Hatfield Audi - avoid like the plague.....really p1ssed off

[tartan_rob]

Thursday 8th June, PM I run into a pothole and damage NSF wheel + tyre, car is eventually recovered to Hatfield Audi....

Timeline
- I hire a car at an inflated rate for the weekend and to drive the 100miles home
- Told on Friday 9th late PM that the bill was going to be £3500. Then when challenged it dropped to £1600. Was told the car needed a new tyre, wheel and 4wheel alignment. I authorised the work and was told the car would be ready on Saturday 10th even though I could not collect until Monday 12th
- Monday morning I have to return the hire car and Audi told me that the wheel and tyre had not come in and the car may be ready Monday night (12th). I struggled to get a hold of anyone all day
- Tuesday 13th AM I was told that the wheel and tyre were being fitted and that the car just needed the 4 wheel alignment and that it was going to be ready around lunchtime
- Tuesday 13th 10'ish through to evening, I could not get a hold of anyone
- Tuesday 13th PM 17:30, I finally managed to get a hold of someone to be told the car was not ready and the 4 wheel alignment could not be done as there was further damage but they did not know what. However they had proactively ordered sub frame bolts on Monday????
- I was advised to call back on Wednesday to get more info but that the bill could be very expensive

My mate at Tetbury Audi has told me turn up Hatfield Audi and request the car keys....pay for the work and get written confirmation of the further problems.

Really pissed off

[doodlebug]

Welcome to Audi service....

[zebede]

Standard

[Foxy]

I know this is of no help whatsoever, but for anything other than servicing I would always go with a trusted independent whenever possible. I have had very few good experiences with main dealers across all marques, Range Rover are without doubt the worst, but Audi, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes are not far behind.

[wrekka]

Always been a bugbear of mine the service from Audi dealers (i know some are better than others).
A few years ago I had a gripe with service treatment at Preston Audi. When I got stern with them and I said "I do not expect this type of treatment when I have one of your most expensive products!" The reply was:
"Sir, we treat all our customers the same whether you drive an A1 or R8."
Nice!!

[A20LEE]

We had brand new C7 Allroad from Bradford Audi. I Found it handled very badly and was wearing out the outer edges of the front tyres. Phoned them and said this isn't right needs checking and the tracking sorting out before the tyres are ruined. They offered a drive in appointment with their tyre specialist who said it was fine and the tyres are designed to wear out on the edges so you can see they need replacing?? WTF. I was flabbergasted. Needless to say the air suspension failed the following week and the tracking was off by 9mm on the track rod. They repaired the air suspension under warranty but refused to do the tracking and wanted £270 to do it. Leeds offered to do it for free

[zebede]

One must remember that these garages are independents but with a main dealer franchise, they aren't audi uk but must adhere to a set of brand standards set by audi,hence they only get rapped if actually caught being naughty.
An independent without a franchise has a lot more to prove as often it is word of mouth when they are fair and do a fabulous job, main dealers will always have a constant stream of people who will not be on a forum and be 'green' when it comes to car care, believing that a main dealer is the best option for their car despite the fact that the same oil is available in Halfords. Service packs must really hack the main dealers off as they can't get additional money!

[harrier]

I visited Hatfield Audi when I spec'd my prospective C7 RS6 Performance and they came out with significantly the best deal/discount. I discovered why, I think, as they are such a small dealership in a rather small town - hence the need to try and offer the best price. However, sales didn't seem to have much time for considering I was about to sign a near 6 figure deal. They were also about 2.5 hrs away and I'd have to travel half way around London to get to them if I wanted to stick with them. I therefore decided to see how close my local dealership could get in trying to match them, accept a bit of a hit and stick with them, as they have always been so helpful, reliable and friendly over the last 15 or more years and their chief technician, Craig, has always been very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about RS cars. I'm even more sure now I made the right choice.

There are only a couple of Official Audi (owned) UK Dealerships in the country I believe. I thought Bristol was one, but now see it isn't and I'm not sure where the other is - perhaps other members can tell us? What have members' experiences been of them I wonder?

P.S. Of course avoid Reading Audi, they don't even look after their own staff - see other, earlier discussion forum.

[chunky79]

Always been a bugbear of mine the service from Audi dealers (i know some are better than others).
A few years ago I had a gripe with service treatment at Preston Audi. When I got stern with them and I said "I do not expect this type of treatment when I have one of your most expensive products!" The reply was:
"Sir, we treat all our customers the same whether you drive an A1 or R8."
Nice!!

I actually think this is the correct answer from them.

[chunky79]

Stafford Audi - 4 days to do a cambelt change, and I still had to repair the car myself when I got home cause they hadn't done the jubilee clips up on the intercooler hose and it popped of!!!

[don0301]

Colchester Audi - After buying my RS6 C6 nearly 3 years ago, with full Audi Service History and warranty, got my local mechanic to check her over after purchase and discovered the "oil leak" these suffer from.

Booked in, man told me inspection would be free. Turned up, same man insisted I pay £60 inspection fee, denying he'd told me it would be free. Made a big scene, as I hate liars.

Inspection carried out free, told the "oil leak" was "misting" and not an oil leak. I pointed out if you have a vessel that should contain oil, and the oil was escaping that whatever description you used it was LEAKING.

They refused warranty claim, sent report to Audi UK as "misting" so I could do nothing in the future.

I refuse to use them to even buy a screw/nut/bolt

My first Audi

Isn't "chocolate" wheels a common fault on the C7? Disgusting treatment

I only get mine serviced at MRC now, and anything else I can I use my local trusted mechanic. He really is methodical,precise and immaculate in his work. Really takes pride in working on a special car. Audi really need to up their game on things like this.

Lurk here as I love my car, but no doubt at some point I will replace.

[Markp]

Always been a bugbear of mine the service from Audi dealers (i know some are better than others).
A few years ago I had a gripe with service treatment at Preston Audi. When I got stern with them and I said "I do not expect this type of treatment when I have one of your most expensive products!" The reply was:
"Sir, we treat all our customers the same whether you drive an A1 or R8."
Nice!!

I actually think this is the correct answer from them.

I agree. I would not expect to be treated differently because I drive a more expensive car. Everyone should be treated well. And in defence of the OP's dealer, it's not their fault he smashed the wheel / suspension. The part arrived quite quickly - allowing for the weekend - and then geo revealed something is bent somewhere and more investigation required. Hardly a massive fail - albeit very frustrating for OP. They appear to need to work on their comms though...

[Scotty C]

Always been a bugbear of mine the service from Audi dealers (i know some are better than others).
A few years ago I had a gripe with service treatment at Preston Audi. When I got stern with them and I said "I do not expect this type of treatment when I have one of your most expensive products!" The reply was:
"Sir, we treat all our customers the same whether you drive an A1 or R8."
Nice!!

What they should be doing is treating everyone as if they've bought a top of the range model... just saying.

[Markp]

Always been a bugbear of mine the service from Audi dealers (i know some are better than others).
A few years ago I had a gripe with service treatment at Preston Audi. When I got stern with them and I said "I do not expect this type of treatment when I have one of your most expensive products!" The reply was:
"Sir, we treat all our customers the same whether you drive an A1 or R8."
Nice!!

What they should be doing is treating everyone as if they've bought a top of the range model... just saying.

Absolutely.

[wrekka]

The point is from certain Audi dealers no matter what you drive the treatment is below any expected standard. I would say I have been treated worse by Audi with having their RS models than if I had a run of the mill car. When I had my TTS RS4, the dealer manager said something along the lines "Our R8 would show your car the way." (but not even in a jokey way).
Unfortunately due to my recent rs models I have had to use Audi due to warranty claims. Never been made to feel welcome. Best experience I have had at Audi are from the graveyard shift workers!