Audi drops free maintenance, dooms A3 forever?
02-15-2006, 04:09 PM
#32
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Re: What's interesting is that if you compare apples to apples
Parts may cost only "$461" over a 5-year period but what exactly are the "labour" costs? Isn't it running around $80/hour?
I guess I might pay another $4K to $7K for a BMW that will most likely have much better resale value after 5 years in addition to a dealership that offers BMW loaners for free scheduled maintenance and warranty work, wear and tear items covered for the duration of the warranty and a dealership/service ambience that doesn't feel like your average Greyhound Bus Terminal (Royal Motors Audi, San Francisco).
Thanks for the tip on Roger at Rector.
I guess I might pay another $4K to $7K for a BMW that will most likely have much better resale value after 5 years in addition to a dealership that offers BMW loaners for free scheduled maintenance and warranty work, wear and tear items covered for the duration of the warranty and a dealership/service ambience that doesn't feel like your average Greyhound Bus Terminal (Royal Motors Audi, San Francisco).
Thanks for the tip on Roger at Rector.
02-15-2006, 05:14 PM
#37
Are you buying a car or a deal? Pick the best car for the job. Never bet on resale though
as Audi found out when 60 Minutes killed their reputation back in the '80s. It can be gone overnight.
Edmunds TCO (true cost to own - fuel, insurance, and depreciation) shows that a 2006:
330 will cost $0.77 per mile to own over 5 years.
A4 3.1, which is considered a direct competitor anyway. It costs $0.79 per mile (yes, they factor in maintenance costs for the A4).
A3 3.2 will cost $0.73 per mile to operate.
Lexus IS250 will cost $0.73 per mile.
Mercedes C350 will cost $0.90 per mile.
Saab 9 3 V6 will cost $0.76 per mile.
So the V6 A3 is expected to to cost on par with the Lexus IS250 (non-awd), and less than of the others. Not bad in my book. Now a crappy dealer is a totally different thing, and you need to decide if you are going to spend enough time there for it to be a major factor in your purchase, given how little modern cars usually visit a dealer.
Edmunds TCO (true cost to own - fuel, insurance, and depreciation) shows that a 2006:
330 will cost $0.77 per mile to own over 5 years.
A4 3.1, which is considered a direct competitor anyway. It costs $0.79 per mile (yes, they factor in maintenance costs for the A4).
A3 3.2 will cost $0.73 per mile to operate.
Lexus IS250 will cost $0.73 per mile.
Mercedes C350 will cost $0.90 per mile.
Saab 9 3 V6 will cost $0.76 per mile.
So the V6 A3 is expected to to cost on par with the Lexus IS250 (non-awd), and less than of the others. Not bad in my book. Now a crappy dealer is a totally different thing, and you need to decide if you are going to spend enough time there for it to be a major factor in your purchase, given how little modern cars usually visit a dealer.
02-16-2006, 06:10 AM
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BMW NOT dropping theirs, according to this article.
<ul><li><a href="http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060213/FREE/60212004/1024/LATESTNEWS">Free maintenance remains core part of BMW's strategy</a></li></ul>