Could this be my last Audi? Is this true?
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Could this be my last Audi? Is this true?
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
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2003
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Re: Nothin' is for "free" anyway, the market will set the selling price if they pull the maintenance
I agree to a point. And generally the scheduled maintenance during the first 50k is no big deal. I'm thinking more of the stuff that breaks during that time. Maybe the dealers can make arrangements with one of the companies offering extended warranties.
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And I am one of those people who finds it important 3 audis and one BMW into my car adulthood. I
really don't think prices will drop at purchase. The program is something that I really appreciated with all of the above cars, for Audi's sake I guess they hope the rest follow. It was an advantage to me. They brought people back but I do not think we are yet convinced of the reliability but for me knowing there was no additional cost to ownership or inconvenience by providing loaner cars and free wiper blades made up for it.
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More than "symantecs"...you're not implying the price of Audi's will go down...
as a result, right? It is a benefit that is being dropped, at least for now. They'll try it out, measure the level of revolt and the resulting translation into lost sales/customers, and then take it from there...all with a keen eye on what BMW does with theirs, and if the japanese luxury makes remain status quo(i.e. not offering it).
I agree that it's built into the price... and without it, the profit on each car rises. Good for Audi, bad for Audi owners.
D-
I agree that it's built into the price... and without it, the profit on each car rises. Good for Audi, bad for Audi owners.
D-
