Potential RS4 buyer, questions / advice / persuasion request

[pippyrips]

Proportionally the % of cars with DRC failure is small (apparently). There are new, revised parts but it’s yet to be proved that they completely cure the problem.


That aside you have two options:

1) find a car which has had aftermarket suspension fitted

or

2) Find a different car all together

I see where you are coming from but don't let it put you off a great car!

[Baggins]

I've also come up with another plan. Like I said, I'm not intending to buy until April/May time next year so in the meantime I'm going to visit my local Audi dealer (which I believe is going to be one of Europe's largest Audi outlets here in Bristol) and have a word with their Sales and Service Manager about the warranty, repairs etc etc. Hopefully, no matter where I buy the car from, as long as I get the warranty paperwork with it, I can take it to them and they'll look after it for me.

It's all about research and confidence. Believe me, no matter what car you want, read their forums and you'll never buy it, that goes for Mercs, Porsches, Jags and anything else so you've got to eventually take the leap and just prepare yourself for anything that may come to light after.

It's a great car, love it to bits, want one, but well worth digging around for help and advice, and this site is probably the best out of all of them.

[SR71]

Personally, you'll get better info from this site than almost any dealer. I'd take anything they say with a pinch of salt and return here to confirm.

[Baggins]

Personally, you'll get better info from this site than almost any dealer. I'd take anything they say with a pinch of salt and return here to confirm.

Absolutely. What I was trying to get across was finding out what sort of people your local dealers are. Whether they have knowledge of these issues, are they aware of the extended warranties, do they seem the sort who are concerned and helpful?

It's just another step in finding out if the entire package entices you or puts you off.

But yes, you're right, this forum is the best way of finding out problems and how to cure as at the end of the day, you're the users who have had these issues.

Cheers, Simon.

[bn8959]

I agree. It all helps.

Looks like myself and Simon are shopping in the same area for the same car

[pippyrips]

I and a few others are just the other side of the bridge if you fancy popping over sometime. I think a few of us will be catching up this weekend at some point.

[bn8959]

I was thinking of a trip to Cardiff Audi at the weekend actually...

[Baggins]

I agree. It all helps.

Looks like myself and Simon are shopping in the same area for the same car

Where you based?

[bn8959]

Bristol

[PetrolDave]

in the meantime I'm going to visit my local Audi dealer (which I believe is going to be one of Europe's largest Audi outlets here in Bristol) and have a word with their Sales and Service Manager about the warranty, repairs etc etc. Hopefully, no matter where I buy the car from, as long as I get the warranty paperwork with it, I can take it to them and they'll look after it for me.

Don't trust the word of anyone employed at the dealer - of course the Service Manager will say "we know all about RS4s and will look after you properly", but you only need to read posts on here to see that some (often large) Audi dealers know less about the RS4 than I know about brain surgery (a subject i know very, very, very little about).

Read the posts on here and see what dealers WE trust with our RS4s - and take your car there, even if it means a long drive.

I live 5 miles from a big Audi dealer (and work only a mile from them) but they are NOT going to see my RS4 for ANY repairs or servicing (I do go to their parts department, who are very knowledgable and helpful), instead I drive over 50 miles (past 2 more Audi dealers) to one who you can read on here knows about RS4s, cares about how well they service them, and respects what their owners want.

Nearest is most often NOT the best, so make the effort to go to the best - your RS4 deserves it.

[Baggins]

in the meantime I'm going to visit my local Audi dealer (which I believe is going to be one of Europe's largest Audi outlets here in Bristol) and have a word with their Sales and Service Manager about the warranty, repairs etc etc. Hopefully, no matter where I buy the car from, as long as I get the warranty paperwork with it, I can take it to them and they'll look after it for me.

Don't trust the word of anyone employed at the dealer - of course the Service Manager will say "we know all about RS4s and will look after you properly", but you only need to read posts on here to see that some (often large) Audi dealers know less about the RS4 than I know about brain surgery (a subject i know very, very, very little about).

Read the posts on here and see what dealers WE trust with our RS4s - and take your car there, even if it means a long drive.

I live 5 miles from a big Audi dealer (and work only a mile from them) but they are NOT going to see my RS4 for ANY repairs or servicing (I do go to their parts department, who are very knowledgable and helpful), instead I drive over 50 miles (past 2 more Audi dealers) to one who you can read on here knows about RS4s, cares about how well they service them, and respects what their owners want.

Nearest is most often NOT the best, so make the effort to go to the best - your RS4 deserves it.

Trouble is, how do you know where the good dealers are? Is there a list on the forum of dealers where forumers have had good experiences and would therefore recommend? By area? Asking a lot I know but I'm sure loads of people would find this really useful.

[SR71]

There is no obligation to get your car serviced by a dealer whatsoever.

Your warranty is NOT affected as long as whoever services it uses Audi approved parts and procedures.

I have used a local Audi specialist for that reason for the last 6 years and they are fantastic. They don't have the big premises and fancy coffee machine, or the courtesy cars and bimbo's on the front desk, but they always answer the phone, always phone me back, never scratch the car, don't drive it 10 miles down the road on a "road test"...

It may make you feel warm and fuzzy but the big dealers are often the worst people to look after your car. You're just a small cog in a big wheel even if the fact that you've shelled out £55K makes you think otherwise!

My experience with Cardiff Audi and Bridgend Audi is less than positive...Bridgend are better...slightly.

Inspite of their proximity I wound up buying my car from a dealer in West London...not that I recommend them either, but they did at least try and meet some of my requirements!

Ideally, take someone along with you who actually has a RS4 and can call them on the BS they feed you.

Whatever the hell you do, make sure that on any car you view, you ask them specifically about the DRC, any shock replacements, and get them to take the front wheels off and check the struts yourself for weeping/leaking....thats if you can't get a good view of the offending items without removing the wheels....

They might tell you some BS about how the TT's manifest the same tendency for their shocks to weep/leak but they never "fail". The implication is that you can drive the car "as is" until it fails, whereupon you'd head down the dealer and get it fixed.

You can then ask them to comment on the analogous situation whereby if my car leaks oil, is it acceptable for me to just drive it until it "blows up" whereupon you will then sort the situation out?

That might make them cough and splutter...

Still you know the system is now covered for 5 years/75K miles and FWIW, my car has slightly weeping front shocks and hasn't developed any subsequent problems.

[PetrolDave]

Trouble is, how do you know where the good dealers are? Is there a list on the forum of dealers where forumers have had good experiences and would therefore recommend? By area? Asking a lot I know but I'm sure loads of people would find this really useful.

You need to read the old posts as well as the first page.

For a starter - look at the thread titled "RECOMMENDATION - Camberley Audi" - that's where I go, and no I didn't start that thread.

You could also start a thread titled "Recommend a good dealer near Bristol" - I'm sure you would get some good and helpful replies (you already know three to avoid from SR71's post above!).

Personally I intend to go to a dealer until the warranty expires, then I will go to an Audi specialist - just to avoid the hassle and possible arguments with Audi UK if I need a warranty repair done.

[PetrolDave]

Trouble is, how do you know where the good dealers are? Is there a list on the forum of dealers where forumers have had good experiences and would therefore recommend? By area? Asking a lot I know but I'm sure loads of people would find this really useful.

You need to read the old posts as well as the first page.

For a starter - look at the thread titled "RECOMMENDATION - Camberley Audi" - that's where I go, and no I didn't start that thread.

You could also start a thread titled "Recommend a good dealer near Bristol" - I'm sure you would get some good and helpful replies (you already know three to avoid from SR71's post above!).

Personally I intend to go to a dealer until the warranty expires, then I will go to an Audi specialist - just to avoid the hassle and possible arguments with Audi UK if I need a warranty repair done.

[bn8959]

You need to read the old posts as well as the first page.

For a starter - look at the thread titled "RECOMMENDATION - Camberley Audi" - that's where I go, and no I didn't start that thread.

You could also start a thread titled "Recommend a good dealer near Bristol" - I'm sure you would get some good and helpful replies (you already know three to avoid from SR71's post above!).

Personally I intend to go to a dealer until the warranty expires, then I will go to an Audi specialist - just to avoid the hassle and possible arguments with Audi UK if I need a warranty repair done.

It always amazes me how varied the service is between official dealers.

I would agree with the idea of using Audi UK for servicing until the warranty is up - that would be my plan anyway.

I was just about to ask a new question, but I think ill create a new thread....