Okay, I'm starting to get nervous about the delivery of the A5 I ordered on 3/22 and would like some advice on anything I can do to get clarity on this:

In June, I got a call saying they expected I would get the car the week of 7/21. Excellent, right? - only a 4 month wait.

On 7/25, I call them, figuring I've been pretty patient. My sales guy calls back (none too promptly) and says there must have been a "miscommunication" because the car won't be in until the week of 8/18. Okay, fine.

I then discover these forums, and e-mail him asking for comm # and status. On 6 August, I got an e-mail with Vehicle Order information. The status date on this was 6/14 (not sure if this is significant.

Order Entry 04/16/2008 (Actual)
Release for Production 05/30/2008 (Actual)
Factory Inspected 06/14/2008 (Actual)
Departure Port Arrived 06/17/2008 (Actual)
Ship Loaded 08/11/2008 (ETA)
Port Arrived 08/21/2008
Rel. to Carrier (Port) 08/27/2008
Dealer Delivered Week of 09/01/2008

So I called him again yesterday to get an update, and now he tells me Port Arrival is "same as I told you the last time - Sept 8th" - Sept 8th ???

Okay, so I've now learned about the Hail Storm, and, given these dates, I would think that my car was affected by this. But am I worrying too much that there's something else going here?

I'm going to ask him to send me another full status, but wanted to see if there's anything else I should ask.

Also, anybody know which port cars bound for Boston arrive at?

thanks for the help.

Joe

Salesmen and a huge majority of buyers are not as anxious and excited about these cars as the enthusiasts on here.

...the last time he gave me a status - so, the car would likely arrive the week of 8/18.

Which you have listed as 8/21...(the week of 8/18). Then it looks like it spends a week at the port, then another 5 days to truck it over to the dealership.

From what I've seen they'd rather tell you the 8th or later and have you be pleased when it comes on the 1st. Rather than promise August 29th and have you upset becaue it won't arrive until the 1st. "Under promise and over deliver." I don't care for it either. Especially when you end up with "Under promise and under deliver."

I'm not sure if this is correct, but I have read a couple of places that Boston-bound ships go into RI.

But I'm confused. If the car arrived at the departure port on 6/17, why would it take almost two months to be loaded on the ship? That doesn't sound right. Mine was loaded within days of arriving at departure port (in February) and got to the dealer in just over a month -- and it had quite a bit farther to travel, through the Panama Canal to the West Coast.

Something isn't adding up. I hope they aren't giving you the runaround.

BTW, I'm assuming you are in Carlisle MA? Pretty country. I used to drive through Carlisle everyday on my way to work years ago. And we used to go for ice cream at Bates Farm (later became Kimball's). Nothing like that here in the desert! Which, for my hips' sake, is probably a good thing.

Thanks Liz.
I seem to recall something about a RI port as well.

I think its a reasonable conclusion that the car was damaged during the infamous 6/27 hail storm and was sent back to Audi (I will check with the dealer on this) - hence the long time "in transit". This, to me, also would explain why I got a call in mid June that I'd have the car by 3rd week in July, only to be told in July that there was a "miscommunication".

And yes - its Carlisle MA - and I'm way too close to Bates/Kimballs

Your car would have been in Essen on the date of the hail storm... You selling delaer can check to see if it had been shiploaded actually in the CRS system. My guess, is that it has been sent back to the factory for repair and inspection...
I am at Inskip in RI, and the Boston area cars (as well as CT NH VT ME NY and some of NJ) do in fact come into the port of Davisville RI...

Thanks, I did see that post. Wish the sales guy would just have been up front about the situation.

I had been thinking before that your car was probably already on the ship by the time of the storm, but looking at your chronology again I guess maybe not.

But still, nearly two months? Doesn't it take less time to build the entire car from start to finish?! It does seem like an awfully long time.

Good luck -- I hope you receive it soon (and in perfect condition)!

[Re: Carlisle... I'm guessing it hasn't changed much over the years -- unlike Acton, my home town.]

two full months after the hail storm, apparently a disconnect between Germany and Va...

Joe:

We are living parallel lives. I picked up on a cancelled order on 6/24. Got the VIN, put down the deposit, here is the Vehicle Order info;

Order entry 04/03/08 Actual
Release for production 05/14/08 Actual
Factory Inspected 06/05/08 Actual
Departure Port Arrived 06/06/08 Actual
Ship loaded 06/25/08 Estimated
Rel to carrier (port) 07/15/08 Estimated
Dealer delivered Week of 07/14/08 Estimated

Checked in with them 07/16, and was told it's pushed back due to AoA not having costs out yet. No mention of hail. New info:

Ship loaded 08/11/08 Estimated
Rel to carrier (port) 08/29/08 estimated
Dealer Delivered Week of 09/01/08 estimated.

I found out about the hail after 7/16, and figured that's the real reason for the delay. Called dealer 8/22 for update, got back an e-mail that dealer delivery is now in third week of September!! Like you felt, WTF?? I too read the note from Tim about damage extent, so I can't figure out another 3 weeks based on that. I'm going to call for all that data.

Well, it took a little back and forth but I did get confirmation that, yes, my car was at the port during the hail storm and was returned to Audi. Now, supposedly, it will be on the boat on 8/27...

...that he didn't know the car was pulled back due to the hail storm.