SOS - need help w/Mother in Law's Audi in Alexandria

[Dave K.]

Jim,

Sounds like anyone with some car maintenance experience could help her, not
necessarily a lister.  Maybe if she has a male friend (likely to get more
respect from the jackass Service Manager) could go over there and raise a
little hell.
I also agree that the offer was extremely unprofessional and the mechanic
should be reprimanded for such a blatant misuse of his position.
I hate to say it but I hope she learned that these cars must be taken to a
trustworthy private AUDI garage.  Taking it anywhere else is just asking for
it.
I am too far away (PA) to help or I would.

Dave K.
'90 CQ - all maintenance done in my garage, things I can't handle go to Fred
Heistand's in Manheim, PA...


----- Original Message -----
From: "superba" <superba at pacbell.net>
To: "Quattro List" <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2003 7:47 PM
Subject: SOS - need help w/Mother in Law's Audi in Alexandria


> Hi,
>
> I realize this is a long shot.  I'm in California and my Mother in Law is
in
> Alexandria, VA.  I was there for a while years ago and have helped her
along
> with her 1985 Audi 5000 since her husband died.  I arranged a good place
> with a wrench she liked, but after a couple of years, he left and went to
a
> Peugeot garage.  Another wrench took her over and ripped her off several
> times, and, when she complained, they told her to go elsewhere.
>
> She went to Heishman in Arlington and was satisfied with how they took
care
> of her, although it seemed to me that they charged a lot and did
unnecessary
> work from time to time.  Heishman recently split off their Audi group and
> built a new facility for Audi only;  however, the people with which she
had
> relationships remained at the old facility that does not handle Audi.
>
> Her car has 65,000 original miles on it, is totally cherry, and she had
all
> scheduled maintenance done at Heishman and their successor.  This week she
> went for a Virginia State Inspection Sticker and they found that (1) her
> "brakes were broke", and (2) "the turn signals _growl_ when a right turn
is
> indicated".  I think the brake pads are worn and need replacing, but I
can't
> decipher the _growl_.  Virginia State Inspection gave her a red sticker
> meaning the car can't be driven without permission according to her.
>
> She panicked and took it to a nearby tire dealer, Merchants Tire, and they
> told her they could repair the brakes, but she'd have to take it to "Audi"
> to get the turn signal repaired.  She took it to the new Audi repair
> facility and they told her that the cost would be $700 for the turn
signals
> and brakes.  After she had taken a cab to her home in Alexandria, she
phoned
> to see when the car would be ready, and they told her that they weren't
sure
> when they'd get the part for the turn signal; the earliest possible date
> would be Tuesday, 1.28.03.
>
> Here's the squirrelly part:  The wrench at the new Audi facility has made
> overtures that she should just sell him the car for the cost of the
repairs
> and buy another one.  He told her in the past that he wanted it for his
> wife.  Let me be clear.  He offered her $1,000 for it but said that would
> cover the repairs and she would net zero.
>
> I have no stake in this.  She has had the car since it was new and loves
it
> but others tell her that it's 17 years old and she ought to have a new
car,
> blah, blah.  I don't want to see her or anyone else get ripped off by an
> unscrupulous mechanic, and, if she wants to get a new car, she deserves to
> be able to do it in her own time.
>
> Anybody near Alexandria that could and would intervene in this?  It gives
> Audi a bad name to have this kind of crap happening.  BTW, about 3 years
> ago, I asked the list for help for her and got a few responses.  I've
tried
> to call them myself with no success.
>
> Please contact me offline unless someone feels an answer is worthwhile to
> post on the list.  I can be contacted offline at <superba at pacbell.net>.
> Sorry for the long post.
>
> TIA.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Jim Jordan
>