Don't get me wrong, the TT is a beautiful car BUT:

1) I've had more problems and visits to the dealer than I've had with any other auto I've ever had.
2) Audi, as a company, is unresponsive to problems and complaints.
3) The dealer network sucks. There are very good dealers and very bad dealers, no consistency at all.
4) Even the good dealers will not loan you a car when the car is being fixed unless you bought the car there. It is inexcusable for a luxury car company to not provide loaner cars. Compare with Lexus, Infinity. ...
5) The recall: I don't want to go into it, but you know....
6) The ESP flip-flop: first its impossible to retrofit, then they can do it. BTW, I hear all the news from this forum or the news, never from Audi itself.

Frankly, I personally am quite disappointed in Audi as a car company. I like my car, but hate my ownership experience. Unfortunately, I'm finding out that the ownership experience is at least as important as the car itself. And the thought that I'm paying what for me is a fair amount of change for it bothers me doubly. I am writing a letter to Audi to tell them of one customer's thoughts on this. I urge other disappointed people to do the same.
Please, no flames. Just constructive criticism as to how we can make the car company as good as the car.

Ryecatcher, who thinks Audi is full of phonies. . ..

 

I've had nothing but excellent experiences with my dealer. From sales, to fixing a few gliches, to scheduled maintainence, to the parts/accessories guys. Great folks all the way around at Don McGill in Houston.

 

Those of you that are mistreated by your dealer, are they dedicated Audi dealers or Audi/Porsche/Lambo/VW/Buick dealers?

Ivan

 

I bought my TTQ in CT and have ha it serviced there. They always loaned me an A4 Tip even for just a few hours. I am now back home in NY and have not yet had it in for service or anything else here.

I am still undecided as to where to bring the car for service. It will take a few calls before making that decision. I will need a loaner and will bring the car to whomever offers one and is also chip friendly!

So, anyone on Long Island know of a Chip friendly Audi dealer? I am willing to drive to them.

Larry

 

I too am amazed at the disparity in service and attitudes between dealers. Although it would be easier to dismiss these issues if I didn't need to make a habit of visiting the dealership every few weeks to have something fixed.

I will say that when I spoke with an Audi VP about my car's shady delivery, he was sincerely interested. And when an engineer from Audi AG called me three weeks ago, he too was very interested (even if he didn't seem to know the difference between steering heft and road feel). Customer Service even successfully relayed one of my messages to him.

To be honest, I expected some glitches in the TT. It is, after all, a brand new design in its first year of production. What I didn't expect was the mixed bag that this car has become. My dealership's service department has finally started giving me reasonable attention, but the car continues to lull me into an on again/off again, love/hate relationship.

Quite often, I still have the fuzzies while walking toward the car in the morning, because I remain stricken by its style. I LOVE the car's size, and how it always reminds me that you can make a U-turn on a one lane road. But then I get in the car, and after a while I often wind up roiling mad. In 5.5K miles, the engine has loosened up somewhat, and is decidedly better than it used to be, but it still revs like something manufactured by John Deere. Last night at a traffic light I started revving the car in neutral and am amazed at how long you have to wait for 6000rpm. It's like the flywheel is lined with lead. And I think the "five valve per cylinder technology" is a shallow marketing gimmick. I'm sure with a chip/exhaust the engine would be a world better, but given that I'm already averaging 17-19mpg with a history of issues, I simply can't afford to risk the warranty.

I'm not sure how long I'll remain sitting on this fence. But I plan on writing a long letter to Audi in response to the recall notice. Maybe if enough people do the same, we can actually have an impact in their quality (both product and service).

 

My car is flawless, first 500 miles has been pure fun, and the dealer support outstanding. I have no problems with Audi as a company either. I have been reading the messages here for about a year now and it seems to me that all the inconsistancies are with the rumors spread here rather than with Audi. I know of know other car manufacturer in the world that is willing to go back and put such heavy expense into previously sold and previous years models to try and make them more foolproof even if the conditions in the USA will never cause the same driving mistakes of insane Germans to happen. So what if aero lift disturbs the handling at 130 mph, only an idiot would drive that fast in the USA. I will go for ESP as a retrofit when available, and I think it is awesome Audi is offering it, because it will be nice on slippery Minn winter roads, but don't plan on changing anything else. The car is a joy to drive slow as well as fast.

 

Are you going by the on board computer? Or are you actually writing down every time you get gas and not the gallons and number of miles driven? I have been wondering about that.

I write down everything every time I fill up, yes I am **** about it! lol

Larry

 

I tried figuring it out with a calculator twice, and found the trip computer fairly accurate. I have not been writing down the econ (although that is a habit I've often maintained myself, so I'll never call anyone **** about that).

The car virtually never gets above 21mpg. In fact, getting gas about twice a week over the past three months, I can recall the three ocassions when it bettered 21mpg. I managed to average 29mpg a while back over part of a tank, but was driving slower than belief, and that tanks average dropped like a stone the instant I started driving normally again.

My normal driving, which is a mix of about half highway and half stop and go/traffic, falls into the 17-19 range. I don't think I'm really zooming with the car, either. I got 30mpg out of the Cavalier convertible rental (2.4L/4-speed auto) I had on vacation last week.

 

5-valve tech is not a marketing gimmick!

 

I have not calculated since I put in the Garrett chip, but the mileage is about the same, but I am driving more aggresively! If I were to be driving at a "normal" pace I know the mileage would rise to 24-26mpg. Somewhere in that range.

How far are you able to drive on one tank? I am getting between 330 and 380 miles on a tank. Is this the range for you, or are you really in the 250-290 mile range?

15 gallons * 17mpg = 255 miles
15 gallons * 18mpg = 270 miles
15 gallons * 19mpg = 285 miles

I really can't believe that this is your mileage! What grade of gas are you using? I use 93 or 94 depending on the station. I also ONLY go to Mobil or Sunoco. I would also use Shell if I had to.

i know you don't drive as aggressively as I do, so I know that can't be it! Maybe you should think about bringing the car to a different dealer for service, just once! I would also start to write down the mileage for "proof" to show Audi. I did this with my Nissan 4x4 and they found that my trcuk didn'y like the Oxygenated fuel that is used in the NE during the winter. My truck was produced before that went into effect. I wonder if your mileage will get better in April when they stop with that horrible additive. It will be worth paying attention to that.

Joe, will you be around on 3/18? It is a Saturday. We should be getting our exhausts installed up in Manchester, CT that morning. We will have 6 TTQ's! Would you like to make it 7?

Larry