WHEEL CRACKING

[wildbore]

You are confusing brand and product. The product may have a whiff of premium, but the brand definitely doesn't. A truly premium brand would have dealt with this wheel fiasco.

You need to get out and break down in some premium brand cars.

[robf]

The reality is that Audi have a very strong brand at the moment. Before, everyone wanted a BMW, but Audi's exterior and interior have really got people interested. You could argue the original TT was the catalyst for this.

I do have my doubts about quality levels though, as my family has been very loyal to VW (effectively the same car, after all) since the '80s, and from various Golfs, to Tiguans, there have been constant niggling issues. We also run a fleet of Golfs here at work. They've not been things that have left people on the hard shoulder, but are frequent enough to you start to question the legendary reputation that german engineering benefits from.

However, i'm on a few forums i've heard the same complaints from Mereceds and BMW owners.

[Bit_evl]

Perspective is everything.
They are the top of the tree in VAG, Lambo/Bentley excepted.
Skoda, SEAT and VW are positioned below them. Octavia, Golf and A3 priced with the same engine demo this.
They present themselves as a premium brand alongside MB and BMW.

I agree that the platform sharing stuff has resulted in them using cheaper shared components in many cases. When Audi used their own platforms and parts the premium was felt in the product. Now it seems that price driven skimping on build is impacting the customer experience.

I did not have these issues with the E63S and I gave it the same modest treatment.

I am annoyed at the brakes warping and alloys failing but I am a lot more worried it happened in under 10k miles and fully expect it to happen again. That will be the test.

[Markp]

My car definitely feels premium and it has strong, forged lightweight alloys as standard. Size isn't everything. #20inch

[RS6chris!]

Every VAG car I've had has been trouble and cost me money!

Apart from the Porsche.

God only knows why I keep coming back.

[Ian_C]

Lambo

Didn't even they have an exploding wheel issue on one of their models in the last few years or so?

[wildbore]

They are the top of the tree in VAG, Lambo/Bentley excepted.

Yep. Definitely better than Porsche, and don't even mention those crappy cheapo Bugatis (which are nothing more than re-badged Skodas).

[bam_bam]

Just finished reading evo Jan 17 edition (yes, I know I'm behind) and noted that they've had an unusual issue with the front-end of their long-term car, except they've blamed it on tyres 'going-off'. I'd put real money on it being bent wheels. We'll probably never know, it was going back to Audi in Febs issue.

[RS6chris!]

Interesting the two wheels that have catastrophically failed are both on ceramic brakes and were both being tracked?


Just saying.

[Bit_evl]

Just finished reading evo Jan 17 edition (yes, I know I'm behind) and noted that they've had an unusual issue with the front-end of their long-term car, except they've blamed it on tyres 'going-off'. I'd put real money on it being bent wheels. We'll probably never know, it was going back to Audi in Febs issue.

It may be that someone emailed them and told them to have a look at that given some other concerns. We will see if they come back with any comments.

[ollys]

I'm shocked! Surely there is no way this should happen? Certainly not more than once? This plus the buckling, suggests there must be some inherent structural weakness in the design or manufacture of this wheel. Wouldn't Audi have thrashed this car and wheel round a track themselves in testing in a manner which would have revealed this issue, or am I being naive? Who manufactures this wheel? Won't they be interested to see this happening?

[bam_bam]

Maybe the supplier changed the casting material. I remember when this car launched and being very disappointed that the 21" wheels were cast and so heavy. The RS alloys have typically been produced by some great names. The C6 peelers were Italian Speedlines, the C5 were Ronal originals.

[RS6chris!]

I'm sure the manufacturers name is stamped on rear of 21"s??...


Can't think who it was?

[DragonRR]

I had no problems with the wheels on my 2014 RS6 although I didn't keep it that long nor track it but this thread and the buckled wheels one here helped with a diagnosis on our Range Rover which has two buckled 22" wheels. I suppose it is entirely possible that the manfucturer has changed the material but I suspect that it is just the size and the design coupled with a big heavy car causing the problem.

[scottie1979]

Just finished reading evo Jan 17 edition (yes, I know I'm behind) and noted that they've had an unusual issue with the front-end of their long-term car, except they've blamed it on tyres 'going-off'. I'd put real money on it being bent wheels. We'll probably never know, it was going back to Audi in Febs issue.

It may be that someone emailed them and told them to have a look at that given some other concerns. We will see if they come back with any comments.

I actually sent him a message when i read that issue as im sure did others, but turns out it was worn tyres (their car actually had the 21" performance alloy which i dont think anyone has had issues with so far?) - he does refer to buckled wheels others are suffering from in the end of term report in the latest issue though.