Re: Edmund's Review of A6

["Douglas Hurst Quebbeman" <dougq@iglou.com>]

> Date:          Sun, 21 Dec 1997 08:11:19 -0500
> From:          David Ritter <dritter@mich.com>
> To:            quattro@coimbra.ans.net
> Subject:       Re: Edmund's Review of A6

> Fringe Ryder writes:
> 
>  > 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".
..snip.
> 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, I must agree with you. Every model of Audi imported to
America seems to be a model chock-full of extras that take the
price out of my range. Clearly this is a marketing problem. Around
here (Louisville KY metro area) you see only geriatrics and hausfraus
driving new Audis (egenerally); wonder why? Look at the lousey
palette of colors from which you can choose your new Audi!
(I did notice they have added a few nice metallic colors). I
didn't know so many shades of brown and grey existed!

But even if they offered really great colors or a stripped-down 
model, it would probably not make it into my collection until
its a used car. New, I could possibly swing a $14k-$15k vehicle;
but with a new mortgage to services for the next umpteen years,
even that's out of the question.

Maybe there is a way for Audi to make serious money on used cars.
After all, I would (and could) have spent $8000 to buy my 1986
5000 CS TQ, if I could have known I'd have at least 30,000 miles
of basically trouble-free operation. I'm doing that anyway, but I
started by spending $3400 and am working my way up to $8k or so.
Yes, I'm having fun, but I could be having more func driving the car
with some feeling of security.

Oh well, that's just what passes for my opinon in these parts...

--
-Douglas Hurst Quebbeman      (dougq@iglou.com)
"The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away."  -Tom Waits