Re: Audi Price Cuts

[healey@chester.lerc.nasa.gov (jim healey)]

>On Oct 13,  3:51pm, John Greenstreet wrote:
>[ ...]
>> Americans don't know a lot about quality, and actually believed much

snip
>	I'm sorry, John, but I totally disagree.  I like my Audi,
>	quirks and all, but our reliable family car is a Honda
>	Accord.  In my (admittedly limited) experience, modern
>	Japanese cars are (a) extremely reliable, (b) as durable
>	as they need to be for the market they serve, and (c)
>	are remarkably well-engineered.
>
snip
>
>	I guess I should now don the Nomex :-)
>
>	-Arun
>
Nah, no need for Nomex, asbestos or whatever.  We're civilized
here.
>
>>
I've come to believe there are too many variables to defining the 
quality/reliability equation (ie. car has a problem - is it life threatening,
car threatening or just annoying).  And our experiences with each 
make cause even more confusion (everyone knows someone with a lemon).


What I know is that statistics can be made to lie on both sides of the 
pond.  I don't expect my car to be more reliable than my washing machine,
but thats what we want the stats to tell us.  Car safety is a better defined
entity, but even then the numbers tend to be misunderstood (ie. my car is safer
than your extremely safe car, as is the case with some audis and mercedes).

 
This whole discussion started with the thought that Audi is willing to cut 
prices
to be more competitive with other foreign cars, right.  Well, regardless of any 
improvements in quality,they're not going to win already satisifed customers
of other makes (foreign or dom.) without creating the image that they are the 
next step up from the Honda Accord/Ford Taurus line.  And they can't make 
that jump if the car costs >$15,000 (US) more (than the accord/taurus) for the
entry vehicle.  Failure is certain if they are noticeably higher priced than the
legend et al.

I believe Audi could have success (in US) as an affordable European
luxury (with a modicum of performance) sedan. Lord knows people are 
willing to spend 27K on anything if image dictates (ie SUVs).  Perhaps 
a frontal assault on the SUV market (based on mpg, safety, road performance
 - look ma I can actually drive thru turns fast!) ?  So they can haul more, 
that's
what my friends pickup is for.

Oh well, this certainly picked up the traffic on this list.

jim h