“We can only ensure our corporate success by offering a range of attractive products.”

As long as they are more reliable than their current offerings.

Geez—I wonder how many different models we consumers here in the U.S. have whenever we go to shop for a new car? Remember when you chose between a Ford, a Chevy, or a Dodge, and they only had one or two models each? This is a great time to be a consumer, but I sure am glad I don’t have the responsibility for keeping ANY car manufacturer alive, but especially any of the domestics.

WOW! 40? My life at an Audi dealer is gonna get funky

Yes, lets flood the market with new products, dilute our brand image, and then be stuck with an overabundance of cars on the lots. Sounds like a good plan to me.

Deutschland Deautschland uber alles

I agree with cknoff. It sounds like Audi is getting bold and thinks that it can conquer all markets.

How about sinking a few of those bucks into building motor that doesn’t break down all the time and that starts when you turn the key. I love Audis for how they drive and the exterior/interior design, but I would skip them simply because the motors are typical finnicky kraut crap. I hate those fussy motors.
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Owning a german cars like dating a brainless hot chick – only idiots own them – a smart person rents or borrows, gets his thrill, and dumps it back on some moron with an inferiority complex.

I agree with cknoff too. In my opinion, if Audi is going to try to cover all markets, they’re going to have to learn how to sell a car in the U.S. for $17-20,000. Their new A2 is kind of cool, but I looked at them, and they’re nearly $40,000! Like it or not, Americans still equate small with inexpensive, and $40K AIN’T inexpensive.

Ricardo—how about showing us all what a classy guy you are, and make your point without resorting to racist remarks.

Having said that, I don’t know what your experience is with German engines, but since 1995, I’ve owned a ‘95 Golf, a ‘98 Passat, and I currently own an ‘03 Passat, all with four cylinder engines. I’ve driven each of them to at least 60K miles, all without a hint of engine trouble.

Scott– When my A8 got to 70K miles, the transmission died. $9,000 to replace. Lifetime transmission fluid my ass.

Scott Kempton:
The problem with VW/Audi is after 80,000 miles. I’ve had both after that magic number since new. That’s when the problem start and get quickly progressivly worse. My take on them (they are fun to drive) is buy/lease new and dump it before 80K. Do not buy second hand ever.

WOW! 9 large for a tranny? Dayum! Just when I was considering putting a used A6 on my list.

I like luke warm brainy chicks with a little 93 octane behind each ear, gets my engine revving.

They are going to increase the number of models that still get one upped by BMW in the fun to drive/performance catagory.

Audi makes nice cars. They are more like German Lexus though. Without the resale value.

I dont think the style of the A4 matches the driving experience. IMHO.
Every car company can always improve quality, but with the insane advancement in technology these days, you are bound to have problems, especially when a car starts looking at 80k miles +/-. It is a trade off.

Audi already has too many models. They should focus on fixing the problems these have instead of making more.

Scott, sorry but I gotta agree with Ricardo here especially on Audi. They are like high maintenance classy chicks that are flawed in many ways but loved in many ways as well. The funny thing about these cars is that they’re like timebombs where after a certain mileage, they start require the same expensive repairs. Yea, dump them before they get worse…

Bush is absolutely correct.. NEVER buy a secondhand VW/Audi product over 80K miles (unless its a TDI).. nothing but grief from that point on. I hate to think how much more reliability could slip if they nearly double the number of products they offer?

BAMF: oh damn! I’m sad to hear that. You guys are really making me scratch my head on this one, many friends of mine own VW’s and a few Audi’s, and they’ve always been pretty reliable…so what’s the deal, exactly?

My parents A8L got to 70k miles and they started having transmission problems as well. The dealership acknowledged that Audi is having troubles with the sealed transmissions. Because they are sealed, the entire unit has to be replaced and cannot be repaired. This of course costs a large sum of money. Needless to say they dumped that car and got a 745Li.

yeah guess what, theyll make 40 models, but we wont see at least 10 of them… and when you consider that S/RS models are each considered separate, its not too difficult a feat for them to achieve. Go audi.

but yes the reliability needs to change

A. Had 2 Audi’s(new) over the last 5 years. Not a lick of trouble with either.

B. Audi AG is NOT concerned about the second buyer of their vehicles. VERY few typical Audi buyers keep their cars over the 4 year mark (out of warranty).

C. When they say “40″, they include model variations that cost very little to engineer. Porsche now has like 12 different models of just the 911 and is doing quite well. Audi is a bigger company with larger distribution network.

VAG products are terrible.
Being the secong owner of an Audi is like being the fifth owner of an abused Ferrari.

2002 Golf GL TDI with auto. Replaced transmission at 67K. No mods, people in Europe drive far harder than I do. 2001 drive train warranty was 10;100K, 2002 warranty is 5/60K; them Germans IS smart. 5K$ for the complete cycle. Reliability issues to say the least.

So far I’ve weighed in against VW with 3 serious buyers. I’m sure VW could not care less.

oh and referring to a comment way above about audis “new A2″
the A2 is hardly new, in fact its been discontinued. Before that, it was around since before the turn of the millenium.

(scott kempton)