Originally Posted by Snake Vargas

I think they should keep both the S and the RS lines. You might have heard me before, the difference in the cars is surely not just in their power outputs. You only think you're getting ripped off (by the earlier release of the S versus the RS versions) if you think in terms of the power. So what? It's the character of the car that is more important, both in the driving style and the interior appointments.

The S lineups are powerful cars for people who like that, but in a more discreet (one of the reasons I like Audi in the first place is that their styling and branding is already more discreet than Mercedes' and BMW's) and still somewhat comfort oriented package. The RS lineup is as much of a performance car as any, really, and suitable enough for the track as almost any production car, although I would really say that no roadgoing car is ready for the track straight from the showroom floor.

I suppose I partly echo what Merc1 said, only that I think wagons also have an essential part to play in the lineup, even as RS versions - wagons are apparently far more popular in Europe than in many places, America and Australia included. It makes sense for them to have those cars there, as much sense as a M5 Touring makes.

I think that playing to the MB and BMW paradigm of having only one 'upmarket performance version' is unnecessary and possibly even silly. Why play their game, whether with more bang for the buck, outright lower prices, or otherwise? Cynics may say that it's dooming Audi to failure to play the established brands' game on their own turf, but I say that despite that, it's a matter of principle. Audi should just do their own thing.

The only suggestion I would make is to speed up the development for the RS models. Maybe it serves the purpose of keeping up interest in whatever particular model range, but nobody wants to wait that long, really. Anyhow, I am of the opinion that both the RS and the S models have a significant part to play in Audi's range.

Originally Posted by Snake Vargas

I think they should keep both the S and the RS lines. You might have heard me before, the difference in the cars is surely not just in their power outputs. You only think you're getting ripped off (by the earlier release of the S versus the RS versions) if you think in terms of the power. So what? It's the character of the car that is more important, both in the driving style and the interior appointments.

The S lineups are powerful cars for people who like that, but in a more discreet (one of the reasons I like Audi in the first place is that their styling and branding is already more discreet than Mercedes' and BMW's) and still somewhat comfort oriented package. The RS lineup is as much of a performance car as any, really, and suitable enough for the track as almost any production car, although I would really say that no roadgoing car is ready for the track straight from the showroom floor.

I suppose I partly echo what Merc1 said, only that I think wagons also have an essential part to play in the lineup, even as RS versions - wagons are apparently far more popular in Europe than in many places, America and Australia included. It makes sense for them to have those cars there, as much sense as a M5 Touring makes.

I think that playing to the MB and BMW paradigm of having only one 'upmarket performance version' is unnecessary and possibly even silly. Why play their game, whether with more bang for the buck, outright lower prices, or otherwise? Cynics may say that it's dooming Audi to failure to play the established brands' game on their own turf, but I say that despite that, it's a matter of principle. Audi should just do their own thing.

The only suggestion I would make is to speed up the development for the RS models. Maybe it serves the purpose of keeping up interest in whatever particular model range, but nobody wants to wait that long, really. Anyhow, I am of the opinion that both the RS and the S models have a significant part to play in Audi's range.