Re: V8 Quattro's

[Eliot Lim <eliot@u.washington.edu>]

On Thu, 7 Dec 1995 LToy@aol.com wrote:

> I know, I know, its all the rage (so WE think) and high tech and everything
> else.  How many of us REALLY want an A8?

i actually don't.  it's too big for my needs and a lot of its technology
is spinning off into the smaller models, such as its new front suspension.
now, if only they'd make an aluminium A3 or A4 weighing something like
2000 pounds... but people will never pay big bucks for small sedans.
hmmm maybe a sports car then?

>If, god forbid, you get
> into a collision of some kind, where do you take it for repairs?  Our
> existing collision repair infrastructure knows almost nothing about all
> aluminum autos.

good point.  

>  Can we say EXPENSIVE?  Wait till the insurance companies
> figure out their risks on this one! 

over in europe, insurance for the a8 is actually quite reasonable.
audi managed to convince the companies to go easy on the a8.

> Sure, there's the NSX, but how many of
> them did Honda sell?

quite a few in the first year.  there is also a fundamental difference
in the NSX vs. the A8.  the a8 does not use a aluminium monocoque like
the NSX; it uses an aluminium spaceframe and the panels and fenders
etc are not load bearing.  not sure how that affects the
repairability.

>  Supposedly, the A8 isn't doing too well in Europe,
> either.  

no, that's incorrect. on the contrary a8 production cannot keep up
with demand, and there's now a 2-3 month waiting list.  not bad
for a second attempt at a top echelon car.


eliot