Re: audi rallying

[MSV96@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/14/98 "Matt & Jenai" <matjen@xsite.net> writes:

<< <major snipage> I think the end result is that many new Audis are sold to
people who: 1)enjoy the styling,  2) want European sedan cachet, 3)  think awd
is a
safety advantage, 4) and also want a discount over BMW and MB.  I see
nothing wrong with any of these reasons but I do not think many new Audis
are sold for pure motorsport enthusiasm.  Igor and a few others on the list
are obvious exceptions! >>

That maybe somewhat correct for the present model line-up, A4 excepted. Look
at what the official AOA plans are for product introduction next year and it
does appear we (in the US) are finaly going to get some pretty potent
enthusiast cars from Audi again. 

As far as the present, a quick look at the enthusiasm and track/AX related
activites the NorCal A4 club is doing tells me there is great enthusiasm here
in Northern CA from new A4 buyers. Many more than "a few" IMO. As far as
performance, I believe that one of the A4 folks did best an M3 at a local AX
FWIW (I may be wrong and admit that driver and tires have *much* more to do
than the car in that comparo anyway.) Check out http://www.ns.net/~seang/ for
more info on the NorCal A4 club...

I know, I know, I do look at the world through "Audi Kool-Aid" (tm Matt
Pfeffer) colored glasses but the A4 is a serious entry into the small sports
sedan segment and is stealing a great many wmb sales. Good case in point was
when a q-lister's friend bought a wmb 318 over an A4 becuase he was able to
walk right in and buy it with no dealer mark-up. (No dealer mark-up = low
demand BTW in most cases...) He was not an enthusiast per say and bought the
wmb because *it* was cheaper...makes one go "hmm..."

No slams on wmb from me since my very first (and many to follow) car was one.
But they are not the holy grail of sports sedans IMO. They are just one of
many good choices (that IMO don't have the best of build quality or
reliability these days FWIW.)

Mike Veglia
87 5kcstq (still dreaming of a used TT in about 10 years...)