Re: Edmund's Review of A6

[Sandy Duffy <sandyduffy@home.com>]

You Wrote:
>Mike, get as bent as you want.  Used cars aimed at the masses probably sell
>better than those not.  Surely you've learned that a car with an automatic
>and A/C has much higher resale value than a car missing either, and yet the
>ultimate performance machines have neither.  You are not representative of
>the used market and don't impact the new one.
>
>I am part of the new-car market.  I've had trouble with sales support  -
>which is why I don't buy American anymore.  What I do affects their bottom
>line.  You whine about your priorities, but what it boils down to, elitist
>or not, is that you don't (affect AoA).  You may think I have  misplaced
>priorities, but their profit is in the initial sale.
>
>BTW, in response to your question about why they have Audi-Assured, it's
>primarily for disposing of lease cars and to deal with their reputation, of
>course, but don't forget that Mercedes, long reknown for resale  values,
>pioneered the whole concept.
>
>IOW, you set your priorities, you accept the trade-offs.  If you  REALLY
>want to change how AoA thinks, show them a bottom-line associated.  Buy a
>new car.  

I agree with you and disagree with you.  I just purchased a 95 Audi A6 5 speed.  I looked 9 months for the right car.  I could have bought a new A6 and I did consider one but I did not because it did not offer a 5 speed.  I looked at and test drove an awful lot of cars (including 2 S6 both of which were making tranny noises! Hmmm) and in general found that the dealers actually got more money for a 5 speed than an automatic.  Why? it seems to me because they could.  There were not many 5 speeds made in 95.  Therefore, those that are available are worth more (generally 2-3 thousand more) than the same car as an automatic. So I found my 5 speed quattro and am very happy.  (BTW with a 5 speed its not nearly as slow and doggy as other posts have stated). However, now that I own a 5 speed, I have sent letters to Audi Germany and Audi USA informing them of my choice and why I made it.  I might not make a difference as one person but if Audi were to receive a number of letters from a number of consumers who did what I did,  it might have an impact.  So my point is go find a used 95 (or older)  A6 5 speed and tell Audi about it snd why you did it.  If enough people make them aware of this (and a few more reviewers state it), they might just import one in limited quantities to satisfy the market that exists. I, for one, would pay more money for a 5 speed in a new car if were just offered for sale.  I know the A4Q 5 speed exists but it is too small for me and I just don't fit comfortably in it.

Regards

Sandy