[urq] What is everyone's opinion about Audi's parts

[Steve Eiche]

<>Well, for my neighbor, who had a '01 A6 it started when Audi stopped 
covering "wear and tear" items under warranty, like brake parts.  He 
went through three sets of brakes (pads and rotors at all four corners - 
I have no idea how...) in 50k miles.  The first two sets were covered, 
the last was not.  That was big bill for him.  Now that Audi stopped 
covering the other maintenance items, he is talking about going back to 
Lexus, where he did have to pay for maintenance, but it was less 
expensive, less often and the dealers treated him like a king.  The 
resale value was also not what he was expecting.  He really likes the 
car, but the dealer experience and upkeep costs are offputting.

Steve

Steve wrote:
>  FWIW, I think that I also talked a neighbor out of getting a new A6 
yesterday. He came over to ask about maintenance
>  costs, etc., with Audis. I told him about the fact that Audi has just 
stopped covering maintenance items on new '07
>  cars, and that with what the local dealers charge for those kinds of 
things, it will likely make a BIG difference during his
>  ownership of the car. He was under the impression that Audi still had 
the bumper to bumper coverage. Another
>  neighbor had thousands of dollars of repairs covered by Audi (lots of 
brake and suspension issues) that would likely no
>  longer be covered. He loves the car, but won't buy another for fear of 
having to pay for the same issues. I doubt
>  that those sales will ever come back.

 
I pretty much agree that maintaining Audi's new or old is not an inexpensive proposition, but just wanted to clarify that the inclusive maintenance part of the bumper-to-bumper warranty is going to be an "option" starting in '07.  From what I have been told by a couple of the local ACNA dealership sponsors, adding maintenance to the 4 yr/50k warranty is going to be something like $450.  I still think it will have a negative impact on sales and perception, but it's not completely gone.
 
Marc