Topic: 'Car & Driver' Magazine urq

[CurtEgerer]

I think your theory is good, but what puzzle me is this.
Maybe the Audi thing is a US issue only.

This is a big part of it in the USA for sure.  The average American car guy doesn't even know what a quattro is, much less its significance in automotive history.  We are dealing with a tiny pool of enthusiasts who were even aware of these cars back in the 80's.  Again, go back to your high school days and think about the large percentage of kids interested in muscle cars (even as bad as they were in that era) and the small percentage who were into Audi or other Euro cars.

So out of a class of 100 students back then, 95 are bidding today on the black TransAm with the gold chicken on the hood and 5 are bidding on the quattro.  The law of supply & demand - and there just isn't enough demand right now.

Oh well, I'm just happy to be in a position to enjoy driving 2 of them finally after all these years, regardless of value      

[francois]

Yes we are lucky to own and drive these cars.
Now what are the chances of that 1984 Audi 5000, olympic edition to sell for the $19500 opening bid on E-bay right now?

[ken]

Not good. That TV antenna is sweet though!

[Avantge]

yeah....very little respect for the older Audi's, sadly 

[Bluefool]

Well, Porsche just has that racing/sports car mystique, and Audis don't. 

I know that there must be some people that don't know what an Audi is, which probably contributes to the effect.  EVERYONE has heard of Porsche. 

I met one that apparently hadn't heard of Audi before at a stoplight driving my A4 a couple months ago.  Some middle-aged lady in an Explorer in the left turn lane on my left at a stoplight, yelled out:
Lady:  "What car is that?"
Me:    "An Audi A4."
Lady:  "A what?"
Me:    "An Audi."
Lady:  "Who makes it?"
Me:    <pausing, not sure what to say>  "Audi."

The light, by this time, mercifully turned green and I took off.  She was curious about the car, because she backed up in her lane then pulled forward like she was checking out the badging.  A4s aren't rare and have only been kicking around for the last 13 years.  Some people...

[CurtEgerer]

Good point.