A bit-o-history (Caution: Long!)

[MSV96 <MSV96@aol.com>]

While I did bow out of the thread of “Edmund’s A6 Review” cuz it was getting
ugly...I have been thinking of some historical parallels in reflection on
reading the various posts. These reflections apply to the US market only.

In 1979 my first car was a then 9 year old German car with a propeller on the
hood. At the time wmb had about the same history and following as Audi today,
perhaps a bit more. The “enthusiast cars” from wmb were no more than about 12
years old at the time and the current models were only just building up steam
in new car sales. Back then nobody in their right mind would give up an
immaculate 73 tii or 3.0 CS for a new model. 3 series cars were generally
despised. (Hence my hatred for them to this day despite how far they have
evolved.) One thing that the propeller car company did then was to ensure good
parts availability at semi-competitive prices as there were a number of well
organized parts distributors which gave them competition. Things we did to our
10 year old -used- cars started to become available in the new models...first
in the “is” versions, and later in the “M” versions. In other words wmb
clearly was looking at what their -used- car enthusiast customer base desired
to try and sway us into new cars.

The P-car company is of course steeped in history. Competition for parts
between the glossy catalogs of Stoddard, Automotion, Tweaks, etc. was already
established in the ‘80’s. So many times we heard the rear engine 911 would be
killed, but it never happened because of enthusiast pressures not to allow it.
Didn’t matter if said enthusiast owned a -used- ‘57 speedster or was a new car
buyer...the voices were heard. It is well known that P-car co. reduced spare
parts prices in an effort to help keep the old cars on the road and in nice
condition...truly a great form of advertising for a timeless sports car.

Dorf succumbed to pressures from rustang owners. If they had their way the
current version rustang would be a fwd car built on a probe/626 chassis. Again
an organized body of enthusiasts who owned primarily -used- cars.

I see Audi today in the US market much the same as I saw wmb back some 20
years ago. The enthusiast used car market spans back a short 15 or so years
beginning with the ur-q. (Apologies to those of you who enjoyed Foxes and
100LS’s in the ‘70’s but you must admit your numbers are few...) It will do
Audi wonders of good to help ensure that the enthusiast cars they built in the
‘80’s remain enthusiast cars today...this in trying to lower some parts prices
perhaps where possible-P-car co. did it, then so can Audi. The way I see their
marketing folks rolling out first cars for the masses then for enthusiasts is
exactly the way wmb does it as has been pointed out before and I see nothing
wrong with that. I am certain that not only are AOA and VAG folks lurking on
this list but also have a quiet presence at QCUSA events to keep their finger
on the pulse of what their enthusiasts desire. I detect the best organized
presence of quattro enthusiasts is in the UK and gather in reading some of
Phil’s posts they actually react some to this organization. 

Here in the US I detect a splitting of organized enthusiasm between the new
cars and the older ones. (I hope I’m wrong.) Look where the PCA and bmwcca are
today. While the PCA has been around for a long time, the bmwcca was pretty
young back when I had my first car. At the 1996 Monterey Historics (wmb
featured marque) the club presence was the largest in the history of the
event...they have come a long ways in the past 15 years. Audi enthusiasts can
enjoy this too so long as we all choose to get along and not split into
separate factions.

Hope my take on this bit-o-history helps bring things into perspective and I
apologize to those who pay by the byte for the excess BW.

Happy New Years to all on the list!

Mike Veglia
87 5kcstq