So I took in my car today for a 45 service, a bunch of little things to cover under warranty, etc. The car will be there a couple of days.

Also, I had my SA Joe Maligot to look up the audiopilot TSB. Mine's never really given me any issues, but a couple said the radio sounds better. I'd also blown my left tweeter, so that will be replaced as well.

Asked to "repair" button/switch peeling on the radio and AC, for one of which (ac) he'd already ordered a whole replacement, so I'm sure he'll do the same for the radio. Had a bunch of codes thrown by the nav and radio, so those will probably get taken care of...


So now for the interesting part.

They give me a 1.8t loaner through Enterprise, pretty beat up exterior. The right rear wheel well was scraped up, dings all over, get in the car and it's rattling like no other, I swear the turbo sounds funky, the interior card holder plastic front has been broken off...and the best part it's only got 22k on the clock!

So I'm disappointed (but the seats are very comfortable for cruising), and I'm putting along down the 880s. There's no traffic, so I figure I'll reset the mpg calculator (oh, only have 1/8th of a tank left), and I see I'm sporting 36mpg. WTF!?

I'm guessing it's faulty and as beat up as the exterior. I keep an eye out for the gas guage.

I use maybe 1/16 of the tank to go 30 miles or so, and I barely get a empty gas signal when I pull into work. Through about 15 mins of stop and go, some decent cruising at 75-80, etc...I manage 33mpg! 36 easily just by cruising at 65-70. I couldn't believe it.

Obviously, I'll be gauging it's consumption by my own calculations to confirm, but is this unreal or what? I thought they were rated in the mid to high 20s for mpg. BTW, on the same road, I'd get about 22-23 for the S4 (same speed and general location I was getting 36 in the 1.8 a4).

 

Rough idle sounds like MAF problem.

The info display MPG is way optimistic for sure. They're only rated at 29 MPG Hwy, and typically don't quite get that.

Which dealer? Stevens Creek?

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I will be moving too far away from them soon though...which will be unfortunate. My SA says he knows of a guy at Carlsen, but I'd really like to keep coming back (under extended warranty) to Joe.

 

still put me in an A4 from Enterprise. Very convenient, and they brought the car to my dealer within 5 mins of finishing up my list of repairs with the SA. Ugly, beat up, and obviously no S4..so I was a bit let down in that sense, but the mileage was fun ;-D

 

Carlsen's okay on the whole. Maybe give them a try, see how you're treated first time, then...

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Yup, sounds good. Where're they located again?

 

Reason I thought Stvns Creek is because they have Enterprise on site. The mileage won't be fun when you put the pump to it and come up with, say, 26.

Anyway, enjoy that 1.8T for what it's worth.

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been there forever.

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Burlingame? Where's embarcadero? I drive the 101 daily too...haha. Usually half asleep I suppose.

 

stay away from the civic, no matter how much the rear end looks like the B7. I just don't think it's quite as good a car, ha, ha.

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