Audi drops free maintenance, dooms A3 forever?
#21
Dealer behavior ...
April:
Right on. Plus, when the dealer has to offer the service for "free" (meaning wholesale reimbursement from the factory), the incentive for cutting corners is much larger than if they get some retail cash over the counter.
I'd rather pay and know that they have some reason to actually check the "inspection" items instead of running a shop rag over the plastic engine cover and parking the car outside [g].
-dan
Right on. Plus, when the dealer has to offer the service for "free" (meaning wholesale reimbursement from the factory), the incentive for cutting corners is much larger than if they get some retail cash over the counter.
I'd rather pay and know that they have some reason to actually check the "inspection" items instead of running a shop rag over the plastic engine cover and parking the car outside [g].
-dan
#23
Audi is one of the few money makers in the VAG empire.
<ul><li><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_11/b3924003.htm">But profits are nothing close to Mercedes or BMW</a></li></ul>
#24
That's why you buy an Audi...it doesn't seem like you are paying for the badge (a la BMW)
The fact that Audi isn't as profitable as BMW or mercedes is part of what makes me want to be an Audi customer. The price seems fair for what you get.
#28
Re: People here cross shop Audi almost exclusively with brands that don't offer service perks. So wh
I seriously doubt that eliminating the "sense of entitlement" will improve Audi service. It was bad enough that Royal Motors Audi in San Francisco does not offer Audi loaners for scheduled maintenance or warranty work and now Audi of America thinks I am going to plunk down $40,000 for a new car and pay for scheduled services that were covered in the previous model year? The new 3-Series is looking better and better.
#29
What's interesting is that if you compare apples to apples
BMW cuts costs elsewhere in the car, in order to offer this program. They still make more money per car than Audi, so you are handing them more of your hard earned dollars in the form of pure profit.
Parts cost for maintaining an A3 3.2 over 4 years/50K miles are $461 + labour. So you'd rather pay another $4K to $7K for a car that doesn't offer any more value, in order to get an extra $1K in service over 4 years? Makes no sense at all. Pick the best car for the job.
BTW, an A3 2.0T stick costs only $212 + labour.
Oh, and why not visit Roger at Rector for better service?
Parts cost for maintaining an A3 3.2 over 4 years/50K miles are $461 + labour. So you'd rather pay another $4K to $7K for a car that doesn't offer any more value, in order to get an extra $1K in service over 4 years? Makes no sense at all. Pick the best car for the job.
BTW, an A3 2.0T stick costs only $212 + labour.
Oh, and why not visit Roger at Rector for better service?