My poor f*cking car. Thank you Hitchin Audi

[JampoTT]

I'm not sure I mentioned the hassle I had getting my car booked in for some warranty work. Hitchin Audi wanted a FOUR WEEK lead time before they could give me a courtesy car (instead of the promised 10 working days.) Getting it sorted involved hassle with Audi CS (it went in next day!)and still they've had it for weeks...

I was looking forward to getting it back today - they even called to ask whether it was remapped, as they were doing some software updates and needed confirmation. I was just waiting for the "come and get it, sir" phone call...

...which didn't happen.

I got a different phone call instead. In which they admitted some <beep> has damaged my car. Reversed into it with a truck, apparently.

So be warned. If you leave your car with an Audi dealer, there is a good chance this might happen:



Don't worry, though. I've been assured it'll be repaired to "Audi Standards" by the apologetic Service Manager. I've already politely informed her that "Audi Standards" simply won't do. They are woeful.

I'm more angry than upset. Perhaps its their "Thank you" for me grassing them up to Audi CS about their ridiculous waiting times. Perhaps its just "one of those things"... I don't care. Audi are going to pay for this one, and if they think this can be sorted by returning me a crash-damaged car, complete with a shrug and an apology, they've obviously never dealt with me before.

Serious questions - what do you think they should offer by way of compensation? Should I go directly to Audi CS, or at least give the dealer chance to put it right?

On the plus side, I'm quite proud that I only used the word "<beep>" once during the entire conversation, and NOT AT ALL in the email I've followed it up with...
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[Scotty]

Gutted for you Tim.

I know there's no point me encouraging to get everything you can out of them as I know you will regardless what anyone says. I think the word tenacious is quite apt.

Whatever you think of them I can't believe there is any sabotage and though it is 'one of those things'.
Has it gone onto the rear panel or is it just the tail section. I had my tail replaced and wouldn't know from looking at it. If it's just the rear then it's an easy fix. I fear from the pic that it's just caught the metal work of the next panel. This will obviously need a little more care to repair well.

It should be returned to you in a presitine condition with at least your first service thrown in. I think you should also be given your choice of female assistant but perhaps Lisa won't agree!!

Did they actually fix the bits it was in for? How long before you get it back? They must have had it 5 weeks or so by now.

[FrankC]

Give the dealer the chance to put it right first,If your not 100% happy with the job,politely but firmly reject it, stating why you are dissatisfied.

Had a very similar incident with my local dealership.....went to collect the RS4 and noticed the front bumper was cracked above the air fins.
When i asked what the service manager was going to do about he replied..."nothing"...

Went ballistic and it almost ended in a punch up inside the showroom....end result was a brand new front bumper plus paint job at their cost.
Totally regret the incident now as every time i am up at the deaership i bump into the service manager
Cheers fc

[simple1]

Seems to be a regular thing, mine was in getting some work done and when collected it was dirty and dusty. Noticed the scrape all down the side though and pointed it out, as I did with dig out of the top of the rear bumper... all fixed at their cost, and no row either.

[JohnW]

Yep, had my RS bumpers marked. Fortunately I had got the service guy to walk around the car with me when I dropped it off, so he could not deny it had happened while in their care.
I now make a point of doing this, and also make a point of always dealing with the same service guy. He knows what I expect now.
Last time in I'm sure the guys that clean the car managed to scratch the wheels, but they are all going to be replaced tomorrow (all bent) so I'm not so worried now
Oh, and before someone asks, its the wheels being replaced, not the valeters

[Pete.S]

Nah, I was gonna ask if all car valeters really are bent

The guys at my local dealer always inspect the car for damage pre-service/work, I'd always assumed that was standard Audi policy...?

Jampo, gutted for you too, though I can't imagine for one minute it was anything other than an unfortunate accident, so the promise of a full repair is fair enough, especially as the service manager was appropriately apologetic. A car of equal prestige/value thrown in as a courtesy in the meantime should also be the least you should expect.

Frank, to be honest mate I don't know why you regret your little run-in with your service manager; if he seriously replied "nothing" to your question I think you had every right to react the way you did, indeed I would personally have taken the issue of his attitude right to the top at Audi and gotten the scrote sacked. I reckon he should be getting on his hands and knees for you when you walk in there, not you being the embarrassed one...

[JampoTT]

Quick update - wasn't worth chasing a "better" courtesy car, as it couldn't be agreed until today anyway, and I'm flying on my hols first thing on Friday morning.

I didn't want to go to the hassle of parking an A6 in Gatwick for 2 weeks, so I've negotiated a free return taxi fare, and as a kind gesture, they've offered to pay £100 towards a nice meal or excursion whilst I'm out there. All in, this is pretty much the same price as a service, and as my car won't need servicing for some time yet, its nice to take advantage "now"...

Am I happy with this? Yeah - Hitchin confirmed it truly WAS a 3rd party that reversed into it. A local self-employed flatbed driver, so technically the "blame" isn't Audi's anyway. OK, so my car was under their care and jurisdiction at the time, but at the end of the day, its HIS fault, and HIS insurance (not Audi) are paying for the damage to be repaired. Audi are actually doing quite well in smoothing things over (ScoTTy knows full well how cantankerous I can be...) To Audi's credit, they haven't even tried to tell me they aren't to blame (even tho it appears they'd be right to say so) and for this I'm grateful - it shows they accept moral responsibilty, even if they have no legal obligation.

They had my car in on 3rd March for the initial work (58 hours workshop time!!!!!) so by the time I return from my hols, I'll not have been behind the wheel for 7 weeks. 360bhp will never have felt so good, I can tell you.

[Pete.S]

That's great news mate, pleased for you. Sounds like Audi have played ball, and then some, too.....

All you've got to do now is try and disguise from the missus your desperation to get home again in the last few days of your hols

There's nothing like the promise of getting into your beloved baby when you haven't seen her for a while, to get you over the thought of the return to Blighty

[Scotty]

Are you on HRT or something? This is not what I expected at all!!!! I'm not as aggy as you but I would be ripping peoples arms off by now! Not because of the damage but due to the lenght of time they've had your car. Mine was in and out in two days!