<begin rant>
02-21-2005, 10:51 AM
#13
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Some of us like 4 door performance sedans
I think the few that would buy coupes is not enough for AoA to justify designing and importing them. Until Audi builds more overall sales volume in the US, you are just tilting at windmills. Heck, what coupes does Audi sell worldwide? The S4 Cab is about it.
They can sell a decent number of sports sedans because the demographic that buys them tends be people that have the income also tend to have kids. Not that there are too few high income people without kids. Audi would need to get a decent percentage of business from current M3 and Porsche buyers to make it worthwhile. And Audi would need to build a much better coupe than the M3 (or price it significantly less) to start stealing business from BMW. If they didn't compete with the M3 for performance then they would have to go heads up with MB coupes for luxury. Not much chance of breaking that hegemony either.
If you think about it, the M3 serves a niche and BMW has done a good job of filling it. Personally, I'd go for a Nuvolari over the M3 as long as there wasn't a big price differential. But not everyone in the market for a $60,000 performance coupe feels te same way.
They can sell a decent number of sports sedans because the demographic that buys them tends be people that have the income also tend to have kids. Not that there are too few high income people without kids. Audi would need to get a decent percentage of business from current M3 and Porsche buyers to make it worthwhile. And Audi would need to build a much better coupe than the M3 (or price it significantly less) to start stealing business from BMW. If they didn't compete with the M3 for performance then they would have to go heads up with MB coupes for luxury. Not much chance of breaking that hegemony either.
If you think about it, the M3 serves a niche and BMW has done a good job of filling it. Personally, I'd go for a Nuvolari over the M3 as long as there wasn't a big price differential. But not everyone in the market for a $60,000 performance coupe feels te same way.
02-21-2005, 12:42 PM
#15
LeMans (aka Q9) is coming. No Nuvolari as the market for the car isn't there (think Merc CLK not M3)
Keep in mind we should get the 3 door S3 and possibly the RS3 if it goes into production.
They are refocusing efforts on core values of making cars fun and reliable. That means not quite the model diversification you see in Mercedes, but hopefully cars that dynamically can go toe to toe with BMW anywhere, anytime when driven by people who don't know how to drive QTR;-)
Some of you rants are directed at AoA (for cars that exist, but aren't sold here), and others at Audi AG. If you want to be heard, write to each.
They are refocusing efforts on core values of making cars fun and reliable. That means not quite the model diversification you see in Mercedes, but hopefully cars that dynamically can go toe to toe with BMW anywhere, anytime when driven by people who don't know how to drive QTR;-)
Some of you rants are directed at AoA (for cars that exist, but aren't sold here), and others at Audi AG. If you want to be heard, write to each.
02-21-2005, 01:50 PM
#19
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hmm. Too bad, as the nuvolari was arguably the best looking new audi design since the Avus.
The LeMans, first of all is misnamed, second of all is a little batty looking.
Any idea if/how the production model will vary from the initial design?
Any idea if/how the production model will vary from the initial design?
02-21-2005, 02:37 PM
#20
Yeah. Don't make an SUV. Nobody wants to drive a truck!
I agree that the LeMans must be made, but you need to remember that job one is to make money. That's why Porsche has an SUV, and maybe that will allow them to keep making sick 911s for another 10 years.