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I got that way through experience.
Either way, there's no doubt that Audi does a good thing here, and I'm sure others have enjoyed your description of how the system works.
Question is: What happens if Audi becomes par for price, content, image with MB, BMW, Jag? When/if this happens do "we" still buy Audis because they're Audis and no longer "excellent-cars-with-a-price-advantage" or does one more actively cross shop with BMW/MB the way one would with a Honda/Toyota?
Anyway, just a thought.
Nevertheless, Audi will have to make an excellent case in the form of the next generation A6 before I pay $45000 for a nicely optioned turbo 6-cylinder whereas VW offers an 8-cylinder Passat for $8000 less. I know the two cars are not an EXACT comparison, but for my purposes close enough.
If an Audi A6 costs the same as a BMW 5 series and has "generally" the same content, I would still go with the Audi because for me all wheel drive is a sufficient differentiator. MB's are still considerably more expensive, and for the time being don't enter into "my picture." Jags at the moment appear to have quality control issues, but if that issue is resolved, I would think that those who won't look at Asian or American cars might consider the Jag vs the Audi (if AWD is an issue). Audi, IMO, aims to make its products compete with its rivals: BMW (Europe) and perhaps Acura (Japan).
With the relentless push up market up price -- well, it is not beyond the pale to believe that similar rises in price will not also occur across the BMW lineup -- thus making the Audi still a good (perhaps better) value.
Good point about the VW -- but the W8, so says the car magazines will not continue in the next generation Passat (no room under the bonnet). Currently the W8, priced more like an Audi A4 3.0 than an A6 2.7T appears to be a bargain and a competitor for Audi's customers. Yet, read the review of the Passat in the latest Car and Driver and you may find that it is not quite enough "Audi like" for their tastes.
Time will tell if the 2003 sport Passat W8 will further threaten the A6 2.7T -- my guess is, it will -- for many who are not THAT concerned with the IMAGE factor. Of course, VW's dealer network is notoriously spotty and some would say downright crappy. This last issue makes the Audi, for the time being, still attractive to me.
I will of course be advising this erudite forum regarding the experiences my wife and I have with our new 2003 Audis: She a 225HP TT coupe and Me a 2.7T allroad.
The future looks exciting.
Have you seen the A6 TT?!? Yes, A6 and TT create a new offspring. . .the A6 TT coupe!
Now that you mentioned it, Mark, I do recall VW saying the W8 would be short lived (should there be a hyphen, I'm never sure?). Of course, that's what they say now - maybe just to tease and titillate and gauge consumer/dealer reaction to pulling an ostensibly (I haven't driven one) capable and I daresay "affordable" car.
The W12 will be in an Audi A8 and a Phaeton. A V10 diesel is also coming soon -- the W8 must've been a grand experiment. If it were me, I would have just put the 2.7T Audi engine in the current body style Passat and saved the development costs. I believe the 4.2 will not fit in a Passat, BTW.
Didn't or doesn't Audi (VW?) have a 3.7L V8 (the first A8 I drove had one in it -- a 1997 FWD model imported for demonstration to the US market)?
uscarguy
I stopped by the dealer last night after dinner to show my son the new E. He began to beg me to buy the new CLK. It's front end looks way better in person than in the pictures. We both majorly drooled over the new SL.... anyway back to VW/Audis
Has anyone confirmed that this is true? And if so, what version on the 4.2? The 300 +/- hp version? Or a higher hp derivative, like in the S8?
Mark? Would you have waited and ordered a V8 in yours instead of the 2.7T?
- Ray
Who somehow sees the V8 as a more attractive motor – since a 2.7T chipped (though clearly providing a quick acceleration rate!) raises issues best left to others less risk averse . . .
I love the 4.2 engine. And if you want a tip transmission, I cannot say anything negative about the 4.2.
And, assuming the 4.2 would have fit my pocketbook -- and assuming that it did indeed come with a manual transmission -- I would have ordered one.
The manual transmission may be dying and maybe for a good reason -- the 6sp tiptronic may, in all key areas, better the manual (probably will). The manual, while still alive, is my choice over the 5spd tip (and no I know of no issues with the tip that would make me avoid it if I wanted an automatic).
If my 2001 A6 4.2 had a manual transmission, I would probably keep it as long as possible -- until the lease was dead. As it stand now, I will "early out" of the lease and am, at this point, planning on a 36 month allroad lease. I have heard that the A6 TT will be here in 2005 as a 2006 model -- that will work, as would the S4 (2004 model). Since my wife has (or will have) a 2003 225HP TT coupe, a 2006 A6 TT looks to be about the right size for our family (of two adults and two small shelties).
Heck, if the allroad is as great as the posters over on audiworld make it seem, this may be a car worth keeping as "the third car" -- after all I do have a three car garage -- with one empty bay.
Of course, the only way I'd keep the allroad is with an extended warranty and assuming that I had kept it at perhaps 1,000 miles per month (or less).
So many future cars, so little time to buy them all (and not enough money!).
Your friendly dealer has an order guide for the 2003 allroad 4.2 -- and would be happy to relieve you of a $500 deposit.
I think the article (with picture) said it was coming. . .
But, hey -- I read (in European Car magazine) that the 2003 TT coupe quattro would have a High Output engine (2.0L turbo charged or a small V6?) available. My wife's 2003 TT (which will be produced in week 39 has the fine 1.8T turbo with 225HP -- no high output model is (yet) offered.
So, like I do when I take a trip on an airplane -- I never assume I am actually going anywhere (even if I am on the tarmack next in line) until the plane actually is off the ground.
Heck, for all I know, the 2004 S4 is still a twinkle in someone at Audi AG's eye (but at least there are substantial rumours about that one -- we are too early in the rumour curve to say the same thing about an A6 TT).
He said that he saw the ad in the newspaper pertaining to 0% financing and took the ad to the dealer (who apparently was not completely "up" on the program) -- and did indeed get to acquire a late model Audi with 0% financing.
These are the only details I know.
But, we have talked, on this forum, about no way Jose will Audi ever do 0% -- well they've proved us wrong (at least for a used Audi).
Now, with the German economy still "very soft" (perhaps worse than ours) -- it would not be beyond the pale to think that it is at least possible for Audi of America to offer very low or zero financing/leasing this year (just like Ford and GM are now extending even to the 2003's).
Somebody pinch me.
She likes her A6 3.0Q much more now that it seems to have adapted to her driving style. She still thinks the steering is too light, but loves the roomy and well crafted interior as well as the deepness of the Ming Blue paint.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2017 Pilot Touring AWD, 2019 Tacoma TRD Sport 4WD
As to the second part of the question -- when I got out of my last car, Audi ponied up $800, and the dealer ponied up something too. My cars are often farily low milage and generally immaculate -- so they "seem" to command a bit higher come trade in time.
I think those days may be coming to an end, and my gut is telling me that an early out of 6 months or more will be memories rather than future events.
The news today on the German economy is so bad, however, it would not be too hard to imagine some incentives from German companies that may at least be similar to what US car companies have been forced into.
And, while I wish that the economy would REBOUND (globally) rapidly, I believe it will putt putt along and rebound very slowly -- so as long as I am able to take adavantage of the [depressed economic] situation I will -- in other words, I would think that for at least another few months "now" is the time to get a new car (from anybody).
One more thing, if you are really interested in a really early out of a lease, try swapalease.com.
Swapalease.com really works well!
Thanks
However, I am less enamoured with the sport seats which have odd bolstering which becomes uncomfortable over long periods, IMO.
My advice: focus on the seats as much as the suspension. Last I checked you could not get "regular" seats with the sport suspension.
Enjoy the suspension which with the upsized wheels/tires came with ultra high performance all season tires Pilot Sport A/S -- which I thought was pretty interesting (Audi may be "getting the US market" after all).
The sport suspensions keep getting better and when coupled with the torsional rigidity of the cars actually feels very comfy.
And the handling is markedly better.
I bought an 2002 A6 3.0 two weeks ago for carsdirect.com's price. Today I happened to find out that the current price listed at carsdirect.com has been lowered $1500! Can dealer/I still do anything about it? This maybe a dumb question, but I just can't take the $1500 difference made in two weeks! Thanks for your advice.
How would you feel if two weeks after you purchased your Audi there was a price INCREASE of $1,500 and the dealer asked you to pay it? Unless this is some kind of AoA retroactive incentive, I believe your out of luck. Don't let it affect your enjoyment of a great car....it's only money ;-).
On Sunday, gasoline was 1.59 per gallon, today the same gas at the same station it is 1.42 -- I bought 15 gallons on Sunday -- damn! Maybe next week the reverse will be true.
Again, ONLY if there was some misrepresentation do you have a case, IMO.
Sorry, I know that's not what you wanted to hear.
How about buying stocks with a 14 day principal guarantee!
Are you sure the Audi price drop was for the exact same car w/ exact same options? I have not seen very many exact twin Audis on the dealer lots.
Usually the companies put the premo stuff in the high end first -- you know 6spd tip in new A8, followed a year or two later by A6, A4, etc etc etc.
Not that I doubt YOU, but is it possible it was a typo?
Man with 7 speeds the engine would always be in its sweet spot!
http://www.germancarfans.com/News.cfm?NewsID=2020916.002
M
M
Grand High Poobah
The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
Maybe the 6-speed manual will be an option for the A6-4.2?
http://www.germancarfans.com/photos.cfm?PhotoID=3020916.001
M