[urq] Audi parts for older cars

[James Bufkin]

I dont think Audi needs a geographic concentration of urquattros to 
validate making parts.  They have a global market of cars.  From an 
economics point of view it might be a loss.  Certainly.
 From a speculative point of view, Audi could with their equipment and 
knowledge reproduce limited run of parts.  Modern fabrication techniques 
definately make this possible.
So if you have some major unknown factors about demand, certainly a part 
that is NLA is a key determinant that should be used to gauge the market.

I am still thinking about this from a Customer service and relations 
point of view.  The argument has already been made by the bean counters 
and the easy solution is definately to sell off whatever you got and 
wash hands of the parts and the cars.  There is absolutely no chance of 
a loss in that equation.  However, how does Audi gauge the loss in 
customer trust?     That is my argument.   I think some limited runs of 
a few of the NLA parts like sun visor clips and ball joints would go 
along way.     I think their current course of action loses me as a 
customer.

Also from your point of view as a SQ owner, I'm sure you are panicking 
about parts.  Would you sell me that SQ turbo I sold you?  I'll give you 
what you paid for it; however, I bet you;'re hanging onto that thing 
like gold now.    The existence of your car is in jeopardy with any 
minor mechanical failure.   I can't rationalize that.  No matter how I 
look at it, I think a 75000 SQ should not be grounded by a lack of a 200 
dollar part.   I'm sorry, but I don't.   And if Audi goes that route, I 
think its utter Bullshit, but stuff like that will happen to people that 
drive their Sports.    So again, I can't support them with my business 
if they make decisions like that.

Alot of these part issues could be solved by consolidation and 
upgrading.  Audi could sell replacement parts that upgraded the car to 
4000Q spec.   Etc.  Say the E brake cable on a 83 urquattro goes out.  
Well the normal thing to do is convert to a 4000 quattro rear Ebrake 
system from an 84.   Audi can sell the parts needed for this and can 
continue to stock those parts.  They could simply update their ETKA with 
solutions as things go NLA.  But instead of doing that, they let the 
whole kit go NLA and then remove the car from ETKA completely.   I can't 
support a company that does that with my business.

Of the urquattro specific parts that are non 4000 or CoupeGT crossover 
parts, I would like to see Audi continue to fabricate limited runs of 
the NLA parts and/or determine and sell potential upgraded parts to 
replace those that break often.     Thats what they should do and that 
is what should have been done.     We all know that many of the parts 
are replacable by non-urquattro parts or even Non OEM parts.  What we 
are all complaining about is the lack of a few key urquattro specific 
parts.   For a signature car that is the penultimate example of the 
lineage of a car company, they should support this car.    Bottom line, 
we aren't takling about plain jane 4000s or 5000s.   This is the quattro 
car.  hand built. and  redefined the entire company.  

Let me pose this as an alternate reality or course of thinking.   What 
if, Audi decided to find out what parts people needed to get their 
urquattros running and back to good condition?   And then they built 
those parts.  They already have specs on these parts.  Many of the parts 
can be sent to small shops on a subcontract basis.  We're still in the 
tens of  thousands here on costs because Audi has contacts.  Audi has 
the specs.   For instance, realistically, what would it cost Audi to 
make 5000 sun-visor clips?   Molded plastic bit of rubber.   Some 
company in China could probably make them for practically nothing.   I 
found bearings in China that cost 5 bucks.  The same bearing here in the 
US was 50 dollars.   Chinese guys are making new RS2 exhaust manifold 
castings for a hundred bucks and selling them on ebay for 400%.  Still 
half the cost of an Audi part.   Anyways, the point is, even if the cost 
is high, Audi could chalk that small amount up for advertising or 
customer relations, or claim a loss.   Tangible benefit is some happy 
hardcore Audi customers and they get their signature cars that much 
closer to show worthiness.   Priceless.