No Belts: How Long Drive Time? Answer

[Christopher Ritchie]

On a 1988 5KSQ with a new battery, it'll go at least 30 minutes.

Sent this to the dealer today.

Yesterday, on my way to work, 2 accessory belts on my 1988 Audi 5000S broke.
  Fortunately, this occurred when I was near my office off Mall Road in
Burlington.  Although difficult, I was able to continue to drive the car the
short distance to my office.  However, I realized that the commute home that
night 25 miles down Route 128 in traffic would be more difficult.  Also
fortunately I felt, was that I was less than 1 mile from an Audi dealership
who could have the whole day to effect this minor repair.

I called your Service Department around 8 AM and explained my situation to
the Service Department person.  The service person told me that they were
booked up that day, but reluctantly offered that I could bring the car in
for them to look at.  He stated that he could make no promises.  Even though
disappointed in this response, I then asked what time would be convenient to
bring it in because I would wait for them to fix the car.  The service
person told me I could not wait for the car because it would take 3 hours
when and if they got to it.  3 hours to replace 2 accessory belts!  And
that's if they deigned to look at it!

With the battery not charging, I didn=92t have the margin to drive the car =
in
search of a solution.  Where you had all day to replace a fan belt and still
were hesitant, I did not have confidence in your ability or interest in
solving my problem.  I bought both belts locally for under $25; left work
early to avoid traffic; and, replaced the belts myself in my driveway in
less than 1 hour.

There's nothing much wrong with my present Audi, but it=92s old; I'm a car
enthusiast; and, I can afford a new one.  I'd like to buy a new A6 or a used
A8, and I=92d really like to buy it locally so that service is convenient.
But as you can see from this experience, it's cheaper and generally more
convenient for me to avoid the dealer.  You couldn't help me yesterday.  And
it was clear from my conversation with your service person that you really
didn't want to.  So, I can=92t help but to think:

=B7	If this is the response I get as a potential customer, what kind of a
response could I expect after a sale?  Sort of mocks the Audi Loyalty
Advantage program, doesn=92t it?
=B7	If you can't find time in your schedule to fit in this minor but emerge=
ncy
repair, what could I expect if something major happened to my new car?
=B7	If you think replacing a fan belt takes 3 hours, what kind of repair
expense costs could I expect after the new car warranty expires?

Yesterday, you lost an opportunity to make a new customer.


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