More on Defective 2004 Audi A8 L(emon)
07-30-2003, 12:34 PM
#52
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Take the car to any place other than Prestige, 'nuff said.
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/59716/audi_lemon.jpg"></center><p>They are:
1. the selling dealer.
2. very kind and helpful
3. a pleasure to do business with
However, they are also constrained by the fact that although they know this car has multiple "bugs", faults, call-them-what-you-will, they have no authority to solve the problem.
1. the selling dealer.
2. very kind and helpful
3. a pleasure to do business with
However, they are also constrained by the fact that although they know this car has multiple "bugs", faults, call-them-what-you-will, they have no authority to solve the problem.
07-30-2003, 12:40 PM
#53
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Relax, and enjoy the car for a week! Don't open the sun roof!
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/59716/audi_lemon.jpg"></center><p>Thanks Greenie.
You are right of course. It is very painful to me to be here in the first place. I am not an active usenet or forum poster "personality."
I am a guy with a seemingly intractable problem, no lever to use to obtain fair dealing from Audi of America, etc. I am here because I am WEAK in this situation, just one person with a complaint that is "being attended to" by a large and impersonal beaurocracy that seems not to care at all if I get good service from the product they sold me.
If particpants in this forum think that this is a waste of time etc. or that I am being foolish, I am glad they can endure the pain of others with such brave resolve. One would hope for mere silence rather than abuse. But such is life.
You are right of course. It is very painful to me to be here in the first place. I am not an active usenet or forum poster "personality."
I am a guy with a seemingly intractable problem, no lever to use to obtain fair dealing from Audi of America, etc. I am here because I am WEAK in this situation, just one person with a complaint that is "being attended to" by a large and impersonal beaurocracy that seems not to care at all if I get good service from the product they sold me.
If particpants in this forum think that this is a waste of time etc. or that I am being foolish, I am glad they can endure the pain of others with such brave resolve. One would hope for mere silence rather than abuse. But such is life.
07-30-2003, 01:19 PM
#54
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: wow. audi clearly still equals VW. we feel for you.
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/59716/audi_lemon.jpg"></center><p>Back in 1966 I bought my first car, a VW Beetle. I drove it for 125,000+ miles. Had loads of trouble with it, of course, as it was a cheap car and in that era, not far removed from horse-and-buggy days, cheap cars were expected to give you trouble.
VW pioneered the concept of the "service writer." You know, a guy in a suit and tie (then) who stood between the customer and the mechanic. So if something went wrong the SA would write up the order, the mechanic would (or, just as likely) would not fix it and the SA would present the bill, call you if your input was needed (like to authorize a repair to a car under warranty that...surprise...was going to cost YOU money etc.).
I hated this system then (as I still do) but poor quality and lots of flaws was par-for-the-course in those days and I had no reason to think the competition was any better.
So in 1970 (or so) I replaced my aging '66 Bug with a new Super-Beetle. Same story more-or-less but the upgrade to 12 volt electric was a big plus.
In the late 70's, VW came out with the Diesel Rabbit during the "energy crisis" and I purchased one of the first off the docks. By now I had run 250,000+ miles in VWs equipped with standard transmissions so believed myself reasonably qualified to drive a 4-speed car. My VW Rabbit, however, had some kind of clutch disease. VW replaced the first clutch (at my expense guys as clutch was not warranted, it was a "wear-and-tear" item!) at around 5,000 miles or so. Apparently it had been soaked with oil leaking into the housing. But it was my "fault" so I bought a new clutch.It failed again, same issue, within the "warranty" on the replacement part and they put in another. It failed again just "out-of-warranty" on the next replacement and they refused, yes, refused to make good. I asked for help from the regional rep and was told that in order to VW to examine my clutch I would have to pay out-of-pocket for the dealer to open the clutch housing etc. Then if in the opinion of the rep it was "defective" I would get a replacement part. If not, tough.
So I got rid of the car. I bought a new Mercedes 300 SD in 1980. What joy! A dealer who never b/s'd me, every problem with the car sympathetically attended to, follow-up calls to make sure the rattle or squeak or whatever little thing I might have asked to correct was still working right. After 14 years with those miscreants at VW, this was heaven. I ran back and bought a 300D for my girlfriend to drive.
When I got rid of the Rabbit, I swore an oath never, ever, ever to buy another VW product. I kept my word for 23 years but screwed up on impulse last year. I was on my way to look at a convertible Mercedes (new) driving my 86 560 SL which I was finally tired of fooling around with. I had driven by Prestige Imports for years without ever, ever considering stopping off to look at a car there: it looked like the kind of place that sells Testosterossa's to Big Drug Dealers and basketball stars.But they had another SL on their lot just like mine so I thought I'd see if they wanted my car in trade etc.
I felt as if I had been taken back to the Mercedes dealers of my past. Everyone was nice, the atmosphere was pleasant etc. I told the salesman I was thinking of buying a 4-door convertible but at that time they had none...the A4 cab was expected but not available. But everyone was so nice and accommodating that I left with a TT Roadster.
I liked that car fine and somehow Heaven overlooked my oath. In fact, I really, honestly, sort-of forgot that Audi was VW. Heck, it didn't feel like the old VW shops of my past.
But he who mocks the gods should fear their wrath. By the time I bought my A8 I knew that Audi was part of the VW Evil Empire (think Blofeld, think Goldfinger). Anyway I got what I deserve.
I will still keep posting my experiences with my new A8 L(emon) in hopes that some reader out there is thinking of pulling the trigger and shooting himself in the foot like I did. And yes, nothing has changed. Nothing. It is VW all-over-again.
VW pioneered the concept of the "service writer." You know, a guy in a suit and tie (then) who stood between the customer and the mechanic. So if something went wrong the SA would write up the order, the mechanic would (or, just as likely) would not fix it and the SA would present the bill, call you if your input was needed (like to authorize a repair to a car under warranty that...surprise...was going to cost YOU money etc.).
I hated this system then (as I still do) but poor quality and lots of flaws was par-for-the-course in those days and I had no reason to think the competition was any better.
So in 1970 (or so) I replaced my aging '66 Bug with a new Super-Beetle. Same story more-or-less but the upgrade to 12 volt electric was a big plus.
In the late 70's, VW came out with the Diesel Rabbit during the "energy crisis" and I purchased one of the first off the docks. By now I had run 250,000+ miles in VWs equipped with standard transmissions so believed myself reasonably qualified to drive a 4-speed car. My VW Rabbit, however, had some kind of clutch disease. VW replaced the first clutch (at my expense guys as clutch was not warranted, it was a "wear-and-tear" item!) at around 5,000 miles or so. Apparently it had been soaked with oil leaking into the housing. But it was my "fault" so I bought a new clutch.It failed again, same issue, within the "warranty" on the replacement part and they put in another. It failed again just "out-of-warranty" on the next replacement and they refused, yes, refused to make good. I asked for help from the regional rep and was told that in order to VW to examine my clutch I would have to pay out-of-pocket for the dealer to open the clutch housing etc. Then if in the opinion of the rep it was "defective" I would get a replacement part. If not, tough.
So I got rid of the car. I bought a new Mercedes 300 SD in 1980. What joy! A dealer who never b/s'd me, every problem with the car sympathetically attended to, follow-up calls to make sure the rattle or squeak or whatever little thing I might have asked to correct was still working right. After 14 years with those miscreants at VW, this was heaven. I ran back and bought a 300D for my girlfriend to drive.
When I got rid of the Rabbit, I swore an oath never, ever, ever to buy another VW product. I kept my word for 23 years but screwed up on impulse last year. I was on my way to look at a convertible Mercedes (new) driving my 86 560 SL which I was finally tired of fooling around with. I had driven by Prestige Imports for years without ever, ever considering stopping off to look at a car there: it looked like the kind of place that sells Testosterossa's to Big Drug Dealers and basketball stars.But they had another SL on their lot just like mine so I thought I'd see if they wanted my car in trade etc.
I felt as if I had been taken back to the Mercedes dealers of my past. Everyone was nice, the atmosphere was pleasant etc. I told the salesman I was thinking of buying a 4-door convertible but at that time they had none...the A4 cab was expected but not available. But everyone was so nice and accommodating that I left with a TT Roadster.
I liked that car fine and somehow Heaven overlooked my oath. In fact, I really, honestly, sort-of forgot that Audi was VW. Heck, it didn't feel like the old VW shops of my past.
But he who mocks the gods should fear their wrath. By the time I bought my A8 I knew that Audi was part of the VW Evil Empire (think Blofeld, think Goldfinger). Anyway I got what I deserve.
I will still keep posting my experiences with my new A8 L(emon) in hopes that some reader out there is thinking of pulling the trigger and shooting himself in the foot like I did. And yes, nothing has changed. Nothing. It is VW all-over-again.
07-30-2003, 01:20 PM
#55
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No offense, but that My 2004 Audi A8 is a lemon sign is ridiculous
It is obvious that your car is a lemon, Happens with all car manufacturers once in a while. Look into Florida's lemon laws and if still possible, take advantage of the lemon law and have it bought back. Don't get me wrong, all of us here on AW (including myself) feel for you. But you are going obsessively beserk about your new A8L(emon).
07-30-2003, 01:25 PM
#56
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: You know, if you can't afford the car, sell it.
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/59716/audi_lemon.jpg"></center><p>You sound like someone easy to please.
1/3 of the mileage on this car has been put on it at the dealer's service department rather than by me.
1/3 of the time I have owned it it has been in the service department, not in my driveway.
A second 1/3 of the time it has been with me but "waiting for parts" that were unavailable.
Well, I guess I'm just a jerk all right. Thanks for taking the trouble to remind me. Have a wonderful day.
1/3 of the mileage on this car has been put on it at the dealer's service department rather than by me.
1/3 of the time I have owned it it has been in the service department, not in my driveway.
A second 1/3 of the time it has been with me but "waiting for parts" that were unavailable.
Well, I guess I'm just a jerk all right. Thanks for taking the trouble to remind me. Have a wonderful day.
07-30-2003, 01:34 PM
#59
Re: You know, if you can't afford the car, sell it.
What is your definition of a "nitpicker"?
greenie
04 A8L silver/sabre 19" wheels Aug. del.
00 Corvette roadster triple black
02 Acura RSX double black
greenie
04 A8L silver/sabre 19" wheels Aug. del.
00 Corvette roadster triple black
02 Acura RSX double black
07-30-2003, 01:35 PM
#60
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I believe that AofA is in the process of closing down loser Audi dealerships like Prestige Imports.
Someone here on AW back in April of 2003 posted a message regarding AofA closing down loser Audi dealerships. The process may be a bit slow. But it will eventually get done. Let's just hope that this solution does not take too long, though.
