Re: Audi SUV/A5

[dmiller@iea.com (Doug Miller)]

>IMHO:
>Not only are there  safety issues with this SUV/A5,

What safety issues?

 but I would think this
>would be a place for Audi to shoot themselves in the foot on their marketing
>strategies.  After all their ads depict how hard it is to get into and out
>of these SUV and that all you really need is an all wheel drive Audi.  I
>personal don't think it would be wise of Audi to have a SUV, if they are
>trying so hard to compete in it or against it.

Remember, the name of the game is sell vehicles here.  Having an ad
campaign this year to beat up existing SUV's won't impact an ad campaign in
a couple years to position a new SUV.  The public's memory isn't that long,
particularly when it is just for one model (A6 wagon in this case). Audi is
using the present SUV craze to show that there are other ways to get better
traction if that's all you need.

If Audi brings in this vehicle, it will make for sales from a market
segment previously untapped by Audi products.  Even they know that SUV's
will do things an A6 wagon won't (like tow a boat, or room to place a
couple mountain bikes and camping gear in back) These new sales will make
Audi Dealers happy, stronger, and better able to support additional product
lines (like A4QT Sport's).  And help guarantee they will still be around
for parts in the future....  I'd buy one in a heartbeat if it will have
offroad capability.  Perhaps it will make me reconsider the order I
recently placed on the Mercedes SUV due out this fall.


Doug Miller
dmiller@iea.com
97A6Q Wagon, 93 LandCruiser w/diff locks (and well used skidplates), 71
LeMans Sport V8 Convertible. Cannondale Super V 900 Comp.