Edmund's Review of A6

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <9712231545.AA24866@aztek-eng.com> DeWitt Harrison writes:

> Trouble is, it's impossible for Audi bean counters to measure our value. I
> wouldn't look for even a small nod of recognition from that direction. The
> reality is we, as a group, are not a particularly attractive market.

Audi is concentrating _very_ hard on resale values.  A lot of other things
such as build quality and technology have been dealt with.  Resale values 
are an issue all over the planet and nowhere more so than in the USA - home of 
unintended acceleration.

The prices for three-year-old cars are supported by the prices of four-year-old 
cars, etc., and our success in cheerfully running ten-year-old and older cars 
at 200k miles plus is _bound_ to contribute to the reconstruction of Audi's 
reputation.  Moreover, we're pretty public about it - not just in Dejanews but 
also (because of the way Dan's server is set up) in Alta Vista.

I think Audi pays a great deal of attention to this group.  I don't yet see a 
great deal of action, but German companies are like that - it can take years.  
I know the spares pricing issue has attracted some management attention, and I 
also believe the current structure that allows each country to decide which 
models it wants to import is under review.  The UK is the only country in the 
world where you _cannot_ buy an A4TQ.  Asinine.  DUMB!  Probably the best 
vehicle in the range, excluded from one of the best markets!!

> That's despite Phil's parts bills.

As Audi perhaps know, 40% or more of my parts are now sourced from non-Audi 
suppliers.  For the mailing list as a whole, this number is also increasing.  
The more public this practice becomes, the more Audi will take note of it.

-- 
 Phil Payne
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club