<br>NT

'99 A4s have been flowing since early August; there was only a hold at P.O.E.'s from about Nov.<br>1 'till late last week. The gates have reopened;<br>the cars you see were Aug.-Sep.-Oct. receipts.

Is it me...or does Jim H sound like an Audi Brand Specialist or someone working for AoA? He has too much detailed information to be a regular joe like you or me. Or, he has a friend that is "in the know".<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM<p>P.S. Don't forget to park that new baby defensively...even if it is raining in rural Oreeeeegon

It's very common for the factory to decide that they don't like something that they did to/installed on a run of cars. If they catch a<br>potential problem, they will stop all affected <br>cars as far downstream as they can. I'm not at work (thank god Pa. doesn't let dealers open on Sun.), so I can't tell you the reason for the hold on A4s, but I do remember that the reason for A6's being held right now is optional heated steering wheel overheating (all-wether pack.).<br>How' that for a mental picture: Mrs. Berkowitz <br>hops in her A6, fires up her heated seat, leaves<br>her driveway yakkin' on the phone, suckin' down<br>the Starbuck's, and, all of the sudden, she can't<br>hang on to the steering wheel 'cause it's TOO DAMN<br>HOT!!!

You guys are on to something! Jim H. runs an Audi<br>dealership outside of Phila.,Pa.

Steve: <br>I work for an Audi dealer near Philadelphia. If I<br>can help anyone on the Forum understand things a<br>little more clearly, I'm thrilled to do it. In the<br>immortal words of some ancient philosopher:<br>"Knowledge is power." Of course,"A LITTLE knowledge is a very dangerous thing." And don't<br>forget "A closed mouth gathers no feet." And yes<br>"Idle hands are the Devil's workshop."

Actually, in the great majority of cases where the<br>factory "throws the net" over cars when they reach<br>the port of entry, they don't tell the dealer why<br>the car/cars is/are being held. I suppose that if the factory tells a salesman that a car is being held because of a relatively minor part replacement, a boneheaded salesman could very<br>easily "mis-transmit" the problem to an unreasonable customer, and then the proverbial **** hits the proverbial fan. So, the next time an otherwise straight-shooting Audi representative tells someone "I don't know why your car, which should have been here eight days<br>ago, isn't here yet," don't assume that he/she is B.S.ing you.<br>

<p>The (nt) is for Sammy's benefit.