Ah, Audi. VW’s luxury answer to Mercedes with a hint of Porsche performance thrown in. Sounds enticing? It is! Sounds expensive? It can be! How does your author know? I’ve owned three (and one is my daily)! Like most things, an ounce of preventative maintenance will save you a pound of tears and 10 pounds of cash.
It’s no secret that if you consider “maintenance” to be a drive-thru oil change with a coupon every 15,000 miles, you belong behind the wheel of only a Honda or Toyota. And while we’re on that topic, let’s have a moment of silence for that car’s engine. But if you’re a financially stable adult that puts away his/her clothes, mows the yard at least weekly, changes the filter on your home’s HVAC system more than once a year, and is thinking of becoming a parent, we can discuss what is expected of you when you own and maintain a Germany luxury vehicle.
There are perks of upgrading to an Audi. Effortless acceleration, posh interiors, social status, and the need for a radar detector come to mind. But with great power (literally) comes great responsibility.
Like your better half, Audis like to be pampered. They require such things as fresh fluids, good tires, and high tier gasoline. Skimping on their treatment may feel like winning the battle, but you’ll be losing the war. Buying into the brand means you need to think about things you’ve probably never heard of. When was my transmission fluid last changed? What about my brake fluid? And engine oil? What oil did you use last time – olive, vegetable, crude, or Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic? And what kind of gas do you burn? 87 from the cheapest station on your side of the county or 93 from one of those modern places with a credit card reader at the pump?
Jokes aside, Audis are great cars that can be just as reliable as anything Japanese. Yours truly tried to buy a one-owner A7 with 330,000 miles but was outbid. As a prospective owner, though, you must understand that the brand doesn’t tolerate a-la-cart maintenance or forgetful ownership. It is essential that you have a trusted mechanic who is experienced in working with German over-engineering. Some models require special tools that aren’t kept on hand at Big Brand auto repair shops. As an example, my go-to mechanic couldn’t change the brake rotors and pads on my A7 without special equipment. You also need to work with a shop that understands the maintenance intervals – Audis don’t follow the “it’s broken, fix it” model but instead “If you don’t want $___ repair bill, you need to do ABC maintenance at XYZ miles.” This is an important distinguisher quality owners understand. Maintenance is the key to a smooth luxury ownership experience, not whack-a-mole repairs and roadside tows.
Please give us a call if you’re considering joining the Audi ownership club, if you’re dissatisfied with the service you’ve received elsewhere, or if you’re ready to experience a shop that delivers a customer care experience on par with the quality of your luxury vehicle. We’d be pleased to earn your business.
