Real or spoof?

[GardinerG]

the only thing that really lets down such a wonderful car

Ahem, gearbox, ahem..

"there isnt a problem with it", funny that given the number of people who have complained about it.

P.s. He will probably pass the buck to Paul Adcock. God I'm getting cynical in my old age.

[Shoppinit]

Good letter. I'll be interested to hear his reply.

It's true that the safety side of the issue is rarely addressed. Who knows how many have *already* had a serious accident because of DRC and don't know that it's the cause.

[Rupert]

What will it take for Audi to address this problem in a proffesional manner, someones death??. I for one would dread to think of the possibilities of a full suspension faliure on a high performance car such as the RS6.
.............
I look forward to your reply regarding these matters, and hope that a solution can be found for this situation that dosn't involve going to court. I am sure Audi could do without the 'bad press' that would arise, especially during these finacially challenging times.
................
Regards

Stuart Hurd

Good letter Stuart, and I don't think it was OTT. As you say DRC failure is dangerous, if Audi is in any doubt they are free to examine my car. Tell Mr Hicks he can drive my car if he doesn't think there is a problem.

It's in my garage at the moment and I won't be driving it again until I get the DRC replaced by H&Rs, out of my own pocket, despite forking out £1240/yr two years on the trot for an Audi warranty.

This is my DRC history, from day 1 owning the car.

1. DRC failed and replaced when I bought the car, 1 year old, 6k miles. July 05
2. DRC replaced in full, Nov 06
3. DRC Feb 07 nsr DRC pipe not connected by Audi dealer after repair #2. Fixed and bled by another Audi dealer.
4. DRC - May 07 OSR shock replaced.
5. DRC JULY 07 (MOT failure) OSF shock replaced.
6. DRC bled, pressurised and balanced. Feb 2008
7. DRC system replaced in full, March 2008.
8. DRC Nearside rear shock leaking, November 2008, replaced under parts warranty.

Yes, just a few hundred miles after the last fix, it failed again, bouncing on smooth motorways and skipping over rough roads. I have postponed fixing it for too long, but now it's worse than it has even been.

Thankfully I have a couple of other cars to drive until I get the RS6 booked in, I don't want to drive the RS6 in such a state because it's unenjoyable, dangerous and a complete waste of petrol.

[Cornishmoocher]

What will it take for Audi to address this problem in a proffesional manner, someones death??. I for one would dread to think of the possibilities of a full suspension faliure on a high performance car such as the RS6.
.............
I look forward to your reply regarding these matters, and hope that a solution can be found for this situation that dosn't involve going to court. I am sure Audi could do without the 'bad press' that would arise, especially during these finacially challenging times.
................
Regards

Stuart Hurd

I don't want to drive the RS6 in such a state because it's unenjoyable, dangerous and a complete waste of petrol.

And thats the real point of all this! you will never regain those miles and petrol spent driving an undrivable car, And Audi do not give a flying F*ck.

I really do wish you all the very best!

[Rilla]

ok, small update, received a response from Audi, not from Jeremey Hicks but one of his minions, this is a copy of what he sent me:

Dear Stuart,



I am writing to acknowledge your note to Jeremy Hicks this week.



We will need to investigate your concerns fully and the actions taken by Audi of America, after which we will be able to respond to you more formally.



We will be back in touch shortly.



Yours sincerely

Richard
Richard Starkey
Customer Care Manager

Audi Aftersales & Service

So a standard 'we are stalling for time' response. To be honest this is what I expected, but i shall give them 7 days and if still no further correspondence then i will re-email and see what we get!.

[Shoppinit]

It would be funny if they didn't know about the AoA thing

[Rilla]

well i attached a copy of the AoA letter, so they cant refute it. Lets watch them squirm for a few days lol

[andrewwilson8]

I hope something comes of this, i've just replaced my DRC with H&R's but its the principal of the matter. The fact is that they are avoiding their responsibilities to paying customers and allowing vehicles to be driven in a very unsafe and unsatisfactory condition due to an inherent design flaw. My car was terrible before i took it in, i learnt the whereabouts of every pothole and crease in the tarmac on my daily commute mind you!
i suspect that if they did admit some form of liability and drew up a service or extended warranty plan to cover this issue, it would certainly only apply to any new cases of failure. so those of us who have paid hard cash to make our cars fit for purpose will be no better off. it might be a good idea for anyone who is just about to get coilovers fitted to keep the failed system in storage, if something comes of this it might come in useful!

[Rilla]

Dont worry Andrew, i have made it very clear to Audi that i am not fighting for myself, but for every Audi driver who has the <beep> DRC fitted to thier car. I will also be fighting for full rembursment for ANY costs incured to owners, whether it be replacment DRC or coilovers. I dont see why anybody should face these sort of costs on what is a maximum of 7 years old car, and especially one that cost over 70k new!

As a small update, i have put my friends to work on this one for me too, and have called in a few 'favours'. 1 friend is a solicitor and he is drafting a letter to a Audi which will in essence put forward our case on a legal basis, and make the 'insinuation' of possible breaches of the sale and supply of goods act 1996. My other friend is in the newspaper trade, and he will be speaking to his editor tommorrow regarding some sort of piece in national press to highlight this matter, the main intention of this route is to get more people to come forward with thier stories of DRC failures and gain further momentum with our case. Hopefully the threat will suffice and they (Audi) will yield. If not i will be following the road where ever it takes us on this 1!

[andrewwilson8]

nice one. always good to have a few favours like that to call in.

pardon me for feeling a little sceptical about drumming up much sympathy through the papers tho, they are read by the same great british public that no longer let you out at junctions cos you drive a nice car!

[Rilla]

Maybe they will feel a little bit more sympathetic if we tell them it might me them we plough into when our suspension fails at 70 on the motorway, big RS6 estate v's a smart car...........lol

[Rilla]

Well just heard back form one of my friends in news paper trade, they cant do anything until something happens if you get my drift, basically someone has to have an accident and it be the fault of the DRC before they can do any sort of article on it. Apparently they are having to very careful at the mo with what they print due to the whole madelaine mcann and max mosely affairs kicking off, but he has said to keep him informed and if they can do anything then they will.

[355marcus]

A point that might be beneficial to raise might be this; that whilst you understand that Audi Europe are still hanging on to their misguided "We know nothing of this" response they should be aware that ANY suspension shortcoming has a drastic effect on braking distances. Faulty or worn dampers have been proven time and time again to reduce the braking ability of a car. So they should be made formally aware that should any of you/us suffer an accident where the inability to stop in time was deemed a factor that you will ensure that the repeated shortcomings are brought to the attention of your solicitors and insurers. Whilst I'm not trying to raise anybodys premiums, maybe if Audi Europe are made aware that it would be financially advantageous for them to fix DRC now, rather than wait for claims to be made against them.
Be emotive, RS6 fails to stop, pedestrian/child, injured/killed, car was not exceeding any limits, weather was good, do Audi really want to be held up as being responsible? If this scenario came about for instance How many people on here would support someone claiming DRC system deficiencies???
Play to your strengths.
Use your numbers.
At the end of the day you are only asking for your cars to perform how Audi intended they would and suggested they should!
I haven't bought mine yet, but it isn't too far off. I'll be very interested to hear how you get on.

[foz01]

Have you tried posting this in the RS4 forum as i knwo they are going through exactly the same and theres probably more cases of it!

[Rilla]

Ok i have started a new thread regarding this here: http://www.rs246.com/index.php?name=PNp ... ic&t=76020

Please please please contribute as the more ammunition i have to go to audi with the better!