Audi UK vs Audi US

[homewood]

Aside from the larger number of body and upholstery colors to chose from in the UK, the Audi UK website has a great pdf file that I had not been able to find here in the US. For those looking to purchase a new R8, this provides far greater detail regarding location of inlays (carbon fiber/piano black etc), types of stitching, exclusive color options for exterior and interior, differences in wheels etc. I was unable to download the PDF which is 62 pages long and exceeded the file size for this forum. The link is attached here: http://http://www.audi.co.uk/content/dam/audi/production/PDF/PriceAndSpecGuides/r8.pdf

[R8Spyderman]

Audi really pampers the European market and treats us colonists in the provinces like unwanted step-children! But with the 103% increase in R8 sales YTD March 2011 vs. YTD March 2010 here in the States, maybe we'll start seeing less shabby treatment in the future.

[M3R8]

You shouldn't complain though, we pay either close to double or in some cases more than double of what you've paid.

[homewood]

It's clear from the marketing blitz in the US, that Audi is aggressively trying to increase sales and the 2011 YTD figures show that is working. Several who post on this forum have commented on the exclusivity of the R8 in the US (which they find appealing) while the R8 is far more common in the UK- 3 in one garage alone, less shock and awe on the streets etc. It would require little on the part of Audi US to include a detailed pdf on the R8 web site similar to the one found on Audi UK. Audi are you listening ?

[timborama]

Audi USA doesn't really give a ****. They're the only region (that I've see) that can't even bother to update their website to current specs. They still list the 4.2 with 420HP, among other errors.

[R8Spyderman]

You shouldn't complain though, we pay either close to double or in some cases more than double of what you've paid.

I don't know how you Brits manage with your high prices and high taxes. You're 100% correct that we in the States enjoy very low prices and it isn't a matter of economy of scale because the average per capita GDP in the UK is only $35K whereas it is $47K in the States. I don't know how GDP translates to average annual income, but I do know that your prices sound the same as ours but you pay in pounds and we pay in dollars so it's expensive for us to shop in the UK and dirt cheap for you to shop in the States.

[alfessex]

I just think everyone treats us brits as mugs and, you know what, their right...we just don't complain Our cars are also always more expensive then our euro cousins...i think we get priced more due to the 23 mile strip of pond between us and they get away with it + we get taxed to high heaven for anyone who is successful.

re numbers of R8s in UK...have to say, i live in Ldn and just outside on coast and i very rarely see a R8 so they are still rare on the roads here in UK and thus still have the impact.

[AnOutsider]

Audi USA doesn't really give a ****. They're the only region (that I've see) that can't even bother to update their website to current specs. They still list the 4.2 with 420HP, among other errors.

Been off the boards for a while, did the 4.2 get a bump in MY2011?

[harald]

The 4.2l engine has now 430 HP

Harald

[ignomini]

R8s may be exclusive in large parts of the US, but I'm seeing more R8s than Lambos and Ferraris combined in Kalifornia. There was a white one, AMPS R8, in Solvang this weekend. One of my coworkers saw four of them on a recent trip to LAX. Sheesh.