MARKNMTT

I agree it is just pure profit taking with the upcharge as it is not really that much more difficult nor special than some of the other colors and certainly has no relation to quantity produced. I have to pay the extra 700 something with the S5 and i don't see why but paying it as I think it will look better in the long run/real world of how my car will be washed.

nirad

i'll offer them $55k for the orange one.

Europa

Totally out of character for the car, absolutely, but I do like orange.

nirad

i don't think orange is out of character for an RS4.

Europa

... in a modern JIT factory process, the real cost of making even small modifications to the workflow can be substantial. I agree that it seems <i>likely</i> that the S5 and A5 would run down the assembly line in close proximity to each other, even in series, but it's possible that there are meaningful timing differences, different production days, etc. It may be that changeover costs in this case are, in fact, negligible, but in general, they can be quite costly. There's definitely some strategic pricing on Audi's part with custom colors, but really, I think it's to discourage customization and minimize production complexity, vs. boosting profits.

Mageus

You may be correct about _subtle_ overhead costs, but Phantom Black is offered on _EVERY_ A4, A6, A8, Q7 variant. Even if there is a small cost involved, why would they do this only for the A5/S5 line?

Have you noticed that the sales brochure makes a big deal about how the lip spoiler is different between the A5 &amp; S5? Go figure.

nirad

it's not offered on the TT either.

Europa

... the cost of changeover can be significant. Let's say, for example, that you are only building only A5s for North America today. The color palette is set, and you program the line and the paint booth for a specific number of red, blue, white, etc. Every time you have to stop the line to change the color, it costs money. I know that changeover of colors is probably minimally disruptive, but a manufacturer wants to avoid a situation where customers are ordering lots of custom colors, creating lots of downtime during changeover... hence, a $2500 charge.

I have noticed the comments in the brochures about the more pronounced decklid spoilier on the S5. LOL... marketing departments sometimes choose the most insignificant things to emphasize as features.

Mageus

The issue is not one of changeover. It's a question of why the options were established like this originally. The point is this:

The other lines offer this color on every model in the line. Why is the A5/S5 line any different?

As for the TT/A3, the lack of Phantom Black is across the entire line.

For all we know, this may have more to do with some marketing exec's daughter's choice of boyfriend on the day the colors were decided. But it's still odd.

MARKNMTT

both were there yesterday, orange in the used lot the green sitting with a red one on the showroom floor.