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Sedans Audi A6 Audi A6
6896 messages, Last post on Aug 19, 2009 at 3:36 PM
You are in the Audi A6 Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 12, 2007 1:32 pm) http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/coverage/frankfurt/112_2007_frankfurt_motor- - _show_part_1/2009_audi_a4.html
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 12, 2007 1:32 pm) |
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Replying to: rjlaero (Sep 13, 2007 6:35 am) |
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The new A4 (not in the US yet, I know), is about an inch and a half shorter in the wheelbase than the C6 A6. The new A4 has the C6's interior, plus it appears to have been upgraded somewhat -- the MMI the dash, the overall demeanor of the A4 seems to be "all that the A6 was, plus some." The most popular A6 is the 255HP 3.2 -- it is a great car, it is often accused of being underpowered. The A6 is notably nose heavy and its quattro system is NOT rear biased (for the record, I say that last fact is not really all that relevant in the real world, where a 50 50 split using a torsen system acts, anticipates and reacts in real time.) Anyway, the new longer, wider, upgraded A4 chassis has a 265HP 3.2, better balance and seems to be overall VERY VERY close to the A6 in all the good ways and different in the areas where the A6 has been criticized. If the A4 keeps its distance from the A6's MSRP, as it has historically, a well optioned 3.2 A4 quattro "sport" will be $6,000 to $8,000 less than a less capable A6 (at least until the new A6 comes out in 2 or 3 years.) The A6's already pack trailing sales would seem to be vulnerable to "friendly fire" from this newer, bigger, more potent and less expensive A4 -- wouldn't it? The new CTS, likewise, has made the STS much less attractive for many -- will the A4 do for the A6 the same as the CTS has done for the STS? Wouldn't a reaction to this, from Audi, be to subvent the 30 and 36 month leases to offset this cannibalization? Wouldn't it take a "bargain" on the A6 to keep the sales propped up at least to "well above Acura RL levels?" I read the previews, I have a 2005 A6 and I think, "the new A6 (due in a few years) will be awesome -- meantime, the new A4 is the new A6 for many." Now get me into an A6 for less than $650 per month, and my eye will not wander (nor my mind wonder) across the showroom floor to that newer, bigger, nicer, better A4. 
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Oct 17, 2007 4:33 am) I recently 'Lemoned' a Lexus and was in the market for a new car, and I had a short list: an A6 4.2, and a BMW 535i. The 2008 A6 was just out, and nobody had a 4.2 that I could test. I decided to test a 3.2 since everything about the car other than the engine was the same, and I liked it. Didn't love it... just liked it. I had been calling the salesman regularly, waiting for the 4.2 to get in (I'd get the usual 'it should be here any day' response). In other words, any salesman would tag me as 'very interested', and since I was paying cash, I'd imagine I'd also be tagged as 'able to purchase'. In the mean time, I did a few tests of the 535i and decided that it was the car for me. I ordered, and it should be arriving in NJ 10/22, and be in my eager hands a week later. No calls from the Audi salesman. I called just to check, and he is still working there. Add to that: my Dad's A8 warranty is up in February, and he will be looking for a new car and is leaning towards a new A8. My salesman knows this, and still hasn't even mailed the A8 brochure to me or my Dad as I asked, or given him a call. Amazing. No wonder their sales are lagging.
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Replying to: bdkinnh (Oct 17, 2007 7:35 am) I had been calling the salesman regularly, waiting for the 4.2 to get in (I'd get the usual 'it should be here any day' response). In other words, any salesman would tag me as 'very interested', and since I was paying cash, I'd imagine I'd also be tagged as 'able to purchase'. In the mean time, I did a few tests of the 535i and decided that it was the car for me. I ordered, and it should be arriving in NJ 10/22, and be in my eager hands a week later. The A6 is a great car. I think you'll love the 535 though. |
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Replying to: bdkinnh (Oct 17, 2007 7:35 am) We've had (1) new 4.2 A6 for dealer stock in the last 9-12 months. How can you sell a product when you can't even drive a car with a customer? Same thing with A8's. 1/2 the time we don't even have one to drive. My personal car is a 4.2 A6, and I wish more people could appreciate how incredible this car is. You can go to the Lexus, BMW, and MB dealer, and they'll have a 1/2 dozen or so of all their high end cars available for test drives and immediate delivery. Audi is having record sales everywhere in the world over the last 5 years, and record profits as well. But Audi just doesn't support their high-end cars like other manufactuers...with supply or deals. When you can lease a 7 series BMW for $200/mo less than an A8, it doesn't matter how much follow up your salesperson does and how good they are. Same thing w/ A6 leases. It's been really tough to sell the A6's last year. $800 a month to lease a 255hp A6 with some nice equiptment? People go straight to the BMW dealer every time and lease a 5 series for $150 mo/ less. It's 950-1000/mo to lease a new 4.2 A6. We sell a ton of A3's & A4's, and the new Q7 does really well. It's frustrating at times to deal with high end Audi's. Everybody keeps wanting better and better deals because they bought a car before. Even if you roll out the Donald Trump red carpet and follow up diligently with your customers, it's always tough to keep the high end folks coming back. The car business in an emotional business. I've followed up with customers for 6 month to a 1 yr at times. And 95% of the time they lose interest and buy something else. You should always follow up with repeat customers and prospects. But time is money and it's difficult to chase after high end Audi business. Audi ships so few of these cars to the US market that you have to focus on bread and butter business and what people can afford in volume.
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Replying to: rjlaero (Oct 18, 2007 5:37 am) I'd like to know where I can get a "7 series BMW for $200/mo." or a "5 series for $150/mo. or less". |
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Replying to: carnaught (Oct 18, 2007 7:10 am) Best Regards, Shipo |
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Replying to: shipo (Oct 18, 2007 7:25 am) BMW's have inflated residuals most of the model year. BMW is very dependent on the US market for the 5 and 7 series, and they need to push these cars. They really have become the General Motors of the German car market. Many people are not leasing a BMW because it's the Ultimate Driving Machine. It's more like the "Ultimate Lease Deal" It's hard to compete lease wise when an A6 has a 47-48% residual and the 5 series is 56-57%. The A6 may be a better overall car, but it's tough to justify spending an extra 125-150/mo for a lot of customers. You can lease a $80,000 7 series for 1050-1100 mo. It's tough to lease an $80,000 A8 for under 1300/mo. Once again, the A8 might be a better car, but the US market is so "deal" driven, people will lease the 7 series to save a couple hundred bucks a month. Even though the quirky bangle BMW styling and horrid I drive are still major drawbacks to the bimmer. Audi doesn't really need to sell many A6's and A8's in the US market. Audi is making so much money on these cars in the European and booming Asian/Chinese markets, why send them to the US and have to give them away to compete with BMW lease deals? There's a reason Audi is having record profits and sales world-wide. Audi is hoping to overtake BMW in profitability by 2010/2011.
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