Terrible 2013 reliability to date; laughable Nav price--absurd if fails post-warranty
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,646
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From: Long Island, NY, USA
Going back to the OP concern about the cost of a swapped navigation unit, it seems to me that Audi should be establishing an exchange price.
If I break my iphone out of warranty, Apple will exchange it for another refurb unit for $200. That is approximately 25 to 33% of retail value.
I believe Audi likes to swap out components for dealer ease and analysis back in Germany. To charge $3100 for a Nav unit may be warranty bookkeeping, but if I hear this is what happens when out of warranty, I will definitely be trading in before end of my warranty.
If I break my iphone out of warranty, Apple will exchange it for another refurb unit for $200. That is approximately 25 to 33% of retail value.
I believe Audi likes to swap out components for dealer ease and analysis back in Germany. To charge $3100 for a Nav unit may be warranty bookkeeping, but if I hear this is what happens when out of warranty, I will definitely be trading in before end of my warranty.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
Agreed!
It's just an insane price, probably a combo of bookkeepers doing cost plus weird marking up in a vacuum, being a part that might fail in hard crashes (rotating media) with an insurance pay price premium overlay, and probably some attempt to lock out post-purchase factory Nav retrofitting. The ECU price is high too, but much less than this Nav unit. Yet I would expect with the performance issues, liability risks, demand for units if cars fail smog checks, etc., that the ECU would price similarly, especially w/ the one-off Hybrid complexity there.
I have seen refurb type pricing from Audi on things like CD units when they were common, and perhaps clusters. Center display cluster failure and ABS brake modules are both electronics areas where an indy/expert refurb/improved product reliability market did materialize specific to Audis. BTDT on prior ones owned over the years. Meanwhile, scary here where the price is so high, yet you know the component drive is dirt cheap if you can just get the drive replaced and the software loaded. The software load (and Audi component protection locks) probably will be the hard part for any non-Audi refurb. approach.
I have seen refurb type pricing from Audi on things like CD units when they were common, and perhaps clusters. Center display cluster failure and ABS brake modules are both electronics areas where an indy/expert refurb/improved product reliability market did materialize specific to Audis. BTDT on prior ones owned over the years. Meanwhile, scary here where the price is so high, yet you know the component drive is dirt cheap if you can just get the drive replaced and the software loaded. The software load (and Audi component protection locks) probably will be the hard part for any non-Audi refurb. approach.
Last edited by MP4.2+6.0; Feb 11, 2014 at 11:13 AM.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 204
Likes: 3
From: PNW
Sorry to hear about your problems OP.
SQ5 (on order) will be 1st Audi in our fam. I have never been a fan of any Audi and still don't care too much for them. I really like their designs and interior fit and finish but that is where it all ends. But wife wanted a Q5 and that is what we are getting. (I pushed hard for the new X5)
We had to factory order our SQ5 bec we specifically wanted one without MMI nav. The price being charged vs what you get in return is ridiculous and it will be completely out dated (if not already) in a year or two.
I am the kind of person who likes to experience things 1st hand before making a judgement call. But so far what I have been hearing about warranty / dealer experience and dependability about Audis, I am a bit skeptical.
To me Audis have been nothing but a overpriced VWs. I hope SQ5 will change that.
SQ5 (on order) will be 1st Audi in our fam. I have never been a fan of any Audi and still don't care too much for them. I really like their designs and interior fit and finish but that is where it all ends. But wife wanted a Q5 and that is what we are getting. (I pushed hard for the new X5)
We had to factory order our SQ5 bec we specifically wanted one without MMI nav. The price being charged vs what you get in return is ridiculous and it will be completely out dated (if not already) in a year or two.
I am the kind of person who likes to experience things 1st hand before making a judgement call. But so far what I have been hearing about warranty / dealer experience and dependability about Audis, I am a bit skeptical.
To me Audis have been nothing but a overpriced VWs. I hope SQ5 will change that.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
Sorry to hear about your problems OP.
SQ5 (on order) will be 1st Audi in our fam. I have never been a fan of any Audi and still don't care too much for them. I really like their designs and interior fit and finish but that is where it all ends. But wife wanted a Q5 and that is what we are getting. (I pushed hard for the new X5)
We had to factory order our SQ5 bec we specifically wanted one without MMI nav. The price being charged vs what you get in return is ridiculous and it will be completely out dated (if not already) in a year or two.
I am the kind of person who likes to experience things 1st hand before making a judgement call. But so far what I have been hearing about warranty / dealer experience and dependability about Audis, I am a bit skeptical.
To me Audis have been nothing but a overpriced VWs. I hope SQ5 will change that.
SQ5 (on order) will be 1st Audi in our fam. I have never been a fan of any Audi and still don't care too much for them. I really like their designs and interior fit and finish but that is where it all ends. But wife wanted a Q5 and that is what we are getting. (I pushed hard for the new X5)
We had to factory order our SQ5 bec we specifically wanted one without MMI nav. The price being charged vs what you get in return is ridiculous and it will be completely out dated (if not already) in a year or two.
I am the kind of person who likes to experience things 1st hand before making a judgement call. But so far what I have been hearing about warranty / dealer experience and dependability about Audis, I am a bit skeptical.
To me Audis have been nothing but a overpriced VWs. I hope SQ5 will change that.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 156
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Besides maybe brakes, another "hidden" hybrid plus in my state (CA) is unlike straight gas but also diesel, it is exempt from smog checks apparently. NE states typically follow CA rules for emissions now, so it might be similar in other places too. Not just the roller test is waived like any quattro/permanent AWD, but the whole requirement itself. A pleasant surprise since I own most cars out past 4-6 years when the smog checks become every other year here.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Sorry to hear about your problems OP.
SQ5 (on order) will be 1st Audi in our fam. I have never been a fan of any Audi and still don't care too much for them. I really like their designs and interior fit and finish but that is where it all ends. But wife wanted a Q5 and that is what we are getting. (I pushed hard for the new X5)
We had to factory order our SQ5 bec we specifically wanted one without MMI nav. The price being charged vs what you get in return is ridiculous and it will be completely out dated (if not already) in a year or two.
I am the kind of person who likes to experience things 1st hand before making a judgement call. But so far what I have been hearing about warranty / dealer experience and dependability about Audis, I am a bit skeptical.
To me Audis have been nothing but a overpriced VWs. I hope SQ5 will change that.
SQ5 (on order) will be 1st Audi in our fam. I have never been a fan of any Audi and still don't care too much for them. I really like their designs and interior fit and finish but that is where it all ends. But wife wanted a Q5 and that is what we are getting. (I pushed hard for the new X5)
We had to factory order our SQ5 bec we specifically wanted one without MMI nav. The price being charged vs what you get in return is ridiculous and it will be completely out dated (if not already) in a year or two.
I am the kind of person who likes to experience things 1st hand before making a judgement call. But so far what I have been hearing about warranty / dealer experience and dependability about Audis, I am a bit skeptical.
To me Audis have been nothing but a overpriced VWs. I hope SQ5 will change that.
I sympathize with the OP. I would expect a luxury car to have a level of standard, but it doesn't appear that luxury = quality.
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AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,745
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From: Illinois
In the new JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study Audi was down in 19th place three sports below the industry average. MB was in the #2 spot and BMW was ion the 11th spot.
Not necessarily a good showing, at least on this report. The Audi brand has fared better recently in CR's Owner Surveys.
Not necessarily a good showing, at least on this report. The Audi brand has fared better recently in CR's Owner Surveys.
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Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Seattle, WA