Audi gurus advice needed

[Jladan]

Hi gents ,

Looking for some advice , my a3 1.8 tfsi sporttronic is about to go out of freeway plan however I’m only on 58k km and still love the car.

What Audi wants to charge to extend the freeway plan is ridiculous so I’m keen on your guys view on just taking the risk and putting that cash into my house.

How expensive are services out of plan ? Happy to take her to a decent mechanic if I can find one

 

[Ecko_1]

Where are you based

 

[UrBaN963]

Hi gents ,

Looking for some advice , my a3 1.8 tfsi sporttronic is about to go out of freeway plan however I’m only on 58k km and still love the car.

What Audi wants to charge to extend the freeway plan is ridiculous so I’m keen on your guys view on just taking the risk and putting that cash into my house.

How expensive are services out of plan ? Happy to take her to a decent mechanic if I can find one

My mom was an Audi service advisor for about 15 years. Her definitive advice was always a very clear, “sell it before freeway plan expires, if you’re wondering about costs, you can’t afford it.”

Not in a demeaning way, more that repair costs are insane. Either get a 3rd party Motorplan or sell/trade.

 

[rutger25]

Hi gents ,

Looking for some advice , my a3 1.8 tfsi sporttronic is about to go out of freeway plan however I’m only on 58k km and still love the car.

What Audi wants to charge to extend the freeway plan is ridiculous so I’m keen on your guys view on just taking the risk and putting that cash into my house.

How expensive are services out of plan ? Happy to take her to a decent mechanic if I can find one

If you service the car at a mechanic it will work out much cheaper, but it's still extremely expensive. What do they charge for a two year extension?

 

[Brawler]

My mom was an Audi service advisor for about 15 years. Her definitive advice was always a very clear, “sell it before freeway plan expires, if you’re wondering about costs, you can’t afford it.”

Not in a demeaning way, more that repair costs are insane. Either get a 3rd party Motorplan or sell/trade.

Interesting. I'd understand in the case of a RS car or something in that league but an A1, A3 or A4? They are glorified Polos and Golfs. Why so expensive?

 

[Barbarian Conan]

Interesting. I'd understand in the case of a RS car or something in that league but an A1, A3 or A4? They are glorified Polos and Golfs. Why so expensive?

VW are also pretty expensive to service...

Anyway, OP, ask for the maintenance history and see what kind of pain you're in for.

I drive a BMW and not an Audi, and so far my maintenance (incl services and repairs, excl tyres) work out about R1000 per month average over 3 years. It's a lot, but a lot less than what a replacement would cost. The difference being that you may get hit with R12k the one month, and nothing for the rest of the year. You have to have a pretty decent rainy day fund if you want to keep it after the maintenance plan.

Also do some research and ask on Audi forums what the common problems are. No use running it without a plan if it's only a matter of time before the gearbox or engine needs replacement.

 

[WaxLyrical]

I watched that Doug Demuro vid the other day where he crushes and Audi. Pretty apt I think.

I say bite the bullet and get that motoplan.

 

[Dirtdiver]

im very curious. What happens to these new cars, older cars can be fixed easily, u can tinker with it. The new ones are not so easy and very expensive. So who would buy a 6 year old M3 or Audi RS model, even with low km's outside the warranty.

 

[Barbarian Conan]

im very curious. What happens to these new cars, older cars can be fixed easily, u can tinker with it. The new ones are not so easy and very expensive. So who would buy a 6 year old M3 or Audi RS model, even with low km's outside the warranty.

R500 000 - R600 000 vs the R1.3?? mil+ for a new one. Not apples to apples, since the new one is the new model, but still.
If you know what the common issues are and how to prevent them, then you could maybe do R25k-R50k preventative work and have a reliable high performance car. Sure, the brakes and services and all that will still be expensive, but you still save a couple of hundred thousand from when it was new in 2012.

Especially if you know cars and can do some work on them yourself, or you have a trusted mechanic, then you get a great car for relatively cheap.

Think about it... you could have a 2012 M3 for about R70k less than a new 320d Auto with no options. If it costs R150k (hypothetical scary figure) more over 5 years to maintain, you effectively paid R70k more for an M3 over a 320d. That doesn't sound like such a bad idea.

Of course, there are some models which only ignorant people or people with actual proper workshops will buy, and you see that reflected in the price.

 

[Archer]

My mom was an Audi service advisor for about 15 years. Her definitive advice was always a very clear, “sell it before freeway plan expires, if you’re wondering about costs, you can’t afford it.”

Not in a demeaning way, more that repair costs are insane. Either get a 3rd party Motorplan or sell/trade.

Go look at the exact same cars in the second hand market in Europe, look at the age and mileage and the price they sell for. Now try tell me again how the cars are expensive and shouldn't be touched after the maintenance plan expires and they'll need frequent repairs. I'd wager that 95% of issues with these cars sit somewhere between the steering wheel and driver seat. And half of that problem is that people think R20k once off is worse than R5k per month for 72 months.

 

[UrBaN963]

Go look at the exact same cars in the second hand market in Europe, look at the age and mileage and the price they sell for. Now try tell me again how the cars are expensive and shouldn't be touched after the maintenance plan expires and they'll need frequent repairs. I'd wager that 95% of issues with these cars sit somewhere between the steering wheel and driver seat. And half of that problem is that people think R20k once off is worse than R5k per month for 72 months.

Thanks but I’ll take the advice of an Audi service advisor whose job it is, over someone who wants to make comparisons to Europe on a forum on the internet.

Driver error doesn’t account for manufacturing defects, high cost of replacement parts or excess electronics which do fail and need replacement.

 

[SauRoNZA]

My mom was an Audi service advisor for about 15 years. Her definitive advice was always a very clear, “sell it before freeway plan expires, if you’re wondering about costs, you can’t afford it.”

Not in a demeaning way, more that repair costs are insane. Either get a 3rd party Motorplan or sell/trade.

Or just stop servicing it at Audi...

 

[SauRoNZA]

im very curious. What happens to these new cars, older cars can be fixed easily, u can tinker with it. The new ones are not so easy and very expensive. So who would buy a 6 year old M3 or Audi RS model, even with low km's outside the warranty.

This is a little bit of a logical fallacy.

There really isn't all that much different between these modern cars and older cars and in many ways they are much easier to fix and resolve issues with for having more sensors and electronic diagnosis.

The problem is rather that of the entire "maintenance plan" facade which is really like Medical Aids. Simply by virtue of these plans existing what would alternatively be small thing looked at by a real professional becomes a let's replace everything exercise because the motorplan exists.

Old Days

Customer : I have a little problem with the clutch slipping too early and would like to have it looked at.

Workshop : Oh we just needed to top up the hydraulic fluid and re-routed the clutch line as it was pinching.

Modern Day with Maintenance Plan

Customer : I have a little problem with the clutch slipping too early and would like to have it looked at.

Workshop : Oh no worries we'll just order a new mechatronics unit for your car...this happens often and here's a courtesy vehicle while we wait for parts. Two weeks later...oh we also replaced the entire clutch pack and the reverse gear just to be safe...but don't worry maintenance plan covers it all.

Then when the maintenance plan ends these "mechanics" still operate in the very same manner but the difference is now the owner pays for it.

 

[UrBaN963]

Or just stop servicing it at Audi...

That’ll fix the problems right up

 

[SauRoNZA]

That’ll fix the problems right up

See my point above.

Many of the problems are handled in a terrible and over the top manner and aren't really problems at all.

Not to say there aren't ever any problems, but the manner in which Audi fixes them and the cost at which they do so are often 10x more expensive than the real world cost of fixing the same problem.

 

[Barbarian Conan]

Her definitive advice was always a very clear, “sell it before freeway plan expires, if you’re wondering about costs, you can’t afford it.”

And half of that problem is that people think R20k once off is worse than R5k per month for 72 months.

That's pretty much it.
If you can't ever afford R20k once off, but can afford R5k every month, then you are probably always going to worry about costs.

OP, how much do they want for a year's extension?
How much did the freeway pay for an oil and brakes service the last time?

I don't think third party warranties are really worth it, especially if you have the option of getting a dealership one. They don't cover services or wear and tear items, where the dealership one would. Then they also only cover up to a certain limit, which is usually about as good as having a 100% coverage medical aid and going to a private hospital.

 

[Ecko_1]

I wouldn't be scared by out of plan maintenance. I'm driving a 6 year old GTI. To get a new one gonna cost me in excess of R500k.

To date the biggest maintenance bill was R9500 for a new clutch. I fitted a performance clutch as at the time I intended modding the car.

Services aren't much more expensive than my wife's Vivo as both are serviced at agents.

I just did front pads and discs. All in was about R2500 including labour with oem parts.

I service at agents and all other maintenance is done with a reliable and reputable private mechanic in Durban.

I had to replace a sensor this month which was R2k for the part and R1500 for labour and oil. This was my doing as my car is very low and I hit the sensor on a speed hump

Don't be scared by out of plan. Just find a reliable private mechanic that is honest. If you give location I may be able to give a few names

 

[gfmalan]

I make my decision based on type of gearbox. Tiptronic or manual, I’ll keep the car for 10 years or 300k + km.

I wouldn’t drive a S tronic or Multitronic out of plan. (R120000 - R145000 to replace gearbox)

I have a 3.0TDi with Tiptronic, and at 150k and still a joy.

Services range between R1800 and R4000, but most services R2600.

Still take my car to the dealer.

OP, is the extension of motor plan (time part) really that expensive? I know the KM extension is nearly impossible/rediculous.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I make my decision based on type of gearbox. Tiptronic or manual, I’ll keep the car for 10 years or 300k + km.

I wouldn’t drive a S tronic or Multitronic out of plan. (R120000 - R145000 to replace gearbox)

I have a 3.0TDi with Tiptronic, and at 150k and still a joy.

Services range between R1800 and R4000, but most services R2600.

Still take my car to the dealer.

OP, is the extension of motor plan (time part) really that expensive? I know the KM extension is nearly impossible/rediculous.

Except you'll never ever need to replace an entire gearbox.

Also you could find a donor gearbox for < R20k if you weren't in a super rush.

 

[Archer]

Thanks but I’ll take the advice of an Audi service advisor whose job it is, over someone who wants to make comparisons to Europe on a forum on the internet.

Driver error doesn’t account for manufacturing defects, high cost of replacement parts or excess electronics which do fail and need replacement.

It's not really advice when it benefits them financially now is it? All I'm saying is the same cars are here and elsewhere, how come they 'magically' last longer there? Perhaps they have not fallen hook line and sinker for the biggest fallacy in SA motoring, that anything approaching 100k km is about to disintegrate into dust. And on top of that I bet you the drivers are a tad more intelligent about maintenance. So yes, that piece of meat in the front of the car has almost everything to do with the high (or low) prices they experience.