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Audi A4 2004 and earlier

6042 messages,  Last post on Sep 20, 2011 at 4:33 PM

You are in the Audi A4 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Audi A4, Sedan

Messages Page 452 of 605

#4507 of 6042 vocus by greggsa4

Nov 05, 2002 (6:07 pm)

My A4 was a 1997. The warranty expired. For the first time ever we did not purchase an extended warranty because we never made out on them (Pontiac Firebird, Chevy Camaro, Olds Cutlass Supreme. One would expect to need a extended warranty with such autos. We discussed and thought with an Audi it would not be a concern. Horrible mistake. The turbo was only one of several problems to occur after the warrAnty expired. Audi wanted nothing to do with my problems. Even with the aforementioned cars in our past, Audi was by far THE WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. VERY BITTER IN PITTSBURGH!

#4508 of 6042 Just for the record Gregg by tmck

Nov 06, 2002 (7:11 am)

I didn't buy my A4 for the long haul. I adhere to the adage "You are what you drive". I will tire of the Audi some time in the next year or so and that will be before the original warranty has expired. I'll trade it for something that is new and exciting. In the mean time repairs, if any, will be on someone else's money. Life is too short to drive the same car for 60,000 miles. Kids are grown so I can't think of a better thing to do with my money, except maybe new golf clubs. However your focus, philosophy and circumstances might be different from mine and if that is the case I would expect you to act differently.

#4509 of 6042 Bumper by sgolden600

Nov 06, 2002 (7:19 am)

I am a loyal Audi A4 Owner. I am on my second lease (had the 98 now have the 2001) and I love this car. I am an NYC resident and park my car in garages generally. The problem that I had with both cars is that the paint on the bumper, even with the slightest tap, peels and chips! I hate looking at the mess back there. It runis the beauty of the car! I was told by the mechanic at the shop that on the newer models are putting some kind of protective strip on the bumper but I have not been able to verify this. Does anybody know anything (or have any suggestions??) This is driving me nuts!!

#4510 of 6042 I doubt that problem is unique to A4s. by andys120

Nov 06, 2002 (7:37 am)

a freind who lives in NYC decided to pass up a good deal on a new 9-5 cuz he garages in Manhattan.
 
He decided he'd mind getting a Taurus scraped up a lot less. Evidentally getting the parking guy to not scrape your bumper is impossible.

#4511 of 6042 re: greggsa4 and extended warranty by bluetrane

Nov 06, 2002 (6:56 pm)

Gregg has posted on this board a number of times about his unfortunate experience with his A4, and I think most of us would be bitter over such an outlay of money on a fairly new car. It's worth reiterating a point - Audis, like BMWs, MBs and other luxury marques are expensive to repair. There are zillions of Fords, Chevys, Toyotas and the like on the road, and spare parts and shops to repair them in are plentiful. Not so for the rarer makers. The parts are specialized (and probably imported), labor will be at the dealer (expensive regardless) and these feature and electronics laden vehicles simple have more systems and more complex parts to fail. The quattro on your Accord is not likely to fail because it isn't there.
 
All that being said, I would not own an Audi (or a BMW or MB) for so much as 1 day past the factory warranty without some sort of extended service plan. Repairs on German cars run into four and five!) digits all too easily.

#4512 of 6042 ALL GOOD POINTS by greggsa4

Nov 06, 2002 (9:07 pm)

TO TMCK, I APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE. I SOLD MY A4 AND BOUGHT A NEW 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I'M 35 YEARS OLD AND MARRIED WITH ONE CHILD. I LIKE TO HAVE A NICE RELIABLE CAR HOWEVER WE ALLOCATE MUCH OF OUR DISPOSABLE INCOME IN REAL ESTATE INVESTING. WE ARE HOPING TO RETIRE FROM OUR JOBS EARLY BY DOING SO. HAVING SAID THIS, ACQUIRING NEW CARS OFTEN WOULD NOT ENABLE US TO KEEP OUR FOCUS. WHEN I DO PURCHASE SOMETHING SUCH AS A VEHICLE, I DO SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH. I WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT THE A4 WAS A GOOD PURCHASE. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WORKS FOR LINCOLN MERCURY AND HE INFORMED ME THAT IN A CASE SUCH AS MINE FORD OFTEN WILL PAY FOR THE PARTS INORDER TO KEEP THE CUSTOMER HAPPY. I HAD NO LUCK WITH AUDI. I SENT THEM PICTURES, MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS AND VEHICLE HISTORY. THEY WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.

#4513 of 6042 Extended Service Plans by JBaumgart

Nov 06, 2002 (9:21 pm)

Remember that an Extended Service Plan is insurance, and that they are priced to make a profit. They certainly do pay off for those who have "losses," which is what insurance is designed to do. But cumulatively the offering company must collect more in premiums than they pay out, otherwise they go under and won't be able to honor warranty claims. It's possible that their pricing mechanisms are not sophisticated enough to recognize the higher costs associated with certain, more expensive imports, like the A4, so that owners of higher-volume cars that generate fewer and less expensive repairs end up "subsidizing" A4 and BMW owners. But I doubt this is usually the case, and common sense says that warranty companies try to build in the same profit margin on all makes and models, based on their claim experience - just like regular auto insurers do on accident records.
 
So while Extended Service Plans can and do pay off for some, and are probably a good idea for those who cannot (or choose not to) take the risk of unexpected repairs, others who can afford to take a calculated risk may want to put their $2,000+ premium to some other use.
 
P.S. Although you occasionally hear about 5 digit repair bills, I think this risk is very slight. Most engine and transmission problems can be repaired, as opposed to the whole unit having to be replaced, so the vast majority of the time you just end up exchanging your premium dollars with the insurance company's reimbursements. At that point it just becomes a matter of who comes out ahead when the warranty expires or when you sell the car, whichever comes first.

#4514 of 6042 Dallas Area Audi Dealers by nerd

Nov 07, 2002 (6:25 am)

If any of you have dealt with an Audi dealer in the Dallas area, I would appreciate hearing any recommendations (or otherwise) you have.

#4515 of 6042 Bears repeating by markcincinnati

Nov 07, 2002 (9:34 am)

Owning an Audi past the warranty is too risky even for the very wealthy -- and this goes for BMW's, Volvo's, Jags, Merc's etc etc etc. Heck it probably goes for Lexus, Infinity, Acura, too!

#4516 of 6042 I thought Jbaumgarts post was on the money. by andys120

Nov 07, 2002 (10:16 am)

Insurance companies have very sophisticated systems for figuring risk and stay in business by taking in more in premiums thatn they shell out in losses. Generally they figure in a healthy margin.
 
Chances are you'll never recover what you paid out.

Messages Page 452 of 605

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