Re: 91 200tq FIRE....dealer gripe!

["Daniel Hussey" <dan_hussey@email.msn.com>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Hussey <dan_hussey@email.msn.com>
To: quattro@mediaone.net <quattro@mediaone.net>
Date: Sunday, June 06, 1999 8:45 PM
Subject: Re: 91 200tq FIRE


>Eric,
>
>I just checked out your web site.  That was a beautiful car and did not
>deserve to go up in flames.  As for AoA.  I have no real experiences with
>them, except through the dealer network (and which most of which is bad!),
>but I have heard a lot through spending the last 4 years on this list.
>
>It seems AoA seems to neglect what is important and shows a very
non-shalant
>attitude and seeks no involvement in such matters.  With the loyalty Audi
>owners have towards the marque, you'd think AoA would care a little more
>about keeping customers (repeat buyers) happy and offering support in such
>matters.  And, I also think they need to dramatically improve thier dealer
>network and lower parts prices.  Porsche noticed that a large number of
>P-car owners were turning to aftermarket sources for replacement parts and
>independant repair shops (specialists) for service.  So, rather than
>ignoring it or increasing prices even further (like Audi), they decided to
>make parts prices more competetive and increase the quality of service.
The
>results were staggering.  A lot of owners returned to the dealers for
>service.  My mechanic told me recently that you can get a 944 clutch
cheaper
>at the dealer than you can from Automotion!  Pretty impressive.  The
>wholesalers are still cheaper on a lot of items, but the parts prices
>improved a lot.  And, as I've often told my dealer....I wouldn't mind
paying
>a little extra in parts and service for the convenience of using the
dealer,
>but thier prices are absurd and that is why they get NONE of my business.
I
>found a great local independant repair shop and they care about my repeat
>business (unlike AoA and thier dealerships).
>
>Not to ramble on, but to give you an example.....  I had a bad fuel pump.
>Car would start most of the time, but it was on it's last leg.  I was buisy
>with work and it was winter and I just wanted it fixed.  I didn't want to
>wait a week for any part.  So, I called the dealer knowing they'd have it
in
>stock and would be able to replace it in one day.  I was just going to make
>the appointment, but luckly I asked them to give me a price quote before I
>made the appointment.  He quoted me $640 for the fuel pump!!!!!!  I said
>that sounded a little high and immediately hung up and called Imparts.
Same
>exact part from them was $135!!!!!!!  That is a HUGE and rediculous
>difference!!!!  That is why people don't use the dealer.
>
>Now, as far as dealers go, I think my local one (Zimbrick European in
>Madison, WI) is one of the best around.  Besides hiring incompetent morons
>in thier parts dept. they are pretty good.  (Took guy in parts depot 10
>minutes to find me the right oil filter and that was with me telling him
>which motor I had!!!!)  But, I feel they would do excellent work and stand
>behind thier work.  But, at those prices I would hope so!!!!
>
>Anyways, sorry to ramble on.  Not sure if I made my point, but AoA just
>doesn't seem interested in thier owners or selling cars for that matter.
>Thier dealers used to be the biggest bunch of lugheads in the biz and they
>had some of the worst leasing deals known to man.  Thank god that has
>improved, but it took them years to figure it out.
>
>A bunch of us Quattro fanatics tried to get the attention and sponsorship
>(or some form of support) from AoA a couple of years back when we organized
>a national caravan out to Pikes Peak.  They weren't interested!  Then, I
>knew a few listers who went out to watch the Mt. Washington Hillclimb a few
>years back (which Audi sponsors) and AoA ignored all the Audi owners and
>didn't want them around in the pit area etc.  They just seem to not care
>about thier following whatsoever and I just can't figure it out.
>
>But, all things said.  As bad as AoA is, I can't blame Audi AG for it all.
>And Audi builds some damn good cars.  I'll continue to buy Audis untill
>thier cars aren't good anymore.  Unfortunately we are in the US and get the
>shaft!!!  We don't get a lot of the exclusive high-performance models that
>europe sees (i.e. RS2, S8, S6+) and we have terrible support (what little
>there is) from AoA, and we just have to put up with it.  I don't think Audi
>AG would have treated you that way and I would have at least expected an
>investigation (heck, it's in thier best interest liability wise....might be
>a flaw in the desighn of the wiring of the audio system) or some sort of
>formal explanation to the cause of the fire.
>
>I have one more question....  Was there anything left of the car after the
>fire???  I am looking for a set of 20V BBS wheels at a reasonable price.
Do
>you know where the car went after it was totalled by the insurance company?
>Any information would be appreciated.
>
>Good luck with the new car search and I wouldn't hold it against Audi as a
>whole, although I wouldn't blame you if you did.  AoA should learn that
they
>really influence peoples perception of the marque and future auto sales.
>
>Later,
>Dan
>'89.5 200TQ (no Bose system....thank goodness!)
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Eric Geller <quattro@mediaone.net>
>To: quattro@audifans.com <quattro@audifans.com>
>Cc: 200q20v@pdikeman.ne.mediaone.net <200q20v@pdikeman.ne.mediaone.net>;
>'Frank Stadmeyer' <stadmef@connix.com>
>Date: Sunday, June 06, 1999 7:51 PM
>Subject: 91 200tq FIRE
>
>
>>This post stopped me dead in my tracks.  Had been re-reading past posts
and
>>thought my situation was unique.
>>
>>20 April 1999, the exact same sounds came from the rear speaker of my 1991
>>200 tq - but the car went up in flames(!!) and is a total loss.  I was
>>driving when this occurred and by the time I got out of the vehicle it was
>>full of black, acrid smoke and I was holding my breath while pulling over.
>>Not fun.  Did a stupid thing and opened the trunk (luckily no
flare-in-face
>>effect) and clearly witnessed speaker as the source of the fire.   10 days
>>short of owning it a year.  Major bummer.
>>
>>Local Audi dealership was great (I had them doing most of my repair work
on
>>this beast), but AOA has shown legalistic unresponsiveness in three
>>escalating rounds of communications.   Had the vehicle towed to Key Audi
in
>>Jax, FL from the scene of the fire, and AOA never sent a rep over to see
>the
>>vehicle, despite repeated requests.  They state the car is too old, the
>>sound system is aftermarket (well... aftermarket Pioneer CD changer, but
>was
>>not "on" at the time...) and that this is entirely a matter between me and
>>the insurance company.
>>
>>The sounds had manifested earlier in April and was looking to get speakers
>>from another lister, so had gotten this info off one of them:  "Bose Rear
>>R.Le. 205 964 3103 441 035 412B"
>>
>>Then, 20 May 1999 spouse gets t-boned by a '99 GMC Suburban; her Buick is
>>totaled and she gets a nasty smack in the head.  I dropped the Audi issue
>>entirely at this point, and haven't come back to it until I collected my
>>1,000+ pieces of mail from the list.
>>
>>At first, test drove an A6 Avant, and then various other Audi's.  But
after
>>AOA's attitude, I'm through with Audi's after 12 years driving them.  At
>>this point, I can't even stand looking at them.  Yesterday bought a '96
>Olds
>>LSS.  The most ambivalent car purchase of my life.  Wife is doing better,
>>gotta get her wheels next.
>>
>>I suspect that Audi of America is very likely to be hearing of or from me
>>once again.  Would anyone care to share their experiences regarding the
>Bose
>>amplified speakers in this series vehicle?
>>
>>I'm a professional in my 40's and never had an accident (and technically
>>still haven't) or engaged an attorney for other than contract and estate
>>matters.  I don't think I'm being a jerk here - was looking for some level
>>of responsiveness from AOA, not early retirement to the Cayman's.
>Excellent
>>insurance but out several thousand, I've got better things to do than
>>concentrate on this crap, yet it sure seems to me that a collectible
>(?@#$#)
>>like this '91 200 TQ shouldn't simply have gone up in flames.  This is my
>>first post regarding this incident.  Judging from their behavior, it looks
>>like AOA wants word of this incident to spread far and wide.  Other data
>and
>>video is available.  Photos likely to follow on the web site at some
point.
>>
>>Ok, there's the public purge.   Thanks in advance for any advice or
further
>>info.
>>
>>Eric Geller                        Jacksonville Beach, FL
>>'96 Olds LSS
>>'91 200tq      (burnt & not on Gerd Klauss's conscience)
>>'87 4000csq  (sold)
>>'82 4000       (in Audi heaven)
>>
>>quattro@mediaone.net  -- you can bet this e-mail address will change...
>>www.jacksonville.net/~quattro   (for photos of the 200, pre-burn)
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: owner-quattro@audifans.com [mailto:owner-quattro@audifans.com] On
>>Behalf Of Frank Stadmeyer
>>Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 1999 9:35 PM
>>To: 200q20v@pdikeman.ne.mediaone.net; quattro@audifans.com
>>Subject: Looking for Audi/Bose rear speakers
>>
>>I presume that SCREECH!! SQUAWK!!!! BRAAAAP!!!! emmanating from my rear
>>speaker with the attendant release of the all important smoke and odor
>>component means that my speaker has expired.
>>
>>
>
>