April

If I had driven the Cayman loaner my dealer so kindly given to me, only in an slalom in a parking lot, I would have fallen in love. The handling was sublime. But once driven on real roads with freeway expansion joints and broken pavement, the Cayman fell far short of what I felt was even the most basic levels of civility.

1990V85speed

and highways around the stadium. We could take them out for a certain amount of time before we had to return the vehicle back to the lot. If no one was waiting, you could take it out again.

So, yes, I did take the X3 out on the highway and while it wasn't as nice as my A4 or V8, it was good enough for my needs.

April

get tired of dealing with the ride.

1990V85speed

when I lived in Colorado for 5 years. We had a 2-door Montero. Talk about rough rides. After 8 hours behind the wheel at 80 MPH I felt like I went 8 rounds with George Foreman.

The good part of that vehicle was that it went "anywhere!" I took that places that scared the hell out of me and never had an issue with any terrain. I'd love to have another one now even with the wind noise and rough ride.

I'm going to look at the LR3 today after seeing 3 of them yesterday after you mentioned them to me.

I got some numbers on the X3 yesterday that just demolished the numbers that I've been getting for the A4. Looks like it adios Audi. Johan is doing a great job of chasing customers away. I hope his plan works, or he'll be gone just as fast as Len was.

April

than some extra ground clearance, it is basically a car with a stiff suspension to make it handle reasonably well.

If Audi isn't subventing leases, it tells me they have either done a good job clearing out inventory during Summer, or the product is hot enough to not need incentives. Sales as of Sept 2007 are up 9.4% over 2006. Sales of BMW are up 8%. Sales of BMW X models are down over 12% compared to last year.<ul><li><a href="http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/10/02/065222.html">http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/10/02/065222.html</a</li></ul>

1990V85speed

for YTD and you'll see that their sales are actually negative. What happens when the newness wears off the TT and Q7? Unless they keep introducing new models to keep their numbers, which they are, their sale will go down, not up.

April, look at the A3, A4, A6 and A8 sales Yr/Yr % change. See what I mean? AoA is pricing themselves right out of the market, IMHO.<ul><li><a href="http://media.audiusa.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=9955">AUDI REPORTS SALES INCREASE FOR SEPTEMBER</a></li></ul>

April

When you compare actual options on cars, Audis are still very competitive for the class. Since numbers are up and they haven't needed to subvent as much, that is potentially better than moving a ton of units with incentives.

1990V85speed

Looks like there's a bit of subventing going on here. If I compare the number I've been getting from Audi dealers this week, looks like there's some give back from AoA and AFS?

April, when you were an ABS, did you have dealings with the Audi Supplier Purchase Program? My wife has it their company, and I think Bosch has it as well, but I haven't received my employment package yet to see.<ul><li><a href="http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/special_offers/Special_Offers_A4_quattro_.html">Special lease offer on the 2008 A4 2.0T quattro</a></li></ul>

April

all models. Some more, some less.

The B7 A4 is in the final year of production.

We did not have special purchaser programs when I sold Audis.

1990V85speed

in Minneapolis and saw that all of the latest delivered A4's are S-lines and there's no charge for that. I think I remember someone saying something about that, but I forgot what was the reason for it. Could it be, like you said, last year of B7, so Audi AG adds a carrot for people to buy an outgoing model?

They had four truck loads of various colors all around the same number of the one listed on the special lease deal. I'm thinking these are the ones they want to lease?

I just sent an email to one of the salesman that I spoke to awhile ago. We'll see what he comes up with.

Yes, just like you, I didn't see any Audi Supplier Purchase Program deals when I was an ABS. I did a Porsche deal for a turbo for the president of Sylvania of America. Lucky guy was given an allotment when we were 5 years deep on our list. Oh, by the way, I didn't make much at all on that deal: around $500.