X-Post from the B7 S4 forum. Bad news from Audi for future models. Thanks to jlee3...
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X-Post from the B7 S4 forum. Bad news from Audi for future models. Thanks to jlee3...
from today's "Automotive News"
Audi drops free maintenance
Diana T. Kurylko
Audi of America will end its free maintenance program beginning with
the 2007 model year, much to the distress of
dealers.
Called the Audi Advantage, the four-year/50,000-mile program was
established in the late 1980s as a way to restore
consumer confidence and jump-start the brand in the United States.
Only a few auto companies offer free maintenance -
but they include a chief Audi rival, BMW.
"They are getting rid of it because of costs. Dealers feel it is a
large advantage," said Tom Harper, incoming chairman
of the dealer council, Sunday after the make meeting. Harper owns
Harper's Porsche-Audi-Jaguar-Volkswagen-
Infiniti-Acura in Knoxville, Tenn.
Audi will provide some free service during the first year of
ownership.
Dealers want Audi to consider a modified program for repeat customers.
"It is important to those who have second
or third car," said Harper.
There's no doubt some loyal customers may be disappointed, said Johan
de Nysschen, executive vice president in
charge of the Audi brand.
"There is that danger, I have to acknowledge it," said Audi's U.S.
chief.
De Nysschen said Audi needs money to fund a proposed increase in the
dealer margin.
In The News Monday, February 13, 2006
Audi drops free maintenance
Diana T. Kurylko
Audi of America will end its free maintenance program beginning with
the 2007 model year, much to the distress of
dealers.
Called the Audi Advantage, the four-year/50,000-mile program was
established in the late 1980s as a way to restore
consumer confidence and jump-start the brand in the United States.
Only a few auto companies offer free maintenance -
but they include a chief Audi rival, BMW.
"They are getting rid of it because of costs. Dealers feel it is a
large advantage," said Tom Harper, incoming chairman
of the dealer council, Sunday after the make meeting. Harper owns
Harper's Porsche-Audi-Jaguar-Volkswagen-
Infiniti-Acura in Knoxville, Tenn.
Audi will provide some free service during the first year of
ownership.
Dealers want Audi to consider a modified program for repeat customers.
"It is important to those who have second
or third car," said Harper.
There's no doubt some loyal customers may be disappointed, said Johan
de Nysschen, executive vice president in
charge of the Audi brand.
"There is that danger, I have to acknowledge it," said Audi's U.S.
chief.
De Nysschen said Audi needs money to fund a proposed increase in the
dealer margin.
In The News Monday, February 13, 2006
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you know whats funny...
the Acura dealer I am looking at includes maintenance for the first 4 years (its only oil changes and fluids no major services in the 4year/50k period) but I thought that was impressive that the dealer steped up and did that. Also Land Rover include scheduled maintenance with the exception of consumables like the current Audi Advantage plan. Also both dealers garuntee a car in the brand when you bring your car in (the acura dealer has about 35 cars with about 40% of them being MDX's) also the Land Rover dealer has 25 cars (15-20% are Range Rovers, the rest are Disco II's and some new LR3's). This is another reason I would choose either of these dealers. Its a bad move for audi to kill this program, the rest of the "high end" groups are trying to add this to attract more people.
AudiWorld Super User
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Looks like I'll be looking at another brand in the future
not all audi's are lemons, but there are enough instances of major things going south to make me worry about having to fund those repair costs out of pocket. i'm not sure why audi believes it will continue to be competitive with bmw, when bmw seems to be courting the customer, while audi seems content to push them away...
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i took the bmw's off my list very quickly....
I found an elitist attitude when looking at them and decided I didn't want to be associated with that. I was suprised to find the exact opposite at your local MB dealer. I thought it would have been the other way around.
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Alot depends on the dealership, but I have run into that attitude lately also..
Thompson in Doylestown has become one of the worst over the past 1-2 years. Totally new mangement has taken over and really turned alot of people off.
You should try WG in Fort Washington. They seem to really want the buisness.
You should try WG in Fort Washington. They seem to really want the buisness.
AudiWorld Super User
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That's probably the main thing that's kept me from BMW
but Audi seems to think that its vehicles are either vastly superior to BMW, or we are all so enamored with our Audi's or the brand, to pass up what could potentially be significant savings in maintenance. I think they've adopted the opinion that if someone can afford a $50k S4, that person can afford potentially thousands of dollars in maintenance on that vehicle. I don't think that assumption will play well with the general public, considering most people I talk to still view VW/Audi and most German cars as high/expensive maintenance vehicles.