27 month report on A6 Avant

[Motor Sport Visions Photography]

In a message dated Wed, 23 May 2001 Debra Snell <snell at netshel.net>
writes:

<< I purchased a 1999 Avant A6 in February of 99. My Audi currently has
44,000 on it and I thought it may be time for a report. >>

<< long and scary list of difficulties snipped... >>

Wow, that is a longer list of problems than I have had with my so-called
"unreliable" (by the type-$$, er type-44 non-fans here) 1987 5kcstq from
August 1997 at 136k miles to the present at now 183k miles. I recall
that you live in a rural area but can't imagine going through countless
sets of brakes, three tie-rods, etc. etc. etc. in only 44k miles! 44k
miles is what I call a brand new hardly broken in car.

Other late model A6 owners feel free to chime in here any time but I
have to think this is an annomoly, not the norm considering what I have
heard about reliability in other recent Audi models.

As far as rotors go, it is common practice to always change rotors with
new pads in many European cars. But, a set of brakes should go 44k
pretty easily unless there are extenuating circumstances. (I am still on
the same set of brakes that came on my car when I bought it at 136k and
they have a lot left and I do drive very hard, but there is no track
time on it).

I thought there was a final and end all fix for the fuel sender problem
as of over a year ago now...

Hopefuly Audi will step up to the plate and provide the written warranty
extension and your rental reimbursement. I also would suggest perhaps a
different dealer as it sounds as though the service dept you are using
is getting everything they can in warranty claims on the Audi Advantage
warranty...not saying they are but it sure appears they could be.

A very close friend just plunked down $20k deposit on his Allroad last
night and is supposed to take delivery when he returns from a trip to
Europe in early July. I hope it holds up okay...but then again he just
dumped some $8k into repair/maintenance issues on his 1995 M3 so he is
accustomed to high maintenance cars ;-)

The description you portray does sound like the proverbial "lemon" for
sure but my experience with new Audis (I have had a couple many years
ago now) was that the cars were solid but the service departments would
always return the cars with more problems than they came in with...this
is the primary reason (aside from being broke) I own old used cars and
owrk on them myself.

Good luck on this Debra!

Mike Veglia
Motor Sport Visions Photography
http://www.motorsportvisions.com