Any Audi salespeople out there?

[FastCarFan]

We are leasing a new Audi A4 Avant for my wife. I understand there is a "conquest" incentive. In other words, they are offering extra $ for people trading in a non-Audi.

My question is, how much is the current Audi conquest incentive? The dealer first told me it was $1,000 & then said he made a mistake & that is only $500.

Does anyone know? I just want to make sure I get all I have coming to me.

Thanks for your help!

[Jims5543]

Welcome to the slippery slope. In about 22 months you will no longer be concerned about the $500 and more concerned about how you can get as far away from that thing as you can.

Good luck with the car.


Signed,

A very disgruntled Audi owner.

[FastCarFan]

I hear you Jim. I read your post about the problems you had. I am sorry.

I have also known many people who absolutely love their Audis. Seriously -- lots of people. We are trading out of a 2005 Passat 4Motion wagon. I heard people complain about the VW too, but we have had no problems whatsoever. None. Period. It is a fantastic car.

We really like the A4 & have not found another AWD wagon -- sorry, Avant -- that we like nearly as much.

So we will take our chances & hope we got a good one. The odds are we did. But thanks for the advice.

[Jims5543]

Well, I have had 2 duds and this one is my last.

My 2001 A6 was a dud that was int he shop more than it was on the road with constant cooling and electrical problems.

The 2005 A6 took right off where the 2001 left off.

I would lie if I told you I did not love this car I do, I love the drive in it, I love the way it looks handles and drives in outright downpours. Its an amazing car, but, you reach a point where you say, you know what? I can only take so much of the BS that goes with the good and you turn and walk away.

Will this be my last Audi, yeah for a long time until the pain this one has brought me fades then I will do something stupid and get another.

Like I said good luck. Most audi owners are in denial about their cars reliability. I know I have been I was almost considering keeping this one once the lease was up even though there is ALWAYS something wrong with it. But you put up with it because it is indeed a fantastic car and you pretend that those electrical gremlins give it character. "I bet that silly Mercedes driver does not have windows that roll down and not back up. Ha!! He has no idea what adventure is. I do......"

because I own an Audi.....

[Wickd89]

Sorry to hear about the bad Audi stories. I have a few friends that work at an Audi dealer and they understand that the cars are not simple, but then again I was really bored with my Acura!

Since, I have had a 1993 100CS for 150K. No issues (little sunroof switch twice but truly nothing Little slow, but I knew that coming in to it...

How have had a 2001 A6 2.7t for over 1.5 years -no issues at all (one propeller oil line, thats it)...

Here are some other examples of other:
I think this is no different than a Merc or a BMW.
For example, tons of 2003 E320 were fully recalled -- Lemon law buy back.
For example, my friend bought an E class a few years ago, the super diesel one, and returned it in three months, tons of issues.
For example, guy at work has a 2004 BMW 545i. Looks nice, but at the dealer every other week. Not kidding.
For example, friend bought a BMW 325ix in 2003. Battery drained car 5-6 times in 6 months; eventually fixed.
For example, friend recently bought 335i::: Towed twice in first month (one code told him to pull over to avoid engine damage), dealer added oil cooler as an afterthought but ended up signing a "no tell" statement; luckily I was involved with the project from the start...
For example, 1999 996. I know, I want one to but you have to be really careful since some mechanics stack 996 engines in the corner for the eventual swap out. Never heard this in Audi land...

[Jims5543]

You do not know about the sludge problem Audi denies exists for the 1.8T engine?

At least Porsche keeps spare engines handy, Audi denies there is a problem and voids warranties before it will replace an engine.

I just picked up an E30 325i and as I look it over it looks VERY DIY friendly.


Besides I am off to Japanese land from now on. My FJ Cruiser has CRUSHED my Audi in the reliability department.

[DaveE]

I know it's an old car now, but we bought a '97 A6 Quattro in 2001 and it has been trouble-free. We're thinking of a new Audi as well. An awesome car for West - Central PA in the winter.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by Jim Cesiro

You do not know about the sludge problem Audi denies exists for the 1.8T engine?

At least Porsche keeps spare engines handy, Audi denies there is a problem and voids warranties before it will replace an engine.

I just picked up an E30 325i and as I look it over it looks VERY DIY friendly.


Besides I am off to Japanese land from now on. My FJ Cruiser has CRUSHED my Audi in the reliability department.

Audi at least helps cover the cost, be thankful your not a Corolla owner with a sludge issue, they completely deny issue and will not assist in the repairs either.

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/Corolla/2005/engine/oil_sludge_build_up_engine_seized.shtml

[Halm]

Doug, If you get an answer to your post someplace else, please post it here too. I would like to know the answer as well.

[rcooled]

I read the Audi bashing thread here on OT and would just like to say this: I've been driving Audis for the last 10 years and all have been absolutely bullet-proof. I sold my '99 A4 last year with over 120K on the clock and it still looked & ran like new. Are they complicated? Sure they are....what new cars in this segment aren't? These cars are not really for DIY types....unless you have a garage full of tools and lots of experience with modern automotive systems.

Enjoy your new Audi....they're great cars and just as reliable as similar offerings from BMW & MB.

[FastCarFan]

Originally Posted by Halm

Doug, If you get an answer to your post someplace else, please post it here too. I would like to know the answer as well.

The main reason I asked the question really isn't about the $500 difference. Rather, I am trying to determine if the dealer is being straight with me.

They initially told me the conquest incentive was $1,000, then they told me that was a mistake -- it is actually only $500. I would like to know if the dealer is telling me the truth.

We pick up the car this evening so it is likely too late to do anything about it -- I just want to know that the dealer is being truthful.

[Halm]

Enjoy the car. The A4 Avant is on our short list for later this summer. We loved our '04 S4 but it was way too much car for our needs.

[trader220]

Love the Allroad's and the prices are falling off a cliff.

[Wickd89]

Originally Posted by rcooled

Enjoy your new Audi....they're great cars and just as reliable as similar offerings from BMW & MB.

WORD....

It is all relative. What discussion would we be doing if talked about Jags, Alfas, the French cars (Cit & Ren), or even American cars for that matter.

Jim,
I am sorry it looks like you got yourself a bad one and will likely never return. But it is not a bad car. Not by a mile...
Looks like you might someday be looking at a Lexus or Infiniti (not a bad thing, just a little sterile). Actually my friends Infiniti M45 is pretty freakin' awesome...
-- Wish you luck...

A few more examples.
Mercedes USA built ML. First years had tons of electrical issues. Now they are giving them away..
BMW Z3. Hard driving showed that the some welds broke off.
Ford Explorers roll over issues (design or Tires; does not make a diff).
Porsche Boxsters. First years were so crappy, you can now have a Porsche convertible for under $10K. Does anyone dare buy one of these..
Dodge Magnum. New company car for me and at 1,500 miles, the brakes were shot but dealers said they were ok. Obvious warped rotors, and they did not want to pay for it or even thought it was an issue.

My company uses Chryslers and Jeeps, and I do not want to even get it to their reliabilty... From 1-10, I would give them a 2. Only acceptable as a fleet vehicle due to the reduced cost.. Can anyone remember how bad the Stratus was!!

[Tobra]

your car dealer is lying to you

[Sunroof]

I lived through the 1.8 nightmare with my son's 2000 A4 last year. I believe the new A4's now come with the 2.0 and Audi corrected the issues; however, if you ever elect to get into an older 1.8, DON'T!!!!!

No sooner did we get the engine de-sludged, the oil pan pick up unit replaced (it was totally clogged and as hard as cement from coking oil) and the valve train cleaned for a whopping 2.5K did the ABS brake modular fail. Dealer wanted 1K for the fix. The problems ran on and on........new clutch, cracked flywheel (replacement), halfshaft replacement, failed AC compressor, etec, etc, etc.

I was looking at a TT for a replacement for my 1973.5T; however, changed my mind after being treated so harshly by Audi during my son's oil coking problem. Audi knew that the engine ran way too hot, failed to shield the cat. converter from the engine and placed the turbine too close to the block. TheY would only replace or repair the engine if you could produce oil change records since day one that not only were done at The specificed interval but with Mobil 1 as well. Needless to say we could not provide the records from the previous onwer. The Atlanta high rated delearship offered nothing but, "caveat emptor"!

So Audi leaves a bad taste in my mouth these days. You can have em, or at least the 1.8 turbo models!

Bob

[Wickd89]

Originally Posted by Tobra

your car dealer is lying to you

He is not lying. He is a FRIEND who happens to work at a car dealer...
Not a car dealer who is friendly.........

[tshore]

My own reliability experience with Audis has been ok - not perfect but ok.

Bought a 96 a4 2.8L v6 non-quattro about 2yrs ago, with 77k miles. I've put about 25k miles on it since. Had to have a cat replaced, and an engine mount , and a fuel pump, in addition to what I would consider routine maint. such as brake line replacement at 100k mi. That's maybe 3-4k in repair bills in 2 yrs, which I would consider normal for a car with that kind of mileage. I had a '97 Toyota Camry prior to that, and had to spend about that much on it the last year I owned it. The A4 has never let me down. The needed repairs have been of the type that could be done at my convenience.

The car is absolutely beautiful and a very nice counterpoint to my '86 Carrera. While not perfect, it has performed well enough, and I have enjoyed the car enough that I would certainly consider buying another.

I would put the car in the "good cars I have owned" category. In the "bad" category would be my '88 VW GTI, purchased new, and a '76 BMW 2002 (first car) that looked nice but evidently had spent some time at the bottom of a lake. I would never buy another VW, but a BMW...maybe.

[BlueSideUp]

I had a '99 1.8T for 77K miles and had absolutely zero problems with it. Audi/VW were absolutely stupid to not require synthetic oil from the start. One look at the size of that turbo with the cat mounted directly to it and I switched to using Mobil 1 synthetic when the car had 20K. I used VW filters up until I switched to the big Volvo filter for more capacity. The inside of the engine was perfectly clean and the turbine shaft tight like a new turbo at 77K.

Sunroof did your car have the brake fluid flushed every 20K miles/2 years as recommended by VW/Audi? Most of the cars I've seen have never had their fluid flushed and dirty fluid causes the pumps to fail.

Either way just follow the factory service intervals and you should have a great car. We had one vehicle returned under lemon law and it was just a poorly built car, maybe the janitors put it together in their off time or something.

Does Edmunds have anything regarding the Audi incentive?

[FastCarFan]

We picked up my wife's new A4 Avant last night. I love it. It is perfect for our needs. We do not want an SUV, but we need to get a kid & all of his stuff to college, take family vacations, go skiing, carry bikes on the roof & transport Shelby the yellow Lab. The cargo area is on the small side, but we only have 1 child at home now & he goes off to college in a year, so it should be fine.

The car is gorgeous -- quartz gray metallic, S-line front fascia (part of a special edition they are offering to help move cars in the final model year for this style), good looking wheels, etc. We got the 2.0 direct-injection turbo & it provides plenty of power for my wife. I really think it is the best looking wagon on the market. Most importantly, my wife loves it! After all, it is her car.

I acknowledge the problems Jim & others have had, but also the enthusiasm many others have for Audis. I truly believe Jim got "a bad one", which I think can happen with any brand. I am hopeful that we got "a good one", which I think is far more likely. Plus we are leasing it so we will not be stuck with it if it turns out to be a lemon.

Thanks everyone for the advice.