Audi to overtake Mercedes?

[Dryce]

It is amazing that Audi sell so many, they have very few cars in their range that are actually good cars, sure they may look nice and the interiors are pretty nice, but to drive they are not brilliant at all.

They have their proponents - and the FWD does mean a bit more space in the back. And unlike MB and BMW they offer 4WD saloons in the UK. Not to mention the A3 and TT (It's like a Golf but not a Golf).

I think since the styling became more aggressive a few years back that's also been reflected in a portion of the customer base for the higher end A4s. In the last 5 years if you have somebody in a German car trying to sniff your posterior then it's more likely to be an Audi A4 than a BMW 3 series.

 

[BTB 500]

More interestingly look at the top speeds of the two power output versions of what is the same car.
120Ps does 129mph
170Ps does 143mph.

170/120 = 1.41, or 41% additional power.
143/129 = 1.10, or 10% faster.


Just shows, dunnit..!!

It does!

The 0-62 time is 23% quicker for the 170 Ps version ... would have expected a bigger difference there. Both are 6-speed manual gearbox, same kerbweight, same aerodynamics.

Interestingly the more powerful version has significantly better mpg figures:

Urban: 38.2 vs 32.8
Extra urban: 58.9 vs 44.8
Combined: 49.6 vs 43.5

So I wonder if the gear ratios are different

 

[Rory]

No surprise really. Everybody I speak to says MB rust, lots of Audi taxi drivers round here did have MB. I ignored them a bought a 57 E class , guess what? Corrosion !

I don't know how the individual model sales break down, but an awful lot of sales reps drive A4 or Series as leased company cars. Having a C Class is almost unheard of.

 

[Ant-toe-knee]

Very true . A lot of A6 drivers were ex e class owners but are put off by the problems they once had.

 

[Adam230K]

BMW and Audi have always discounted their cars more heavily then MB... I'm not even slightly surprised

 

[asad7860]

from my memory a C180 kompressor sport coupe with 143 bhp could nearly do 140mph too. I thought that was impressive from such a small unit with a modest 143bhp

 

[finisterre]

Mercedes short changed their customers in the late 90's early 2000's and lost market share. They are struggling to regain that share with better quality products again but instead of "surfin the waves" as they might have been doing they are "swimming against the tide" along with their rivals.

Good news on the sales figures!
More power to Audi's elbow.
The Mercedes beancounter scum have had me driving around in a rustbucket van for 13 years.

I will never buy a new Mercedes again.
I want their shareholders to suffer more still.
Go Audi.

 

[prprandall51]

BMW and Audi have always discounted their cars more heavily then MB... I'm not even slightly surprised

Well, they must do some heavy discounting because a comparison of list prices of the A6 / 5 Series / E Class puts Audi at 10-15% more for an equivalently spec'ed car.

 

[prprandall51]

No surprise really. Everybody I speak to says MB rust, lots of Audi taxi drivers round here did have MB. I ignored them a bought a 57 E class , guess what? Corrosion !

I am amazed. Are you sure it hasen't been in an accident? All MBs of that age are galvanised.

My 54 plate E class has never been garaged or even washed (well twice in 7 years) and I live in a damp river valley - but there is not a spot of rust on it.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

BMW and Audi have always discounted their cars more heavily then MB... I'm not even slightly surprised

Have you seen the price of an A6 lately?

Someone on here priced an E class with comparative specification, the A6 comes in at a couple of grand more.....

 

[wemorgan]

Best selling, worst selling, I'm not sure these tables really mean anything important.

If you own a MB and are happy with it, great.

Confirmation that there are lots or few people with the same taste as you shouldn't swing you one way or the other

 

[Red C220]

VW have a big manufacturing facility in China but I think the real reason is that the have more smaller and cheaper cars than Mercedes

^There lies you answer.

VW market share in China is massive, they invested heavily in facitlities out there with a lot of local help. The "Peoples car" goes down well in China.

Many are models we don't get.

Audi A4L
Audi A6L

etc

As a result I think the comparitive Mercedes is hugely more expensive.

Lots of BMW 525iL out there also. They like the limo, but being a diminutive people, don't need the huge barge that us lardy westerners do.

 

[Liwi]

yes they probably do need the Long wheel based cars in China....

 

[grober]

Audi appears to offer a greater flexibility as standard in specifying their models both mechanically and trim wise. Why for example do Mercedes not offer their Avantgarde version of the C class or the Elegance version of the E class or cheaper non Sport version of the C class coupe. These levels of trim are available in other markets why not here. AND no GLK at all. You can go "designo" with Mercedes but Audi seem to incorporate their "custom facility" in their standard brochure?
No MB 4matic in RHD of course but Audi offer it in A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 ? The A6 A7 AND A8 make extensive use of aluminium in their construction also and also offers air suspension as an option on the A6 albeit at a hefty £2k. but--- and this is the important thing its available if you want it ! No widespread injector supply problems on AUDI diesels either or they have managed to keep it remarkably quiet. Avoidable technical glitches aside[ which must have hurt the brand even in the fleet market] its as if MB UK have decided to stick with the safe and familiar market they are accustomed to, rather than try to increase market share. That may work in the short term as far as profitability is concerned but long term??? The figures speak for themselves.

 

[Dryce]

yes they probably do need the Long wheel based cars in China....

Seems to be something they like in some parts of Asia.

In Malaysia they have made stretch versions of the Saga, Wira (Persona), Waja (Impian), and Perdana.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

No widespread injector supply problems on AUDI diesels either or they have managed to keep it remarkably quiet. (

You've got to be joking!

The 2.0 TDi that VAG brought out around the 2004 mark keeps my local German indie in work just with the injectors. They see at least 3-4 per month and the injectors cost around £600 iirc each.....

My old man has got a 2007 A6 with pretty high spec (Bose, heated memory leather etc) and the fit and finish of his isn't in the same league as my 2007 E320.

 

[artyman]

Does it really matter they have sold more, or do people want to drive a car that is also driven by everybody else, if that's the case buy a Toyota.

 

[Hammy]

Previous car but one - Audi A4: 70000 miles in 18 months, faults - 1 oxygen sensor at 65000 miles, recalls nil

Previous Car - Audi A6: 50000 miles in 2 years, faults - display on instrumnet cluster failed, recalls nil

Current Car - Mercedes C250 CDI: 41000 miles in 2 years, faults - windows continually misting, paint peeling off alloys, bonnet badge delaminated, auto wipers not working, recalls 4 - Fuel pump software, replacement injectors, power steering leak, fuel injector wiring loom.

Cant say this news comes as any great surprise to me. Agility up in 11 months time then off back to the Audi dealer!

 

[Dieselman]

I don't know how the individual model sales break down, but an awful lot of sales reps drive A4 or Series as leased company cars. Having a C Class is almost unheard of.

Just spat my drink out there.

Every other rep is now in a C-class as a result of super cheap lease deals.

 

[Dieselman]

So I wonder if the gear ratios are different

They will have to be, the car goes faster for the same revs.