I drive Audi A6, and until recently, I was really happy with it. Actually I still am happy with it 🙂 But, as mechanical things go, one day my car warned me blinking at me with one of the orange control lamps at the dashboard, that something is not OK with its exhaust / air intake systems. I checked user manual and Audi told me there to visit service as soon as possible. I was then in Krakow, Poland, so I did. I imagined that since I drive Audi, I can expect proper and quick service, or at least that someone will plug my car in and read the actual error code and tell me if I can drive with it for a while. Boy, was I wrong.
First service station was Audi dealer called Auto Special, where I had to wait for a service representative for a while. When he finally came, it was apparent that he was enjoying his cigarette break. He told me that he has no chance to have a look at the car now and that I would have to leave it with them for 5 hours, until the end of the business day. On my question if he has any cars available so I can stay mobile, he said that he doesn’t know. Five hours to plug a damn laptop in seemed like a long time, so I went to the second service point, called Beltowski, on the other end of the city. There I needed to go to service point where also Volkswagen is serviced and I was told… you got it. No chance. They cannot have a look at the car, as many cars were towed in over the weekend (that was Monday) and he has only 3 mechanics working, and… whatever.
I left also that dealership without getting any help. I have no idea what Audi is thinking – my car was not registered in Poland, so it was obvious that I needed some attention, or proper customer service – so at least I would have some peace of mind when driving back home. Especially that it was them who put that “come to service asap” in the manual. Maybe they should add a sentence: come to us, but we will service you if that will not be Monday; we will have more than 3 people working in the service, and if not too many of our soooo reliable cars will not get towed in over the preceding days and someone will be able to plug in our computer to see what’s wrong.
If that is too much to expect from Audi, then I don’t know what I can really expect from them for the relatively steep price. So if you considered buying an Audi thinking that with its price tag comes some guarantee of future attention and quality of service, think again. At least in Krakow.
Mr. Rommie Blog 
Just when I thought this must be only a US thing, I read about your experience in Poland. That’s awful! I guess Audi service sucks worldwide! I drive an A6 as well and I refuse to take my car to the dealership ever again. I found a shop that’s actually specialized in German cars specifically VWs and Audis so I’m golden as long as they’re in business.
Good for you! I got mine fixed (it took almost exactly half an hour with part replacement) also in a shop which was not authorized 🙂 But I am sorry to hear that Audi is crappy on your side too… I liked them until now.
That’s awesome! I never liked them. I always had a hunch that they were thieves and boy was I right. They would bill me for things that they didn’t even replace. I only went to them because they’re the so called specialists
Ouch… That’s bad.
Oh and it gets worst because everything is normal to them. When I purchased my car, I was told that my oil changes are every ten thousand miles. I’ve owned the car for almost three years now and have never been able to go past four or five thousand miles without my oil level sensor coming on. When this used to happen, I would take my car to the dealership to have them check it out and they would come back, say that everything is fine, provide me with a quart or two of oil, and claim that it was normal for my car to burn oil like that. Then I asked them about my brakes and why they produce so much damn brake dust, they told me not to worry, it’s normal. My car sometimes hesitates to start, I asked them about it because I thought my starter was no good and they said not to worry because it’s normal. I’m telling you, everything is normal to those idiots.
I guess you cannot really expect any quality anywhere anymore.
I found a shop devoted to quality so I’ve been getting taken care of finally. I hope you find yourself a new place as well. Dealerships suck and should be avoided at all times!
Yes, I have found someone too. And yes, I will definitely avoid those dealerships 🙂