Re: Eliot's VW + Audi

[dieckeaw@plu.edu]

Here Here well spoken Eliot!
You're right.  I think the audi V6 has a lot of potential.  And I also 
agree with your musings about the VR6.  This isn't the first time VW has 
shot themselves in the foot with engine design.  The old 16v was a 
terrible engine.  It had the worst exhaust flow ever seen!  But, at this 
time, I feel the VR6 is superior.  Have you driven a Jetta GLX yet.  
Awesome!  I've always been impressed with the perkiness of my '86 jetta's 
85 horsepower 1.8, but that VR6 in that little car was very impressive.  
Only one problem- it ain't 4 wheel drive 8^)

Re the american driver.  Quite right.  Not only do most buyers not care, 
they don't know.  How many people out there are going to know that the 
'97 passat is an A6?  Market wise, I think audi shot themselves in the 
foot more by droping the 5 speed on the A6 than they did by sharing 
platforms with VW.  

As for Infinity, I saw them at the Seattle International Auto Show last 
weekend, and was appauled.  The G20, which is an "upscale" Nissan Stanza, 
was close to $40,000!  The Q45, which has a smaller back seat than the 
A6, was $60,000!  For comparison, the new BMW 740iL, which has more 
interior room than a Mercedes S500, and has much better interior styling 
(IMHO) was $60,000.  Oh, and the S500 was $90,000.  I don't know about 
you guys, but I don't consider the Q45 and the 750iL in the same league.  
One more thing.  The Lexus LS400, which is (was?) direct competition for 
the Q45, was $10,000 less than Infinity, plus it comes with a Nakamichi 
sound system stock.  Cool!

Well, that was my .02 (or was it .20) worth.

-Adam