On my run into work this morning I was mulling over some comments a couple of weeks ago about the "typical" Audi driver these days. It seemed that a number of members were minded that they are typically driven by in-your-face, ambitious, competitive and corporate folks.
I'll state for the record that other than a very brief (and disappointing) foray into an R8, I'm not an Audi man by any stretch. However, we do run a fair few company cars here, and more than 50% of them are Audis, despite there being no "corporate partner" for fleet.
The guys here who drive them, predominantly A6s, are not surprisingly a fair cross section of the workforce. Inevitably, there are a couple of competitive career builders amongst them, but locally, I would say it is the exception, not the rule.
It occurred to me that the main reason we run so many, is that they are so competitively priced. On a contract hire basis, they are dramatically cheaper than the equivalent BMW, and as a result, within a monthly lease budget (which we use rather than a P11D value), they can have a higher spec car within their budget.
So my question is, why has Audi attracted such a negative image for its drivers (or why have the drivers attracted a negative image for Audi?), when all they have done is produce pretty decent cars at a very good fleet rate?
LG
20 May 2008
That was pity :^)
....lol, beat me to it newdevinian!!!
20 December 2011
The most respected I've ever felt in a car was actually in a Rover though!
That was pity :^)
5 September 2011
I am just waiting for Fidji's reply
If you insist! I have driven BMWs and Audis as well as Mercs in the past, and I think people tend to be more respectful towards me when I'm in a Merc. The most respected I've ever felt in a car was actually in a Rover though!
I think BMW has shrugged of its old image now, and they also seem to be driven well now (with the occasional exception).
20 December 2011
I don't know but here in Italy too both BMW and Audi drivers are not properly loved by many, while Mercedes drivers are more respected.
I think matsoc, that it is the same in the UK. Usually "The Berk in the Merc" has made his fortune and has little left to prove. I am just waiting for Fidji's reply :^)
26 August 2011
The brand gets vilified because of the perception of the people who drive them. Like BMW's, premium 4x4's, etc I certainly see a greater instance of bad/rude/aggressive driving from these cars. Not that it doesnt happen from drivers of other brands/types it just seems to be certain brands attact a certain type of person that drives in a certain way. So its equally true that not everyone who drives an Audi/BMW RR sport drives in that way. I personally have nothing against the cars themselves as machines, some of them I like, some I dont, some Im indifferent about.
I also think that there are cetain type of person who ends up driving like that just because they are in an Audi. Makes them feel more important or will drive more aggresively as they are in a relativly powerful car. ie you'd drive a 1.0 Yaris differently than a 3.2 TT
1 June 2010
So my question is, why has Audi attracted such a negative image for its drivers (or why have the drivers attracted a negative image for Audi?), when all they have done is produce pretty decent cars at a very good fleet rate?
I don't know but here in Italy too both BMW and Audi drivers are not properly loved by many, while Mercedes drivers are more respected. Diffusion of Audi in company fleets is very strong here too. In the company I work they count 80% of the cars. The most popular model among my company is the A4 Allroad with 2.0 TDI engine.
About the R8 I drove one in three different occasions and I liked it much even if I have to say that the fact that it didn't felt faster than the 997 4S I owned at the time disappointed me a bit.
29 November 2007
It's those DRLs in your rear view mirror