Audi drops in JDPower survey

[Fringe Ryder <fringe@fringeweb.com>]

It doesn't make ME go "hmm"...

I got my Audi A4Q 2.8L in Oct '96.  In that time, it has been in five times
for a rattle and associated repair problems for that which finalized in a
replaced door panel, once for noisey lifters, several times since that for
oil diagnostics, and is now going to be going in as soon as approval from
Audi-USA comes in to FIX the oil problem.  (It burnt more than 2 quarts in
600 miles, by their measurements, which had to be done because they
wouldn't trust mine.)  The REAR license plate frame fell off, taking the
license plate with it.  This was especially annoying because I had to go
get a new plate and because Barrier needed some strong convincing and
complaining to replace it under warranty - their initial story was it much
have been hit or pulled, but anybody who has SEEN an A4 knows that it
couldn't be, due to being so inset and sheltered.  It also has a defective
right-rear light switch, which I haven't bothered having fixed.  And the
amber lens popped out of the ashtray, which is odd since the ashtray is
NEVER used.  (I glued it back, rather than dealing with the dealer.)

Realize that all this is in less than 18 months, and 16,000 miles, 5000 of
which were Portland-Seattle trips.  This is a low-mileage car.

This car has been no more reliable than my Ford Escort was when new.  The
ONLY advantage has been that Audi usually accepts responsibility for the
repairs, where as Ford even ignored the Extended Service Protection
contract regularly.  I'll never buy another Ford, and have cost them at
least four solid sales.  I'm not pissed at Audi, but I wouldn't rate my car
as reliable either.

>Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 09:08:16 -0500
>From: Sean_Ford@idx.com
>It appears that Audi has dropped 6 places to 9th in the latest JDPower
>survey. Here's the list:
>
>1. Lexus (1)
>2. Cadillac (2)
>3. Infiniti (4)
>4. Mercedes-Benz (7)
>5. Acura (6)
>6. Buick (9)
>7. Lincoln (5)
>8. Toyota (10)
>9. Audi (3)
>10. Oldsmobile (11)
>
>The numbers in paren's are the ranking's for 1997. And, sadly, it appears
>in this list that Audi is the only one that dropped.  "Things that make you
>go, 'Hmmm.'"
>