I heard that the european buying habits are as follows:

1) Approx 75% Avant to 25% sedans

2) Approx 80% non-quattro to 20% quattro

So, I am speculating that the majority of A4s sold in europe are
FWD A4 1.8 Avants (non-turbo). Why? because gas is way
more expensive than in the US...the A4 is "more" expensive
there..so people tend to get cars that get good gas mileage and
don't cost as much. They basically get stripped models...nothing
like what is sold in the US.

Anybody in europe care to comment on this? I do know that late
last year over 1 million Audi A4s were produced. Where the hell
did all of them go? Didn't go to the US.

Steve S.
97 2.8QM

I drive an A4 in CA and my Mom drives an A3 in Switzerland. I know she didn't get Quattro because it costs a lot more in Europe as an option. As far as not getting turbo, again as you said it is for economic reasons (although her car is turbo). Also, I am completely speculating here since my knowledge of car mechanics is limited but her car felt a lot more sporty/able than mine. Obviously, her car is smaller/lighter and since we have the same engine hers should be faster but there is more to it than that. It feels as if her car does not struggle as much at high rpms (I could be at 120km/h in 3rd gear during acceleration). Point being if European cars are tuned to perform better than ours, they don't need to get as powerful an engine. And finally, about the Avant, it could be related to the fact that fewer people get SUVs in Europe (less are offered and they are often too big for the streets there) so people opt for a sport wagon.

From the folks I've talked to and what I've seen in my few years in Germany, an Avant is (believe it or not), somewhat of a status symbol. It's as if to say, "I need all this room for my golf clubs, and to pack for my weekend getaway"....

Funny, ain't it??

Steve,

well, yes Quattro is less present than in the US - first it costs much more and it actually doesn't get you that much further than you would think (as you may know, I am from alpine heart of Switzerland, where I survived 10 years with a FWD A100 and never got stuck, go figure). So from that perspective, for $6000 that the quattro costs, you can buy a lot of snow chains and tires, which will get you much further. Plus less gas consumption, and so on.

As for the avants - hell no. 60% sedan, 40% avant is the figure from my local Swiss dealer, and that's in an area where avants are much more popular than say in Zurich. OTOH, as Rich said, the Avant is definitely a fashion symbol - you remember the yellow S4 avant pics with helicopter and crap in the b'ground? Yep, that's why.

- Stan

You explain exactly the car I have (ok, color was missing).

I would say that there are a lot of Avants but not as much as 75%. Reasons for Avant in my case was to get some more room and have only one car at the same time. However you should get a van if it is only size that matters. I also think that wagon models are more respected in Europe than in US and the resale value is also good.

I live in Finland where we have a lot of snow during the winter. How ever I don't have a quattro.

We have a LOT of taxes in cars which really sucks. Lets have some prices in Finland (of course prices in many other European countries are lower)

1.8 FWD Avant (non-turbo) 36500 USD
1.8 TQ 43800 USD
2.8 TQ 54800 USD
S4 93700 USD

So no wonder I you see more cars with smaller engines …

So you are saying the SUV craze here is the result of wide open spaces and wide roads? Interesting, I thought if one had an SUV, roads were optional! At least thats what the ads tell ya.

FWIW

slack
99.5 2.8M

The person I know that works at a dealer in Finland is Jouko Haapinnen (I may have got his last name spelled incorrectly). Because of the price...he doesn't sell many S4s....he still gets to drive them though. :-)

Steve S.
97 2.8QM
00 S4 (jan delivery)

99.5 2.8 Avant qmss