VAG Press cars?

[Hanuman]

I was just curious, as the discussion about those cars is here.

[S2Andy]

Originally Posted by marcusR

It was registered with a Northamptonshire plate. Northamptonshire is where VAG Head office registered cars (even though its based in Buckinghamshire) the last 2 of the plate shows it...

RR Northamptonshire

I thought that RR was Nottingham....

[marcusR]

Originally Posted by S2Andy

I thought that RR was Nottingham....

Indeed...pilot error!

[Martc]

Originally Posted by The Real MSH!

I'm curious, though. Besides being more photographed than other registered audis, is there anything about a 'press car' that should make it more valuable than a similar condition example?
I think not.
The 'press car' aspect really adding only a curiosity point in its history.

1 owner - 1500 "drivers"

[NBirkitt]

Originally Posted by The Real MSH!

I'm curious, though. Besides being more photographed than other registered audis, is there anything about a 'press car' that should make it more valuable than a similar condition example? I think not. The 'press car' aspect really adding only a curiosity point in its history.

Some might like to theorise that cars originally presented to the press for road tests / magazine photography etc were prepared to a much higher standard than the normal run-of-the mill models... I couldn't possibly comment.

On the other hand, such press cars will then have driven by members of the press, not all of whom will have exercised the full degree of mechanical sympathy – full-bore performance and handling testing etc... I couldn't possibly comment... ;-)

[john johnson]

Indeed .... Novelty value but in essence had the arse nailed off em
Don't think Id bust a gut over one unless it was the first or last one

[Phil Jameson]

Originally Posted by NBirkitt

Some might like to theorise that cars originally presented to the press for road tests / magazine photography etc were prepared to a much higher standard than the normal run-of-the mill models... I couldn't possibly comment.

On the other hand, such press cars will then have driven by members of the press, not all of whom will have exercised the full degree of mechanical sympathy – full-bore performance and handling testing etc... I couldn't possibly comment... ;-)

lol

[Bugmaster]

Originally Posted by Kenquattro

I would be pretty certain that it was originally a VAG UK car/Press car. In the service book, it will have the stamp of the supplying dealer inside the first page. If it was a VAG UK car, it will have the VAG UK Milton Keynes stamp.
Phil Short's old red 20V was a G+++ KVV reg originally,before it had his plate on it.

There was also a Glacier 90 quattro 20V with a G+++ KVV reg used in a CAR Magazine Giant Test in early 1990.

A lot of the high end Audis of that era were VAG UK registered, especially the V8s, 100 Turbos etc.

Yes Phil Short's ex RR is still alive and kicking and in great condition. It was registered initially at Milton Keynes.

Regards

[classicracecar]

Would indeed be interesting to know how many VAG press cars there were originally.

The Quattro I have, 'BRP 223X' was actually one of original Audi Quattro press cars, which then got converted to rally specification by David Sutton Motorsport / Audi Sport UK in 1982. Before turning into a rally car it was featured in a number of VAG Press materials and CAR Magazine did a good article on the car in Apr 1982 where they followed the Monte Carlo Rally in it...

VAG Press photo of BRP 223X attached.

[Jimbo]

For what it's worth, it does show a certain amount of confidence in the product by Audi that they sold on their press vehicles. Many Manufacturers now routinely scrap their press vehicles as they are worried that they will end up in the hands of unsatisfied customers.

Having been on more than my fair share of product launches I can confirm that the cars are treated with a distinct lack of mechanical sympathy by most that drive them.