I stopped by HBL Audi and saw the new, new A4 (B7?)
03-17-2005, 10:21 AM
#1
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I stopped by HBL Audi and saw the new, new A4 (B7?)
I like it a lot. The back looks like an A8 (which is miles better than the A6) and the front lights have that Nuvolari shape that I love. Grill is big.
Audi has done a feeble job promoting this roll-out. It came so quick after the B6 A4 (at least it seems so), and I doubt it will cause much stir. It's a facelift, but a very significant one. Much more so than the 2003? A6 facelift. Maybe they'll talk it up as the new BMW 3 series arrives.
The A4 that I MUST drive won't be available until 2006 (according to the sales guy). For now you can get a 6-speed manual in the 2.0T, or a a 3.2 with an automatic. The 3.2 with 6-speed manual will be available 2006. 255HP with a nice manual sounds a lot like the original S4. Of course, they sticker at $40,000, which is mighty close to what my car stickered for in 2000.
Audi has done a feeble job promoting this roll-out. It came so quick after the B6 A4 (at least it seems so), and I doubt it will cause much stir. It's a facelift, but a very significant one. Much more so than the 2003? A6 facelift. Maybe they'll talk it up as the new BMW 3 series arrives.
The A4 that I MUST drive won't be available until 2006 (according to the sales guy). For now you can get a 6-speed manual in the 2.0T, or a a 3.2 with an automatic. The 3.2 with 6-speed manual will be available 2006. 255HP with a nice manual sounds a lot like the original S4. Of course, they sticker at $40,000, which is mighty close to what my car stickered for in 2000.
03-17-2005, 10:27 AM
#2
BTW, the new Jettas are also at the dealers. Price starts at $20K. That is going to price
some people out of the market, since it's not as large as the Accord or Camry, but larger than Civic or Corolla. Not sure how it will go over, but it looks much better in real life, if the front looking a little busy with all that chrome.
03-17-2005, 10:37 AM
#3
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(Edit) It just occurred to me that the Passat is the Accord/Camry competitor.
The Jetta is a notch downmarket. I think it can sell at some premium to the Corolla/Sentra (maybe $1,500 or $2,000) but not much.
03-17-2005, 10:47 AM
#4
Yeah, but I think they are trying to aim the Passat more at the Volvo and Saab market, as well as
dip into the top level Accords and Camrys.
I remember that $22 to $24K for a VR6 was about as high as we could go, and even then those sales weren't nearly so common as the $17 to 18K deals. Just spoke to a VW sales manager friend, and he's a bit concerned that they might be pricing themselves out of the market. There is a Polo based car coming to fill in the lower end, but it's nowhere near ready from what I've heard.
I remember that $22 to $24K for a VR6 was about as high as we could go, and even then those sales weren't nearly so common as the $17 to 18K deals. Just spoke to a VW sales manager friend, and he's a bit concerned that they might be pricing themselves out of the market. There is a Polo based car coming to fill in the lower end, but it's nowhere near ready from what I've heard.
03-17-2005, 10:51 AM
#5
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Pricing not the only issue
check out the latest AUTOMOBILE for an article on how German brands have tumbled in JD Powers quality reports. The biggest offenders? Merc and VW.
And from some drivebys, I think the HUGE mega-chrome grill is way over the top. I yearn for those days of only a few years ago when every designer said grilles should be understated and body color.
And from some drivebys, I think the HUGE mega-chrome grill is way over the top. I yearn for those days of only a few years ago when every designer said grilles should be understated and body color.
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03-17-2005, 11:17 AM
#8
It hasn't seemed to do much to slow Mercedes sales. I'm hazarding a guess that the average VW buyer
pays even less attention to those quality surveys, but the people they are looking to conquest, will. Maybe not the Saab people so much, but certainly the Volvo folks.
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