When is 'Fixed Price Servicing' not 'fixed price servicing'....

[warren_S5]

It seems that if you're car is over 3 years old and outside of warranty your business is more attractive to Audi than when it's new.

If you view the Audi website 'Audi Affordable Servicing' LINK

it states an interim service is £149* (*for cars over 3 years old).

I've just phoned my local Audi dealers and asked them for a price for a first service (12,000 miles) and it's just a plain oil and oil filter change (no air filter), and it's come back at £225.75

Why is my new car more expensive to service than a 3 year old one???? And surely an interim service should include an air and pollen filter????

Part of me is tempted to just bypass the Audi dealerships and get a high end indy to service the car for the lifetime of the car as I just don't rate the premium cost against what you actually get. For instance if I was to use APS in Brackley who are 6 times Audi Driver Magazine Gold Award Independent of the Year Service Centre is that going to seriously affect second hand value or the likelihood that Audi would take it as a trade in?

£225 for an oil change just seems like exploitation. They don't pay retail prices for the oil, so consumables are going to be £50 tops, the rest is **** raping.

Any other views??

 

[OVRA3]

I had a very reputable Indy do a 20k service on mine, no plugs but all the other bits and it was £125 all in, no way I am paying dealer prices, especially when mine went in for a recall and the free health check didnt even state that my Haldex Oil and filter was due, that was picked up by the Indy..

 

[mjr901]

outrageous, £67 it cost me. just oil and filter. no air filter as I have CAI.

 

[SAiLO]

Ridiculous.

 

[warren_S5]

I've just booked in with Ed at APS in Brackley tomorrow as I have a meeting up there all day. No fuss, some friendly chatter, and he's shoe horned the car in despite the incredibly short notice. That's proper service (Audi take note). They've done quite a few bits on my car now and it's always been a pleasure doing business with them,

I've had some very mixed experiences with Audi service since getting the new S3, and their passing comment to me after a raft of warranty related issues in June 2012 (rattles / belt squeal issue / new glovebox etc.) was 'hopefully we won't see you again till your next service' (the subtext of which was very much - now please don't come back!!!)

Those few moments I spent thinking about the Audi pricing was boiling my **** to such an extent that I decided I'm not paying a premium for what is so clearly NOT a premium service. I never cut corners where money needs to be spent on cars, but likewise given what it takes to earn money these days (esp. as a PAYE top tax payer) I don't feel compelled give it away either. I've saved a good chunk of money in the blink of an eye. I'm sure when I sell the car anyone with any appreciation of cars / tuning will actually appreciate the servicing has been done by someone who understands and cares for cars rather than some dope with a fault code reader and a fancy set of overalls!!

My first non dealer service since 2001, I'm just wondering how I might cope without that familiar barrage of incompetence or that veneer of slimy condescension they manage to do so well at Audi main dealers. I'm almost perversely excited at the concept of having the car serviced and not feeling robbed or abused!

 

[OVRA3]

I've just booked in with Ed at APS in Brackley tomorrow as I have a meeting up there all day. No fuss, some friendly chatter, and he's shoe horned the car in despite the incredibly short notice. That's proper service (Audi take note). They've done quite a few bits on my car now and it's always been a pleasure doing business with them,

I've had some very mixed experiences with Audi service since getting the new S3, and their passing comment to me after a raft of warranty related issues in June 2012 (rattles / belt squeal issue / new glovebox etc.) was 'hopefully we won't see you again till your next service' (the subtext of which was very much - now please don't come back!!!)

Those few moments I spent thinking about the Audi pricing was boiling my **** to such an extent that I decided I'm not paying a premium for what is so clearly NOT a premium service. I never cut corners where money needs to be spent on cars, but likewise given what it takes to earn money these days (esp. as a PAYE top tax payer) I don't feel compelled give it away either. I've saved a good chunk of money in the blink of an eye. I'm sure when I sell the car anyone with any appreciation of cars / tuning will actually appreciate the servicing has been done by someone who understands and cares for cars rather than some dope with a fault code reader and a fancy set of overalls!!

My first non dealer service since 2001, I'm just wondering how I might cope without that familiar barrage of incompetence or that veneer of slimy condescension they manage to do so well at Audi main dealers. I'm almost perversely excited at the concept of having the car serviced and not feeling robbed or abused!

Well said I am in total agreement. The guy I take mine too takes pride in his work no fancy overalls in sight and ten years at vw makes me feel comfortable in the knowledge my car is in good hands.

As much as I love the fit receptionists at Audi and unlimited coffee.. It's about them knowing your car and taking pride in their work at a price that reflects not feeling like your pants are being pulled down for the sake of a main dealer stamp. As far as I am concerned if I bought a used car and it had Indy stamps in the service book I would feel as comfortable as one with main dealer stamps.

 

[mjr901]

So true about the receptionists!!! Nearly always gorgeous and only see them working there a short time before being 'up the duff'

 

[AndyParker]

Just remember - the flashier the front of house, the greater the margin they have to make on sales to pay for it.

I'm looking for a new car at the moment and whilst regular servicing is obviously important I'm not concerned whether its been done all or Audi or at a decent Independent

 

[SootySport]

I just don't understand the higher servicing costs for an under 3 year old car, do they use newer and more expensive oil , makes no sense to me, no doubt the service manager would give you some convoluted reason why, they seem to speak a different language to you and I.
I use an Indy expert (AMD) for servicing and repairs, had other VAG cars before and find the pricing competetive over the Main Dealers. These days an independent garage seem to have far more knowledge of the problems of out of waranty cars and the Euro ruling about Block Exemption means cars still in waranty are covered by an newer car in waranty as long as the car is serviced "In accordance with the manufactures spec." as they say. When you come to sell your car just point out the servicing has been carried out buy a well known Indy, the buyer will soon find out about the Indy's reputation on the internet and the value of the car should not suffer too much. Afterall you've saved several hundred pounds in servicing over the years. Only the most picky of buyers would insist on the the five ring service stamps.

 

[jaydav2306]

I just don't understand the higher servicing costs for an under 3 year old car, do they use newer and more expensive oil , makes no sense to me, no doubt the service manager would give you some convoluted reason why, they seem to speak a different language to you and I.
I use an Indy expert (AMD) for servicing and repairs, had other VAG cars before and find the pricing competetive over the Main Dealers. These days an independent garage seem to have far more knowledge of the problems of out of waranty cars and the Euro ruling about Block Exemption means cars still in waranty are covered by an newer car in waranty as long as the car is serviced "In accordance with the manufactures spec." as they say. When you come to sell your car just point out the servicing has been carried out buy a well known Indy, the buyer will soon find out about the Indy's reputation on the internet and the value of the car should not suffer too much. Afterall you've saved several hundred pounds in servicing over the years. Only the most picky of buyers would insist on the the five ring service stamps.

I dont think having a Audi stamp in the book means a thing these days, so many good independants out there I think Joe Public are wise to this and not just us lot on these forums.

 

[Ads]

You are looking at it wrongly by seeing it as the servicing costs being higher for cars under 3 year old. What it actually is is... cheaper/discounted servicing costs for cars OVER 3 years old.

Audi do this because they assume owners of cars still within the warranty period (cars under three years old) will want to bring them to Audi for "main dealer" servicing/stamp/etc, almost regardless of costs (within reason). Whereas owners of cars that are more than three years old are more willing to take their cars to independent garages for work.

By offering lower prices than their usual pricing to older cars they are trying to keep these older cars in their dealer network.

 

[pjr]

When I bought my car new from Dundee Audi, it was sold with a servicing package which covered the cost of two variable mileage services. In total I paid just over £200 for the two services. Had my first service done at 18,000 miles in August, and will probably need the 2nd service just before I sell it. I was also told that if I didn't need both services before I sold the car, I could get some (an unspecified amount) money back for the unused services. This wasn't an Audi promotion as such, it was purely done by my dealer and I could only get the car serviced there.

 

[PaulAr]

Food for thought.

Assuming you buy an S3 new and sell up after 3 years, then you will service it twice, 3 times max.
And assuming you save around £100 per service using a good Indy instead of a dealer, then the overall saving is £300 ish.

Rightly or wrongly, I reckon the car with the Indy Service History will take much more than £300 hit come resale, compared to the equivalent a car with a dealer Service History.

You will also miss out out on potential significant goodwill warranty contributions for up to 6 yrs/60Kmiles, IF the car has been serviced outside the dealer network.


I am not saying that you get a better job at the dealers (I have had my fair share of rubbish over priced dealer experiences) just that stumping up the extra at the dealers come service time could actually be cheaper in the long run. Bizzarrely.....

 

[PaulAr]

I dont think having a Audi stamp in the book means a thing these days, so many good independants out there I think Joe Public are wise to this and not just us lot on these forums.

If the car is 5+ years old and you sell privately to some one understands then yes.
It makes a big difference though if you wish to p/x the car into the dealer network.

 

[Minstadave]

You are looking at it wrongly by seeing it as the servicing costs being higher for cars under 3 year old. What it actually is is... cheaper/discounted servicing costs for cars OVER 3 years old.

Audi do this because they assume owners of cars still within the warranty period (cars under three years old) will want to bring them to Audi for "main dealer" servicing/stamp/etc, almost regardless of costs (within reason). Whereas owners of cars that are more than three years old are more willing to take their cars to independent garages for work.

By offering lower prices than their usual pricing to older cars they are trying to keep these older cars in their dealer network.

Good god Audi's marketing department has done a number on you!

 

[warren_S5]

Well the service has been completed and the car has been returned to me. As the car was at 13k miles I got them to bung a set of NGK's in whilst it was on the operating table as it saved me another job.

A great explanation of the service & findings was provided with courtesy call updates, and I got to have a gander at a Stasis R8 whilst I was there. With the plugs changed I still saved money over the price of an oil change at dealers, and whilst I hear what you're saying PaulAr, there was something quite heartwarming about being able to contribute something towards a small UK based business in terms of service revenue rather than paying it to the corporate behemoth.

I'm only likely to have the car for 3 years, so outside warranty it's not a big issue, and I'm happy to sell privately if the dealer gets the ****-hole on (you'd hope considering my next car might be a TT-RS they'd be reasonable).

Ads, selfishly I dont care that Audi are trying to keep 3 year+ cars in the servicing ring at a fixed low price service, a service on a 61 plate should cost the same as a 58 plate, end of.

 

[Ads]

Good god Audi's marketing department has done a number on you!

Its not difficult to see their thinking, and it kinda works.

Ads, selfishly I dont care that Audi are trying to keep 3 year+ cars in the servicing ring at a fixed low price service, a service on a 61 plate should cost the same as a 58 plate, end of.

You'd be happy about it if you had an old car like mine!

It happens everywhere though... different prices for different people for the same service.
Under 16s (and even Under 21s in some cases) get to sit in the same seats as I do at the cinema/football/etc to watch the same thing as I'm watching, but for a fraction of the cost.


It'll never be a 'one price for all' world. They've already tried it by giving women the same salary as us men to do the same job, and look where that's got us... my missus already thinks its ok to answer me back and have an opinion.