Audi future, etc

[Jon Linkov]

Audi has been ok. But look at systems like the BMW iDrive, M-B Comand and
even MMI. I drove an MMI-equipped A8L for a few weeks, as well as a 7 Series
and S430. Comand actually worked ok. iDrive was awful, even locking on me.
And MMI? Well, some mornings it was in French, sometimes in Spanish,
sometimes in English. Sometimes the radio would work, sometimes not.

Could be software? Sure. Could be hardware issues too. But the system in the
LS430 (not as complicated, but a touch-screen navigation/radio nonetheless)
never had a problem.

Look at problems per 100 rates from JD Power (or my employer, Consumer
Reports). Say what you will about the methodology, but they BOTH show the
Germans having poor reliability, and the Japanese, overall, having good
reliability. Whether it is 1, 5, or 10 years.

Perception accounts for some of it...but very little. My Audis have been
reliable. I am the exception, not the rule, with late-model A4s.

Do Honda's et al have their share of recalls, problems, etc? Sure. But you
don't dominate market share based solely on perception. The Big Three didn't
get where they are solely on perception. Perception hurts them now,
particularly when their quality is improving. But it doesn't put them in a
bad spot alone. There is reality behind that perception.

Look, people think M-B is super reliable...ask the people with early E-Class
models that were bought back or don't run at all how reliable they are...

And, finally, you say: "that when problems do arise, they are dismissed as
"atypical".  The dealers fix the problems, and all is forgotten."

The key is that dealers will fix the Lexus, etc...getting in to an Audi
dealer means a three week wait for an appointment, a backordered part (cause
it fails on ALL of them), another appointment, part installed incorrectly or
wrong part ordered, etc, etc. Many visits with Audi are sagas....

JL


On 3/26/04 5:53 AM, Ti Kan <ti at amb.org> wrote:
> 
> I dunno, my experience with recent Audis have been that the electricals
> are quite good...  I've had no gadget-related problems on my B5 S4 and
> the B6 A4, nor did I have any problems with the B5 A4 that I previously
> owned.  The only nits were minor and few.
> 
> Lexus cars are not fault-free, it all boils down to perception.
> People are so indoctrinated about the "Lexus reliability" (or
> Toyota, or Honda, whatever) that when problems do arise, they
> are dismissed as "atypical".  The dealers fix the problems, and
> all is forgotten.
> 
> I have an acquaintance that typifies this.  She has a Honda Civic
> that has had its share of niggling problems, from failed ignition
> coils, to bad tailing wiring, radio problems, gear noise, trims
> and bits warping and falling off...  Not to mention that this 5 year
> old car rattles worse than my 23 year old 4000.  Yet she thinks that
> no other car is as reliable as her Honda, and won't buy anything
> but another Honda for her next car.
> 
> When an Audi has a problem, one thinks "Argh, these Audis are so
> d*mn unreliable" under identical circumstances.
> 
> Self-fulfilling prophecy?  Food for thought.
> 
> -Ti
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