[V8] Ever wonder why the newer Audis (and other cars) are sooo heavy?

[dsaad at icehouse.net]

There is hope for the country afterall!!

I don't eat at any chain stores if I can avoid it - mostly because the
independants are usually so much better.
Same goes for the big box stores. While the chineese crap they sell may be
cheaper, the buying experience just sucks. I like to deal with knowledgable
people and don't mind paying for it.
If you want to have fun, get the dork at Compusa to explain the difference
between a Mac and a Windows computer. Bring your extra large can of BS
repellant.

With cars, I tend to be a little too loyal perhaps - but since I like to work on
my own cars, I tend to stick with what I know - and the knowledge is hard to
come by. I have had Audis or Fords since 1984 (with a Jeepster and a Peugeot
tossed in for fun), and have aquired enough know-how to stay out of the repair
shop for the last 22 years. Excluding the auto trans rebuild so incompetently
done by AAMCO a few years ago, and tire shop work.
As usuall, it would have been faster and cheaper for me to learn how to rebuild
a Explorer automatic transmission myself - including buying any tools - than
letting those fools mess it up.
(the money quote - "Torque wrench! I can not afford one of those")

Knowing that my V8 will not last forever, I have been thinking about what I
would get - and trying to have a completely open mind about it. I always end up
back at the Audi mark.
My next one will probably be some sort of TDI, and it will not be new.


Dave


Quoting Greg Furstenwerth <SlicerDicer at mac.com>:

> I have always owned Audi's or VW. I am 24 years old :)
>
> 1968 VW Bug,
> 1984 4000SQ
> 1993 V8Q
>
> I dont eat at McDonalds either! and I want wal-mart to DIE!!! I guess I
> am different :)
>
> Steve Meyer wrote:
> > Audi is learning from marketing giants like Wal-Mart,
> > McDonald's and Applebee's. Pump some advertising and
> > people will buy! Do people really want to eat at
> > McDonalds or Applebees? Not really, but we don't know
> > any better because it's too much work to find a local
> > restuarant, so we take mediocre food in exchange for
> > convenience and conformaty. Wal-Mart isn't always the
> > cheapest, but I'd bet a large percentage of their
> > customer's feel it is. And they have the power to make
> > themselves the only choice in town (although we'd hate
> > to call it a monopoly).
> >
> > Now, I realize  buying a car is a much different
> > experience than buying paper towels and toothpaste,
> > but as the next generations of car buyers start
> > hitting the luxury market(people like me) they will
> > buy whatever is in front of them. I feel people in
> > their 20s and 30s now have very short attention spans.
> > We grew up in front of TVs and video games. Things
> > move fast in our heads. We like alot of change and
> > don't really remember why we liked something. If you
> > can trick us into thinking we have always liked it and
> > that eveyone else likes it...then we'll buy it. How do
> > cell phone companies make it when all they do is
> > overcharge your bill and give you crappy phones. The
> > only people complaining are 50 year olds. We might
> > complain a little, but as long as they keep telling us
> > they are doing all they can and that they are the
> > best/cheapest, we'll believe them.
> >
> > What I'd like to see is some actual data showing
> > automotive buying habits of 20-35 year olds. Is there
> > any loyalty at all? Does it matter how great your car
> > is? Or your service? Or will they buy something
> > different most the time anyway?
> >
> > There's my $.04 worth!
> > Steve
> >
> >
> >
> >> That record breaking profit view of theirs is very
> >> myopic. Anybody can jab
> >> the customer in the $$$ short term and laugh all the
> >> way to the bank. They
> >> better enjoy it cause they won't make many trips.
> >> Long term it will come back on
> >> them and their market share will drop dramatically.
> >> Long term steady growth is always better for my
> >> money. As many have said
> >> here already, they don't fully understand marketing,
> >> merchandising, and  branding.
> >> It would appear that genuine care for the
> >> customer/consumer is a lost art.
> >> Everywhere!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Dennis
> >> Denver
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> quattro mailing list
> >> quattro at audifans.com
> >> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/quattro
> >> ---
> >> Watch this space for ads :)
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
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