RE: S6 (aka $6)

["Spire, Ed" <ed.spire@missioncritical.com>]

You can moan about reality all you want.  But this is what some folks are
willing to pay for this vehicle, and that's what makes it worth it.  That's
how the marketplace works.  You vote with your feet, if you don't like the
price, you don't buy.

Anyway, it's not so hard to understand what you're seeing, if you pay
attention.  You're comparing a 95.5 S6 Avant from a dealer for $35k, to a 95
S6 sedan sold privately for $25K.  Well, Edmunds shows the 95 S6 Sedan at

	$24.5K wholesale (i.e. private sale)
	$29.6K retail (i.e., through a dealer, who cleans the car up, pays
the interest on it while selling it, and operates a sales channel profitably
so he can feed his children, all of which account for the higher price.)

Now the Avant is a wagon that handles almost exactly like the sedan (I've
had mine at the track, running side by side with sedans) and you can carry a
lot more stuff, so that accounts for about 2K more in sales price.  Further,
it's a 95.5 with the 96 model year features, not a 95, and that accounts for
the other 3K.  So yes, you can buy a 95 S6 sedan for about $25K, but a 95.5
S6 Avant from a dealer will cost 10K more.

If you don't want a wagon, don't pay for one.  If you don't want the newer
quattro drivetrain etc. in the 95.5 model, don't pay for it.  And if you
don't want to buy from a retail dealer and instead shop around for a private
deal, don't buy there.

But stop complaining about reality, OK?  It's more useful to understand how
the marketplace works.  That way you can understand where to look for the
bargains (like the used A8 you rightfully pointed out.)

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 09:55:54 -0800
From: "Daily,DerekSJMCG" <DDaily@sjmcb.mitsui.com>
Subject: RE: S6 (aka $6)

Uh.  Done and Done.  And 200tqw.  And S4.  And 99 A4tqw.  And 5000tq.  And
etc.

Look.  I've said it before.  The S4/S6 are kinda neat.  And yeah they'll go
fast.  But you aren't going to be able to tell me that $35k is rational for
a 4 year old used wagon.  Not when I can buy a one year old A8 for $39
(Yeah, they're around).  And if you argue that the S6 is sportier I can't
really argue, but it ain't NO sports car.  If you argue that it's reasonably
priced, I will argue profusely.  2 S6 sedans in CO right now for around
$25k.  Why the hell is the wagon so expensive?  It's a joke.  It's the same
(heavier) car!

I'll take the 200tqw for the low teens please.  Oh, and throw in an urq and
1/4 deposit on a new S4 please.  Come on...


(NOMEX)
Derek Daily
90 CQ

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	DFAUTOHAUS@aol.com [SMTP:DFAUTOHAUS@aol.com]
> Sent:	Tuesday, December 15, 1998 3:58 PM
> To:	DDaily@sjmcb.mitsui.com
> Cc:	quattro@coimbra.ans.net
> Subject:	Re: S6 (aka $6)
> 
> In a message dated 98-12-14 14:54:57 EST, you write:
> 
> <<   How much of a premium did the S6 take at new MSRP?  $4-5k?
>  Interesting how that gap has grown larger over the years.  Now take a
> look
>  at most wagon prices.  It's a very bad joke.  CA dealers asking $35k for
>  these 4/5 year old cars.  Give me a break. >>
> 
> 
> It's real simple, drive an A6 then drive and S6. Consider the low number
> of S
> 6's out there (anyone know for sure?) and you have your answer.
> DF