... All four tyres were illegal at 10,000 miles, various front and rear suspension components were required to pass its first MoT test (less than 20,000 miles !) and the front discs and pads were changed before 20,000 miles arrived - don't ask about the cost as brakes are excluded from Audi's ... Read review
Saloon - Front (FWD) - 7 Speed multitronic Automatic, 6 Speed Manual - 1986 cc - Max Speed: 131 mph - 140, 120 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: S line, SE, Executive S line, Executive SE
Hatchback - Front (FWD) - 6 Speed tiptronic Automatic, 5 Speed Manual - 1595 cc - Max Speed: 116 mph - 102 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: Technik SE, Technik, S line, Sport, SE
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...warranty. The attitude of Audi UK was - so what ? The MD of the local chain (Smith Knight Fay) never bothered to reply to letters, could not even manage a phone call, and the local dealer principal was a study in 'used-car-dealership'. He even told me, face to face, that 'If this was my wife's car, I'd be really annoyed at such costs and unreliability' - but then (of course ?) offered me no recompense.
In short, this was the worst ... ...However, when you look at Audi sales figures in the UK you can see why. The dealers have a long line of punters (most improved sales in 2006 of any importer) desperate to buy into the brand, and service facilities from the last millenium, so they concentrate on the bottom line - shifting the metal from the showroom - and once you have the vehicle, well.......!
Mercedes have been through this syndrome a few years ago, and are now very ... more
We bought this car for my wife's principal use, and spent over £33,000 with extras - no discounts, as it was a new model in short supply. Previously we had always bought Mercedes, and so this was our first non-Merc in 15 years. Initial impressions were quite good. The car felt solid and the impression of quality was excellent - the stitching on the leather, the fit and feel of the dashboard, the external panel fits, etc. The first two years were fine, but we only covered around 16,000 miles. Then things started to go wrong - the hood would fold, then as the rain started, it would rise about 70% of the way and fail. It could be persuaded home with a lot of fuss and a quick read of the manual, but this happened several times. Then the 2nd service arrived - odd, but the 1st service only happened at 13,000 miles from new, but the 2nd arrived just 6,500 miles later. Our dealer - who had supplied the car - charged a mere £670 for this interim service. When queried as to why the car could manage twice the mileage from new to the 1st service comapred to 1st to 2nd service, there was no answer. A simple soul (such as me !) would have worked out that a technician had changed the car from variable usage service intervals to time / distance, since the indicator appeared at 19,750 miles and just before 2 years elapsed. Then we ran out of warranty at 20,000 miles and three years. So the hood mechanism failed again - 3 weeks out of warranty ! My wife had enquired at the last hood failure about this happening, and was assured we would be covered by 'goodwill out of warranty'. Not so - £700 was required. The hood mechanism, of course, failed again 6 days later !
During all this the car was less than a paradigm of virtue. All four tyres were illegal at 10,000 miles, various front and rear suspension components were required to pass its first MoT test (less than 20,000 miles !) and the front discs and pads were changed before 20,000 miles arrived - don't ask about the cost as brakes are excluded from Audi's warranty !
From 20,000 miles to 22,000 miles, the car cost just under £2,000 in service costs - and was just weeks outside its warranty. The attitude of Audi UK was - so what ? The MD of the local chain (Smith Knight Fay) never bothered to reply to letters, could not even manage a phone call, and the local dealer principal was a study in 'used-car-dealership'. He even told me, face to face, that 'If this was my wife's car, I'd be really annoyed at such costs and unreliability' - but then (of course ?) offered me no recompense.
In short, this was the worst new car we have ever owned in terms of reliability and importer / dealer service. However, when you look at Audi sales figures in the UK you can see why. The dealers have a long line of punters (most improved sales in 2006 of any importer) desperate to buy into the brand, and service facilities from the last millenium, so they concentrate on the bottom line - shifting the metal from the showroom - and once you have the vehicle, well.......!
Mercedes have been through this syndrome a few years ago, and are now very much improved. The Audi went, to be replaced by a Merc cabriolet, what an improvement ! Decent dealership, good after sales, and a car with comfortable seats and decent ride quality. So far only 6,000 miles, but compared to the Audi - it is wonderful.
Audi good points - looks good; image is great; stiff body with little scuttle shake; excellent heater / air con controls which allow 2 independent settings (hood up / down); apparent build quality is first class; engine is wonderful - so much torque, economical, creamy smooth, one of the best-ever engines in its class. We now have an AMG Mercedes supercharged 2 litre - same HP as Audi, but not enough torque to pull the skin off a small rice pudding !
Audi bad points - dealers don't care about after sales service; car is poorly engineered & built - cannot manage a 1st MoT and 20,000 miles without a rebuilt brake and suspension system; it eats tyres - no more than 10,000 miles per set; ride is atrocious; seats are uncomfortable; electric seat option is dreadful - slow, and no memory facility is available; the CVT gearbox is a joke - it likes to 'think about things before it makes its mind up', so pulling out from a T junction or away from lights is very 'hit and miss'; options cost a great deal.
Our kids really wanted to like the Audi, but they agree, the M-B cabrio is a VERY much better overall package. As for us, the owners, no contest ! The Audi was an expensive disaster, our worst new car in over 20 years, and the Mercedes is better than that which we expected.
