Audi Insurance Info

[Mark Quinn/HNS <Mark_Quinn@notesgw.hns.com>]

Some interesting insurance info on Audi's here (A4 in particular).  I 
have my insurance with Erie Insr Group (based in Pennsylvania, they 
cover half a dozen NE states).  Firstly, I have to say that I would 
thoroughly recommend Erie.  They are one of the lowest cost companies,
and yet have been very good whenever I've had a claim - generous and 
quick.

Anyway, they choose their top 80 cars every year based on cost to
insure.  They base it on a number of issues, claim frequency, claim 
cost, safety etc.  Last year (1996) the A4 and 90 Cabrio both 
appeared on the list.  The 1997 list just came out but this time
*neither* of the Audi's appeared.  

I immediately went into action and sent off an email to them asking 
"why?".  The next day I got a response, which I include below for
your edification ...

-Mark Quinn

--------------------( Included Letter )-----------------------------
In-Reply-To: The letter of Wednesday, 12 March 1997 2:58pm ET

Mark,

Here is the response you requested from Sam Mancini in our Product
Development Department.  Sam applies the eight criteria listed in our
car guide to determine the safest cars in each category.  Please let me
know if you need additional info.

              Lisa Gensheimer
              Corporate Communications

"From a safety perspective, in general Audi models are fine.  Insurance
premiums are reduced three symbol levels on the A6 series, but are not
adjusted on the A4 series.  Nevertheless, insurance premiums overall are
average on the A4 models.

"The specific reason, however, why the A4 series was eliminated from our
list was collision loss experience statistics that were 68 percent
higher than the average passenger vehicle, and 72 percent higher than
the average mid-size, four-door automobile.  This does not mean that the
A4 is a "bad" car -- it just fell short of meeting this criteria in our
review.

"The relative average loss payment per insured vehicle year for 1996
Audi A4 models (as reported to the Highway Loss Data Institute by
insurers across the United States) was $168.  This was much higher than
statistics we reviewed from previous years.  This measurement is the
dollar total of all collision or theft loss payments made for claims for
a group of vehicles divided by the total exposure for that group.  This
is expressed in relative terms compared with all passenger cars."

--------------------( End Included Letter )-------------------------