Re: Audi of America complaints

["'*Tess*' Teresa A McMillan" <tessmc@u.washington.edu>]

I had to stick my $0.02 in here, because this thread is so very similar 
to one I've seen before on another digest.

I write because I do not think that problems such as the ones described 
are necessarily due to the vehicle, nor the dealer.  Many times problems 
occur because of the way we drive and maintain our cars.  One of the 
first things I learned with my *Alfa* spider was the importance of 
driving the car gently until the engine warmed up; not doing so puts 
increased strain on the engine because the oil is at a higher pressure 
when it is cold.  The engine, which is slightly smaller when it is cold 
(I'm thinking here of the similarity to opening a stuck jelly jar lid), 
suffers damage more easily, particularly because many of the parts are 
delicate aluminum.   An oil leak at the point of the head gasket would be 
a typical symptom of an engine strained, but would not necessarily 
represent an engine with a faulty design.

Now granted, my 80 Quattro is NOT an Alfa Spider, and I don't even know 
the material composition of the engine or its parts; but it seems to me the 
physics are the same.  Knowledge about the function of the parts of one's 
car, combined with regular maintenance, and an acceptance that one's 
driving habits (i.e., freeway vs street driving; shifting, braking, and 
acceleration patterns; etc.) produce a specific kind of wear on the car 
are elements which would be key to my decision-making process in 
trouble-shooting problems with the car.

BTW, just taking a car to the dealer for scheduled maintenance -- while 
seemingly the ideal buyer's behavior -- does not necessarily lead to 
trouble-free driving.  Knowledge about the various components of the 
vehicle and how they work (how they *should* work) gives the owner an 
edge in evaluating whether work performed has been satisfactory and complete.

It's easy to blame the marque, or the dealer association, but I don't 
believe that it is useful.  The stories I've heard about Audi are that 
they will come down quickly on a local dealer who is not offering a 
reputable service.  There can be several avenues to pursue if one is 
not satisfied with one's service, but it does involve personal 
participation and responsibility -- that's more than just comparing to other 
marques and listing deficiencies.

Flame me if you want, but I've been screwed royally before (and I'm 
pretty sure it's *just* because I'm a woman); I really have to keep my 
eyes open so that I am aware of what's going on *all the time*.


Tess McMillan
'88 Audi 80 Q
'87 Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate