San Diego Housing Bubble News and Analysis

My favorite comment

I don't see what the big deal is... The paint will have lead in it, the wheels will fall off, the engine will implode, and it will be crushed like a Pringles can when it gets it a crash.

What the hell is Audi thinking!

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I would not worry to much. The computer that you used to reliably post your message on was probably made in China.

Most people have no idea where their vehicle was assembled and what components of it were made where.

Many people might be surprised to know their Mercedes or BMW branded vehicles were made in the US, their Toyota branded trucks were made in Mexico, their Porsche Boxster was made in Finland, and their Chrysler was made in Germany.

I doubt that China will be simply any more then a final assembly and paint shop for the time being and not a manufacturer of vehicle drivetrains.

In short, they will not do any engineering of the vehicles. They are just a source of inexpensive labor to bolt previously assembled critcal pieces together.

Actually, my Lenovo laptop is a piece of junk, and routinely crashes, is built pretty flimsy, and a lot less reliable than when IBM use to own the quality controls to it. I won't even talk about Dell's.

The mercedes C class is partially assembled in Mexico. and several BMW's are assembled in North Carolina. Yes I know. Except I'm a little surprised about Audi's move so soon.

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This won't last long. China is the pits for quality. VW has plants in the US they can ramp up.

This won't last long. China is the pits for quality. VW has plants in the US they can ramp up.

VW has factories in Mexico, where beetles and some golf's are assembled. Conincidence that those two models also has one of the most problematic vehicles.

Passats B5/6 and Audi A4 (B5) use to share the same platform and hence assembled in Ingolstadt, Germany. Since then, the newest Passats share platforms with the Jetta, and I forget where they are assembled (though I think it's in the states or mexico).

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I do not think that VW owns a single plant in the U.S. I bet they wish they did, though.

BTW FLU,

I once owned a Cayenne S. European quality is a myth and they need sveral years to get the bugs out of their cars like every other auto manufacturing country on earth.

disclaimer-this post was made using a Gateway computer but would have turned out just as well using my Chinese made Dell computer at home.

:)

All of Apple's hardware is made in China, and it is some of the best quality stuff on the market. On the box of your new iPhone: "Designed by Apple in California. Manufactured in China"

sounds like FLU needs a Toughbook.

I love driving my Audi TT. I'm disappointed to hear they're going to be building some of their models in China.

Will there be anything not made there?

My best friend's children were even made there.

I echo four walling. Nations don't manufacture cars anymore, in fact they haven't for a long time. It's called assembly now, because parts are manufactured all over the world, and then assembled in one place.

made in China under foreign supervision and guidelines vs made in China by a Chinese company are totally different.

for example, your Lenovo laptop made in China sucks, but my Acer laptop made in China has never failed me.

but while quality management maybe easy for foreign companies when it comes to computers, cars are something else entirely.

My best friend just bought an iMac...it's assimbled here. Assembled...but better than a stick in the eye.

BTW FLU,

I once owned a Cayenne S. European quality is a myth and they need sveral years to get the bugs out of their cars like every other auto manufacturing country on earth.

disclaimer-this post was made using a Gateway computer but would have turned out just as well using my Chinese made Dell computer at home.

:)

four walling, as an Audi owner, trust me, I'm extremely familiar with "european quality" you mention, though I guess I've been luckier than most (knock on wood). The thing is German automakers tend to overengineer things, and servicing things is really difficult. I'm sure with that complexity, it's also why things aren't quite as reliable, in part due to assembly.

That said, VAG has never supervised well in their own factories, but it's considerably worse when they use other factories. Hence why VW quality is much much worse than Audi. Most VW's sold in the states aren't assembled in Germany at all. I don't think the quality control will be there frankly.

The interesting note is that VW/Audi's sold in China are actually made there to begin with. Most of the A4/a6's in the Chinese market were made in China. VW was smart and entered the Chinese market very early before most other manufacturers. So I'd expect pretty soon most of the car lines will probably shift there. Another big manufacturer there is GM. Buicks are luxury brands there. And unlike here, the Buicks made over there actually look pretty nice (for GM). It's actually why the latest Buick designs are in part coming out of Shanghai design studio

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/14/beiji...

As far as the Audi TT. As much as I like the cars, I've heard reliability has always been an issue (at least the older gen). BTW, it's built in Hungary.

Speaking of which. I need to give my baby (figuratively speaking) an oil change tonight. That will take 1 hr to take everything apart..

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sounds like FLU needs a Toughbook.

Had one. And found out it's not as tough as one would think :(

And yes, one of my dell desktop's bursted into flames (literally speaking).

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FYI FLU:

BEIJING -- Audi will build its new Q5 premium SUV in China starting next year, company insiders told Automotive News Europe.

The Q5 will be built in a new plant Audi is constructing in Changchun in northern China.

FAW-Volkswagen Automotive currently builds the Audi A4 and A6 as well as five VW models in Changchun.

Audi will export the Q5 to China from its plant in Ingolstadt, southern Germany, until its China plant starts production in the summer of 2009, company sources said.

The Q5 will go on sale in Europe starting this summer. The first Q5 shipments to China will begin early next year.

Audi expects China to be the third largest single market for the Q5 after Western Europe and the U.S.

Last year, China overtook the UK as Audi's biggest market outside Germany. Audi's Chinese sales grew 24.8 percent to 101,996 units while its UK sales increased 17.1 percent to 100,712.

In the first quarter, Audi's Chinese sales grew a 25 percent to 30,188 units, the company said.

FYI FLU:

BEIJING -- Audi will build its new Q5 premium SUV in China starting next year, company insiders told Automotive News Europe.

The Q5 will be built in a new plant Audi is constructing in Changchun in northern China.

FAW-Volkswagen Automotive currently builds the Audi A4 and A6 as well as five VW models in Changchun.

Audi will export the Q5 to China from its plant in Ingolstadt, southern Germany, until its China plant starts production in the summer of 2009, company sources said.

The Q5 will go on sale in Europe starting this summer. The first Q5 shipments to China will begin early next year.

Audi expects China to be the third largest single market for the Q5 after Western Europe and the U.S.

Last year, China overtook the UK as Audi's biggest market outside Germany. Audi's Chinese sales grew 24.8 percent to 101,996 units while its UK sales increased 17.1 percent to 100,712.

In the first quarter, Audi's Chinese sales grew a 25 percent to 30,188 units, the company said.

Yes, I'm aware, except the A4/A6's/VW's currently built in that market are only for the chinese market. That's why you get weird engine configurations like a A6 with a 1.8 engine.

This news is the first time stuff built their will actually be for the export market. It will start with the Q5, but pretty soon the A4/A6's will probably come out of there too, and probably the S4/S6 lines too, as they share much of the fundamentals with the A line. The only redeeming factor will be the RS4/5/6,R8 and TT-RS  line will still come out of GmbH in Germany, but highly unlikely I'll be in the in the driver's seat of one of those.

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I think the engineering and QC will be the largest factors in the success of Audi. They will QC the crap out of these cars and correct any deficiencies quickly or else lose market share in a tough, competitive segment.

For laptops I'm very happy with my Acer (made in Taiwan) and would highly recommend them. For desktop I'm very happy with my power mac G5 workhorse. No fiery explosions as of yet.

and probably the S4/S6 lines too, as they share much of the fundamentals with the A line
S and RS models, along with Audi R8 are assembled by Quattro GMBH in Germany. They are going to remain exclusive, almost hand-built, even if the garden variety Audis are manufactured in China.

At least I hope so. Otherwise I'll have to switch to Hyundai.

S and RS models, along with Audi R8 are assembled by Quattro GMBH in Germany. They are going to remain exclusive, almost hand-built, even if the garden variety Audis are manufactured in China.

At least I hope so. Otherwise I'll have to switch to Hyundai.

Nope. The writing is on the wall. The S line is not slated to be done GMBH, as it is now competing with the likes of the 335i instead of the M3.. As such, I read china all over this... though a supercharger+turbo combo would pose an interesting combo...Oh what am I talking about, it's a VAG product. It will break the minute you drive it off the lot.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/24/repor...

Bearing the 3.0T or TFSI badge, the 2010 S4 could benefit from "twin-charging" with the possible inclusion of a turbo in addition to the supercharger.The S4 is also expected to be developed outside Quattro GmbH, while the RS4 would be created by the Audi performance division, giving the former a more restrained look compared to the all-out bulging bodywork of the latter. The forced-induction V6 is also tipped to replace the 3.2-liter V6 in the base Audi A6 Quattro.

Got Hyundai? Seriously though. Hyundai's looking pretty good these days. 

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My Compaq laptop was made in China and shipped directly to me via DHL. It was cheap and it's a great machine.

I wouldn't worry much about labor in China.

I have my theory about made in Asia products.

Assuming the same quality of materials and parts, Asians have svelte fingers so they can do precision work well. The clothes made in Asia are always stitched better. On the other hand, some of the uniforms made in America are "gross."

Compare the fit of a Toyota to that of a Chrysler.

Germans cars drive better than Japanese cars... But the reliability and finish is much less. I'm talking about "finesse." German cars have solid doors but the stamping and gaps between panels are lacking.

I believe that workers with stumpy fingers can do brute work but don't do well at precision fitting. That's why Japanese cars made in America are not as good are the ones made in Japan.

Back in the late 80's, I worked for an electronics manufacturer in Orange County. The Asian workers would out-perform Hispanic and White workers. Asians could assemble more, faster, better. We didn't have many Black workers.

S4 could benefit from "twin-charging" with the possible inclusion of a turbo in addition to the supercharger.The S4 is also expected to be developed outside Quattro GmbH, while the RS4 would be created by the Audi performance division, giving the former a more restrained look compared to the all-out bulging bodywork of the latter.

*weep*
Current S4's 4.2L V8 is the sweetest engine in the world. It's a shame they are gonna sacrifice such an iconic car.

Hyundai today is infinitely better than it used to be just several years ago, but I can't get excited about FWD cars.

*weep*
Current S4's 4.2L V8 is the sweetest engine in the world. It's a shame they are gonna sacrifice such an iconic car.

Hyundai today is infinitely better than it used to be just several years ago, but I can't get excited about FWD cars.

I'm actually glad Audi is bringing back forced induction. Because it will be readily tunable by shops like APR.

And you can get excited by Hyundai, because they are (will be) rwd: at least the ones you want to drive.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/15/exclu...

300hp rwd genesis coupe. Too bad it's a bit of a porker (heavy).

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