Is Audi a good car to own long-term when it goes out of warranty?
#12
Audis (like virtually any European cars) are breathtakingly expensive to repair (less so to maintain, but still high in that regard, too) out of their factory protection from new.
But, my Lexus owning friend had power window issues, fuel injector issues and several other out of warranty issues and they, too, were breathtakingly expensive. Hell the power window lift issues were, each, about a car payment.
Your question, however, probably has more to do with how LIKELY are Audis to require breathtakingly expensive repairs out of warranty.
History from "public bitch-blogs" would indicate Audis break -- but I believe, and can't prove, that while the complaints are legit that they are also more indicative of a previous generation of Audis, not the ones, so much, from 2005 forward.
Audi offers a plan that you can buy that, like the OE warranty, can help with the "grab your chest" expenses, up to 100,000 miles. I believe, too, you can buy continuing prepaid maintenance programs too, up to 100,000 miles which gives you a slight discount on the required maint in exchange for your lump sum prepayment.
CPO'ing your own car, in effect, is also possible, and it too will come at a price that is probably pretty close to the cost of ONE major failure and is a use it or lose it proposition -- as it expires at 100,000 miles.
Take brakes as an example of a repair item: price Audi rotors, price Audi brake pads, hold onto your wallets if you need 4 rotors and all new pads.
If you have ADS, I'll bet that won't be an inexpensive fix when it breaks, and on and on and on.
On the other hand, I would assume with routine and regular maintenance and perhaps over changing the fluids and wear and tear items, it should be very likely that 150,000 miles can come and go without drastic financial injections (brakes, excluded, as you WILL need these and they will be expensive.)
If you want durable and very reliable and fun to drive and safe and, and, and, probably no European car should be on your list would be my quick smart-*** answer. Get a Lexus.
On the other hand, after 29 Audis (but only one that I kept longer than 60,000 miles), I can tell you, I wouldn't have any other car (with the possible exception of a Passat CC -- if they ever add a sport package option, that is.)
If I were to want to keep one of these past 50,000K or so, I would certainly hedge my bets with an extended Audi warranty, even though my gut tells me I probably still would pay for tires and batteries and bulbs and fluids and other stuff, through the nose.
But, my Lexus owning friend had power window issues, fuel injector issues and several other out of warranty issues and they, too, were breathtakingly expensive. Hell the power window lift issues were, each, about a car payment.
Your question, however, probably has more to do with how LIKELY are Audis to require breathtakingly expensive repairs out of warranty.
History from "public bitch-blogs" would indicate Audis break -- but I believe, and can't prove, that while the complaints are legit that they are also more indicative of a previous generation of Audis, not the ones, so much, from 2005 forward.
Audi offers a plan that you can buy that, like the OE warranty, can help with the "grab your chest" expenses, up to 100,000 miles. I believe, too, you can buy continuing prepaid maintenance programs too, up to 100,000 miles which gives you a slight discount on the required maint in exchange for your lump sum prepayment.
CPO'ing your own car, in effect, is also possible, and it too will come at a price that is probably pretty close to the cost of ONE major failure and is a use it or lose it proposition -- as it expires at 100,000 miles.
Take brakes as an example of a repair item: price Audi rotors, price Audi brake pads, hold onto your wallets if you need 4 rotors and all new pads.
If you have ADS, I'll bet that won't be an inexpensive fix when it breaks, and on and on and on.
On the other hand, I would assume with routine and regular maintenance and perhaps over changing the fluids and wear and tear items, it should be very likely that 150,000 miles can come and go without drastic financial injections (brakes, excluded, as you WILL need these and they will be expensive.)
If you want durable and very reliable and fun to drive and safe and, and, and, probably no European car should be on your list would be my quick smart-*** answer. Get a Lexus.
On the other hand, after 29 Audis (but only one that I kept longer than 60,000 miles), I can tell you, I wouldn't have any other car (with the possible exception of a Passat CC -- if they ever add a sport package option, that is.)
If I were to want to keep one of these past 50,000K or so, I would certainly hedge my bets with an extended Audi warranty, even though my gut tells me I probably still would pay for tires and batteries and bulbs and fluids and other stuff, through the nose.
#13
AudiWorld Senior Member
Those prices includes labor and 15% tax, also some of those prices do not list all of what was done (often includes oil and filter change with Motul syntetic oil), but the main parts replaced during those service. Labour at $59/hour compared to the dealer who was $82 in 2002. I am scared to ask how much it is now !
#14
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
#15
AudiWorld Senior Member
#16
AudiWorld Super User
This is the reality:
My co-worker was just quoted $436 to replace the rear pads on his Infiniti G35x. That's rear pads only. I'd call that breathtaking
#17
The key is to avoid dealers like the plague, because they charge 50% to 100% more than good indies (even more for routine service). If you do that, the math to compare lease versus buy changes from simple to extremely simple. There was another thread where I a back of the envelope calculation to find out how horrible leasing is. If the OP owns the car for just 6 years, he wouldn't even be close to 100Kmiles and he would save many thousands over leasing.
I can't remember how much I spent for the 100K overhaul, but it was probably a little less than $2K, which is less than the sales tax you would have to pay on a new car in CA.
#18
I used to think that Asian brands were cheaper to maintain. That used to be true, but not so anymore, at least not enough to "settle" for a car you don't really want.
As for servicing, German brands seem to use "lifetime" fluids exclusively now, which are typically good for at least 60K and often good for up to 100K. I don't think the practice is as widespread among Asian brands yet.
#19
AudiWorld Senior Member
Take brakes as an example of a repair item: price Audi rotors, price Audi brake pads, hold onto your wallets if you need 4 rotors and all new pads.
If you have ADS, I'll bet that won't be an inexpensive fix when it breaks, and on and on and on.
On the other hand, I would assume with routine and regular maintenance and perhaps over changing the fluids and wear and tear items, it should be very likely that 150,000 miles can come and go without drastic financial injections (brakes, excluded, as you WILL need these and they will be expensive.)
If you have ADS, I'll bet that won't be an inexpensive fix when it breaks, and on and on and on.
On the other hand, I would assume with routine and regular maintenance and perhaps over changing the fluids and wear and tear items, it should be very likely that 150,000 miles can come and go without drastic financial injections (brakes, excluded, as you WILL need these and they will be expensive.)
#20
I believe the paid Audi care from new is NOT a bargain, but it is also NOT a rip off. Overall, it is a small savings, lost only due to prepayment. I bought it, I like it, I'd buy it again. I hate the hassle and I am not taking it whilst it is in warranty to an indie, no matter how good or how cheap.
But that's just me.
But that's just me.