedes, BMW and Ferrari actually cater to owners of their "classics", either with special parts divisions, or going so far as having in-house restoration services.  That may be more appropriate considering the heritage of Mercedes and Ferrari, but in this, the year of the 100th Anniversary of Audi, I find it shameful that celebrating such an historic event for the Audi brand is tainted by the fact that we, the owners of the non here-and-now Audis (even though I also own an '08 Q7) are growing ever more leery of the prospect of owning an Audi past what Audi AG must consider the useful life of their cars.  

If Audi fails to ensure that replacement parts for their "historic" vehicles like the UrQuattro  are available to keep them on the road, then I truly believe they are doing a great disservice not only to the owners that assume the risk of caring for these fabulous cars, but also to the brand itself.  

Please feel free to forward this to anyone that might lend an ear in Herndon or Ingolstadt.  Surely someone, somewhere within Audi cares?

--
Wylie Bean
TheRingmeister at triad.rr.com
now:
90 cq
91 90q20v sport
92 UrS4
08 Q7 3.6
gone:
90 V8
99.5 A4 Avant
01 allroad


---- "Eaton wrote: 
> Good historical article from Canada...
> 
>  
> 
> Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 1:27 PM
> Subject: LATEST AUDI NEWS: 1981-1991 Audi quattro
> 
>  
> 
> Hello all,
> 
>  
> 
> Please find attached an article on the Audi quattro that  appeared in
> the National Post last Friday by Bill Vance.
> 
>  
> 
> Tks,
> 
> Cort
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Cort Nielsen
> 
> Public Relations Manager 
> 
>  
> 
> Audi Canada
> 
> 777 Bayly St. West
> 
> Ajax, Ontario L1S 7G7
> 
> www.audi.ca
> 


http://autos.canada.com/news/story.html?id=1569677