Re: Re[2]: Audi Price Cuts

[John Greenstreet <jgreenst@motown.ge.com>]

> From quattro-owner@swiss.ans.net Fri Oct 14 10:03:07 1994
> Date: Fri, 14 Oct 94 09:23:30 EDT
> From: J_T_Douglas%mwcorp1@MWMGATE1.mitre.org

> 
> 2. German cars have sparse interiors and little "surface excitement" on the 
> outside (thank God!).  Driving is serious in Germany, and their is no need for 
> entertainment inside.  As one German said to me about meager radios in their 
> (home market) cars, "we don't need a disco at 200 kph!"  Japanese cars, of 
> course, are filled with extraneous crap, like lights that tell you your gas cap 
> is open :-)  The typical American consumer probably feels like a nice, quality 
> German car is stripped, and is unwilling to pay the price for quality that he 
> doesn't understand or see.

First of all, I agree with everything you say, but would like to add
that not all German interiors are exaclty Spartan.  In R&T's comparison
review of the Audi 100, Acura Legend, Lexus ES300, et al, the Audi got
the highest marks in interior styling.  Heck, I had to go to a Mercedes
S-class to get a better interior, but it is breathtaking, and the
exterior styling of the car gains approving nods and comments no matter
where I go.  The stereo, a Bose Beta system, has been rated tops by
audio publications here and abroad, and it is truly amazing: the sound
seemingly comes from nowhere, with impeccable soundstage and identical
quality no matter where one sits.  The stereo system in the Audi 100
series is also better than all Japanese systems except perhaps the
deluxe system in the Lexus SC400, which is also excellent.  

I think too many people determine sound quality from the number of
knobs and sliders present on the stereo and not with their ears.  The
other problem with Japanese car stereos is that they are designed to
sound good only when the car is stationary.  The Lexus GS300, in
particular, sounded great until we were driving at highway speeds, then
it sounded incredibly thin and devoid of bass, something that could
not be remedied with the tone controls provided.

Both the Audi 100CS and all Mercedes have memory seats, and the S-class
goes one further with memory for all interior and exterior mirrors,
steering wheel tilt and telescope, and all seat adjustments even
including seat-cushion length!  Only the LS400 offers even some of
these at extra cost.  People may laugh at this being excessive, but
consider that when one owns cars such as these, everyone wants to drive
them.  This way, everyone can have their fun without it taking my time
to readjust about ten different things every time I get back in the
driver's seat.  The lack of such memory on my friend's BMW M5 was 
a problem whenever I wanted to drive it, so I ususally didn't.

Other niceities, such as pneumatically-closing doors, which permanently
remedy the door-slamming problem we Germans car owner have (German
doors are much heavier than those of Asian cars and have an airtight
seal, so they get slammed), true central-locking systems, and remote
pop-down rear headrests are also niceties that have yet to even appear
on Japanese cars.

And yes, most German cars now have the all-important cupholders.

> 
> While I think the Germans might sell more cars in this country if they were 
> Japanese like, I am very thankful they haven't bastardized their product!

I, and I'm sure many others as well, couldn't agree more!

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John Greenstreet, Senior Engineer           (jgreenst@motown.ge.com)
Martin Marietta Government Electronic Systems    Moorestown NJ 08057
WPI Class of '75, Temple Class of '94

My new car history:
  1975    1978    1982       1986        1989      1992      1995
   VW ->  Audi -> Audi  -> Mercedes -> Mercedes -> Audi -> Mercedes
Scirocco Fox GTI  4000S    190E 2.3    190E 2.6    100CS     S320

POSSLQ's* new car history:
         1978       1981       1985      1988        1990     1993
       Triumph ->  Toyota ->  Toyota  ->  VW    ->   Audi  -> Audi
       Spitfire    Tercel     Corolla   Jetta GL      80      90S

*POSSLQ = Person of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters
Note: All Audis and Mercedes above were sold to friends or family.
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