RE: Lexus, et al

[Peter Henriksen <peterhe@microsoft.com>]

We have 2 local dealers here in Seattle and 'burbs: Barrier in Bellevue
and University Audi in Seattle. The former sells (alongside Audi)
Porsche, Jaguar, Lotus and Lamborghini and, under the same name but at a
different location, Mercedes, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Saab and Volvo. The
latter sells VW and Subaru. Quite a difference...
- peter, peterhe@microsoft.com, redmond, wa
  91 200qw
  94 acura legend gs
  80 mazda 626
  O-

>----------
>From: 	Quattrofan@aol.com[SMTP:Quattrofan@aol.com]
>Sent: 	Thursday, April 18, 1996 5:06 AM
>To: 	quattro@coimbra.ans.net
>Subject: 	Re: Lexus, et al
>
>You guys are forgetting that the Lexus, Acura, Infiniti brand names
>were
>created so that the parent companies could sell these high dollar cars
>here.
> Due to import limitations, the feds wouldn't let them sell over their
>quotas
>unless they created seperate dealer networks with the franchises in
>their own
>showrooms. They probably figured the j*ps would never make that
>investment(!).  Anyway, Mazda was all set to join the foray too, but
>smartly
>waited for the initial dust to clear. They are glad they did, as Acuras
>sales
>are bombing, Infiniti is down, and Lexus soldiers on only because
>they've
>managed to convince the public their cars are something special. 
>Audi, of course, is completely different, having been their own thing
>since
>the beginning of time as we know it. I think what hurts them is a)
>having the
>VW logo stamped on every part of the car for all to see, and b) being
>sold
>alongside VWs everywhere you shop. I liked it much more when they were
>sold
>at a seperate dealership alongside Porsche here locally, but everything
>was
>later combined under one roof. 
>Biggest problem they face is definately the dealers. Do you think any
>of the
>Asian brands would tolerate having dealers that treat folks the way
>most Audi
>dealers do?  A good dealer network can overcome silly parts prices
>(seems to
>work for Saab, for the most part).
>
>Dwight V.
>86 Cgt, 89 Jetta GLI 16v
>