WasabiAudi2

After receiving "special" sensors for the suspension, the car has gotten worse. If you like being thrown around, much like in a washingmachine, then this is the ride for you. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love this car, the interior, the exterior, its beatiful sounding and reving V8, and everything else but it's exceptional amount of problems. An "Audi Technician" will be doing a testdrive down to Tucson, about 2 hours either direction. They'll have an interesting time, as it's like driving in a constantly changing wind pushing you to either side of the road. You can't even use MMI while driving, or you'll be drifting over, or possibly something worse. Simply this car is liability to drive, and thats why I'm paging Mr.Buybeach. I would like to hear what you wrote to Audi to recieve a buyback, as I'm hoping to move into a RS 6 until the W12 arrives here in the states. Just as a reminder, this car's vin # is in the low 1000's, and was the first L in AZ.

greenie

How many days out of service for this and other safety related issues? How many attempts to fix the suspension? What has the dealer told you? What has AoA told you?

WasabiAudi2

The dealer told me, when I first took it in, that they had to fix the toe-in, and replace the whole MMI unit (been replaced twice now). Then the third or so time they told us we cause the recall on the suspension sensors, 4th time we recieved "special" sensors that Audi wanted us to test to see if it fixed, worked for a couple days, but then went back to its 'normal' swerving attitude. I've also noticed that the shifts have been rougher lately too. I really want that RS 6 until the W12 comes in, lets hope I get it.

buybeach

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/59716/audi_lemon.t.jpg"></center><p>I can't say for sure what I "wrote" to Audi to get my Lemon off my back. But reading posts from drivers like you and Stanley Steamer make me glad I bailed when I had the chance. Like others, I did not buy my car expecting to have trouble with it, I bought it because I liked it and was tempted to stick with it.

No one ever told me exactly what led to my being offered a buyback. As some will recall, I was promised a buyback by Ron Hanley, Audio regional representative, while my car was hiding out at the dealer's for a seemingly endless period. He later reneged on this "commitment." So I was astonished when a few days after being curtly told that there was nothing anyone intended to do for me and have a nice life, I had a FedEx guy at my door with a letter from AoA offering me a complete buyback and refund of all payments made etc.

In my particular circumstances, I have reason to believe that this was arranged through pressure from the selling dealer, Prestige Imports in North Miami Beach, FL and the personal intercession of its President, John Ross. Only Senior Management in either AoA or in your dealership have any real authority. Wasting time with Advocates or your salesman is simply wasting time and blowing off steam. I am eternally grateful that I dealt with Prestige. Everyone there, from my salesman, to the service personnel through Senior Management were appalled at the situation with my car and worked hard to help me. I know that a few days before I heard from AoA I wrote to Mr. Ross telling him that I felt things had gone far enough and imploring him to intercede with Audi. As far as I know he did and it worked. I will always recommend people to this fine dealer.

Your dealer is probably your strongest asset in getting the attention of Senior Management at AoA but it may or may not be possible for you to make genuine contact with the real movers and shakers there. Car dealerships have loads of salaried people with impressive sounding titles like Sales Manager and Vice-President of Sales who are just guys working and punching a clock. You need somehow to find the guy who goes to the trade shows, writes the orders, has authority to buy inventory etc. It may not be easy to identify him or her, he or she may not be called "President" as he or she may not want to waste time with buyers begging for favors etc. Try looking up corporate records in your state for the identity of the real officers of the corporation and try to meet with them. You might also try various business organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Kiwanis to see if someone from your dealer is a member, if so he or she is probably someone worth meeting.

On a more general note, from Audi's point of view they will probably buy you out to avoid being forced to do so under the Lemon Law (if any) in your state. Requirements vary state-by-state so you need to review them, determine if you qualify or how close you might be etc. I personally did not end up engaging a Lemon Law attorney to represent me, but this is probably a good way to go. I recommended this to "saralee" and as far as I know from following this forum it worked: they got their money back.

In my own case I am afraid that I had some circumstances that were favorable to me that may be diminishing from your point of view. My car developed trouble during the initial "launch" period: Audi was all over the TV and print media with ads for this product at that time. They had a multi-page 4-color insert ad in The New Yorker, ads on TV, full-page color ads in the Wall Street Journal etc. And here was some annoying guy, close to Lemon Law status posting all over the internet that his brand new A8L did not work. I assume since the product positioning on the A8L is no longer so sensitive, it may become more difficult to get them to repurchase cars. Who knows?

I used a number of tactics to get attention, some of which were pretty cruel. For example, my dealer has a convenient internet access area with a half-dozen computers to use while waiting for service etc.(a great feature). Car dealers are not that network savvy and they may have been startled to find the browser windows on all their machines opening to my rants about my lousy A8L as the default homepage.

I set up an email list with what I hoped to be legitimate email addresses of all identifiable AoA Senior Management and saw that they were barraged with my daily postings about the various failed commitments, unsuccessful repairs and parts delays I encountered.

Some of you will remember my "Send a get-well card to my defective 2004 Audi A8L campaign." A number of these on-line get-well cards were sent by forum participants and all of them were copied to the entire AoA mailing list that I was maintaining.

Then there were the notorious magnetic signs (see photo). I made sure the dealer knew that whether or not they would adhere to the aluminum shell, they would be on my car and out front every weekend if I did not get relief from driving their crummy A6 loaners while paying for an A8L that refused to get out of sick bay.

My point is, be creative and you may get someone's attention. You are not in the wrong here, they sold you a defective product that does not function reliably and called it "luxury." I wish you the best of luck. I hope the various flamers who are so annoyed with my posting here will accept that this article was solicited by an A8L owner and remember that it could be you next.

WasabiAudi2

I have pretty good connections at United Auto Group (sells Porsche, Audi, VW, Jag, etc), such as the Presidents of the Audi and Porsche dealerships, and others in dif. divisions at the dealerships. UAG is ran by Mr.Penske, and I'm sure he carries some weight in the auto industry, and if I can possibly get him on my side that'll help alot. Thanks for all the info and I'll def. try some of the things that you have done. Hopefully my future RS 6 or W12 will not be as bad as this.

buybeach

I hope you get bailed out and on the road with another car. The suspension issues you have appear to be unique, I can't recall anyone else claiming the car drove badly.

I am just a little puzzled about your comments regarding purchase of a W-12. I have heard this before from A8 owners who have had reliability issues with their cars but look forward to purchase of the 12-cylinder version. What makes you think the W-12 will work reliably if the A8 does not?

Please understand, I am not being sarcastic but seeking to comprehend this widely-shared viewpoint. Especially since the "issues" with the A8 are usually in the accessories and electronics rather than in the power plant and drivetrain. What makes you think they'll "get it right" on the W-12? Same for people who are going to switch from A8 to Phaeton. I would have thought these problems would be commonplace throughout the product line regardless of the badge or particular engine configuration.

WasabiAudi2

the A8 will have been out for about 2 years now (first A8's hit Europe in late 2002). I'm being optimistic on this one. Also if I'm paying 120k for a car, Audi better get it right. As for why I'm not going for another company is because I've had 2 A8Ls (D2) a A8SWB, an allroad, and a A4 Cabriolet. All had no problems ever. I also love the Audi brand, it's sporty, elegant, and very understated. Very stealth-wealth, so to say. I fell in love with this car before it had come out, and when I drove it, it was like a dream come true. The interior, the exterior, all so elegant, and beautiful. The interiors of Lexus' don't really do it for me, they all seem so molded and fake. As for the Pheaton problems, the local VW dealer claims that they haven't had any problems with it. I'm calling bull on it, but I may be wrong.

Paldi

which will help the W12 to be more likely to succeed at intro then the "launch" A8L's. Service departments are also a little more up to speed and the parts situation improving. OK I'm an optimist. (I also predicted a new front end with Avantissimo headlights, an A8 Avant and Cabriolet a year ago. Only 1/2 right there so far...)

Sarge

I stopped asking them to repair the damn things and engaged an attorney. Oh I did ask politely, and was told no each time. Once the added expense of the attorney was inserted into the mix, in addition to both being clear-cut buyback cases (well one was on a used Yukon XL, the other a new Jeep) they finally conceded.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If they are SUCCESSFUL in repairing your suspension problem the next time you take it in, you lose! Yes you can still go after them, but it's a lot harder if the car is now repaired! So my advise is, if you've already satisfied the lemon law, don't take it in again. Park it and start hammering at them. You don't need to give them another chance at this point, and you certainly don't owe them so DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM! That's my opinion, anyway.

Not suggesting you necessarily need an attorney, too, but in CA they are free so 'why not' if that's the case for you.

Buybeach put more creativity into it than I did, but all those tactics are legal.

If you want it, you will have your RS6, I am sure. Good luck, and let us know how the lemon (and the RS6!) goes!

WasabiAudi2

I hope you're completely correct about the gremlins being gone when the W12 comes out.