kdkrone

I am considering purchasing a recent model Q7 and am wondering 1, if there are particular problems that they have that are not covered by warranty (excessive tire usage, brake wear, suspension, ?), and how expensive parts/replacement are for standard wear items like the tires, brake pads, battery, air filter replacement (see below) and whatever else may happen in the first 100K miles.

I don't want to be sand-bagged. A few years ago I had stopped into an independent German auto repair shop in our town and one of the mechanics there had said "If you want to make us rich, buy an Audi." He said that they were over-engineered, whatever that meant to him (he said that one model, and I do not recall which one, required a shop time of 1.5 hours to replace an air filter!)

Just checkin'

Thanks
Ken K

RAudi Driver

We have a 2015 with 18k on her.

Just replaced the brakes. Zimmerman rotors and Pagid pads all the way around cost me $500. All the work done my myself.

also shod the car with new Tires for about another $1,400.


So once per year brakes and a handful of oil changes. I change the oil every 3k on direct injection engines.

$2,600 in service per year is about average for us.

kdkrone

Thanks for putting out numbers. That is not particularly good tire or brake mileage, 18,000 miles. Are those run flat tires? Summer tires? Do you drive pretty hard?

Thanks,
Ken K

lentiman

Whoa, that is super high brake usage. I have a 50 week old 2015 with 20k miles and have only done oil, adblue, and the fuel filter. We do swap out to all season tires in the winter though so tire wear is inconclusive. If you're handy the oil changes are very easy. So minus the tires our cost is under $500 a year I'd say.

Force-1

My 2014 Q7 has 27K on it, still good brake pad life left. Changed my tires at 20K.

J. Patterson

Our 2011 just rolled over 100,000 miles. I'll be doing brakes for only the second time soon. (first time for rotors) Tires have averaged lasting 33000. Just ordered our third set. (fourth including originals) Brake and tire expense is very dependent on the type of driving and driver. We bought ours CPO at 18000 miles. It is TDI. It has had a couple of NOX sensors and an air bag module a rear liftgate latch, a drivers seat adjustment motor and a HVAC blower. All of that was under warranty. I change oil at the factory recommended 10000 miles and consumption is less than one quart during that interval. I have done the last 2 services myself. Minor services cost about $100. in parts and oil. Major services including air and fuel filter and pollen filter cost a bit over $200. My set of Centric (Stoptech) rotors and brake pads and wear sensors cost about $500. (I've had those for a year waiting till the set on the car wore thin. They just keep going and going :-) ) The vehicle has averaged right at 23 mpg over the 100,000 miles. It has been reliable and not terribly expensive overall. Under $1000 per 10,000 miles for tires, brakes, service, and repairs in my experience. Could of course get much worse now that it is out of warranty and getting higher mileage.

jetsfan101

yea i wouldn't take what RAudi Driver said too seriously. If you drive normal, your brakes and rotors will last you 40k miles. As for tires, if you get summer tire, 18k sounds about right, if that. I always get all season rubber with good treadwear rating. Lasts me about 30-40k miles, depending on brand.

Your OP was titled, Cost of ownership. If you dont do the basics by yourself, such as brakes, oil/air filter changes, then yea an Audi will cost you more than a Jap/American car. Especially if you go to the dealer. How much more, is up to you. Generally speaking Q7's since 2010 have been pretty reliable and today, they are overall 3rd most reliable car brand behind lexus and toyota.