A(A) positive story...
Discussion
Thought I'd balance out some of the criticism motor industry folks get with a happy tale...
Was heading up to Glasgow this morning for a meeting, when just north of Carlisle the S4 started misfiring. I'm no expert, but I know the coil packs are a well documented weakness on the S4 so I rang the AA and called them out.
"We'll be with you in a hour", they said.
While I waited, I used the Sat Nav to find the nearest Audi dealer (Carlisle Audi), rang them and explained the situation. The very helpful lady checked the VIN and said "yes, your car is outstanding for the recall. Bring in in and we'll do it this morning."
AA man arrived after 20 minutes, OBD II plugged in and confirmed coil pack down on cylinder 5. Swapped a temporary one in, followed me to dealer and swapped it back out.
Just over an hour later, I'm now sat having a lovely cup of tea in the dealership, using the free WiFi to work (well, alongside PH time!) having only lost the morning to the problem, as the car should be back (washed, too!) by 1200.
I know this will elicit replies of "meh", and "cool story bro" from a lot of folk (cynical? Moi?) but I wanted to share a good story for once.
Anyone else ever had surprisingly awesome service?
Was heading up to Glasgow this morning for a meeting, when just north of Carlisle the S4 started misfiring. I'm no expert, but I know the coil packs are a well documented weakness on the S4 so I rang the AA and called them out.
"We'll be with you in a hour", they said.
While I waited, I used the Sat Nav to find the nearest Audi dealer (Carlisle Audi), rang them and explained the situation. The very helpful lady checked the VIN and said "yes, your car is outstanding for the recall. Bring in in and we'll do it this morning."
AA man arrived after 20 minutes, OBD II plugged in and confirmed coil pack down on cylinder 5. Swapped a temporary one in, followed me to dealer and swapped it back out.
Just over an hour later, I'm now sat having a lovely cup of tea in the dealership, using the free WiFi to work (well, alongside PH time!) having only lost the morning to the problem, as the car should be back (washed, too!) by 1200.
I know this will elicit replies of "meh", and "cool story bro" from a lot of folk (cynical? Moi?) but I wanted to share a good story for once.
Anyone else ever had surprisingly awesome service?
I've always had A+ service whenever I've had the RAC out. Every time, they have either diagnosed or straight out fixed the problem in minutes.
They tend to want to chat about the car too, which is nice.
I've decided it must just be a Scotland thing, after seeing the countless threads on here moaning about them!
They tend to want to chat about the car too, which is nice.
I've decided it must just be a Scotland thing, after seeing the countless threads on here moaning about them!
Never had a complaint with RAC, out to me at the stated time whenever I've called (which has been several times)
One time when I had borrowed my father's 406 after picking up my disabled grandmother and the radiator decided it wanted to leak water, the recovery driver did his upmost to ensure that we were promptly enroute, searched for a place where there was if the old dear needed to go (frequently), and even tolerated the wench who could talk a preacher to death.
Another time, on my return from Portsmouth after breaking down on the A3, the first recovery truck arrived within 30 minutes (was given a 60 minute wait time), took us to the point to swap us onto another flatbed. The driver of the second truck then drove onto my girlfriends estate to allow us to pick up some stuff, before then taking us and the car back to my house on the otherside of town, then dropping us at a party we were attending. Can't ask for better than that.
TL;DR - Would recommend them anytime.
One time when I had borrowed my father's 406 after picking up my disabled grandmother and the radiator decided it wanted to leak water, the recovery driver did his upmost to ensure that we were promptly enroute, searched for a place where there was if the old dear needed to go (frequently), and even tolerated the wench who could talk a preacher to death.
Another time, on my return from Portsmouth after breaking down on the A3, the first recovery truck arrived within 30 minutes (was given a 60 minute wait time), took us to the point to swap us onto another flatbed. The driver of the second truck then drove onto my girlfriends estate to allow us to pick up some stuff, before then taking us and the car back to my house on the otherside of town, then dropping us at a party we were attending. Can't ask for better than that.
TL;DR - Would recommend them anytime.
The Year was 2004, the car a '97 Audi A4 1.6 SE (not as posh as yours OP!)
I was driving home from Manchester to Huddersfield when i feel the car getting little lop sided and shortly after the unmistakable sound of flat tyre.
Stopped at the side of the road, got the spare out, all ready to change the offending flat when..hang on...where the hell is my locking nut key...frantic searching of car, but to no avail. Then i remembered that a few months earlier the car had been broken into outside my house, passenger window put through and just some CD's nicked from the glovebox or so i thought, turns out the little b
ds had nicked the locking nut key which was in there too!
Called the AA and not long after a chap in yellow arrives in his transit. Unfortunately he has nothing that can get the locker off so all he can do is get me to the local Audi garage in Huddersfield. On route i called the garage to let them know, and they tell me it will be 24-48 hours to order the correct key for the car, but while on the call the service desk inform me that my car has never been in to have its factory recall for front suspension lower arms IIRC.
As she can see that the car has a full main dealer History on her screen, it wont be a problem and they will do it all at the same time, should take a few days, It was a Friday and the car is expected to be ready on Wednesday, no problem, but wait, i am supposed to be driving to northern France on Tuesday for a week away...."Not a problem Mr Boswell we will have a courtesy car available and will waive the extra cost to take it over seas".
Now this was all off the back of something that really was my fault for not noticing/checking that i still had the locker, but i got nearly £800 of repairs on a 90k mile 7 year old poverty spec Audi A4, a top spec almost new Audi A2 TDI for the week which did much better on fuel and had A/C over the A4, I even got a muffin and a coffee in the dealer while everything was getting sorted out. The fuel savings made in the A2 on the France trip must have easily outweighed the cost of the locker that needed to be ordered.
Bravo Audi, I suspect that if the same thing had happened in an Alfa, i would be in jail for firebombing the dealership!
I was driving home from Manchester to Huddersfield when i feel the car getting little lop sided and shortly after the unmistakable sound of flat tyre.
Stopped at the side of the road, got the spare out, all ready to change the offending flat when..hang on...where the hell is my locking nut key...frantic searching of car, but to no avail. Then i remembered that a few months earlier the car had been broken into outside my house, passenger window put through and just some CD's nicked from the glovebox or so i thought, turns out the little b
ds had nicked the locking nut key which was in there too!Called the AA and not long after a chap in yellow arrives in his transit. Unfortunately he has nothing that can get the locker off so all he can do is get me to the local Audi garage in Huddersfield. On route i called the garage to let them know, and they tell me it will be 24-48 hours to order the correct key for the car, but while on the call the service desk inform me that my car has never been in to have its factory recall for front suspension lower arms IIRC.
As she can see that the car has a full main dealer History on her screen, it wont be a problem and they will do it all at the same time, should take a few days, It was a Friday and the car is expected to be ready on Wednesday, no problem, but wait, i am supposed to be driving to northern France on Tuesday for a week away...."Not a problem Mr Boswell we will have a courtesy car available and will waive the extra cost to take it over seas".
Now this was all off the back of something that really was my fault for not noticing/checking that i still had the locker, but i got nearly £800 of repairs on a 90k mile 7 year old poverty spec Audi A4, a top spec almost new Audi A2 TDI for the week which did much better on fuel and had A/C over the A4, I even got a muffin and a coffee in the dealer while everything was getting sorted out. The fuel savings made in the A2 on the France trip must have easily outweighed the cost of the locker that needed to be ordered.
Bravo Audi, I suspect that if the same thing had happened in an Alfa, i would be in jail for firebombing the dealership!
Good for the AA - I have also had no complaints over the last few years and also got the payout when they sold!
I cant help but notice two threads here though about Audi recalls.....
For us the coil pack failure on the wifes A4Cab was a contributor in our decision not buy another Audi. I think its a disgrace that Audi have so little respect for their buyers that it's acceptable for the coil packs to be left in until they fail and inconvenience the owner.
I cant help but notice two threads here though about Audi recalls.....
For us the coil pack failure on the wifes A4Cab was a contributor in our decision not buy another Audi. I think its a disgrace that Audi have so little respect for their buyers that it's acceptable for the coil packs to be left in until they fail and inconvenience the owner.
Clutch went pop on the BGT a few months back on Kew Road in traffic.
Pulled over and phoned my recovery (Flux) and told them I'd need a flatbed.
Flat bed arrived and winched the old girl up. Took me and the car home as it was gone 6pm.
The next morning I'd arranged for my Garage near Southampton to be open so I could go down and get it sorted.
Rang the recovery people again and they dispatched another flatbed to take me and the car down to Southampton.
When the truck arrived I asked the driver if he'd swing by Moss in Hounslow on the way out of town as they had the parts I'd need.
He was more than willing to oblige and dropped me and the car off at the Garage before Noon. Happy days.
Automania trucks both times (Familiar sight in London)
Pulled over and phoned my recovery (Flux) and told them I'd need a flatbed.
Flat bed arrived and winched the old girl up. Took me and the car home as it was gone 6pm.
The next morning I'd arranged for my Garage near Southampton to be open so I could go down and get it sorted.
Rang the recovery people again and they dispatched another flatbed to take me and the car down to Southampton.
When the truck arrived I asked the driver if he'd swing by Moss in Hounslow on the way out of town as they had the parts I'd need.
He was more than willing to oblige and dropped me and the car off at the Garage before Noon. Happy days.
Automania trucks both times (Familiar sight in London)
psychoR1 said:
I cant help but notice two threads here though about Audi recalls.....
Apparently my one was just something that a previous owner had failed to address, a letter had been sent sometime in the past but the car had never been in. Although had the car not had a FMDSH or had done more than 100k miles it would not have been eligible for the work FOC.Was camping one weekend with some friends and stupidly left the interior light on so battery was flat the day we wanted to leave.
Called the AA and said they'd be there within one hour. 5 mins later (not joking) AA van rolls up to help me out. Turned out they have a lot of calls from that camp site and they regularly sit just outside whilst waiting for a shout.
Fortunate? Yes, but reconfirmed a bit of faith in them.
Called the AA and said they'd be there within one hour. 5 mins later (not joking) AA van rolls up to help me out. Turned out they have a lot of calls from that camp site and they regularly sit just outside whilst waiting for a shout.
Fortunate? Yes, but reconfirmed a bit of faith in them.
big_boz said:
psychoR1 said:
I cant help but notice two threads here though about Audi recalls.....
Apparently my one was just something that a previous owner had failed to address, a letter had been sent sometime in the past but the car had never been in. Although had the car not had a FMDSH or had done more than 100k miles it would not have been eligible for the work FOC.AUDI seem to have convinced you otherwise tho' premium brand and all that....
If you do look on the net that control arm issue aledgedly affected +800k cars and could have resulted in suspension collapse whilst the car was moving - would you have felt the same then?
http://www.audizine.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-...
big_boz said:
Apparently my one was just something that a previous owner had failed to address, a letter had been sent sometime in the past but the car had never been in. Although had the car not had a FMDSH or had done more than 100k miles it would not have been eligible for the work FOC.
Similar situation to me, luckily mine has only done 75k so is eligible. I'd actually been meaning to ring them and check at some point during the past 12 months, but never quite got round to it... just glad it was me in the car at the time and not the wife with child.On a separate note, for a 5 year old, 75k car it feels like new... apart from the coil packs
psychoR1 said:
I think you will find those facts have no legal standing - no manufacturer can insist on FMDSH and fitness for purpose laws dont have a time limit AFAIK.
AUDI seem to have convinced you otherwise tho' premium brand and all that....
If you do look on the net that control arm issue aledgedly affected +800k cars and could have resulted in suspension collapse whilst the car was moving - would you have felt the same then?
http://www.audizine.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-...
They didn't convince me of anything, i had no idea there was anything that was due to be done, but you are quite correct, had they mentioned it and then told me i couldn't have it for free, then i suspect that i would have done some further research into the subject, as in my pedantic nature!AUDI seem to have convinced you otherwise tho' premium brand and all that....
If you do look on the net that control arm issue aledgedly affected +800k cars and could have resulted in suspension collapse whilst the car was moving - would you have felt the same then?
http://www.audizine.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-...
Had to call RAC out twice, been quite happy. First time, fuel pump went on the E30, chap took the car back and dumped it outside my house, put the keys & paperwork through the letterbox while the GF came and picked me up to continue the evening's plans. I don't know if that letterbox biz is exactly standard procedure but it really helped me out.
Second time was my own bloody fault, I McGuyvered the E30 to run with no alternator present whilst I went to the scrappie to find another that would fit. Made it there and about 1/2 way back
Again they were good, he just put his jump pack on the battery in the boot to get her running and followed me the 10 mins home. I suspect he should have told me to foxtrot oscar but again he really helped me out 
I didn't even mind when the premium went up that year, I thought fair play boys you've earned that
Second time was my own bloody fault, I McGuyvered the E30 to run with no alternator present whilst I went to the scrappie to find another that would fit. Made it there and about 1/2 way back
Again they were good, he just put his jump pack on the battery in the boot to get her running and followed me the 10 mins home. I suspect he should have told me to foxtrot oscar but again he really helped me out I didn't even mind when the premium went up that year, I thought fair play boys you've earned that
I had to call the AA out once before, had a snapped clutch cable they guy went down every avenue possible to try and fix the problem, took me to the nearest main dealer but they didn't have one in stock and could only get one in a couple of days time he phoned various other places and eventually phoned a local friend who had a similar car and he actually agreed to let me have the one of his own car and order the replacement for himself! anyway it turned out that the one on his friends car was different and ended up taking me to a local garage but i could not have been more impressed with the service from this one guy!
Le Mans this year I had to take a hire car over as my car was in the shop.
In a moment of complete and total stupidity, I closed the boot to the Astra GTC hire car, with the keys in it. This was on Saturday evening, at around 19:30.
In a shockingly poor design decision, Vauxhall had decided that you didn't need to unlock the car to open the boot, so I thought I was well and truly stuffed.
Luckily, I had paid for the RAC European cover, and even though all the documents were in the glovebox (typical!), I managed to get hold of someone in the UK who put me through to the right people.
Less than an hour later I get a call from the RAC man in Le Mans at the entrance to the Bleu Nord campsite, who I then guided to my car, and he proceeded to break in to it (without causing any damage) to my eternal gratification.
To say that I was relieved is an understatement, I could have kissed the guy.
The fact they were able to get someone to me, in less than an hour in the middle of a campsite at Le Mans is nothing short of amazing. I really did think I would be lucky to see someone by Monday, let alone less than an hour later!
In a moment of complete and total stupidity, I closed the boot to the Astra GTC hire car, with the keys in it. This was on Saturday evening, at around 19:30.
In a shockingly poor design decision, Vauxhall had decided that you didn't need to unlock the car to open the boot, so I thought I was well and truly stuffed.
Luckily, I had paid for the RAC European cover, and even though all the documents were in the glovebox (typical!), I managed to get hold of someone in the UK who put me through to the right people.
Less than an hour later I get a call from the RAC man in Le Mans at the entrance to the Bleu Nord campsite, who I then guided to my car, and he proceeded to break in to it (without causing any damage) to my eternal gratification.
To say that I was relieved is an understatement, I could have kissed the guy.
The fact they were able to get someone to me, in less than an hour in the middle of a campsite at Le Mans is nothing short of amazing. I really did think I would be lucky to see someone by Monday, let alone less than an hour later!
AA were great with me. Unknown battery drain meant i was stranded on 4 occasions (it was erratic) over a couple of weeks. Came out quickly, were helpful and friendly! Gave home support without the right cover too...can't complain with their service. Live in west london. Anyway thought id chip in to balance things out!
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