The entire ED experience was fantastic. We were met at the airport, driven to the customer center by a very nice young man. Met at the entrance, escorted to the info desk where we left our carry-on bag. Then up to the check-in area where our name was on the board for a 1000 delivery. Many cars already parked in the center for delivery (some 200+ that day). Did the paperwork,went over the car (they take your photo with the car), drove out to the piazza, parked the car then came back for a snack. We had a private 2 hour factory tour and a 1 hour private museum tour. Ate again in the Market Restaurant, bought lots of goodies from the Audi Shop. Stayed at the NH Ambassador (very nice and one of the three in the ED program)-they also had a gift in the room (card and a 1:18 R8). Spent the next day driving parts of various routes thru northern Bavaria that Audi has as part of a Driver program. Everything from "goat paths" to nice 2 lane roads. Beautiful scenery and fantastic driving too. We returned the car in Munich and that was handled very well too by Harms. They gave us the front plate as it comes off when the car is shipped. A driver took us and a couple returning a Volvo XC90 from delivery in Stockholm a ride to the U Station and then a short train ride to Marienplatz and the first day of the Christmas Market. There's also a Christmas Market between terminal 1 and 2 at the Munich airport - we stayed at the Kempinski Saturday night - very nice hotel (155€) - it's one of the ones that Audi provides a free night. Car should be in Bremmerhaven this week then on a ship to the Port of Houston.

This was a fantastic experience and would definitely recommend it to anyone purchasing a new Audi. (The folks with the Volvo got two free rt airfares, one night hotel with their delivery.)

When I checked the email link yesterday, the car is still in Bremmerhaven. Once on the ship it heads to Houston.

This was a fantastic experience and we would recommend it to anyone!!!

Do you have a car coming also?

Carol

Carol:

Per AoA regarding my A5, "The port of Emden confirmed that your vehicle is stored in a protected location and is booked on the Braunschweig, expected to depart on December 15, 2008 and arrive at the port of Houston on January 2, 2009."

I agree with your assessment that ED was an enjoyable experience. Kathy Bis of AoA who runs the ED program was very helpful throught the process.

RSP

I discovered the dates that EH Harms put on their website are not kept up to date very well. My dealer called one day to say my car was at the dealership, but the website said the ship had not docked yet. FYI, my car made it in 23 days from drop off in Frankfurt.

Thanks so much for the valuable insight about the shipping. What day did you drop your car off in Emden? I'll email Kathy and see if she may have an update. Your car sounds very nice.

We saw a really neat R8 in Ingolstadt at the Joska Krystall shop - yellow with carbon insert - hadn't seen one that color yet. I think my favorite is a blue w/carbon that was at one of the Audi Experience ALMS races.

Thanks!

CarolK:

My vehicle was dropped off at E.H. Harms in Munich on 12/2/2008. It was sent from Munich to Emden later that day and likely arrived there no later than 12/3. The Atlixco was due to sail to Houston on 12/4 and arrive on 12/19, but was already fully booked. Fiona at the Customer Center at Audi Forum Ingolstadt indicated that German customs requires the vehicle to be at the departure port at least 3 days before the sailing, but I'm not sure how accurate that is or if it was said to make me feel better about just missing the 12/4 sailing. Kathy Bis from AoA was trying to get it on the Atlixco if possible, but it didn't work out.

It is now supposed to ship out on the Braunschweig on 12/15 and arrive in Houston on 1/2/2009, then be rail shipped to my dealer in Seattle. Just missing the boat (no pun intended) cost me a couple weeks in delayed delivery, but it appears that was unavoidable. I picked up my car on the first day it was available in Ingolstadt.

By the way, you can track it through E.H. Harms' site: https://eurodelivery.ehharms.com/Edts/audi/
You'll need to provide your last name and VIN number. I'm told it is updated periodically with the first update provided when your vehicle actually gets on the ship.

I hope this proves useful to you and others.

RSP

Our cars are on the same ship. I've been checking the website provided on our paperwork and this morning it shows to be on the Braunschweig. Estimated departure was the 15th but as I recall it sailed today. If they are unloaded quickly in Houston and not held at customs for a longer period of time as the car is "used" I am crossing fingers for delivery in Dallas the weekend after arrival.

Interesting info about the vessel is that it's a pure car carrier - 4,524 cars; built in 1982; based out of Monrovia Libya. Here's a link to the photo http://www.ships-info.info/pictures/zz_Braunschweig.jpg

Ship is hopefully due in at the Port of Houston in a weeks time - getting anxious.

Carol