Filed under: Audi
Audi tells dealers "Either get in or get out"
Audi's US sales have done quite well lately, with a 7% rise in August, and 6% in July. But successful companies know complacency does not foster greater success. So Audi has had a little talk with some of its less-than-stellar Stateside dealers.
Basically, the German automaker has told underperformers they either need to invest in their franchises to improve sales and customer satisfaction, or sell them back. According to Automotive News, Audi has already identified six specific dealers that fall into this unfavorable category, and is even in final buyback talks with two of them.
An Audi spokesperson told Automotive News that most of the weak businesses also sell brands other than Audi. That's why the company is urging dealers to build stand-alone Audi dealerships, with a goal of 150 independent Audi sales locations by 2012. The push for more stores includes a new flagship store in New York with another high-volume location in Los Angeles.
An incentive program encourages independent Audi dealers by paying them a 16% bonus for every vehicle sold, while multi-brand dealers get as little as 7%.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John 8:35PM (9/28/2007)
I can think of one dealership that made the list....Audi of Fairfield, CT.......I get much better service and respect at a Subaru dealer. Simply put, Subaru, at least my dealer, knows how to say thank you and values the customer. My Audi experience was a little like this: "F you, it is an Audi, take it or leave it, you should be greatful we sold you the car"....."how dare you bother us with your failed ignition coil!"
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mxrz 8:45PM (9/28/2007)
Coilpack failures are common with the 1.8T motor, even the latest revisions, if that's what you have. Should carry at least two new ones in the trunk. Replacing them is very easy, and can be done on the side of the road in five minutes, without any tools. Or upgrade all four, to something like Hitachi's E series.
K-zoo Boi 10:18PM (9/28/2007)
I would add Maple Hill of Kalamazoo, MI to this list. Their service is one of the worst I have seen. I had an issue with my car and all they had was excuses. Only their Subaru department can service and they do it well. The VW and Audi service is pathetic. I hope they move to a better dealer.
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Jim 12:21PM (9/29/2007)
Yeah the Audi and VW dealers in my area are rather pathetic as well, I have tried to buy a car from three dealerships and when I leave them with the specs I want, they go looking for the car and never get back to me. Then when I call them they play like they are still looking through their stock. On the service side of things I have two VWs now and I dread taking them in for service, every service center in Vancouver (Cowell, Clarkdale, Capilano) all have this belief that I owe them for the privilege of the VW. As most these places service Audi too I have been thinking twice before I buy another VW or an Audi. It is too bad as I like the cars, just cannot stand the work I have to do to buy one then the trouble it takes to service them.
zamafir 10:36PM (9/28/2007)
pity vw can't do the same
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JerryB 10:48PM (9/28/2007)
Hmmm. Buy an expensive German luxury car and keep spare parts in the trunk.
What's wrong with this picture?
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mxrz 11:18PM (9/28/2007)
Do you also think it's wrong to have a "spare" tire in the trunk?
Barney 11:45PM (9/28/2007)
It was at one time considered worthwhile to carry a ballast resister in your Chrysler product. They used them for decades.
Barney 11:48PM (9/28/2007)
"Do you also think it's wrong to have a "spare" tire in the trunk?"
You consider it normal to carry spare parts for your car, in it's trunk? What kind of car do you drive and how full of extra parts is it?
mxrz 12:07AM (9/29/2007)
Yeah, I do consider that normal... Then again I'm a car nut.
the friendly grizzly 11:14AM (9/29/2007)
Nothing is wrong with it at all. I knew a BMW owner who used to lament "I have one of the most finely engineered and precision-built cars in the world! And I have a drawerful of repair bills to prove it!".
Now, Audis are made in Germany, correct? And they have coil failures like VWs, right? With that table set, let me ask VW fans this: where is all your talk about how the failed coils in your VWs are because the car is made in Mexico?
Random Task 2:14AM (9/29/2007)
Wow. Someone bought an Audi because of some reliability concern? Now I've heard it all.... and then he mods it. That's just hilarious.
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mxrz 2:59AM (9/29/2007)
Reliable, under 500ft-lb of torque... My auto-x friends with WRX's and EVO’s on the other hand, are replacing major drivetrain components at an alarming rate. Still find my reasons hilarious?
Harrison 3:22AM (9/29/2007)
Er... those babies are driven hard on the track by people who have driving styles we know absolutely NOTHING about.
So... the lack of a representative sample hurts your argument.
mxrz 3:38AM (9/29/2007)
It's just my opinion based on first hand observations... I'm not trying to convince anyone or pass it of as a fact.
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pscs 8:08AM (9/29/2007)
the dealer @ audi sucks here in south africa. im not going to mention which dealer who had a f*cked up attitude towards their customers.
i know audi is one of the best brands in the world (because I own 2 audis), but without a proper dealership their cars are going nowhere.
the fact is that they dont know how to communicate with their customers meant that they lack skills to sell cars.
i bought an audi few weeks ago, and these freaks are bullshitting me with their customer service. if you are impatient go to hell b*tch! your attitude stinks.
audi you should sort out your customer service or else your reputation is really tarnished.
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TVs Hasselhoff 8:45AM (9/29/2007)
Cherry Hill Imports in Cherry Hill, NJ is almost criminal in their behavior towards their customers.
I'm not getting into the Audi performance/reliability argument. All I can say is the 1.8t was well known for its durability when pushed for hp, and the 2.0t garnered its fair share of industry awards, including engine of the year when it debuted. Their success in the overseas touring car championship can't be denied, either.
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Jeff 9:02AM (9/29/2007)
John Holtz Audi here in Rochester , NY is doing EVERYTHING right! When pulling up for service, I drive right in to the service area, they greet me by name and have a great waiting area or loaner ready to go. The car is always ready when promised. I'm on my 2nd Audi and have only had scheduled maint. and 'minor' recalls in 6 years! Horray for John Holtz!!
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d3 a8 swb 9:15AM (9/29/2007)
An expensive luxury car, huh ?
The a4 is neither expensive, nor is it a luxury car.
Basically what it is is a way for Audi to get money from idiots that should be buying a used Honda and saving their cash. They have built a high-end luxury brand, and the small-sized cars are a way to extend the profitability of that brand.
Stop and think for a second - does a 4-cylinder, 1.8 L engine sound like something that is in a high end car ? No, it doesn't.
That's why they are so cheap.
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mxrz 12:42AM (9/29/2007)
So just because I wanted a medium size sedan with quattro, that doesn't weigh as much as a house like your A8, I'm an idiot? The A4 has all the luxury features that I want, and maybe it only has a four banger with less displacement than a 2 liter bottle of coke, but guess what, I “wanted” it instead of the V6, because mine makes more power and a shitload more torque than your A8. Even if you had the S8, I'd still be making more power. See, we all have different needs, to you, your big sedan might be the shit, to me, it’s an oversized, overpriced, boat of a sedan that is boooooring to drive.
And your entire view on what this segment of the market represents couldn't be less idiotic. The entry level luxury sedans, made by Audi, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, etc... are in fact, their most essential offerings, it's what keeps these brands alive in the market place, and more often than not, it's their most reliable and cost effective vehicle.
And finally, if you think Audi “built a high end luxury brand” you need to learn some history son, try wikipedia.