Re: Edmund's Review of A6

[David Ritter <dritter@mich.com>]

Fringe Ryder writes:

 > I have a '97 2.8L stickshift A4Q, which I ordered new and had to wait two
 > months for (largely due to the stick, but also because Quattros sold like
 > hotcakes.)  It makes sense for Audi to listen to me - I bought a new one,
 > and will again when the S4 makes it out.
 > 
Congratulations

 > But there's little incentive to listen to people who don't buy new cars,
 > which seems to be about 70% of the list.  What's the margin in catering to
 > used-car buyers, when you have to sell the car once first?
 > 
No argument here, I agree with you, I and other used car buyers are
not the ones to "cater to".


 > Otherwise, as the doctors and wives of lawyers keep buying these cars as
 > AWD-versions of their caddilacs, we're going to wind up with a bunch of
 > cars every bit as dog-ugly and anemic as the new A6.  

My problem is one of "transportation value". I have enough people and
stuff to transport on a daily basis that will not fit in an A4, even
the Avant. The A4 is really nice car, but I need more space for my
dollar. 
I recently went through an evaluation of what I could buy to satisfy
my needs. I needed space for five, and lots of stuff in the back. I
decided that a quattro wagon would really be the best thing to get for
maximum value. The problems started with the transmissions, my wife
refuses to spend money on automatic trans. auto's. Frankly, after
reading the posts on this list on automatics, I couldn't see investing
any money in a slushbox either. The quattro wagon with a stick shift
is not a mass market car, it is an enthusiast car, and I know all the
previously listed reasons why AOA did not sell many. I still like
them.
I found that buying a used 95.5 S-6 Avant was still too much cash. 
Back through the model years I go, 92-94, nope only slushboxes, 91,
unobtanium. All the way back to 90TQW to find availability of what I
want. 
Could I have spent a little more for a wagon? Yes, but I'm holding out
for what I want in a vehicle. I will not buy the mini-van or the
sport-ute to get the AWD solution(new) at a better price.
I want quattro for winter driving, we had 270 inches of snow here last
year. 
I think that there are plenty of people reading this list that will
not be able to afford a new S-6 Avant whenever AOA decides to build
one. I figure AOA will make them in about the same numbers as the 95.5
S-6 Avant, very few indeed. This will ensure that they don't lose
money on them. They will not be affordable for many, and will be
loaded with the latest in high tech gizmo's.
I see used cars in my future for a very long time. I used to buy new
cars, but I would rather fix an old one than spend so much on
depreciation alone.

David Ritter