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New A3 Owners - Give Us Your Report!

41 messages,  Last post on Jun 02, 2009 at 6:02 PM

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#32 of 41 56,000 miles in a '06 2.0T manual by mylesm Apr 16, 2009 (4:51 pm)
Just spent first cent on maintenance after passing the 48K mark.   30K on Goodyear F1 all season and they're roaring, though still handling nicely. P6s didn't make it past 25K before needing replaced. Next set will be Bridgestone RE960s - already have sets on '99 Passat and '02 Turbo S.   Best mileage was with the worn Pirellis, A/C on economy, early morning I26/I40 from Spartanburg to Knoxville, 60 -70 mph - 37.4 mpg. F1s have pretty high rolling resistance and took the normal 33.1 78 mph to 31.8 mpg. Tires do make a difference.   Still just as much fun as when new and love the way it goes from practical, high mileage scenic cruiser to snarly, hard cornering, pocket rocket.
#33 of 41 First Costly Failure by andres3 May 04, 2009 (10:09 am)
Just before my 50K warranty was up (I'm now approaching 52K shortly), the battery died on me with complete failure; it wouldn't recharge and the only way to get the car started was to jump it even after driving 200 miles w/o stopping, and I did check to make sure the alternator was working properly. So the battery died on me in 35 months of use, at 49,000 miles or so.   Found out Audi doesn't cover the battery past 12K or 12 months, and that's a darn shame. Audi should be ashamed of themselves for that terrible managment decision. Again, I think they must of hired a former Chrysler employee who's advising them poorly on their warranty terms. I was angry that the battery wasn't AT LEAST covered on a PRO RATED basis, which is the bare minimum standard. So in 2005 they did, but in 2006 they decided to go cheap. Seems not a coincidence that as soon as they shorten the warranty, they start installing batteries that can't even last 3 years or 50,000 miles.   I know I got raped by the dealer, but installation and new battery cost me about $250! 1 hour of labor to install a battery>??? probably took them 10 minutes at most! and their labor rates in CA are astronomical. The actual battery cost of abotu $115 isn't too bad actually, considering the replacement does have a 4 year prorated warranty! Replies to this message: ls_jr (May 22, 2009 9:32 am) large (May 22, 2009 12:34 pm) andres3 (May 22, 2009 1:53 pm) and 1 more...
#34 of 41 A3 shift paddle failure (non) warranty issue by ls_jr May 22, 2009 (9:32 am)
Replying to: andres3 (May 04, 2009 10:09 am) Hi - I'm a newbie here so hope I am not posting in the wrong place! Has anybody had problems with the shift paddles on DSG equpped Audis? So our '06 A3 w/ the DSG has ~45k miles now. The up (right) paddle on the steering column became loose about 6 months ago so that you could not engage the next gear unless you flicked it towards you along the very bottom edge of the paddle. I figured we'd get it in at the 45k service and get it replaced before the warranty ran out - no need for an extra trip, right? About a week ago the paddle actually fell off with no prompting from us. Our dealership declined it as a warranty item first stating it was a plastic trim piece. When I pressed and got to the service manager he said as it had fallen off, it was due to our use / abuse and would not be covered. He further said if we had come in while it was still hanging loose it would of probably been covered(?!?). He quoted me ~$400 for the replacement. I contacted Audi Customer Care (not an accurate title in my opinion) regarding this. They took 24 hours to get back to me. When they did, they declined any assistance in the form of warranty repair or even a discount on the cost of the work. I would have accepted just about any peace offering just to see they were willing to listen and prperly respond. They too said it was due to our use. I asked if I could speak to a manager but they indirectly declined, saying there were managers there but only for administrative purposes and it would be of no use to talk with them. I have had 2 Audis, 3 VW's including a current 01 Passat and others have relied on my recommendation before purchasing similar rides. Next time I will not provide such glowing reviews and I am considering walking away from Audi the next time around. There are a lot of other quality manufacturers out there that stand behind their products better than Audi these days.   Oh yeah, also at this service we were told a leaking strut was not a warranty item and they proposed a ~$400 estimate for that too. Some other quality issues are a chronic check engine light (cleared by software usually but now have replaced a damper motor and something about intake runners); finish has peeled of the window switches, CV boot failed spewing grease everywhere; sun shade latch has fallen apert 4 times (which they've continued to replace).   Sorry to rant - just very frustrated by this bad experience. Thanks for listening and if I have posted in the wrong place, lemme know. Cheers LS_jr Replies to this message: large (May 22, 2009 12:34 pm) andres3 (May 22, 2009 1:53 pm) large (May 23, 2009 3:17 pm)
#35 of 41 Re: New A3 Owners - Give Us Your Report! [pf_flyer] by large May 22, 2009 (12:24 pm)
Replying to: pf_flyer (Oct 16, 2006 5:53 am) I just got my 2009 A3 1 month ago today and I am very disapointed. I have a white one with the S-line and Open Sky package. I purchased the car and noticed a strange noise every time the car shifted gears. At first I thought it was cheap gas, because it had a pinging noise. I called the dealership where I purchased it from and asked them what octane gas they put in it, and they said premium. I told them about the noise and they said they have never heard of this before. I told them I was going to feel the tank again and put in premium myself and see if it makes the same noise. So I filled the tank and the noise was still happening, so I told the dealership and they said to take it in to the nearest Audi dealership to fix the problem. I took the car to Audi of Mission Viejo and they said they cannot detect the noise I was describing. I asked if I could go on for a drive with the tech and they said yes. I went for a drive with the tech and he heard the noise I was referring to and he said that it is best described as a burp in-between gear shifts. He also said that the type of transmission they put in the A3 makes the exhaust have this noise. Lou also said that the 2006 & 2007’s used to make the noise twice as loud and to fix it they were replacing the exhaust. Audi sys they are not willing to do anything to fix it and that the noise is normal for the car. Does anyone else here this on their A3's?
#36 of 41 Re: A3 shift paddle failure (non) warranty issue [ls_jr] by large May 22, 2009 (12:34 pm)
Replying to: ls_jr (May 22, 2009 9:32 am) I believe you with Audi USA, they treated me like crap on my new A3 and it only has 400 miles on it. I just posted that my A3 makes a strange noise between every gear. They said it is a natural noise and there is nothing they can or will do about it. I have the New Motor Vehicle Board involved right now. I wish I never bought this car. I should have stuck with Infiniti. Replies to this message: andres3 (May 22, 2009 1:53 pm) large (May 23, 2009 3:17 pm)
#37 of 41 Re: New A3 Owners - Give Us Your Report! [pf_flyer] by large May 22, 2009 (12:53 pm)
Replying to: pf_flyer (Oct 16, 2006 5:53 am) My 2009 A3 has 1035 miles and I already hate it and I am going to put it up for sale and lose the money that I put down on it. I am a big car guy and this is the first time ever that I want to get rid of a car in the first month of ownership. Very dissapointed!!!
#38 of 41 Re: A3 shift paddle failure (non) warranty issue [large] by andres3 May 22, 2009 (1:53 pm)
Replying to: large (May 22, 2009 12:34 pm) Didn't you bother to test-drive the vehicle you ended up buying?   Why would you buy something in a condition where you couldn't live with it for even a few months?   Do other A3's make the same noise, that would be the fair way to resolve this dispute with Audi. Compare yours to other A3's, if they sound the same, then Audi is right, if they don't, then you are right and Audi is wrong. Replies to this message: large (May 23, 2009 3:17 pm)
#39 of 41 Re: 2008 A3 3.2 quattro - breaks down at 4900 miles [utahjake] by utahjake May 23, 2009 (7:54 am)
Replying to: utahjake (Aug 24, 2008 5:04 am) Follow up - at 12,000 miles wouldn't turn over on the first time during the winter. I got rid of it. Now happily driving a Subaru.
#40 of 41 Re: A3 shift paddle failure (non) warranty issue [andres3] by large May 23, 2009 (3:17 pm)
Replying to: andres3 (May 22, 2009 1:53 pm) I test drove a used 08 because the dealer did not have any 09's at the time. I did not hear the noise in the 08 because the sales rep and I were talking the whole time. I did like the way it drove and called another dealer and did the deal on the phone and just picked it up after the dealing was done. I should have drove the one I bought, but I didn't. It had 5 miles on it when I bought it. I am going to go test drive a couple of other A3's and see if they make the same noise. I just wish Audi would replace the exhaust system.
#41 of 41 Excellent So Far by zeketoronto Jun 02, 2009 (6:02 pm)
I've got an '09 A3 2.0T DSG with everything except quattro and nav. I couldn't be happier. Just had the first service done at 8000kms and couldn't think of a single thing to complain about. Even my dealer experience has been exemplary.   The A3 is a very deceptive car ... small enough to make darting in and out of inner-city traffic and squeezing into tight parking spaces easy, but heavy enough--and with a sufficiently airy cabin--that you feel like you're in a much larger car on the freeway. I also like the fact that, although it's small, it's very well equipped and nicely appointed. When you spend a lot of time stuck in traffic, you really appreciate a good interior, some toys and a nice sound system.   Fuel economy has averaged mid 20s (miles per American gallon) in mixed, but spirited driving. On the highway I've maxed at 30 (with cruise control on 75mph). The Continental tires have been quiet and the fronts showed no signs of wear when they got rotated during the first service. That surprised me a bit, considering how difficult it is to take off from a standing start using any amount of throttle without hearing from them.   The only way I can see to improve this car would be to add the quattro system, which would help avoid the inevitable torque steer of a high-powered front-wheel driver. But despite owing AWD Subies and Audis in the past, since my A3's primary function is as a city car, I just couldn't justify the extra expense.

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