A3/S3 Imports - Please explain

Hi, Can someone please explain the why there seems to be so much difficulty in getting an A3/S3 in the states? I understand the arguments regarding Audi, and their failure to import the car officially to the states. Which I think is stupid. In a country the size of the US, there must be a market for the car. But why don't you guys in the states import one personally? There must be companies in the states that provide a personal import service?! Here in the UK, there is a big issue about the price we pay for our cars. Basically, cars in continental Europe cost less than the same cars here in the UK. This has caused a range of "personal import" companies to be formed. Companies like this also exist to import US cars and Japanese cars to the UK. If companies like this don't exist in the US, why not visit europe, buy the car, ship it back to the US? I do realise the shipping cost could be an issue. Regards, Alan. '99.5 A3 1.8T MS Silver

Unfortunately for us Yank's, our government is so #@%&*# up, they seeem to rather have the crappy oly rattle traps onthe road, as opposed to modern, well engineered cars on the road. I have read with envy, the UK's single vehicle import process. here, we CAN'T do that. There are registered importers who can bring a vehicle into compliance but at an exhorbitant cost as having the first car done is the most expensive. proving that the car meets the requirements is a paper work chase, from what I understand. The S3 meets specific crash(4 out of 4 stars) and emissions standards. Why the environmental protection agency and the Dept. of Transport can't streamline the is STUPID!!!!! Take the cars we have here now, compare the stats, correct any short fall's (none for the S3, excepting possibly the speedo to MPH)and be done with it. A car that is efficient, safe and a ball to drive should'nt be mutually exclusive. Yep, ya'll inEurope and the UK have a much more enlightened set of vehicle regulations and requirements. Audi REALLY SUCK'S for not selling the S3 here. I love their cars (just bought a 1999.5 A4 quattro 4 months ago, my 4th Audi in a decade)but they will be losing my, as well as others I suspect, business just on principle if they don't see fit to offer their top line cars from all ranges here in the states. The A8 is here and they don't sell THAT many of them. Given that the A8 is 2 times more expensive, it does not seem a reach that they could'nt sell more than 2 times S3's here and still have the same dollar value of sales. The profit margins(I am guessing) cannot be too far divergent to make this comparison.

Al, you figure a way to get the S3 here for an anywhere close to reasonable price and you WOULD sell them as fast as they could be delivered. Me in line first, waving my cash trying to get your attention. Thanks for your view's

Patty

Patty,

Thanks for the reply. I can feel your frustration and anger on this issue through my mouse!! You really want an S3, I can tell!

It really does surprise me that the US has such tight regulations. I always imagined the states to be full of big V8's guzzling down as much petrol as could be refined! Yet a little S3/A3 can't easily be imported. (???) Yet, as you say, the S3/A3 has very good emissions, and safety features etc. etc. God, it has to meet some strict standards in Europe too.

I wish I did know of a way to get S3 over to the states for you. Then I might earn enough money to buy on myself!!

Cheers,

Alan.

Alan:

Some of the cars on the roads here are so laughable. Can't afford a pick up to move your stuff? Take a torch and cut the roof of your Lincoln Continental, do mind the rough edges...Rusted, wobbling wheel, oil dripping, unlighted, busted window piles of **** that wouldn't be allowed in a demolition derby, that are legal on the road. Cars that burn enough oil to look like they are fogging for mosquito's and other bug's. Though the DOT and EPA control what enters the country, each State has it's own emission and vehicle standards. Some places have different emission regulations by county in each state. So stupid!

Patty

First, you have to understand, government is an necessary evil, and government and the world "inefficient" are one in the same. You put a bunch of tree huggers in charge of this bureaucratic machine and you get nothing done. Audi is just lying to themselves if they think there is no market, VW is selling golfs and Jettas like hookers at Hollywood and Vine, so there is plenty of market. Second, regulations. If a SUV can pass smog, an S3 has no problems. If Hyndai's can be sold in the US, the S3 will meet all crash test requirements. It's all bull. I can't stand it.

The one thing that nobody talks about though, is protectionism. The concept that Detroit makes crappy cars, and so in order from them to even have a change against the likes of the Euro and Jap cars, they have to tax and tariff. I can import an car to the US, that's not a problem. There's no specific laws against it. But say an S3 is $25K. By the time it gets in my hands, it will be $43K. Why? Taxes + Tariffs. We are the most prosperious nation in history, we currently have the strongest economy in history, yet we have the highest tax burdens. These liberal democrats, who run the white house flunked econ 101. That's the bottom line. Trade would make both the trader and the tradee nations prosper, but they don't want that, that's capitalism. They want this Socialistic-quasiCommunistic protectionism, instead of forcing Detroit to produce better cars for less as social Darwinism demands, they tax and tariff the imports. How is Honda an import, it's made in Maryland!!!! So it's all political BS. But then again, we have a pediphile and sex addict for a president, who's the laughing stock of the entire world, so what did you expect? 50% of all graduating high schoolers can't read at the 7th grade levels so this horrible thinking is perpetuated.

Governments don't think, and those who run the DMV also have the power to say what cars get taxed and which ones don't unfortunately... Everything the government has it's hands in, Kosovo, DMV, Post Office, Import/Export control... has always ended up in the consumer and the producer being screwed over.

Hope that answers you question.
Albert

... this is the biggest crock of **it I have ever laid eyes upon on this forum!

Sorry, I just had to vent.

adc
A4 1.8T owner