Yet another outrageous and frankly disturbing reply from Audi.
'Doesn't affect safety'? Christ, I'll tell you about safety. Turned off at Stevenage round towards where the geezer sells the flowers where there is a filter lane round to the left. When my DRC was shot, I ended up in the outside lane because the car just wouldn't go round the corner.
And, '..only affects early models' ?????????? Er, mine's a 'plus' and is one of the last. Not only that but failed under 10,000 miles.
This reply, whilst admittedly headed in the right direction, is simply unacceptable. Don't Audi see??? The more they patronise us the more determined we become???
The DRC is simply not fit for purpose. The admission offered by Audi above won't go anywhere near far enough for most owners, nor will the remedial offering.
The ones forced to have coilovers fitted at their own expense should be compensated fully for that, end of. Not be excluded from an offer because they feared for their safety and so had it replaced. Many of them having families with children remember - just what this car is supposed to be for.
Basically, I can't see anything other than a court 'testcase' as being able to achieve a satisfactory result after this reply. My God, it would HAVE to be court for the people who have forked out 1500 quid since they won't have any other choice!
Lets keep going.
DRC action against audi, please contribute!
that's hard to understand. My last rear shock failure was pretty dramatic with sudden fluid loss and then fluid everywhere. I would have said the car was close to undriveable and certainly could not be driven over 40mph with extreme care having to be taken around some corners / roundabouts...Audi UK wrote:The inherent safety of the vehicle has not been compromised.
The AoA letter is effectively a recall of all RS6's sold - this reads ("support package") as though they'll only replace the complete suspension as it fails (albeit with further restrictions).Audi UK wrote:The DRC fault relates specifically to shock absorber seals in early RS 6 models, and Audi UK is seeking to reassure owners with an enhanced support package for affected cars in the UK.
Audi UK wrote:DRC shock absorbers have been consistently improved since the introduction of the affected RS 6 models. The current replacement parts used are updated and further reinforced for optimum durability
The AoA letter talks of redesigned parts being available in August. The UK statement would suggest that replacement parts are available now? Are there not examples of cars having their shocks replaced in the past few weeks that have failed again?
Perhaps by early RS6 models they mean the C5? Trying to distance the C6 from the DRC mess?Audi UK wrote:The DRC fault relates specifically to shock absorber seals in early RS 6 models, and Audi UK is seeking to reassure owners with an enhanced support package for affected cars in the UK.
What's an enhanced support package?
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
We should be able to make a reasonable guestimate. The forum doesn't appear to have been set up with any pruning so all messages will still be in the database behind this. From all the posts in this section of the forum [ RS6 / RS6 plus (C5) ] we should be able to count the unique posters.Rilla wrote:On a seperate but related subject, is there any way of finding our how many RS6 owners use this forum at present, so i can get a rough idea of percentage affected by DRC issues. Audi insist this is an 'isolated' few cases, I beg to differ but need hard numbers to confirm this. The forum offers a good opportunity to get a good gauge of people affected.
To get this will require the co-operation of the board owner/moderators.
Knock a percentage off for those who've joined but never owned an RS6 - don't think it would be that many, say 15-20%?
From the list I complied of those owning up to DRC problems (and there a few more since that post) we should be able to get a reasonable percentage of owners with problems.
If Audi UK would supply the number of cars sold in the UK then we could sense check that percentage and potentially disprove their 'minority' assumptions?
Ahem, damage limitation exercise, ahem. (IMHO of course). The bean counters at Audi better get their respective act together, this is about the safety of the occupants of their flagship cars, and their lack of effort, response & ownership of the problem has put lives in danger.
Stuart, last time I checked 94 RS4 B7 owners also listed themselves as having had DRC issues on this site alone. There will be many RS6 owners who are not internet savvy that have also had DRC issues too.
HTH
Grant
Stuart, last time I checked 94 RS4 B7 owners also listed themselves as having had DRC issues on this site alone. There will be many RS6 owners who are not internet savvy that have also had DRC issues too.
Minority indeed!Me in April 2008 in a letter to Jeremy Hicks wrote:In a recent poll on RS246 76% of 92 current owners had or have DRC failure
HTH
Grant
You know that and so do I Grant, but it would seem Audi are in total denial (surprise surprise)
All of the responses posted are wonderful, your thoughts and feelings put down in the forum are great. I for one am certain Audi are watching what is said in this and other online based communities with regard to their cars, especially as I have been quoting RS246 in many of my emails with Richard Starkey and Jeremy Hicks.
So if you are reading this Audi, be affriad because all you are doing is alienating the people who have made you rich over the years, both with original purchases and ongoing servicing cost. BMW must be rubbing their hands with glee and prepping as many M5's as they can. The end result will be people talking with their money and spending somewhere other than the local Audi garage!
All of the responses posted are wonderful, your thoughts and feelings put down in the forum are great. I for one am certain Audi are watching what is said in this and other online based communities with regard to their cars, especially as I have been quoting RS246 in many of my emails with Richard Starkey and Jeremy Hicks.
So if you are reading this Audi, be affriad because all you are doing is alienating the people who have made you rich over the years, both with original purchases and ongoing servicing cost. BMW must be rubbing their hands with glee and prepping as many M5's as they can. The end result will be people talking with their money and spending somewhere other than the local Audi garage!
I'm one of the minority owners who is covered by this "offer" mainly because mines is FASH and still using the DRC system. I've just got my car back today from getting washers replaced at the rear (due to leaking) and had the system re-pressurised (FOC). Today it's seem fine but from experience I'm worried about it going again. The reason I bought the car was primarily the safety aspect of the 4WD. However I still don't feel comfortable about my wife driving this car with my two young sons onboard. The only reason I haven't opted for a non-OEM setup is as I have an extended warranty (and o/s Audi finance) but I have had serious thoughts about returning the car to Audi as not fit for purpose.
Rilla, you've achieved more than anyone else has on this issue. I say we push Audi until they replace all owners cars with a safe and reliable system and compensate those who have already replaced theirs.
Rilla, you've achieved more than anyone else has on this issue. I say we push Audi until they replace all owners cars with a safe and reliable system and compensate those who have already replaced theirs.
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HungryPigeon
- Neutral
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:23 pm
Just seen the press release, and as an owner of a 02 RS6 I'm pretty pissed off!
I think I'm going to reject the car as not being of satisfactory quality when it was sold to me two years ago. My understanding is that whilst it gets progressively more difficult to raise issues of this type as time from purchase increases, this has to be balanced with the extent to which the car has been used (which in my case amounts to a paltry 4K miles).
I shall also be emailing Richard Starkey to ask him to disclose to me exactly what difference there is between the suspension system of a 2003 RS6 and a 2002 model like mine.
Naturally I'll keep you posted!
I think I'm going to reject the car as not being of satisfactory quality when it was sold to me two years ago. My understanding is that whilst it gets progressively more difficult to raise issues of this type as time from purchase increases, this has to be balanced with the extent to which the car has been used (which in my case amounts to a paltry 4K miles).
I shall also be emailing Richard Starkey to ask him to disclose to me exactly what difference there is between the suspension system of a 2003 RS6 and a 2002 model like mine.
Naturally I'll keep you posted!
Me too, FASH and extended warranty. A few weeks ago, an Audi technician drove my car and described it as horrendous.Pedro wrote:I'm one of the minority owners who is covered by this "offer" mainly because mines is FASH and still using the DRC system.
A bush on one of the front arms had worn and was replaced - I would guess that the failure of the DRC has caused excessive movement and wear in other suspension components.
They informed me of two leaking shocks, and they said they could fix it under warranty, but I refused. I don't want this DRC rubbish on my car! It's unreliable and bloody dangerous.
Rilla,
Thank for your response.
You have made real progress with this issue, hopefully this will continue to resolve the problem for all afffected.
I would seriously question Audi claim about the safety not being compromised! Until this is fix I'm certainly not taking the risk of put my wife and children in the my car.
Thank for your response.
You have made real progress with this issue, hopefully this will continue to resolve the problem for all afffected.
I would seriously question Audi claim about the safety not being compromised! Until this is fix I'm certainly not taking the risk of put my wife and children in the my car.
Rilla wrote:Hi Neil,
I firstly got the information from an independent freelance journalist who was looking into this case at my, and others, request. He has had dealings with audi before on other matters, and seems to have a fair bit of clout with them, ie when he asks questions, they act pronto as they have in this case.
I then phoned Audi direct this morning, and spoke to their press office, who confirmed to me the press release relating to the DRC, and emailed me a full copy of the release (as pasted above).
I am still waiting for comment from Jeremy Hicks/Richard Starkey of Audi to find out how.when.why this will be implemented, but as soon as i hear any news you will all know aswell.
As I have said above, I know this news isn't to every bodies approval, but lets look at this realistically, it has taken Audi 7 years to even admit there is a fault with the system, despite the owners telling them so. This in the grand grand scheme of things is a major break through, and can now only lead onto better things for ALL owners, even if you have switched to aftermarket suspension. Please be patient, Rome wasn't built in a day, and as I have said before, i will still be pursuing this for ALL owners, regardless of service history/suspension now fitted/age of car. The wheels are still turning on this, and things are still happening 'behind the scenes' that I cant publicly talk about yet, but rest assured, I am not now sitting back on this one, I am in for the duration to get satisfaction for ALL owners.
If any of you have been affected that haven't yet put your story across, then please please please do so now, the more evidence i can collate the better and easier it will be for me to get the total satisfaction you and I are all looking for.
On a seperate but related subject, is there any way of finding our how many RS6 owners use this forum at present, so i can get a rough idea of percentage affected by DRC issues. Audi insist this is an 'isolated' few cases, I beg to differ but need hard numbers to confirm this. The forum offers a good opportunity to get a good gauge of people affected.
Many thanks for your continued support and patience with this, and please, stick with it as we all need to get our selves heard.
Regards
Stuart
Mine's registered Jan 03 (90K miles), so I'm in the "pissed" brigade too!
DRC done numerous times under Audi warranty, and must admit the last time (including the enhanced rubber boots) has been OK (so far....)
I'm convinced that it has a lot to do with the technician who does it. Stuart at Camberley clearly knows exactly what he's doing.
Will keep watching the space - the difficult decision will be which way to jump if it goes before this gets resolved as I am now out of warranty....
Dave
DRC done numerous times under Audi warranty, and must admit the last time (including the enhanced rubber boots) has been OK (so far....)
I'm convinced that it has a lot to do with the technician who does it. Stuart at Camberley clearly knows exactly what he's doing.
Will keep watching the space - the difficult decision will be which way to jump if it goes before this gets resolved as I am now out of warranty....
Dave
Some bad news I'm affriad.
After a lengthy discussion via email and phone with Sarah at Watchdog, they feel that this issues doesn't affect enough of the general public to be something they can investigate for us. Her words were: 'he RS6 was a fairly exclusive car to begin with, and it doesn't affect enough people for it to be something we would be looking to investigate. We was going to put it into a section about car manufacturers mis-behaving in general'.
So, a real shame that we couldn't get the biggest of the heavy guns involved, but the battle isnt over yet. I still have some avenues of attack open, and will be contacting VOSA later on today. Please can as many people as possible contact VOSA aswell, whilst they dont have to power to order Audi to do a full recall, they are still a reasonably powerful organization withing the motor trade.
So lets not give up and wither away, we all need to keep on fighting this.
Regards
Stuart
After a lengthy discussion via email and phone with Sarah at Watchdog, they feel that this issues doesn't affect enough of the general public to be something they can investigate for us. Her words were: 'he RS6 was a fairly exclusive car to begin with, and it doesn't affect enough people for it to be something we would be looking to investigate. We was going to put it into a section about car manufacturers mis-behaving in general'.
So, a real shame that we couldn't get the biggest of the heavy guns involved, but the battle isnt over yet. I still have some avenues of attack open, and will be contacting VOSA later on today. Please can as many people as possible contact VOSA aswell, whilst they dont have to power to order Audi to do a full recall, they are still a reasonably powerful organization withing the motor trade.
So lets not give up and wither away, we all need to keep on fighting this.
Regards
Stuart
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Ironside-69
- 1st Gear
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:23 pm
- Location: North Lincolnshire
My car has done 112312 miles and was first registered on 17-04-03, so just in on the initial cut off stated by Audi in their press release.
I have written to Richard Starkey asking for a free of charge replacement for the issues with my suspension currently and a credit note or reimbursement for the £1200 I spent on a shock and valve last May.
Copied the email to you Stuart and will report on Richards response.
Martin
I have written to Richard Starkey asking for a free of charge replacement for the issues with my suspension currently and a credit note or reimbursement for the £1200 I spent on a shock and valve last May.
Copied the email to you Stuart and will report on Richards response.
Martin
