Re: Audi A7 Minivan

["Doyt W. Echelberger" <Doyt@poboxes.com>]

At 06:27 PM 1/28/97 EDT, you wrote:
>.........................................................................
considerable clipping.........

>	Did you notice the latest Chrysler minivan ads?  "The ultimate
>winter accessory - full time AWD"  I'd count that as a significant step in
>the right direction.  Mark my words, Chrysler will be the first American
>automaker to offer a decent AWD car in this country  :-)
>
>Later, ---------------------------------------------------------- 
>Graydon D. Stuckey 	'85 Mazda RX7 GS, no toys 
>graydon@apollo.gmi.edu 	'86 Audi 5000 CS Turbo Quattro, has toys
>Flint, Michigan USA	'89 Thunderbird SC, lotsa toys
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O.K., Graydon, maybe....but that one didn't seem to be the _decent_ one for
me. And you never said it was.

Having the probably about the same interest as yourself, I dropped into a
Chrysler dealer and drove one of their AWD minivan beasts.( technical term,
to quote another lister).

Then I took the thick glossy literature home and read it, saw lots of specs.
AWD was only offered at the very top of the line, and it was fully
automatic, with no way for driver to control the AWD, such as is found on my
old 4kcsq.  And while driving it, there was no sensation or evidence of its
existence. The salesman explained that it was there if you needed it, and
the vehicle was designed to bring it into play when the computer determined
that such control was required. Don't worry about it!

Briefly, compared to my 86 4kcsq, it is a huge numb computerized turtle-bus
that encouraged me to drive like I had 6 newborns and their mothers as
passengers.  A tank, waddling around on the highway, at a cost which would
get me a fine new or slightly used Audi Q of any model ever produced.

It was so "foreign," after years in the cabin of the Q.   It was so plush,
and plastic, and gadgety.

I explained to the enthusiastic young salesman that his test drive did not
reveal the vehicle to be one that I had any need for, or further interest
in. I really had been looking for something even a little bit like my Q.

Then I went home in my old 86 4kcsq treasure, marveling at the way it
handled with 150,000 miles behind it,
determined to try  keeping it another 5 years, and enjoying the challenge.

Some day, Chrysler may link their AWD with something more like my 4000. But
I sure wouldn't buy one out of the first year of their production run.  No
heritage. No confidence. They have a lot to learn and very small incentive
to learn it. I don't think the size of the market is big enough to interest
them, or anyone else.  You are safe for...5 years?

Doyt