A4 Avant Rebate; Automobile Mag, A6 & A8

[William J Murin <murin@uwp.edu>]

In today's Chicago Tribune auto section there is a guide to auto rebates
table.  Compiled by a group calling itself CarBargains.

It says that on the '98 A4 avants there is a $500 to $1500 rebate back to
the DEALER  with an expiration date of 8/31.  Same deal also on the '98
Audi cabrios.

Dont know about anyone else, but here in the greater Chicago area I dont
think I've seen a dealer with more than 3 or 4 A4 Avants in stock.  I dont
claim to have been to every dealer in the area, but I have been to 4 or 5.

Also, the new issue of Automobile magazine (Sept '98) David Davis the
editor reports on his prostate surgery.  In the story he says that he was
trying to decide on what car to take to drive the 40 miles to the hospital
for the surgery.  He picked the long-term test A6q.  Relatively short
piece but he talks about it being "a peach of a road car"  He talks about
getting an A6q Avant for the next several winters.

In the same issue they also do a relatively detaile dreport on the '97 A8
4.2q they had for a long term test.  Their rating is 4 1/2 stars which
rates somewhere between "seriously consider" and "write the check" in
their jargon.  Complaints were what we q-listers might register: lousy
Goodyear Eagle LS tires(my wife's new Olds Intrigue has better tires than
that), non-tiptronic tranny, smaller brakes than the Euro A8(and seemingly
prone to eat pads and warp rotors).  General conclusion is that it just
might be the best big sedan in the world.

apparently for '98 Audi put a toptronic tranny in the car and "improved"
the tires to GoodyearEagle GS-D W-rated--if you get the 17" wheel package.


FWIW.

Bill Murin
89 100q