Re: Comparing Apples and rutabagas

[Don Forte <dforte@mediaone.net>]

I agree.  I love my 2 Audi's, and am looking to get another one.  The BMW
is definitely more performance oriented, and it shows.  I would kill for a
540i 6spd or a late M6!  Nevertheless, Audi's have many other qualities
which make them attractive.  My '93 100S cost less than a 525i at the time.
 It isn't that much slower, but it is better in the snow, has far more
features, as well as a much more luxurious, better quality, interior.
It's a great all-around compromise that still has that solid German-car
feel.  My '90 100Q is a real pleasant car to drive to work, with 

One downside to the compromise is resale, in that buyers of older used cars
are not usually looking for a practical sedan, unless it's a VW or Toyota,
with a reputation for inexpensive ownership.  You see it with BMW, as well.
 The 3 series retain more value than the 5series, which retains more than
the 7 series.  In fact, 750i's are about as cheap as V8Q's.  

I'm hoping that Audi does stress performance more, but I also hope they
reduce parts prices, and convince their dealers to lower repair rates.  My
local dealer charges a predatory $72- an hour.  That leads to a lot of
older cars not getting repaired, and scares off a used-car buyer.

At 11:04 AM 4/4/98 -0500, Unka Bart wrote:
>Hi there fellow Q-heads,
>
>Yer Kindly Ol' Unka Bart has been curious, wondering how (or, more to the
>point, WHY) anyone could seriously debate the issue of BMW vs Audi.  I
>mean, what am I missing here?
>
>This ol' mendicant drives an Audi V8Q for the simple reason that he's
>always wanted one, and he loves it!  It *pleases* him, but that doesn't
>make him think that it will out-accelerate, out-brake, or out-run a BMW
>(maybe a 318i, but let's keep this semi-serious here).  It gets me down the
>road in comfort and style and it performs well enough to get me around most
>of the mouth-breathers on the road whenever I feel the need or desire to.
>Had I wanted a BMW, which is also capable of doing that, I would have
>bought a BMW.  I don't, and I didn't.  How difficult is that?
>
>If I wanted a Porsche 911, I would have bought one. (Oh, right, I did,
>didn't I?  Never mind...)
>
>No, actually, there is a related point in that last bit.  I simply cannot
>tell you how much I enjoy that Porker!  It doesn't cloud my vision or my
>judgement, however.  I realize that in almost every way one may measure
>high-performance, a Corvette of similar vintage will outperform my
>treasure.  Too bad, but there it is.  I would have bought a Corvette if I
>had wanted a Corvette (and for that matter, there was a time when I did
>choose a Corvette over a 911 because that's what I wanted then), I would
>have bought a Corvette.  Again, I don't, and so I didn't.
>
>I suspect we are here on the Quattro list because we *like* Audis, and we
>*want* Audis, but here's a tip for anyone who is here simply because he or
>she *believes* that Audis are somehow measurably superior in performance
>(or otherwise) to (insert your choice of automobiliana here).  Seek help,
>preferably from a therapist who specializes in dealing with disappointment.
>This goes doubly for anyone who *buys* an Audi for that reason.
>
>So what if they are middle of the pack, performance-wise?  The bottom of
>the pack gives outstanding performance, so what does it matter if Audis are
>in the middle? (But mercy, why don't they give us decent brakes or
>headlights, but I digress here...)
>
>And, prior to rushing out to tell us how Quattros rule on the race-track,
>take a deep breath and then take a moment to apply a liberal coating of
>Mother Fletcher's patented Anti-Foaming-About-the-Mouthparts Cream and
>Knicker-De-knotter (or be prepared to pay the price in extreme discomfort
>and dirty monitor-screens).  Quattros rulein competition when two factors
>prevail, the quattro driver is superior to the competition or the quattro
>has been highly modified (or both).
>
>The reason to buy an Audi, Quattro or no, is because it rules in the heart!
>
>By the way, Bob, Major congratulations!  I can't wait to get a drive in
>that new S-6!!!
>
>Yer kindly ol' Unka Bart
>