[urq] Fw: Urq parts prices and related issues

[W. Bremer]

Just so we, mostly in North America, don't feel that Audi 's indifference is
focused on us, I received the following from a Swiss owner (he did not post
it to the urq list)
Bill
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ado Sigal" <a.sigal at bluewin.ch>
To: <wbremer at maine.rr.com>
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 6:03 PM
Subject: Urq parts prices and related issues


> Dear Mr. Bremer
>
> Would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and involved
people for your decisive effort with Audi,
> specially for your Urq effort, and chime in hope to fortify your noble
effort on some Urq and VAG group cars important
> issues all the way from Switzerland, where we don't have the slightest
chance to talk to anyone relevant regarding these issues.
>
> Apart from pricing and availability issues that bother Urq owners, is the
countless and unpaid hours are spend chasing
> part numbers to be able to order the right part, or days and sometime
weeks spend without your car, waiting in hope it
> would be right this time; plus thousands of similar scenarios.
> How about Audi issuing ETKA to every registered customer at cost, so we
don't have to waste our time and money chasing
> information which should be available to customer for ordering purposes,
not only stamped on the part itself. For a
> start Audi should make ETKA available on line, with time specification for
each job included, like one have in every
> Nissan owners handbook, so the customers don't get ripped of, etc.
> If ETKA that includes ALL information for a particular car was issued with
every single VAG car, it would be tremendous
> marketing meal for vorschprungdurch technik cars, and more importantly, it
would give VAG vital information of long term
> reliability for the vehicles that are not anymore at official dealership
care, where Urq is most prominent of those. As
> now, they haven't a clue about this part of information, which could be
vital for a long term development and
> replacements improvement program. At present, this info can be only found
on clubs and individuals archives web pages
> around globe, and none on any official place. This negligence is
particularly un expectable with Urq, the single model
> which to great extent help Audi to become what it is today, and marketing
milked ever since.
>
> - Other Urq point is quality improvement on failed parts, where in
Continental climates, the oil radiator feed line
> fittings corrosion must be the most common cause of oil loss-engine
failure. These pipes and fittings that are fully
> exposed to the elements, should not be made from the cheap steal, but
exclusively from SS material, or suitable cover in
> wheel arch area should be made to combat this condition. Again, this info
can be found everywhere on the club-enthusiast
> scene, but none reached Audi, ever. They are still selling the junk
fittings for a big money, for which on can make to
> to three sets made from far superior materials on specialist supplier
market.
>
> -  Audi electric on old models, particularly from 80's to 90's, where Urq
is the most prominent model, is one of most
> purely executed job of all times. Again, well researched, and solutions
found by fans and individuals, but this valuable
> solutions haven't being included in new looms that you bye from Audi. They
are still selling you same old junk, if still
> available today, totally unmoved by the fact of its bad design. It is
obvious, that Audi doesn't have a clue about the
> vital after market reliability info for the vehicles that after 3-5 years
leave the dealers workshops. Regarding Urq,
> new improved looms should be made from Audi, or relevant info should be
available to those that would want, and can do
> it, so we don't spend our days and weekends chasing corroded contacts and
terminals, melted connections, you name it,
> instead of using and enjoying their cars.
>
> - Finally, the most important health issue, that to my knowledge has never
being raised before, is the cabin air
> filtration.
> Audi started to introduce the cabin filter (pollen filter my foot) in
90's, so all models before this time, which
> includes Urq, has no filter at all, while the engines have enjoyed this
very important feature that makes them last, for
> a very long time. This potential health hazard is specially relevant to
VAG cars, which has water relief channels that
> connect directly to the wheel arch, through which the deadly brake dust
can enter into the cabin air, along with exhaust
> gasses and brake and clutch dust from the vehicles in front and around
you. This problem is at its worst in Urq, which
> doesn't have the plastic wheel arch cover readily found on most other
models of that age, which to some extent restrict
> the amount of your car's brake dust entering the cabin and your lungs,
although same deadly air can still enter through
> bonnet air grill.
> My dear folks, Audi has being poisoning us for a long time, and Urq has
not only being dangerous for your licence, for
> your wallet, but also for your health. Have a look and see for yourself.
> To combat this problem, I produced air filters for all owned VAG cars and
restored Urq's, but this issue must be raised
> with manufacturers, who should realize this problem and fully support our
efforts to make a suitable filter available to
> all, and for all affected models.
>
> Season's Greetings with best regards,
> Ado Sigal