Soldato
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No it isn't. the VW and Audi are identical interior quality. the Audi just has different styling.
Audi A1
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No it isn't. the VW and Audi are identical interior quality. the Audi just has different styling.
Soldato
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Audi A1:
VW Polo:
There clearly isn't a "superior" interior.
A1 also has the optional Sat Nav and two tone upholstery above, whilst the Polo has the upgraded radio/CD player and climate control. You can tell be the position of the air vents and gearsticks they are the same car! Just look at the lights know thing, and the handle for the gearbox, the Audi's is chrome whilst the Polo's is black.
VW Polo:
There clearly isn't a "superior" interior.
A1 also has the optional Sat Nav and two tone upholstery above, whilst the Polo has the upgraded radio/CD player and climate control. You can tell be the position of the air vents and gearsticks they are the same car! Just look at the lights know thing, and the handle for the gearbox, the Audi's is chrome whilst the Polo's is black.
Soldato
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Yes, because looking at pictures on the internet is always the best way to determine interior quality
Well what do you me to do joshy. Drive both cars to your house for your professional inspection? Come on.
Soldato
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No, but at least appreciate the fact that just because you think the Polo is gods gift on earth just cause you drive one to work does not mean its the most superior car in its class.
This is all rubbish anyway. People buy on looks, styling, whatever you want to call it. Ultimately, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I can certainly see the differences in An A1 and a Polo, wether I'd be prepared to pay for them is another matter entirely.
Might just be me, but regardless of the same positioning of stuff, I'd much rather have the Audi interior.
Soldato
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The thing is blackhawk, I don't. The point I am trying to make is not that the Polo is abtter car than the A1 which you have woefully misinterpreted but that the A1 is nigh on identical. Now I understand companies platform share but I haven't seen a platform share so obvious and expensive as the A1 - Polo ordeal.
Now of course the A1 is the better car, it is better specced, has a more prestige badge. But when coming back down to planet earth for a moment, you look at both and go, "hmm is this one really worth 3K more than that one?", I'm led to belive the majority of people would say no.
Enough people think the Polo is an overpriced supermini and the Audi is even more so!
Then...
...and that's why it's not identical at all. It is all to do with peoples perceptions!
Soldato
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Key words being "nigh on".
Don't get me wrong, I agree with you that the A1 is overpriced for what it is, but they are totally different cars just as they are totally different brands and totally different A/C vents. You can't keep up with the Jones' with a Polo, now can you. And that's my point. It is the branding that makes all the difference!
The way I see it is:-
The A1 and Polo share the same platform and share components.
It just seems to me that the A1's base spec is considerably higher than the Polo's base spec which accounts for some of the price differential MAYBE?
Apart from two tone interior, sat nav, no doubt larger alloys, different shell is there actually any difference in drive? What is the A1's base engine, is it better tuned than the Polo's base engine? If that was the case then would explain larger price tag, if engines are same output a lot of it is maybe higher base spec or as already mentioned the badge.
Lets face it, I know quite a few people, particular women who hold Audi as a high-class vehicle, wheras a VW is not held in the same high esteem. Its for this reason why Audi can charge more, its also why the group is so damn profitable due to clever marketing and a good product lineup of cars.
End of the day Audi is more desirable than VW, especially for people who care about badge/brand snobbery, this as such demands a premium resulting in extra profits!
Its no different than OcUK selling a GTX 580 for £350 and EVGA selling the same card for £400. Difference is the EVGA has the premium badge, fancier cooler, this demands a premium.
The A1 and Polo share the same platform and share components.
It just seems to me that the A1's base spec is considerably higher than the Polo's base spec which accounts for some of the price differential MAYBE?
Apart from two tone interior, sat nav, no doubt larger alloys, different shell is there actually any difference in drive? What is the A1's base engine, is it better tuned than the Polo's base engine? If that was the case then would explain larger price tag, if engines are same output a lot of it is maybe higher base spec or as already mentioned the badge.
Lets face it, I know quite a few people, particular women who hold Audi as a high-class vehicle, wheras a VW is not held in the same high esteem. Its for this reason why Audi can charge more, its also why the group is so damn profitable due to clever marketing and a good product lineup of cars.
End of the day Audi is more desirable than VW, especially for people who care about badge/brand snobbery, this as such demands a premium resulting in extra profits!
Its no different than OcUK selling a GTX 580 for £350 and EVGA selling the same card for £400. Difference is the EVGA has the premium badge, fancier cooler, this demands a premium.
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I think to say the A1 is a Polo with a frock on is perfectly fine, it's more or less true, but then that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Polo underpinnings are nothing to be ashamed of (though it does 'dilute' the car a little) and the frock is exactly what makes it an Audi. The interior build will be better but not hugely so - there's significant parts share, but some of the key tactile elements will be of a higher specification and quality. The best Polo isn't as good as the best A1.
All in all the A1 is the better car with the better brand, and has a price tag to reflect that.
All in all the A1 is the better car with the better brand, and has a price tag to reflect that.
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Some commonality is true, but is certainly not a wholescale as VAG seem to do.
The only real area that the A1 is a "cut above" even it's stablemates is in it's interior. To claim it is "a cut above" all other cars is farcical.
Simply by it's nature of being based upon fairly boggo prosaic running gear is precisely why anyone (who apparently hasn't got their brain engaged) wouldn't touch the A1 would a bargepole.
After all, VAG are very much "average" for reliability (well behind most Japanese brands) and doesn't have the genuine technical advantages that say a Mini has.
Don't get me wrong, I understand why VAG have Audi doing it's stuff, as it's a massive money spinner based upon the number of showroom buyers, who'll buy precisely because they have nice interiors (which they do), regardless of how boring they are to drive.
Put it another way, how is it that something like 75% of VAG profits were generated by Audi last year, despite their sales only making a fraction of the overal groups sales? Clearly the answer is that they massive margins on Audi's, as the cars are as stated, Skoda's in pretty frocks.
The margins on the vast majority of premium and luxury vehicles are higher, so for a premium or luxury brand to account for a larger portion of the profits than less premium bands is no surprise. BMW sell a similar number of cars and are similarly as profitable as Audi and they don't have any cars to put frocks on.
I test drove the A1, excellent interior and perfect for city driving i felt.
Ended up with an A3 though due to more space in the back for people, and i felt it would have been a bit better for longer journeys other then that i would have bought the A1 there and then.
I'm an interior man, so each to their own. Couldn't give a monkey about platform engines or that crap.
Ended up with an A3 though due to more space in the back for people, and i felt it would have been a bit better for longer journeys other then that i would have bought the A1 there and then.
I'm an interior man, so each to their own. Couldn't give a monkey about platform engines or that crap.
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Question...
Is an Audi better screwed together than a Skoda under that Frock? i.e. does it creek less? Is it quieter inside?
Is an Audi better screwed together than a Skoda under that Frock? i.e. does it creek less? Is it quieter inside?
Soldato
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This is also a factor though as the Audi A1 has far better (in terms of performance etc) engines available to it.
However it seems to command a higher insurance group/costs, the fastest A1 does 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds...the same as the new Polo GTI (as far as I know).
