AUDI A1 - 1 Month Old!!

macman

Even if we accepted that Audi was a luxury brand, then I think what we are baffled by is what the OP hopes to achieve by complaining to VAG UK after the car has been fixed at no cost to her?
OP, had you bought a real luxury car (let's say a Rolls Royce for example), would you really expect it to be wholly immune from faults or breakdowns? If you wanted such a vehicle, you'd get better odds with a Japanese car such as a Honda maybe?
If the turbo did fail on your new Roller, the procedure would be exactly the same as with the Audi. Though I guess they might throw in a bunch of flowers.

WellKnownSid

dannyrst wrote: »

Of course.

If you are paying more for what is essentially the same car, I'd expect the staff at the dealership to provide better customer service than the cheaper brand. My use of the term Audi and SEAT/Skoda was in respect of the sales staff/mechanics.

That's not the point. The mechanics, sales staff, etc - in the majority of cases they're just a franchise. For an importer.

It so happens that the importer in this case is owned by VAG in Germany - but that's a rare situation - in VAG's case globally I think only something like five importers out of 90-odd are actually owned by the factory.

But, in most cases the person that sells you the car and the person that fixes it are still working for Joe Bloggs Motors Ltd, authorised sales agent and repairer for Audi.

It might be the OP has a case that said agent / repairer did a crap job - hence the reason to complain. But I don't think they actually did?

bowlhead99

macman wrote: »

Even if we accepted that Audi was a luxury brand, then I think what we are baffled by is what the OP hopes to achieve by complaining to VAG UK after the car has been fixed at no cost to her?

I think what we are more baffled by is how people on the thread claim not to understand how a human being could possibly be upset, disappointed or aggrieved that after spending many thousands of pounds on a product which is positioned as premium in its sector (splashing out the extra to get a new A1 instead of a Dacia Sandero is clearly more 'luxury' rather than 'necessity', even if it isn't a Veyron or Ghost)... then in no time at all it breaks down and can't be used until a mechanic changes some parts.

In such cases, a polite letter expressing that disappointment may elicit a polite letter in response explaining that they are sorry not to have met your expectations on this occasion, wishing you many years of happy motoring and here's a branded pen, umbrella or money off your next service for the inconvenience. Or it might get nothing. If you don't ask you don't get. The OP asked 'what do you think' about writing a letter, and got some sensible responses. Then thirty odd posts of pi55taking about whether her expensive car was as luxurious as a Rolls.

OP, had you bought a real luxury car (let's say a Rolls Royce for example), would you really expect it to be wholly immune from faults or breakdowns?

Nobody seriously thinks any car is 'wholly immune from faults or breakdowns'. My car wasn't bought new and as a consequence it was half its list price. But if it was back in for repair after an engine fault developed in the first two weeks, I wouldn't be happy, and if they didn't make me feel loved I would quite possibly write a letter to the dealership or to some suitable customer service escalation point saying this wasn't what I was hoping for when buying an "Approved Used" car from their prestigious brand.

The difference is I would probably not go on a forum to ask a bunch of strangers whether I should write the letter. Either I have the time and inclination to express my feelings to someone at dealership HQ or brand HQ, or I don't.

Hermione_Granger

bowlhead99 wrote: »

Nobody seriously thinks any car is 'wholly immune from faults or breakdowns

But from reading the first post I would say that appears to be exactly what the OP thinks.

Sophie94x wrote: »

after less than a month of having the car it's had to stay in over night to be fixed!!

I am contemplating writing a complaint to head office because I find that it simply not good enough from a luxury car name

wrightk

who cares! who cares whether audi is considered luxury or not. Some posters on here come across as so sanctimonious. How many of you have a brand new car? (keyboard warriors!)

OP- i understand how you feel. id be annoyed if i bought a new car-any new car that developed a major fault so quickly. Accidents do happen though, things can be faulty especially from new. The dealer is fixing the car for you under warranty. There is not a lot you can do. Maybe a grumble to the manager may get you money off a service plan/fill up your tank, a gadget for the car. Thats about it really.
Chin up and see this as teething problems

Strider590

I think it's understandable that OP might feel a tad distressed after committing all her available disposable income on what she believed to be a luxury car brand, only to run into issues like this.

However, "teething" problems are a fact of life when buying a new car. You just have to move on an hope it doesn't occur again.

rudekid48

OP, this is the sort of reaction that you will have to get used to now that you have bought a premium brand car. Like me, you probably couldn't give a flying duck if your A1 shares engines or saliva with a Skoda. I'm guessing you bought the car a) because you can afford to (which will invoke jealous rants) and b) because the car you've chosen makes you 'feel good' - in the same way that any premium item does, be it clothing, technology, food etc.
You will always get the same arguments from those that are jealous - same parts/materials/ingredients etc, not as well made as the 15yr old piece of junk that they own etc.
Don't take any of it to heart, enjoy your car and remember to offer a small hand gesture to anyone you pass on the road that looks like a middle-aged keyboard warrior driving a really !!!! car that only cost them £20 but they can squeeze another 100k miles out of it before it dies.
Also, you are right to feel aggrieved. Yes, things go wrong but you are entitled to expect no problems. A polite letter to Audi UK and the dealer will not do any harm at all, in fact you never know what may come back as a result. Make sure that you praise the dealership for acting quickly to resolve the issue but express your disappointment at your experience with the brand. This will push the right buttons for you.
Or you could just flog it and buy a 1997 Peugeot and probably gain universal acceptance from the illuminati on this forum :T

BeenThroughItAll

I find it staggering that the immediate response from people who don't like the fact that this is an open forum where discussions happen, some of which include questioning people's point of view because it's not universally accepted, is to accuse those whose points of view don't align with theirs of being snobs.


I personally don't agree with the OP's chagrin about the car being off the road for a few days while a problem is fixed AT NO COST to her, presumably whilst she's driving a loan car; I also don't agree with her belief that Audi is a 'luxury' brand.


Do I not agree because I can't afford a new car? No. I have a new car, thank you.

Do I not agree because I think everyone should drive a rusting hulk of an 80s Lada? No. I don't like Ladas.

Am I a middle aged 'keyboard warrior'? Well, technically, I'm not middle aged quite yet; and I'd be happy to say any of the things I say on this forum face to face.

I disagree because she's unreasonable to expect that every new car should be 100% reliable and free of faults; and I disagree because she's incorrect to label Audi a 'luxury' brand.


Cars are engineered from many thousands of components. Occasionally, one of them will break/wear or not meet specification, and that will cause a breakdown or fault; and Audis are far from luxury cars - they're just slightly nicer packaged, marginally differently engineered Volkswagens with better plastics and higher price tags.

motorguy

Sophie94x wrote: »

it turns out the turbo is 'not in a good way' (!!) after less than a month of having the car it's had to stay in over night to be fixed!!

I find that it simply not good enough from a luxury car name. What do you think?

Luxury car? You mean that same engine thats in Skodas and Seats and VW?

Sometimes faults happen - even to Audis - provided as has been said, the dealer is providing you with a courtesy car, i dont really see the problem.

motorguy

rudekid48 wrote: »

OP, this is the sort of reaction that you will have to get used to now that you have bought a premium brand car. Like me, you probably couldn't give a flying duck if your A1 shares engines or saliva with a Skoda. I'm guessing you bought the car a) because you can afford to (which will invoke jealous rants) and b) because the car you've chosen makes you 'feel good' - in the same way that any premium item does, be it clothing, technology, food etc.
You will always get the same arguments from those that are jealous - same parts/materials/ingredients etc, not as well made as the 15yr old piece of junk that they own etc.
Don't take any of it to heart, enjoy your car and remember to offer a small hand gesture to anyone you pass on the road that looks like a middle-aged keyboard warrior driving a really !!!! car that only cost them £20 but they can squeeze another 100k miles out of it before it dies.
Also, you are right to feel aggrieved. Yes, things go wrong but you are entitled to expect no problems. A polite letter to Audi UK and the dealer will not do any harm at all, in fact you never know what may come back as a result. Make sure that you praise the dealership for acting quickly to resolve the issue but express your disappointment at your experience with the brand. This will push the right buttons for you.
Or you could just flog it and buy a 1997 Peugeot and probably gain universal acceptance from the illuminati on this forum :T

Yeah, you're right. I'm going to go right now and sell our Nissan 370Z, Insignia SRi and Clio 172 and buy an A1.