Re: VW + Audi = !!!

[George Rath <lxl@dnai.com>]

Elliott Potter wrote:
> 
> So here's my question:  When this all comes out, why buy an Audi?  For
> the quattro?  The Synchro will cost the same.  For the status and
> prestige of the Audi name?  Gimme a break--there isn't any!  For a solid
> and well-built car that will last for many years?  VW has that pretty
> well covered, too.  To show that you can afford a nicer car?  Well, too
> bad, now the VW is not really that much less expensive, either.  All you
> get for spending the extra $2000 or so is a few extra buttons, and a
> bunch of people who say "Audi?  Never heard of that."
> 
> Elliott

As sad(?) as it is, let face it:

U.S. isn't the most important market for VW. Nor is it for BMW, Merc and
so. I wouldn't be surprised, if VW AG made a proper research, say, in
Austria,
Czech Republik or Danemark (not speaking about Germany) and decided to
do
what we see. As I remember, Passat was an upscale car in these places.
And, sorry, guys - what would be a place for the all-new Skoda Octavia,
which
is considered (according to an Austrian newspaper) as "Merc-1xx -
killer" and
is all, but cheapo crappy car Skodas used to be 10 years ago?
True, Skoda will never see these shores - but it DOES exist. Like SEAT,
for
instance. We should be happy to get such good cars, as Passat or
A4/A6/A8
cheaper in the U.S. than they sell themself in the Europe. Is the
pricing
of VW products in the U.S. wrong? Maybe. So what, let's suggest VW/AoA
to make
a much worse Passat, sell A4 for 40K and A6 for 60K?

George