[urq] Letter to Audi : first try, the parts...

[Brandon Rogers]

Thank you Steve and Wylie very much for taking action.  

Brandon

-----Original Message-----
From: urq-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:urq-bounces at audifans.com] On
Behalf Of Buchholz, Steven
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 11:59 AM
To: urq at audifans.com
Subject: Re: [urq] Letter to Audi : first try, the parts...


... the new TT will be different.  I'm not anywhere near the circle of
TT fans, but in my experience there will always be the ur-<whatever>
fans ... :-)

It looks like we're in agreement about the requirements ...
"availability" at a "reasonable" price.  There is always the option of
the factory relinquishing responsibility to some other group, but it
seems to me the chances of the responsible organization being viable
long term would be better if it were supported from the factory.  Isn't
there already some sort of Audi Heritage organization?

There certainly are examples of fan-based organizations which create a
market for parts ... in my mind the Mustang is the classic example ...
but I don't know whether or not we urq fans will ever have critical mass
to make that sort of thing happen ... and certainly the fact that we are
fractured (audifans, audi world, motorgeek, ...) will tend to make the
situation more tenable.  The Bergeron thing does tend to indicate that
there may be *almost* enough interest ... 

I will be forwarding an official letter to Wylie today, and I truly
appreciate his willingness to use his access to help us ... 

Steve B
San José, CA (USA)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Hopton [mailto:Michael at siliconoptix.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 10:31 AM
> To: Buchholz, Steven; urq at audifans.com
> Subject: RE: [urq] Letter to Audi : first try, the parts...
> 
> Why Steve? There is a new TT coming out next year....
> 
> 99 ur-qs shipped to Canada, I can see why Audi don't
> want to stock parts. But for heavens sake I don't
> mind waiting two weeks for the part to arrive from
> Germany I will even pre-pay for the part and shipping -
> but I just get met with.... "it's obsolete"....
> 
> Why can't Audi just give the manufacturing rights to
> an organization, maybe the German owners club and
> have them order batches from Lemforder, Ate etc.....
> Bloody 'ell I'm sure we could have a whip round to
> get the thing started. More chance I would see
> return on investment than the Bergeron fiasco!
> 
> Cheers, Mike
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: urq-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:urq-bounces at audifans.com] On 
> Behalf Of Buchholz, Steven
> Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 1:11 PM
> To: urq at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: [urq] Letter to Audi : first try, the parts...
> 
> ... that's a problem for Audi to figure out ... and clearly it is a 
> problem other manufacturers have solved.  We're not talking 
> necessarily about having the part on the shelf at the local dealer ...

> but having the part available at a "reasonable" price.  Audi doesn't 
> actually manufacture most of the parts we would need anyway ... they 
> could use their clout to work with their suppliers to make sure that 
> the parts were available.  My BMW motorcycle is just as old as my V8s 
> ... and it was produced in very small numbers.  I can get pretty much 
> what I need to keep it on the road today.  Yes, I know it is almost 10

> years newer than my urq ... but this example and others does show that

> the "problem" is solvable ... if the manufacturer decides it is 
> important to solve it.
> 
> I think that the angle is the best one we have ... clearly, Audi is 
> considering their history to be important in how they are marketing 
> their current product.  What value would Audi expect in showing the 
> rally cars in the commercials if noone knew what they were?  I think 
> this fact makes it so that now might be a very good time to act.  BTW,

> I expect that there are TT fans that will be as passionate as we are 
> over the long term ...
> 
> Steve B
> San José, CA (USA)
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: urq-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:urq-bounces at audifans.com] On 
> > Behalf Of Pasqualoni, James E
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 9:37 AM
> > To: Ed Kellock; urq at audifans.com
> > Subject: Re: [urq] Letter to Audi : first try, the parts...
> >
> > The only thing that seems to motivate Audi more than the almighty 
> > dollar is the euro...
> >
> > The trick is, how does one make the increased availability and lower

> > price of parts for these cars 'worth it' to Audi?  Suggest perhaps 
> > minimum quantity or price ordering?  Work with Audi and/or suppliers

> > to create a 'wish list' of parts requiring production runs, using 
> > GP's and advance purchasing to compel Audi to follow through, etc...
> >
> > This is exactly the reason, as hard as it was, that I parted with 
> > mine.  Such an absolute shame.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: urq-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:urq-bounces at audifans.com] On 
> > Behalf Of Ed Kellock
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 12:17 PM
> > To: urq at audifans.com
> > Subject: Re: [urq] Letter to Audi : first try, the parts...
> >
> > I think that angle is not to our best interest.  We're talking about

> > cars that are 25+ years old.  I have a hard time seeing any current 
> > or recent model in the same light as we see our urq right now.  The 
> > general new-car buying public thinks beyond the end of the warranty 
> > period.  Those that do are few and far between.
> >
> > Ed
> >
> >
> > On 6/28/06, Brandon Rogers <brogers at terrix.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Exactly- it makes me think twice about purchasing a new VAG 
> > > product when in the back of my head there is a little voice saying

> > > I will have parts availability problems in a few years.
> > >
> > > Brandon
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: urq-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:urq-bounces at audifans.com] 
> > > On Behalf Of Buchholz, Steven
> > > Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 4:18 PM
> > > To: urq at audifans.com
> > > Subject: Re: [urq] Letter to Audi : first try, the parts...
> > >
> > >
> > > To my mind a list of parts isn't necessary and might tend to 
> > > confuse the issue ...
> > >
> > > The letter I'm contemplating would explain that I am a long time 
> > > Audi fan, having owned Audis exclusively for over 25 years and 
> > > having purchased my urq in 1986.  I would express my reasons for 
> > > choosing Audis ... quattro specifically, but also some of the 
> > > products and advanced technologies that Audi has brought to the 
> > > market ... like Procon-Ten or a luxury car in the US with a manual

> > > transmission (1991 V8Q).  As time has passed the dealers were less

> > > and less able to service my cars, so I learned how to fix them 
> > > myself.  Now I am finding that Audi does not appear willing to 
> > > provide a supply of the parts that I would need to maintain my 
> > > cars in
> operable fashion.
> > > Seeing Audi has not forgotten the history of quattro in current ad

> > > campaigns, why wouldn't they want to support those of us who make 
> > > those same cars visible on the streets today by simply continuing 
> > > to supply the parts people like me need?  I see other marques 
> > > which support the repair market for fans who made the decision to 
> > > buy cars other than Audis.  Audi needs to realize that by not 
> > > supporting the owners of the older models they are sending a 
> > > message that they don't expect the cars to last that long to begin

> > > with, not a good prospect for someone expecting to get high resale

> > > value on their premium car purchase!  I remember ads for million 
> > > mile Volvos.  I also find it painful to admit that while I am 
> > > starting to realize that I need a car newer than 15 years old, and

> > > that car might perhaps be a brand new car ... that I'm finding it 
> > > difficult to justify for myself the purchase of
> > another Audi.
> > >
> > > ... any others out there have any follow on thoughts in this vein?

> > > I remember meeting Len Hunt in 1999, he seemed pretty jazzed to 
> > > see so many "classic" Audis gathered at the Historics.  Perhaps it

> > > was all just to appease the crowds ... but perhaps it might make 
> > > sense for those of us in the USA to contact him ... did a web 
> > > search ... looks like Len is now heading Kia!!!
> > >
> > > Perhaps there is no hope for us ...
> > >
> > > Steve B
> > > San José, CA (USA)
> > > >
> > > > Hmm.  It appears to me that a strategy not unlike warfare may be

> > > > necessary. By that I mean one must go for a two-pronged attack.
> > > >
> > > > 1.  Definitely the letter route, whereby specifics are discussed
> > > >
> > > > and then
> > > >
> > > > 2. the Banner "we're Upset" Ads for the events.
> > > >
> > > > Unfortunately, Audi is not in the same position as BMW, MB or 
> > > > Porsche in this regard.  All of these manufacturers have 
> > > > produced a great many
> > >
> > > > cars which are adored and fussed-over by afficianados and 
> > > > collectors.
> > >
> > > > Aside from the Urq, that really can not be said of vintage Audi 
> > > > cars.
> > > >
> > > > Plus the fact that these were more or less hand-built and their
> > > > (relatively) limited production are also working against us.
> > > >
> > > > Don't get me wrong, I'm all for it!!!
> > > >
> > > > Ingo

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