I read this article on autoblog about this woman treated like dirt at a BMW dealership as she was trying to return her leased car and started to wonder if anyone had similar experiences at Audi dealerships.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/09/a...ou-dont-deser/

I actually had a great experience at Audi of West Covina. One of the best experiences ever. If this story is even half true, I don't see how anyone would ever buy a bimmer.

 

Every make has its bad eggs. They are franchises. The parent company can't hold their hand. If that becomes a common thing at that dealership, bmw can pull their license.

 

purchased mine at Rusnak in Pasadena and have had it serviced there, McKenna in Norwalk, and Penske in West Covina.

Rusnak was atrocious....waiting area was in a hallway next to the water cooler. I ended walking over to Mercedes and used their waiting area. It took them 5 hours to complete my 5k service. Actually, 2 hours to complete it and another 3 before they thought they should let me know it was done.

McKenna was decent. Great waiting area w/ flatscreens, free wifi, and a coffee bar. Service advisors didn't seem to take my CELs or excessive sunroof noise seriously.

Penske is amazing!!! Everyone there is super friendly and will talk to you regardless of whether you're there for service or to buy a car. And it's not the pushy "hey you should buy a car" talk either. It's how's it going, how do you like your car, how is your service, is there anything we can do better? The service advisors don't treat you like an idiot. Chris Martin (my usual service advisor) would give me a call in the morning and in the afternoon to keep me updated on my car. And I've never had to wait more than 30 minutes to drop off my car or pick it up if they knew to expect me. A loaner was there and ready to go as soon as I got there. Plus they're enthusiasts just like the rest of us. PENSKE FTW!

 

A dealership's jerkiest time is when they assess your trade-in, and when you return a lease. It's universal. (and why I don't trade-in , or lease )

 

I know you usually get jacked on trade in's but I just have to share that when I went to Penske Audi in West Covina, they had 2 salesman calling around for about 30 minutes trying to get me the most for my trade in. They almost got me the blue book value! Plus they gave me a killer deal on my A3 2.0 DSG (below dealer invoice). The salesman didn't even act like a salesman. He was just acted like an Audi fan that wanted to introduce people to cars that he thought were great cars.

I'm glad to hear from Kenny that the service department there rocks as well. I just haven't been going there because I'm over here in Pasadena but sounds like I should be going there instead of Rusnak. My experience at Rusnak wasn't as bad as the one you had but not great. They're always really busy and because they sell and service Rolls Royces, Bentlys, Porsches, Mercedes, etc., the Audi service department is the runt of the litter there.

 

There is a dealership subforum, it may be helpful to post there so your thoughts can be found once this thread dies and so anyone who doesn't look at the A3 subforum can find it.

 

Well, I have both, an '07 Audi and a '01 BMW. Both are purchases (the BMW is paid off). Both times, the buying process was horrendous. Seriously bad, and I can put up with a LOT of crap. Much of the arrogance comes from the dealerships perception that you'll bend over for them because you want something they have. Actually, it's the other way around. They are in business to stay in business. You just want that car. If you want it bad enough, you'll jump through whatever hoops they lay out. I don't play that, because it's my money and I work hard for it. But I'm not a snob either, I understand they want to make money. That's cool.

With that said, the service departments are your long-term relationship, if you continue to have the dealership service your car. The sales department only sees you once on the other hand.

My observation: When I've HAD to go the dealership, I've seen very, very arrogant owners who throw complete meltdowns because their divaselves expected that be treated like divas. One time at the BMW service desk, a woman was so demand and petulant that I wanted to tell her to sit the hell down and shut up, but the service rep was right there trying to make her "experience" worth her time. I'd have kicked her ***. I've an Audi owner just arrogant and demanding too.