Re: I'm not happy with AoA's client services. Anyone else?

[MSV96@aol.com]

Sean_Ford@idx.com wrote:

<< <most of post snipped> Just to bring you up-to-date, the head gasket leak
was discovered by AutoBon in Cambridge at roughly 35k miles. The diagnosis was
then confirmed by both Clair Audi (to legitimize it, I guess) >>

That is the point where you should politely demand that the Audi Zone Service
Rep review your situation...the dealership(s) won't be of much help since you
a. didn't buy the car from them, or for that matter new, and b. don't use
their service dept. for routine service. (In other words, you are not a
customer they make anything off of...but in the spirit of customer service,
they still need to treat you right to maybe make you a customer someday!)

You also wrote:

<< <again major snippage> I don't know, am I asking for too much? I am the 2nd
owner, the car is 6 years old (but it only has 39k miles) >>

Maybe so and this is where you are at a disadvantage. 

When I bought an 87 5kcstqwagon with 19k miles at just over 3 years old it had
a leaky PS Pump. I purchased the car from a non-local Audi dealer and was set
up with the Zone Rep through their service dept. My local Audi dealer refused
to do this for me because the car was used, not bought from them, and out of
warranty (miles were well within warranty, and time was only out by a
month...but still "out of warranty"). The dealer who sold me the car had no
trouble getting me authorization to get this covered under warranty, and
provided a rental car along with free detailing to cover the "inconvenience"
(the selling dealer was 45 miles away in Monterey, CA.). This experience was
very good and differs greatly from an experience I had with Toyota on a new
'85 pick-up previously (where I won a CA lemon law arbitration only to have
toy co appeal and continue to screw me). So, based on past experience, I know
Audi does budge somewhen aproached nicely.

Here's the problem for you: your car is double the time warranty. Audi doesn't
really consider the mileage period as much as the time period--3 years. In 6
years your car could easily have 100k miles or more--the fact that it only has
36k is not the issue. In this case the fly you wish to catch is best caught
with honey...and that fly is the zone rep's generosity. Given that there have
been many instances of "hidden warranties" being exposed from various
manufacturers (adnoh was notorious for this) I am sure most auto manufacturers
are very careful not to set precedents that result in "recalls". Should Audi
step up to the plate in your case? I think so. Will they? That's a hard call
and it will have a lot to do with who you can talk to and how you treat them
when you do. If you come off like "they owe you" and threaten lawsuits you
will most likely get no place. I have taken on Toyota with that attitude with
a very good case, a truck with less than 10k miles AND 6 months old, and while
I won a battle, I lost the war. Of course as a result, Toyota and all other
asian car companies lost my new car business forever--but I doubt they care. 

BTW, this situation doesn't sound too different from wmb's little problem with
the 318is gasket (not a head gasket, but it requires head-off work and costs
big bucks--I forget the name of the part). That problem is very well
documented in Roundel and from what I have heard they have not budged one bit.
So, power in soured enthusiast numbers deosn't seem to help either. I guess
what I am saying is that what you are experiencing is common in the car
industry as a whole...HTH and good luck!

Mike Veglia
87 5kcsq (aproaching 150k so no more warranty issues for me)

PS: As far as catalytic converters failing, many states are requiring them to
last longer than original mfg warranties...check emmisions laws in your local
state to see if the state requirement supercedes the mfg. warranty.