What is your experience of Audi dealers?

Question

I find them to be exspensive and mostly unhelpful when I need something for my TT Roadster.

They know that for some parts you have to use them, and boy can they charge you for it?

Answer 1

Audi dealers absolutely SUCK!! There are 3 local to me, NONE of which are 1. Helpful to someone working on their own vehicle instead of bringing it to them. 2. Knowledgeable about the particular systems or components of the car. (if its not in a sales brochure, they are clueless) While that's enough right there, the cars themselves are problematic and overly complex, I just can't understand why anyone in the world would buy an Audi.

Answer 2

I must be an exception. The porche/audi dealer in my area is exceptionally friendly and helpful. They do reserve their a-list perks for people who have purchased new vehicles from them over used, but that is understandable. Even VW dealers do this.
But I was in for service over the holidays, while waiting in the lounge a clerk came in an served everyone baklava and coffee. This was a first for me and very nice. The parts department decided to give me 10% off of a 4-set of mud-guards, unsolicited.
The service desk clerks make it a point to learn every owners history and first name. Now it could be they are one of about 12 dealerships in a 60 mile radius from where I live and so are keen to keep customers, where a dealer who has no competition is less inclined because he has a captured customer base. Once you drive an Audi, it is unlikely you will get so fed up with service you will go to a Kia. As for expense, well that is the "cost of doing business" as it were. If you compared the cost of a water pump for M-B, BMW, Audi, Lexus I bet they would all be comparable.
An alternative is to locate a private mechanic that specialize in foriegn high-performace cars. There are a couple in my area that specialize in German autos and their garage is always hopping everytime I drive by, so they are doing a good business and have been there for over 20 years. They have the big three German makes plus a handful of Opels.
This is just my experirnce. I hope your experiences are better. One thing you could do is lodge a complaint against the dealer on AudiUSA.com. That might effect their allocation of new vehicles. That would get their attention I bet.

Answer 3

remember: you bought a foreign car. parts are going to be expensive. also it is a sports car not a family sedan so that affects prices and availability. Imagine if you were walking into a dodge dealer and wanted to buy a hood. they might have one for a dodge neon in stock, but if you want it for your dodge viper, you will be probly paying shipping and be waiting for it for a while.
As far as the dealers, i cant give an excuse for them. alot of them are difficult.

Answer 4

I have never met an Audi dealer, and have no experience with one. In any case, I had a really good friend named Audi in the fourth grade! (LOL!)

Answer 5

if you need a reallly reallly good mechanic near nj let me know. dealer was going to charge my girlfriend $630 for a small brake hose and a brake fluid flush. the vw mech i know charged her $360 and he did that and 4 tie rods, parts and labor.

Answer 6

Sorry but that's business .They are not all unhelpful they are expensive but you bought an expensive product .

Answer 7

i dont know where u live but we have our share of mishaps with them too. we waited for 6 months to get our car and it was a wrong one.. then many other things, but yes you are right