Among other topics in today’s podcast, Jonny and I discuss the Audi A3. He and I both agree, we’re seeing them all over the place. But if you’re not deep in Audi country, you almost definitely are not. With sales of 646 nationwide for July of 2008 (the A8 only sold 205 in July, and I see those everywhere too), we’re not exactly talking about a volume vehicle. In fact, while Pontiac is moving 1500-2000 G8s per month, I rarely if ever see those on the road; maybe five of them in total since the car’s launch. But Audi’s expensive little hatchback? Ubiquitous here in the NY metro area, especially on the island of Manhattan itself. And why not? I often remark that NYC is the most European-style city in terms of its layout and density. Buyers in Manhattan want small cars, they want prestigious logos on the front grill, and they want the occasional dose of practicality. It must be one of the only places in America where the Mini Cooper convertible appears to outsell the Toyota Camry. But whatever the reasons, I’d contend that Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York comprise a vehicular bubble that’s the exception, not the rule, even for big cities in the U.S.
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I’ve seen one G8.
One.
And there are 4 A3s on my street
I haven’t seen a single A3 roaming around. And Audi’s seem to be the new hip car up around here (A4’s mostly).
Then again, I’ve only seen two G8s. It looks very nice in person (I didn’t care too much for the photos) and is on my list to go test drive.
I’ve seen a few A3’s on my commute to work, but I sure couldn’t find any when I went out to buy a new car!
I hope you don’t give Mazda 6 a reaping just because it’s not as sporty as the previous model!!! I want to like this car alot!
I go to CSULB and live nearby, and have yet to see one A3, aside from one a year+ more ago in Newport. If you’re going for a practical, small, prestigious car… get a 1. I see those around. :)
The number of Minis, Audi’s and VW’s in the greater Boston area is really amazing. They are incredibly popular here, way up in the overall vehicle mix. Has been this way consistently for well over a decade.
Always a bit strange to read about how low volume these makes are, certainly emphasizes differences between this area and the rest of (red state) Amuricah.
LA doesn’t belong in that group. SF and NY are cities, LA is just endless sprawl. I can count the number of A3s I’ve EVER seen on one hand, but this place is flooded with Camrys. And SUVs.
Well, I’ve been a part time resident in both LA and NYC over the last few years. I certainly agree the make up of vehicles differs from where I live and other parts of the country I visited. LA just has so many cars it’s like the auto manufacturers just bulk air drop them in and let god sort them out. I’ve seen more of many models that aren’t common other places. However, I saw at least three Bentleys tooling around there a day as well which I think supports the idea that they have a unique mix of cars in general. Manhattan seems to favor a few general flavors: beaters, taxis, pompous big cars, pompous small cars. Of course most of those cars are probably driving in from other environs. Out on Long Island or NJ the general flavor of cars does seem to change a bit with more domestics around.
Here in the south I’ve not seen an Audi A4 except on a dealers lot. I do see Minis everywhere (in my driveway for one). I’ve not seen a G8 either yet. BMW seems to outshine Audi in the “they are everywhere” stakes. Even with that said no 1-series ever puttered past me yet.
In Boulder (SF Lite), I see at least one A3 a day on my commute, sometimes more. I see no G8’s.
Maybe we should do a TTAC map of car popularity as a function of location, similar to the Jalopnik DBag Map: http://jalopnik.com/5043427/the-official-jalopnik-map-of-united-states-vehicular-douchebaggery
In the US the A3 3-door model isn’t available…Not that I’m suggesting that they’d sell 1000s of those.
Anyway, I would expect to find what Americans call Euro-snobs in the bigger, more culturally aware cities more than anywhere else in the US.
Although some things about these people might be justly ridiculed, in terms of cars, you can hardly fault them for their love of European cars, considering what the D3 and Japanese have to offer.
In Europe itself in my opinion the car park varies a lot between countries (and capitals) as well, maybe even moreso compared to the US, although I have to admit in big cities there are small Audis and BMWs almost everywhere, for sure.
I’ve been to more of the US than many Americans. Here are my impressions:
NY – Small cars and Escalades.
Utah – Dually pick-up trucks
LA – Smog
Texas – Jacked up SUVs & and Mustangs
San Fran – Minis and Boxsters and french fry oil burning old TD mercs
New Hampshire, Massachusetts – Toyotas and Subarus
Jersey – Camry’s as far as the eye can see
Florida – College kids in Pontiac Grand Prixs, old people in Buicks and Caddies, everyone else in Lexus/Toyota
Amazing. In rural IL, the Monte Carlo appears to outsell the Camry and Accord put together.
I see 4 G8’s every day sitting on front of the Pontiac lot. I know they sold one of them, but I have yet to see a single one rolling around town. I don’t think I have seen any new Audi’s A3 or A4, but sometimes see older model A4’s. But I see the most wonderful Maserati Quattroporte around town and a brand new Jag.
In semi-rural New Mexico, mostly F-250s, Silverados, diesel Dodge pickups, and Cavaliers/Cobalts. A new Kia dealership opened a couple of months ago, so there’s more small cars for the drunks in the F-250s to smash into.
When I flew for an airline and did overnights in LGA/JFK, SAF, and LAX, of course we saw a more cosmopolitan spread of vehicles. LAX and LAS had the neatest cars IMO.
I haven’t seen an A3 yet, and come to think of it Audis in general are fairly rare here. I do see a number of VWs however. I have also seen either numerous G8s of the same color, or one guy in a G8 that drives around town a lot.
The mainstream vehicle mix is dominated by Toyotas (mostly Camrys and Avalons), Fords (older Tauri, Crown Vics, lot of Grand Marquis, Fusions, 500s, Montegos, and lately some foci), and the big Chryslers (300s, Chargers, and Magnums, hardly ever seem to see an Avenger or Sebring). Luxury car wise there are plenty of Lexuses, Mercs, Lincolns, and Caddies (strangely the only GM product I see in abundance, although I suppose there are a few Buicks), but far fewer BMWs, Jags, and Porsches, and yeah, hardly any Audis. Lots of big cars in general, I have even seen a few Bentleys, a Rolls, a Ford GT, and the other day my first real live Lambo. Sadly, I have yet to see a Ferrari, Aston, or Maserati in the wild.
The biggest difference I see now from a couple years ago are the numerous H2s that roamed the streets are now visible only in the captivity of used car lots.
I see Smarts all the time in my wanderings mostly betw Lexington and Cambridge. But it’s the same three Smarts. Probably the same situation as your A3s.
I hadn’t thought of it until now but I’ve never seen a G8 on the road. There is an A3 on my street, as well as a Mini, a Volvo C30, and several Bimmers. I’d say a 3 series is the most common car around Boston.
Add Washington DC, and the surrounding area to the list. I see A3s all the time.
Makes sense. I think I’ve seen one Audi A3 on the road around here (Harrisburg, Pa.).
On the other hand, I haven’t yet seen a Pontiac G8 on the road. They appear to be nailed to the dealer lot.
Around here, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Ford dominate in passenger cars, while Chevy still sells lots of trucks and SUVs. The new Malibu still seems rare, while the Fusion is fairly popular, but I’m already seeing as many 2008 Accords on the road as either one of them.
Buicks and Cadillacs are still popular among older people.