Re: Audi is shooting itself in both feet; Was: Re: Audi is starting to become GM!!!

[Andrew Duane USG/PE <duane@zk3.dec.com>]

Hairy green toads from Mars made Elliott Potter say:

> YES!!!!  I thought I was the only one noticing this!!!
> I keep hearing people talking about VW's using the Audi V6, or the
> quattro system, or sharing body panels, etc.  But I think it's even
> worse than GM:  Think now, Toyota/Lexus!  Tell me the difference between
> a Toyota and a Lexus--about $10,000 and the nameplate!  That's it!  Same
> engine, same suspension, same body panels, basically same interior...  I
> see this slowly happening to Audi/VW.  Noticed similarities between the
> new Bug and the TT?  The Passat and the A6?
> 
> It looks to me like they're getting much too close to each other.  The
> line between them is blurring, and the Audi badge doesn't have the
> prestige that the Lexus badge has to compete.  If you tell a Lexus owner
> "hey why didn't you save $10K and buy a Toyota," they will say "Because
> I'm driving a Lexus.  It's the name."  VW/Audi?  Nope.  When the VW's
> all start having Synchro, what's going to make people get the Audi AWD
> instead of the VW AWD?  Not the name, the name Audi means nothing here. 
> Not the amazing handling differences or driveability differences,
> they're getting much closer to each other.  Maybe the luxury, but then
> people will look at BM, Mercedes, SAAB, Volvo, etc. and prefer them
> because who wants to drive a luxury car if no one else knows it?

Well, this works for me.

Lo these many years ago, when I first started lusting after a
4000CSQ in Alpine White, I couldn't handle the $20K price tag.
So I looked at a VW Quantum Synchro instead.

What did I find?

The 4000 was a Nice Car (tm), while the Quantum was cheesy vinyl and
plastic and looked more like a Hyundai then the Audi in comparison.
And to top it off, it was only $2K less.

Don't get me wrong, I love VW's. My family has owned 23 of them.
I had 3: a Rabbit and 2 Golfs. If they imported the Golf Country
to the US, I'd own one of those instead of my 100Q.

Back then, the Audi/VW distinction was a real distinction. But over
the years you started paying through the nose for the Audi badge.
I'd rather save the $10K....


-- 

Andrew L. Duane (JOT-7)			duane@zk3.dec.com
Digital Equipment Corporation		(603)-881-1294
110 Spit Brook Road
M/S ZKO3-3/U14
Nashua, NH    03062-2698

Only my cat shares my opinions, and she doesn't have $10K.