My new Estoril Blue S5 Sportback!

Actually - so far so good for me with stone chips. I haven't noticed any yet and I've been doing a lot of motorway miles... I've been lucky for now [touch wood]

So, since it's going to happen anyway I guess I may as well say now rather than later.

My S5 Sportback and I will be parting ways... in about 4 months or so

Unfortunately, prior to collection, the dealership made a shambles of 'cleaning' the car and 'protecting' the paintwork and inflicted swirls and even a fine scratch or two. They then attempted to correct the paint by sending it off for a one-stage machine polish and promptly made everything worse - the car is now pretty much covered in swirl marks.

After much discussion with the dealership and complaints to Audi UK and Audi Finance, I've been offered a deal on a brand new S5 Sportback from factory order and the dealership will buy back this car when the new one arrives.

Obviously one main problem is that Audi no longer do Estoril Blue Crystal... for whatever crazy reason we can still only speculate. They are, however, replacing it with Sepang Blue and this is what I will be choosing for the replacement. I think I will take advantage of the larger discount that they are offering me and spec the car as I always wanted it. To be included on the new S5 include the sports diff, damper control, adaptive cruise, side assist, lane assist, drive select and dynamic steering.

Prior to owning this Estoril Blue beauty, I really wanted Sepang Blue but I've ended up really loving Estoril and will be sad to see it go. Still, Sepang should turn heads but in a bit less subdued way I think. I also lose these 20" wheels, to be replaced by the new 20" 5 double spoke wheels which will be an option on the MY15 cars as well.

Opinions welcome about what spec I should get - I'm undecided on the high beam assist and the adaptive headlights - the former which may actually be useful and the latter which, though I've had on one of my previous cars, seems more of a gimmick. Also playing with the idea of deleting the black styling package (if they allow that) since the chrome and grey grilles really contrast well with the blue. Opinions please!

Looks like I will soon be starting a waiting thread - though I'm not sure it has the same effect when you're moving to the same car... Then again with all the options which will transform and enhance the drive, I know the new car will feel and drive completely differently to the current one.

New order to be placed within the next week it seems after I get approval from Audi UK and Audi Finance to go ahead.

What a mess - the best car i've ever owned but with the most stressful after sales experience.

Unfortunately that's the one thing we are yet to settle on. This isn't a refund so I have to keep making the payments. I'm asking Audi Finance to do something about it but they're not sure anything can be done yet. Think they will try and get Audi UK and the dealership to contribute a bit. Have to wait and see... I wouldn't have a car to use for 4 months otherwise I could let them buy it back now.

I asked them to pay for a detailer to correct the damage before they sent it off for a machine polish but they refused due to the cost - after it came back with significantly more damage and the original damage masked they still wouldn't pay the full cost for a paint correction. In the end they did budge but I decided that corrected paint is not the same as a factory finish and there is no guarantee all of the marks can be fully removed - because of that we started talking about replacements.

They've offered me a reasonable deal but since I have had to go through all this, I still want some compensation - perhaps a contribution from both Audi UK and Audi Finance. Can't hurt to ask. Once that's agreed then I will put the order in.

p9lad said:

hi adamza is this watford audi? I actually picked up my Dads A5 Sportback Black edition on thursday think i saw your car there. Weird normally they are a really good dealership. Can the sales guy not help out?

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I hate to slag them off really but their customer service needs a lot of improvement. My sales guy, Vito, was helpful - acknowledged that they let me down and tried to get it rectified but as the issue continued to escalate, the rest of the staff got worse and worse. The Assistant Sales Manager wasn't too bad - accepted I was unhappy but couldn't understand why. The Head of Business (general manager) was a complete knob to me - was very rude, insisted there was nothing wrong with the car, refused to speak to a professional who would have explained the problems, argued with me about it all and then refused to let me place a replacement order because 'I would complain about that when it arrived'. It's only after I complained to Audi UK and Audi Finance that he started being respectful to me (I wonder why) and gave me the option to purchase a replacement which I'm entitled to do by law anyway. The HoB has no idea about paintwork at all and seems oblivious to why some swirls etc on a new car is a problem. Apparently 'every car in the UK in every dealership has them'.

Since that point I have to say they have been cooperative and I haven't had further problems that can't be ironed out. But a warning to anyone - just don't let your dealership touch your car - while they won't mean to inflict the damage obviously, getting them to understand and sort it out is almost impossible.

They have an Estoril Blue S5 on a 63 plate which they use as a demonstrator (it's also for sale... if anyone is interested! Ask for Vito and tell him Adam sent you ) - its quite high spec as well. But yeah, not mine. Identical colour and wheels though!

Congrats on the new A5 Sportback by the way

I don't understand why this is the case though - I've had dark coloured cars in the past including a dark blue Peugeot 207 which arrived with no scratches at all. I don't understand why if Peugeot can get it right why Audi couldn't! You'd expect them to take more pride. Where is their German side?

p9lad said:

hey adam thats a shame.. i actually deal with sanj my dad bought 2 a5s from him and i ordered my s3 from him he has looked after us very well and any issue sorted out straight away. Shame the rest of the dealership arent as helpful... hope it all gets sorted. I actually turned down the supaguard and am in the process of trying to find a detailer to go to the dealership and prep my car for me.

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Hmm that sounds like a good idea since the dealership won't prepare the car for me after this mess. If you find someone good who is willing to go to the dealership could you let me know please?

p9lad said:

will do mate trying to find a good local detailer.. i have seen one called abc detailing on instagram and they go to the audi dealerships to prep the car beforehand

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Hmm they look to be a reasonable choice - especially if they are willing to travel to the dealership. If you wouldn't mind, could you let me know costs once you speak to them? I've looked on their website (ABC Detailing - Forest of Dean & Bristol Car Detailing Specialists) and they seem decent enough for the price.