1) Took car in for cracked Winshield and 45,000 mile service last Thursday. Two computer upgrades were added to the invoice.

2) Glass installer (the service rep emphasized that it was the subcontracted glass installers fault...heh) cracked the plastic cowl. Apparently, the glass installer did not realize that the cowl is GLUED to the base of the windshield, pulled too hard, and CRACK. This must be their first A8 windshield replacement which would hardly surprise me. I wonder if they will replace it correctly or if I should expect wet feet from a windshield leak. I was informed that they would have to order the new cowl and it would be in on Monday (today).

3) Just got a call from the service rep telling me that a recall service required a replacement of something related to the serpentine belt (a bearing or pulley or warp core or something)...which they just found out about today and has to be ordered. They need the car for another day. I asked the service guy when they invoiced the recall and was told that they knew they would be doing the recall on last Thursday but that they did not realize that the part was needed until they got in to do the recall. Umm...OK. I guess the car sat there until today waiting for the glass to be done before they moved onto the other service. Project management mustn't be their specialty. I guess I should just be happy that they are doing the recall without the civil lawsuit required from the "A6 Bumper Design Resulting in Pulled Off Bumpers" problem.

My A8 has now been held hostage by the stealer for five days and counting. Can't wait to see what else they break. I fondly remember my first A8 oil change when they forgot to replace the air input housing properly which resulted in 3 days in the shop while they diagnosed my MIL light (snicker - dumbasses). Or maybe the time they serviced my 2000 A6, dropped and broke the plastic engine cover, and then just plopped it back on the engine with a fist-sized hole left in it. And the lovely time they got in the wrong part for my 2002 TT three times and only realized it WHILE they were doing the service each time requiring three trips to the stealer.

Ahhhhhhh.....the memories!

I don't think my next luxobarge will be an Audi or at least an Audi bought from Holberts in Warrington, PA.

Note to Bob Woolschager from Holbert's Audi sales who occasionally peruses this site: Add this to your "best disgruntled owner's letters" file. I sure you can figure out who I am!

because of their incompetence and Holberts WAS going to be "next in line" if I returned to Audi. I always though t that it was AoA that left the dealers twisting in the wind but I have discovered that these dealers can twist by themselves. Bye bye Audi.

Of course, I need gobs of horsies and AWD. Some cars I have been thinking about:

Lexus LS "whatever" once they have AWD
Chrysler 300C AWD
Cadillac STS AWD

I wish the Acura RL was bigger.

Don't think I'll go "pure" German again just due to the reliability and service issues. My wife's BMW 3-series convertible has been no better although the service folks treat her much, much better. In 2009, after the 6yr/100K extended warranty is up and when I ditch the A8, I expect there will be more selection in the market.

Any thoughts?

that is heads above the crowd and ordered an 07 328XI coupe so Ill still have the advantage of AWD.

Knopf in Allentown has been excellent for me.
So has Stevens Creek (San Jose, CA). So not all dealers are idiots; just quite a few.

For BMW service. Both were technically knowledgeable and adept with my M3.

Personally, I wouldn't jump ship on Audi. Knopf in Allentown is not far from you. They serviced my A4 and RS6 without issue. Nice store with MB and Porsche there as well.

...are closer to my work.

and my other friend(I have only two!!) is head service mgr. for all of the shops(Toyota and Lexus as well).

let me down.

They DO churn through sales staff though!

3 times came in broken. Dealer livid. I suggested they order 2 third time, one for shippers to break, one to install. They did, one broken, one installed. Install great. <$500 installed.

I know tech, advisor, and owner, and I spend time with tech and advisor @ each visit reviewing complaints and issues. Time spent far easier than repeat trips, but store picks up and delivers to our garage.

Dealers get ADP (add'l dealer profit) $ for good CSI. 10% of net IIRC. Big dealer, can be big $. Liam prob knows #'s far better than I do.

Wowdi, try new LS600hL, AWD, 430+bhp, 100k prob. I think LS460 will have AWD variant as well. We have 600 coming, and service in Lex world far more consistant everywhere. We're keeping W12 too, I get it mostly as I drive harder/shorter daily trips than my wife. 20+mpg v. 14mpg (11 when I drive) is no brainer.

Really sad that great cars are plagued with poor/indifferent service, and losing enthusiastic owners like ourselves. Our experiences and enthusiasm probably sells cars as much as their ads do.

Good luck to you and Greenie.
L

would have jumped on it except I wanted to go in the other "size" direction.

...at the moment. Coupe will be nice.

I'm iffy about the rear console, really limits use in a pinch with children. My old M3 had adequate room for 5 on brief trips.

AWD will be nice as well. Grip without a heinous SUV attached.

I miss my BMW's. Glad you have a dealer who can service them and appreciates a customer rather than a sale.

I figure adding 18" wheels, ground effects(when they become available) and an exhaust system should bring it up to speed! It should run rings around my 1972 Bavaria!!!

Have you tried contacting Audi Corporate? Given Audi's missive of achieving parity with MB and BMW, not to mention the competitive forces of Lexus and Infinit, I have to think that someone over there would very much be concerned. Audi is still reeling from tne unintended acceleration issue associated with the 5000 (even if it was an operator error issue), the A4 sludge problems, and in the mindset of many more casual buyers is still perceived as a VW (along with their reliability history).

Audi makes a great car that is competitive if not superior to most of its competitors. Its a shame when the all too prevalent dealer service departments can't offer service consistent with what the high end buyer expects and deserves.

Someone at Audi has got to care. If not, then I agree its time to move on. The Audi pipeline promises some impressive products, but it will all be tarnished without a true commitment to competent service.