Audi's don't go wrong
Discussion
Yes it's not only Audi for sure but the entire VAG group and many other brands that suffer from the race to ever more complexity and gizmos, much of which never get used. Other than in the white heat of the new car experience.
I certainly do not need the electronic parking brake or 90 percent of the other electronic stuff including most of the MMI system, of which I use 2 maybe 3 radio stations and very occasionally the Sat Nav . The only really good bit is the Bluetooth phone system.
I certainly do not need the electronic parking brake or 90 percent of the other electronic stuff including most of the MMI system, of which I use 2 maybe 3 radio stations and very occasionally the Sat Nav . The only really good bit is the Bluetooth phone system.
Adrian E said:
The main issue I have is the lack of customer service in the UK - we definitely suffer from the arms length relationship between Audi Germany and the UK distributor who just wants to sell as many as possible and spend as little as possible on goodwill unless told to do otherwise, at the Germans expense.
The attitude of the sales people in the 2 nearest Audi dealers I've visited made me decide I'd never want to buy any car from them. I don't bother putting on a suit when I look at cars so it seems I don't show up on their radar.blade7 said:
I was looking at some TT's in a local Audi dealership and I asked the salesman if there was anything to look out for on an early TTRS, with a straight face he said "it's an Audi, they don't go wrong". I wonder if I would get that in writing if I bought a used car from them ?
Sounds likea) A cock
b) Inexperienced
c) An inexperienced cock.
We bought an A3 sport diesel last year. 6 months and less than 3k miles before the clutch detonated itself. The handbrake has been pretty useless from day one, although I put that down to its design. Fortunately, it's my partners car (so I seldom drive it really) but I won't be getting another. In fact, I regret us getting this one and not waiting for the 3 series we'd looked at.
e21Mark said:
We bought an A3 sport diesel last year. 6 months and less than 3k miles before the clutch detonated itself. The handbrake has been pretty useless from day one, although I put that down to its design. Fortunately, it's my partners car (so I seldom drive it really) but I won't be getting another. In fact, I regret us getting this one and not waiting for the 3 series we'd looked at.
Women + clutch... 
e21Mark said:
We bought an A3 sport diesel last year. 6 months and less than 3k miles before the clutch detonated itself. The handbrake has been pretty useless from day one, although I put that down to its design. Fortunately, it's my partners car (so I seldom drive it really) but I won't be getting another. In fact, I regret us getting this one and not waiting for the 3 series we'd looked at.
How many miles are on the car though and how old is it? Come to think of it i'm sure VAG group must have had some of the worst issues in regards to some of their engines and their parts. Certainly more serious problems anyway. Just shows that even German manufacturers struggle with complex technology.
The twin-charged 1.4 TSI engine found in the Polo GTI and the Scirocco springs to mind. I don't think there has been very many of either of those units that the owners/users haven't had at least some of the problems that engine suffered from.
The twin-charged 1.4 TSI engine found in the Polo GTI and the Scirocco springs to mind. I don't think there has been very many of either of those units that the owners/users haven't had at least some of the problems that engine suffered from.
Whilst I appreciate the,numbers of,Audi etc vis a vi Japanese and Korean,cars,the fact,remains that reliability of Audi is poor take a look at the independant studies. Warranty Direct , Auto Car , JD Power ect
You can't really say Lexus/Toyota are less technically complex, but they Audi do suffer with such a poor reliability record , they seem to be able to achieve fare higher standards of manufacture and reliability perse . Yes there have been the recent much vaunted recall issues , but this does look in some part the US car industry trying very hard to find fault and publish , forgetting they themselves have had serious issues in the past such as the Pinto and the great Explorer tyre issue .
Some time ago Honda were actually actively seeking owners of extremely high mileage honda hi-breeds to buy back so they could see how they had worn , as very few had any problems what so ever. In service and therefore provided very little feedback as to the quality of parts and engineering.
The Toyota management system as adopted by most manufacturers now in some form or other requires Zero tolerance of failure in design or manufacturer , which of course is the prime cause of UK car manufacturing demise , and incidentally the Motor bike industry. at one time Toyota spent less time making a car than VW spent correcting faults at the end of the line and therefore much lower units costs. I know for a fact that a major truck manufacturer currently the leading one in the Uk Uses these very systems in their factories.
VAG group manufacturing have been tasked over recent years with reducing manufacturing cost by 20% , if this is done purely as cost reduction it will result in lower quality and reliability , when the route should be through design and process. I wonder how it's being achieved in VAG ? But it is funny that thier is quite a wide difference in the VAG group companies reliability ! Maybe that also has something to do with demographics and the perceived customer base. after all many base components are shared design and manufacture.
Personally having seen the new A4 , some one from VW needs to be brought in to up date the design frankly the New A4 is staid , boring and shows no new sense of style , the Passet knocks it's socks of and shares much of the underpinnings , but of course there is the badge snobbery to over come. Honda could do with a VW designer to do a complete redesign of the pile of poor cars they currently offer in the UK other than maybe the Jazz which does at least offer a very practical solution for a specific sector albeit with out much style, it a tool to do a job which it does well and very very reliable
You can't really say Lexus/Toyota are less technically complex, but they Audi do suffer with such a poor reliability record , they seem to be able to achieve fare higher standards of manufacture and reliability perse . Yes there have been the recent much vaunted recall issues , but this does look in some part the US car industry trying very hard to find fault and publish , forgetting they themselves have had serious issues in the past such as the Pinto and the great Explorer tyre issue .
Some time ago Honda were actually actively seeking owners of extremely high mileage honda hi-breeds to buy back so they could see how they had worn , as very few had any problems what so ever. In service and therefore provided very little feedback as to the quality of parts and engineering.
The Toyota management system as adopted by most manufacturers now in some form or other requires Zero tolerance of failure in design or manufacturer , which of course is the prime cause of UK car manufacturing demise , and incidentally the Motor bike industry. at one time Toyota spent less time making a car than VW spent correcting faults at the end of the line and therefore much lower units costs. I know for a fact that a major truck manufacturer currently the leading one in the Uk Uses these very systems in their factories.
VAG group manufacturing have been tasked over recent years with reducing manufacturing cost by 20% , if this is done purely as cost reduction it will result in lower quality and reliability , when the route should be through design and process. I wonder how it's being achieved in VAG ? But it is funny that thier is quite a wide difference in the VAG group companies reliability ! Maybe that also has something to do with demographics and the perceived customer base. after all many base components are shared design and manufacture.
Personally having seen the new A4 , some one from VW needs to be brought in to up date the design frankly the New A4 is staid , boring and shows no new sense of style , the Passet knocks it's socks of and shares much of the underpinnings , but of course there is the badge snobbery to over come. Honda could do with a VW designer to do a complete redesign of the pile of poor cars they currently offer in the UK other than maybe the Jazz which does at least offer a very practical solution for a specific sector albeit with out much style, it a tool to do a job which it does well and very very reliable
Edited by Chippo1 on Friday 10th July 20:02
Edited by Chippo1 on Friday 10th July 20:05
Edited by Chippo1 on Friday 10th July 20:08
Years ago I worked for an OEM hydraulic hose/fitting manufacturer supplying amongst others several auto manufacturers. They took on a Japanese customer and pushed the boat out on QC. It wasn't too long before they gave up that contract. 20 years ago all components were inspected during the production process, that was gradually replaced by some "right first time" cost cutting that saw inspection drastically cut back. I guess the penalties they had to pay for the line stoppers and warranty failures were covered by the EU start up grants they raked in relocating to Eastern Europe.
Edited by blade7 on Friday 10th July 21:29
Trailhead said:
e21Mark said:
We bought an A3 sport diesel last year. 6 months and less than 3k miles before the clutch detonated itself. The handbrake has been pretty useless from day one, although I put that down to its design. Fortunately, it's my partners car (so I seldom drive it really) but I won't be getting another. In fact, I regret us getting this one and not waiting for the 3 series we'd looked at.
How many miles are on the car though and how old is it? I did question whether she was riding the clutch pedal or whatever, but she's adamant that she wasn't and in fairness, none of our other vehicles have suffered clutch problems.
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