FAR from stupid. They are taking a MASSIVE hit themselves.
The pound has collapsed against the euro, so Audi are getting about 20% less for the car than they were a year ago. The price increases they have put on are minimal and certainly do not cover the exchange rate drop.
It is a really hard time for companies importing - I have the same issues - you want to keep prices as low as possible, but you cannot swallow everything.
They are complaining of not selling cars, car companies want handouts then they increase prices of already highly uneconomical vehicles, 20% less for the car a year ago makes up for the high percentage of overpricing they've been using for years anyway.
IMHO its still stupid, u have your opinion, I have mine, please accept we're of differing views, if I want to push cars out the door you have to look at the economy aswell, not just always think we're a premium brand so premium prices cause that just also puts servicing costs up to make up for less car sales, so less people want to service cars or have work done, etc etc, it has a catalyst event on other parts of the business, its not just about 1 thing, you have to consider what higher car prices does to other services aswell, well thats how I look at it anyway.
As a well respected infact moderator over on audiforum.us agreed & said, the latest audi's seem to be just whose got the biggest johnson as such cars, rs6 for instance, whats the point, its a wardrobe with wheels but tbh not really functional, admittedly its a nice car, but is this where the money goes to a car that 99% of audi customers cant afford anyway, I undersand technology maybe comes alot of higher end cars developement etc, but as Dave said where's the hybrids audi, better economy I mean really the prices are very high regardless of the economy situation, I'd like to see alot more innovation from audi on technology instead of the same old Vorsprung Durch Technik which actually means advancement through technology, well lets see some of this for the future rather than big **** cars with Quattro all day long, if you get my POV, lets see some more advanced/better audi tech to make you think ok the price tag is maybe worth it, how long have japs have hybrids now, even americans have them & they're worst for economical cars huh
Also the A3 has had 2 facelifts now, last one wasnt really much to wow at tbh, about time they stopped thinking about whose got the fastest most powerful car & thought maybe whose got the most economical & more technological advanced car after all its there moto.
Just my thoughts anyway
you'd think they'd take that hit themselves rather than add more on, seems really rather stupid IMHO
