Audi tried to setup an event where its clients could preview and enjoy some of its new cars. Obviously, a few bad apples ruined it for everyone and the RS4 drives got yanked from the program.

Is this Audis fault? No. They have to cover their asses to make sure no one gets killed or sued. Perhaps it was silly of them to think that Audi owners / guest would be mature enough to drive a STREET CAR on the STREETS in accordance with the LAW.

For those who think a track event would have been more appropriate - you're crazy - how would you qualify someone? Who would be responsible for damaged cars? And best yet - Who would be the first to sue Audi when the piled a car into a wall at high speed?

I can answer that question - the person who would sue Audi is the same toolbag who treated the SD and NY events as their own private track events. They ruined it for everyone else, and forced Audi to close the program.

Stop ragging on Audi, instead, rag on the idiots who f'd this up for everyone else. If you attend the SOT event, go in knowing you WON'T drive the RS4. Enjoy your ride-along and be sure to check out the Q7, which is supposed to be the primary focus of this event anyhow.

Clearly they DID intend for it to be a small track event, yet they DIDN'T a) qualify people, b) prepare for damage to vehicles, or c) provide any sort of safety equipment (as you pointed out). That's why AoA is at least as much to blame as the people who abused the cars....AoA facilitated it.

A direct quote:

"The performance course will be a timed course using the Race America computerized timing system. Approximately 1/3 mile long and not unlike a small road race track, you will be able to push the all-new 2007 RS 4 close to the limit, experiencing the all-around handling and performance of the engine, brakes, and suspension -- the awesome performance of the Audi."

See link.<ul><li><a href="http://www.audistreetsoftomorrow.com/newyork/driving2.php">Audi SOT event description</a></li></ul>

...as you mentioned. They left it open to basically anybody to sign up. It seems to make sense that they would target existing Audi owners for the RS4 at an event like this instead of just any guy off the street.

However, apparently even a few current owners may be to blame for the rest of us losing our chance at test driving the RS4 at these events.

i would have gladly paid to attend this event, if i was guaranteed some drive time in the RS4.

if not more.

really, it think the best senerio would have been a track event with hot-lap ride alongs. i attended a ferrari event like that once. everyone had a great time and no one complained.

with that having been said, i think that everyone has lost site of the fact that audi is really trying to promote the Q7 more than the RS4.

and, if you're willing to pay to drive the RS4 - attend Audi's RS4 driving event in Imola. You pay ~$3k for a two day course where the whole event is centered around driving the snot out of someone elses RS4 on a dedicated racetrack with private instruction.

They've got to have already defined the target market for these cars...and I'd assume a large chunk of that demographic is current Audi owners. For example...It makes sense that somebody coming off of a lease on an '04 S4 would be somebody that they'd want to go out of their way to cater to...although...maybe that's TOO logical for AoA! ;)

How many people would have showed up if they told the truth...

"Come out and drive the new A3, an overpriced, underperforming hatchback!"

Yawn.

people were speeding excissively into triple digits. Also, people signed up saying they knew how to drive stick and then when they got into it, couldn't and would torture the transmission.

I'd do the very thing that Audi did, but you'd think there'd be some personal responsibility.

owner beat on the car.

That's not the litigious American way.

just an observation.

for $3k they cover your hotel, all meals, and some booze. its a vacation where you get to drive a car.

totally worth it imho. i did the audi driving experience in seefeld austria in january, i would hit it again in a hearbeat. everything was 4/5 start and audi was really fantastic to its clients. much, much different from peoples SOT complaints.

...about $1500/day in overhead each weekday away from my practice. Totally not worth it.

ever take vacations?

nt

but then again i dont give a ****, so ... what other forums do i post on that you know me from?? are you on 6speed, iwsti, nasioc??

I can't speak for other locations but here's my experience. There were no "Audi Event" signs on surrounding streets until you actually entered the parking lot.

Once you parked your car there was no directions in the lot telling you where to go. After wandering around for a short while (2-3 mins)I found the sign in booth. They took my name, gave me a pamphlet, told me where to eat and that was it. I had no clue where to start the test drive. (yea maybe I should have read my pamphlet but it was 8am)

After asking around I found the concierge and told them what car I wanted. They led me out to the front to line up in the adhoc line for the cars. Confusion soon arose as the Audi event staff forgot which line is for what car.

I spoke to the pro drivers and none of them knew where the SF event is going to be held and whether or not there's going to be a closed course. That didn't sound like good planning.

Also the limitation of just 3 drives!?! One wasted on the Q7. That is far fewer than ANY of the drive events I have gone to.

I know I am in no position to complain about a free event but I did wake up at 630, drove an hour just to have a chance to look at Audis without dealer's hassle. I like the food, the hospitality of the staff but I wish the event was more well planned and focused more on the drive.

The two better events I have gone to have to be Lexus and Volvo. Even the Mazda one with 40 dollar sign up fee was better planned.

Part of the point of this event is to sell the RS4 to current non-owners...

I got to drive one today... only after proving that I had one on order. I was told at first that "no one is allowed to dive the RS4." I bitched to the manager and said "I can go to any Ferrari or Porsche dealer and test drive any car with a deposit and this is no Ferrari F430. Why is it that someone who has a car on order can't test drive it???" The manger came out and took my name and verified that I was indeed in the computer with an RS4 on order (ship date mid-late June). He then appologized and stated that "many people have been coming in saying that have the car on order just to get to drive it - apparently this is what's been going around the internet." He personally took me to the RS4 area to the front of the line and said "he's next and he gets a drive." Audi should have had a system in place to offer drives to future owners at the very least. I was so PO'd I was inches from yanking my order and getting the a new Carrera S instead. I understand that every punk on the block wants to have at an RS4 and that there were some bad apples that ruined it for everyone. The approach they took putting the "burden of proof" on me (someone who just plunked down 70+ large on one of their products) was really distasteful.