Poll; Boston3.0 has got me thinking. Who here would by an Audi if it came FWD only?
03-18-2005, 02:23 PM
#22
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Your probably right about that but the point is if we wanted
a Japanese AWD (ie an Acura AWD as mentioned) we would look at Subaru. A 05 Impreza WRX Sti is cheaper and faster then my 05 S4, but I still bought the Audi. German engineering is still better than that of other countries.
I drove Honda/Acura for years then I bought my first A4, and I am still driving them 3 cars later. Love the Audi's.
I drove Honda/Acura for years then I bought my first A4, and I am still driving them 3 cars later. Love the Audi's.
03-18-2005, 02:48 PM
#23
With everyone moving towards offering AWD, who would stay with Audi....
if there were AWD on every entry level luxury/sport sedan that Audi already considers sales competition?
That should be another poll.
Some AWD systems will bias more power here and there, react a few tenths of a second slower... but to the common buyer of these cars its still AWD and to the majority that's all that they may care to know. The key is that Audi's most visible asset is the AWD niche for the luxo market.
That should be another poll.
Some AWD systems will bias more power here and there, react a few tenths of a second slower... but to the common buyer of these cars its still AWD and to the majority that's all that they may care to know. The key is that Audi's most visible asset is the AWD niche for the luxo market.
03-18-2005, 03:40 PM
#25
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But it Audi starts to make their high hp car in RWD only,...
say a RS6 in rear drive, then you would probably drive it in fair weather only, just like M5 and E55. If BMW's and M-B's are doing it, I don't see why Audi can't. Except the fact that people have come to expect Audi's performance models to be equally capable in fair AND foul weather.
And that's Audi's main attraction to those of us who live in the snowbelt. If they do away with quattro, their appeal would drop off significantly.
OTOH, it's interesting that in Europe, quattro sales accounts for less then a 25% of total Audi sales (or something like that). I think that can be attributed to the different buying process over there versus in North America, with fuel prices being a big consideration. Also people there are accustomed to paying good $$ for premuium small cars, they value quality over quanity, which is fundamentally different than the mainstream North American culture.
I think more than 70% of Audis sold in North America are quattros, they NEED it to survive over here and they know it. Again our market is just different than Europe and elsewhere.
And that's Audi's main attraction to those of us who live in the snowbelt. If they do away with quattro, their appeal would drop off significantly.
OTOH, it's interesting that in Europe, quattro sales accounts for less then a 25% of total Audi sales (or something like that). I think that can be attributed to the different buying process over there versus in North America, with fuel prices being a big consideration. Also people there are accustomed to paying good $$ for premuium small cars, they value quality over quanity, which is fundamentally different than the mainstream North American culture.
I think more than 70% of Audis sold in North America are quattros, they NEED it to survive over here and they know it. Again our market is just different than Europe and elsewhere.
03-18-2005, 03:44 PM
#26
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In that caseI think styling, interior design, quality and even value will come into play....
those are the extra elements that will put Audi over the top when you compare them to other brands offereing AWD vehicles.
03-19-2005, 01:18 PM
#30
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In Europe, I wasn't aware of the bias towards FWD sales..
FWIW 65% of Audi's sales are TDI so again Europe is much different than NA. What would happen to sales in NA if (when) they offer TDI?
I'd love an Allroad TDI!
It's quattro that attracted me to Audi.
Hugh
I'd love an Allroad TDI!
It's quattro that attracted me to Audi.
Hugh