Re: 200 vs. M5

[Sargent Schutt <sargent@symposiafoundation.org>]

This thread is tired, but I just wanted to CLARIFY that I wasn’t
suggesting BMWs are bad cars, particularly the M series vehicles. Merely
that here in Southern California where Audi is relatively unknown and
BMW is the sporting vehicle of choice for the status-conscious the
resale values are VERY different (though that has begun to change with
the arrival of the A4). 

My comparisons are based on a YEAR FOR YEAR comparison, and particularly
with the 91 200q - a decidedly improved car in almost every respect from
the older 200q and 5ktq - though they are also great cars with great
potential. 

For a 91 M5 in So Cal you have to spend +/- $30,000. For a 91 200q you
must spend $10-15,000. That is a $15-20,000 price difference. For
$15,000 in add-ons, you can build a very fast Audi. In fact, you can
have a 91 200q that is competitive with the stock 91 M5 for way less
than the $15-20,000 price differential. Comparing the M3 with the 200q
is like comparing the M3 with the M5. They’re totally different birds.
Somehow this escaped the scrupels of some around here. And I won’t
bother recounting the advantages of QUATTRO over rear wheel drive, both
on the track and in the real world. Recall a comment from a BMW driver
in the BTCC - ”you could put a trailer on the quattros and they’d still
walk away from us” or words very much to that effect. Bitch bitch bitch
about the unfair advantage of the quattro system. (different system from
the street torsen set-up yada yada yada..but you get the point)

My *propellers belong on boats, not cars* comment was a joke, BTW, and
an uninformed one at that (I’ve never been a huge Bimmer fan - and
propellers still don’t belong on cars ;)  Nothing more than a joke,
though, not a “nationalistic” comment (how is that *nationalist*,
anyway? Is Bavaria no longer in Germany?) You mean brand loyalty, I
guess, since Audi isn’t a nation. ;) 

Personally I grew up around a lot of Mercedes cars, inluding some trick
AMG stuff as well as the venerable 69 300SEL 6.3, etc etc. and other
Euro autos. I personally chose Audi for myself because FOR THE MONEY no
BMW or Mercedes can compare for daily driving fun and safety in ice,
rain and snow, as well as dry conditions. Not that the others are bad,
they’re just not worth the money to me. I like having a unique and
undervalued/underappreciated car. It’s fun to surprise people. I think a
lot of us feel that way. Even if you buy low and sell low, you still had
more car for the mile.

Anyway, not really wanting to participate in any further
miscommunication, I hereby resign from this thread. (That’s right, I
want the last word, dammit!) 

Your fellow German Auto Enthusiast, 

Sarge


For those about to flame me a response anyway, remember my only point
from the beginning was that you can make a competitive (and for my
purposes superior) car in the 91 200q 20V vs. the newer generation M5
for the money, and I speak (type) from the hither-to Audi
resale-challenged market of Southern Claifornia. Peace.