I've never hated a car more than my S4. Yet I still love it.

Actually I love it most of the time, but never fail, when it comes to dealing with Audi I feel like I'm getting the short end of the stick every time.

I took my car in for it's 24k service this morning and asked them to check out the squeaky clutch.

In the course of fixing warped rotors and upgrading to StopTech's, at one point I put SuperBlue brake fluid into the car. As far as I know, Audi's manual doesn't specify brake fluid that would exclude SuperBlue from meeting the specifications.

Shortly after putting that in a friend said it had caused a squeaky clutch for him, so I flushed the system out as soon as possible. And my clutch was soon 'mostly not very squeaky'. But it does squeak, and it is annoying, and has been for over 6 months.

So tonight the service advisor calls me up to say he can't reproduce the problem, and then goes on to say that it's my fault because I changed the brake fluid before 30k miles.

I pointed out that I changed it because I changed the brakes, and I was careful to change to something that matched Audi's specs. Obviously I didn't buy Audi brand fluid, but so what.

You know, I expect better treatment than this. This is the third time I've asked for service under the warantee and the third time they have jerked me around and said "the problem isn't bad enough, come back when it's worse".

(The last two were a dying transmission - they preferred that I ended up nearly standed and had to baby the car in w/o 1st or 2nd gear through Seattle rush hour traffic; the second was turbos that were clearly failing... they wanted them so loud that the car was a curse to drive - but didn't want them broken).

I'd sell this car in a heartbeat if I could think of anything to replace it with... NO auto make/dealer has consistently treated me this bad. And this is University Audi in Seattle, which is supposed to be the GOOD dealer.

I've had a Toyota serviced by Michael's Toyota (supposedly the worst Toyota dealer in the area); I've had a Jeep serviced by Kirkland Jeep (they haven't scored many points with people I know lately either). But Audi ... they have gone above and beyond the call of duty to ruin my day nearly every time I have to interact with them regarding service for my car.

Unbelievable.

Anyone want a 2000 Nogaro/Silver 6 speed? Volk TE-37's w/ AVS sports, Vortrag coilovers, UUC 40% short shifter, red StopTech's w/ Pagid blue pads, Neuspeed exhaust, A-pillar boost guage, blitz dual turbo timer, stongard, stock wheels with almost new Blizzak LM-22's.

just under 24k miles... amazing car, worst company in the world behind the thing....

...Jason
jason@s4.org

 

who was your service advisor that you deal with?
well....you know, I'd like to take alot stuff from you if you're willing to part them out....

 

Eric formally checked the car in this morning, although John scheduled the appointment, and was right there when I checked the car in. Eric is the one that called me tonight.

I'll be calling John in the morning. If John can make the problem go away, great. I'll never talk to Eric again. If John stands by the same line I'm checking out of this joint for real, other than I can't imagine what I could replace the S4 with. Back to a Jeep Grand Cherokee? Was toying with the idea of a 996 C4 again tonight, but I'm not a huge fan... I'll probably have to take one for a spin. That can change everything .

What parts of my S4 are you interested in? The front end or the back end? :P)

...Jason

 

U've got mail ! =)

 

... rather than another Audi mainly because the dealers' suck *** so bad. He comes from a family of Audi ownership (starting with an '86 5000 Avant) and has a '99 A6 Avant and 100 CSq, which he was looking to replace. His first thought was, of course, an S4. But after shopping the Chicago dealers he realized why he didn't want another Audi. It wasn't the car(s) ... it was the ****ty *** service. The Lexus dealer pampered him throughout the sales process and gave him a great deal on only the 2nd 5-speed IS300 they had received ... so he snatched it up.

 

how is it you can tell my story so well when you dont even know me?

 

... their service is the stuff legends are made of...

but I couldn't drive an Lexus to save my life I don't think.

Maybe the LX430 or whatever it is now (the Landcruiser based monster)... that's probably the only one I even marginally like. Ok, the RX300 in black looks sorta-barely-ok for a minivan/suv cross thingy...

But the IS300, no way. The GS - too big. The LS - WAY too big. The new convertible, I'll pass...


I'll also pass on BMW (blah, and I don't think the dealers here are any better than Audi's, maybe worse). Mercedes? Need some manual options. the new C32 AMG (is that the right #'s?) is decent looking tho.

Jag X-type when they get the R version out is still on my radar screen, but it doesn't look that good in person now that I've seen it.

Otherwise it's Porsche or Ferrari or an "ordinary" car I think... <sigh>.

...Jason

 

'cuz its the "Audi ownership story (tm)"...

 

hmm.....Frerrari.......

 

hahahaha. More like Audi Ownership Experience(tm)