First Drive: 2015 Audi S3 Sedan
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Lately I've been finding even if Lexus or Japanese/Americans do anything right they are still viewed below Europeans. I've brought this up once before, may have to bump the thread, but even if automakers have the same vehicle spec for spec the Euros get the nod simply because of the name and badge despite say poor reliablility vs example an American counterpart. Same issue only because the badge is Euro and it has a nicer interior. Perhaps some automakers will never win. Lexus builds a supercar and haters come out . What do you people want? What will make you happy? Nothing? Ok thought so
#17
Lead Lap
Lately I've been finding even if Lexus or Japanese/Americans do anything right they are still viewed below Europeans. I've brought this up once before, may have to bump the thread, but even if automakers have the same vehicle spec for spec the Euros get the nod simply because of the name and badge despite say poor reliablility vs example an American counterpart. Same issue only because the badge is Euro and it has a nicer interior. Perhaps some automakers will never win. Lexus builds a supercar and haters come out . What do you people want? What will make you happy? Nothing? Ok thought so
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Well in regards to LexFather's post, people have been calling Audi's rebadged VW's for ages. That never stopped, and plenty of people have already commented on it. And let's be honest, the only reason people ragged on the LFA was because of its super high price tag. It also wasn't the prettiest thing.
Says a lot about "enthusiasts" doesn't it.
I don't think I saw vw mentioned in the article above. What I do see is humping the S3 cause it reminds them of the S4 of the past.
Edit I see it but very vague and one mention.
Last edited by LexFather; 11-13-13 at 08:23 PM.
#19
Lexus Fanatic
The Germans are doing the 31 flavors thing. They have such an extensive line up.
So the 3 is the new 4 I guess. They are all getting bigger so fast
So the 3 is the new 4 I guess. They are all getting bigger so fast
#20
Well in regards to LexFather's post, people have been calling Audi's rebadged VW's for ages. That never stopped, and plenty of people have already commented on it. And let's be honest, the only reason people ragged on the LFA was because of its super high price tag. It also wasn't the prettiest thing.
They grow up so fast
#21
#22
Problem with S3 is that it looks great for affordable sport sedan... but it wont be affordable, it is going to be $50k+ car.
Probably be better buying GTI or R on the same platform, and with actually nicer interior (i recently sat in A3 and Golf, next to each other, and Golf had higher quality interior)..
#23
Lead Lap
Not following you there...what does platform sharing have to do with interior design? Outside of air vent location and a few other minor things the platform shouldn't have anything to do with it.
#24
MBQ part is nothing like any platform sharing of before - Toyota does platform sharing, but not like this... however I suspect they will do same or very similar with their next platform as well.
It is all great for them and their profits margins - as this is why they are doing it, to make their cars cheaper. But then you end up having 50k car sharing platform with 10k car.
#25
Lexus Champion
I saw my first CLA (white) yesterday and was pretty impressed, but I'm just not a MB sort of guy....I feel Audi/BMW are more sport oriented and can't wait for the S3/A3. BTw the S4 starts at $48K, hoping the S3 will start near $40.
#26
Lead Lap
point of new platform sharing by VW group is that maximum amounts of parts are shared.... that also ends up limiting interior design as we can see here - it is really sparse and cheap looking with vast plastic areas. If you share many parts and their positions, then you can not create stylistically differing interiors either.
MQB part is nothing like any platform sharing of before - Toyota does platform sharing, but not like this... however I suspect they will do same or very similar with their next platform as well.
It is all great for them and their profits margins - as this is why they are doing it, to make their cars cheaper. But then you end up having 50k car sharing platform with 10k car.
MQB part is nothing like any platform sharing of before - Toyota does platform sharing, but not like this... however I suspect they will do same or very similar with their next platform as well.
It is all great for them and their profits margins - as this is why they are doing it, to make their cars cheaper. But then you end up having 50k car sharing platform with 10k car.
MQB isn't any different than what new automakers are beginning to do now. Mercedes is just begnning to do the same (see MFA and MRA). Jaguar is doing this as well- which is why the Range Rover and Jaguar XJ share platforms. Jag will also be using the upcoming XS & C-X17 platform iq[al] to underpin a variety of smaller Jag/LR vehicles. They plan on it being as flexible as Audi's modular platform.
#27
Lexus Champion
You guys are missing out if Audi USA is not selling the hatchback.
I say that because in most cases:
Hatchback > Sedan
A class > CLA class
A3 hatch > A3 sedan
Probably one exception would be the Cruze because the Cruze 5 hatchback looks off compared to the sedan.
I say that because in most cases:
Hatchback > Sedan
A class > CLA class
A3 hatch > A3 sedan
Probably one exception would be the Cruze because the Cruze 5 hatchback looks off compared to the sedan.
#28
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
point of new platform sharing by VW group is that maximum amounts of parts are shared.... that also ends up limiting interior design as we can see here - it is really sparse and cheap looking with vast plastic areas. If you share many parts and their positions, then you can not create stylistically differing interiors either.
MBQ part is nothing like any platform sharing of before - Toyota does platform sharing, but not like this... however I suspect they will do same or very similar with their next platform as well.
It is all great for them and their profits margins - as this is why they are doing it, to make their cars cheaper. But then you end up having 50k car sharing platform with 10k car.
MBQ part is nothing like any platform sharing of before - Toyota does platform sharing, but not like this... however I suspect they will do same or very similar with their next platform as well.
It is all great for them and their profits margins - as this is why they are doing it, to make their cars cheaper. But then you end up having 50k car sharing platform with 10k car.
$50k cars earn MUCH more revenue than they cost to build. What you're paying for is the overhead, or G&A, or R&D, or basically all the operating costs that go into building a premium brand image and incorporating new technology first. There's absolutely nothing about platform sharing that degrades a $50k car simply because it shares a platform with a $10k car. In fact, BOTH cars will benefit because BOTH cars are cheaper to manufacture, and therefore more money can be spent offering more features for both.
Automakers make decisions on what options to offer based on the tens or hundreds of dollars to remain cost-competitive with their peers. (Porsche alone seems to be immune to this. They sell LOTS of $100k+ Cayennes despite sharing a platform with the Q7/Touareg). Engineers are the most expensive group of employees they employ, so whatever can be done to reduce the labor cost spent on them, as well as the tooling cost resulting from their designs, benefits everyone involved.
Last edited by Infra; 11-14-13 at 11:22 AM.
#30
Toyota's next platform is going to do the same thing as well.
Both are doing it to maximize profits.