RE: Audi moving upmarket?

[Peter Henriksen <peterhe@microsoft.com>]

Although now that AoA has jolted people's interest with the A4's first
model year, they're hiking the price... I saw a loaded 97 A4q at the
dealer yesterday with a sticker of over $35,000. Still less than a BMW
328i with everything (except quattro :-), but not as good a deal as last
year.
- peter, peterhe@microsoft.com, issaquah, wa, usa
  91 200qw
  94 acura legend gs
  80 mazda 626


>-----Original Message-----
>From:	GS96@aol.com [SMTP:GS96@aol.com]
>Sent:	Thursday, October 17, 1996 11:53 AM
>To:	QUATTRO@coimbra.ans.net
>Subject:	Audi moving upmarket?
>
>>>OH good.  (gawd).  OH great.  (heavens).  JUST what Audi needs.  
>>>Didn't they JUST get a toe-hold established in the US by REDUCING 
>>>prices?  Didn't they note Mazda DROPPING their plan for a premium car 
>>>division because the market was saturated??????????????????
>
>I'm new to the Quattro list, so forgive me if I say something obvious or just
>flat out stupid ;-), but I DO NOT think Audi is trying to go upmarket -- they
> tried to go upmarket in the past (late eighties, early 90's) with lackluster
>results (understatement).  The new direction is to an "extra-content" niche
>where they sell cars offering equipment and build quality comparable to BMW
>and Mercedes for less $.  I think the A4 is a qood example of this.  The car
>is nicely styled, offers excellent engineering, and is priced
>aggressively.....just IMHO.  
>
>Kent Rafferty
>'93 RX-7 Twin Turbo 
>'94 Yukon GT 
>Currently looking for an Audi Something Quattro