Audi vs BMW...

[S32B]

...emails.

I'll keep it short, I had done the BMW test drive and decided on colour, spec etc. sent the salesman I had been dealing with an email to see when would be the best time to come in and order...no reply. Left it a week and then sent another...again no reply!

Just sent Audi an email to ask a simple question! Check out the times between emails, as I sent the reply the phone rang and it was him confirming my question over the phone...now that's service!

I know some have had trouble with their local dealership, but my entire buying experience from the moment I first walked through the Audi showroom doors has been fantastic, if that keeps up once I have the car they will have a customer for life!

 

[elpaulio]

I must agree with you that both with my current order for the S3 and when I bought a Used A4 from Audi a few years ago their customer service has been fantastic.
Shown even more by the fact that the A4 spent a lot of the first year back in the garage getting fixed under warranty but they were so accommodating and supportive throughout it that it left a lasting impression and I guess that shows by the fact that now I'm wanting a new car the first place I went was there and ordered one!

Now, is it March yet???????

 

[Bristle Hound]

I've nothing against BM's TBH but our local BMW main dealer is appalling

The staff are so rude and unfriendly. The last time I was in there I walked out as I didn't like the way I was being spoken down too

I sometimes wonder how that particular dealership sells car

They do not do the BMW brand any favours at all TBH

 

[Martin L]

People have moaned about audi dealers, but I have never heard a good word about any bmw dealers!
They are truly diabolical.

 

[Mr. R]

I had problems with my local BMW dealer, their customer service is terrible. On the other hand, Audi service is superb, just the opposite.

 

[cuke2u]

I just think it is pot luck on whether the salesperson is interested in a deal or not. I can't really fault mine, because he gave a Q3 to drive around in as my saloon was delayed...

 

[PaulAr]

The BMW dealer I use (servicing and new car purchase) have been spot on, Stratstone in North Shields.

 

[Pulp84]

I bought my S3 from the sales guy who I got my previous A1 from. Was painful first time around with the A1 - poor communication etc and generally just an "OK" experience although the deal was good.

Reluctantly, went back to get the S3 - but this time around a totally different experience. Emailed me every couple weeks, returns calls the same day or next and perfect hand over. Couldn't fault him or the dealership.

I recommend the same sales guy to my dad 2 months later and he gets a totally different experience. Doesn't return calls / emails, documentation rushed on pick up day and is STILL waiting for his GAP / tyre insurance docs 2 months after getting his car.

My old Dad is not very happy with my recommendation!

 

[Liquidfusion-S3]

I guess if they don't see you as a potential future customer they don't bother with you?

 

[Soulboy]

The key thing to remember is that they are franchises.

Some have dealerships for more than one manufacturer. If they are good, they will probably all be good regardless of brand, same if they are bad.

 

[steeve]

I still think it's more to do with the salesman rather than the dealership.

But saying that on the occasions I've considered a BMW I found their attitude 'patronising'.

 

[Jerodequin]

My local BMW dealer didn't even say hello, approach us or talk to us at all as we walked around the showroom, sitting in cars etc. Totally different experience at the local Audi dealer, where we were greeted and asked if we wanted help etc. (they stayed out of the way until we were ready to talk to them too).

 

[glospete]

A salesman at my local Audi dealer was "poached" by the BMW dealer. He lasted 2 days as he couldn't stand the way they did business and their attitude generally. Of course he should have known and done his homework first, but he's now back at Audi!

 

[Dtwm1]

I had second thoughts when I had my Audi on order and went to price up a 120d m sport. They had a VIP sales event on, I made an appointment but when I arrived the dealership was dead but yet I was sat with their Motability specialist (I'm 22). He knew next to nothing about a pcp etc. When I said I had an a3 on order but was having second thoughts he tootled off and a proper salesman came. I can't help but think looking young meant I was wasting their time, however the guaranteed the car in 6 weeks or a loan car till it arrived.

I must add I didn't have the best experience with my audi dealer too but the car made up for it and I got a coffee in a cup not a paper cup.

 

[Bristle Hound]

I'm pleased its not just me with BMW's dealers then

 

[steeve]

I remember back in the day, my wife and myself were seriously interested in an Audi breadvan (A2) we spent 45 minutes in the Leicester Audi dealership, we were not approached or spoken to at all. So we gave up and left wondering what the ownership experience would be like if they didn't even want to talk to us about a sale.

However I've had two brilliant buying experiences at Audi Nottingham. Both with the same salesman, then when he left the guy I spoke with about the S3 was just terrible, to the point where I walked out.

 

[S32B]

I'm glad to see others have had the same happen! I thought it was just me lol, I can't understand their attitude, even after I had ordered the S3 I thought I'd send BMW a 'courtesy' email saying thanks but no thanks and just to let him know that they could take me off their system...never heard back from that either!!!

 

[Foxtrot_Oscar]

Everything said about BMW dealers above, I have had with local Audi dealers as well. I have found it comes down to the sales bod and if you find a good one, stick with them.

 

[Pulp84]

What I will say with BMW (and I'd be interested if this was the case with Audi too) is that they treat company car drivers much better.

I've had 3 BMWs in my time that I bought and paid for. Sales experience was OK but service departments were always very poor. Now had two company BMW's and the service has been outstanding and that's the general view of my work colleagues too (who almost always choose a BMW from a choice of 9 manufactures). Nothing too much trouble, will pick the car up from any location and will drop it off at home. Totally work around me and my company.

Guess it make a big difference who is paying the bills with BMW......

 

[Martin L]

Guess it make a big difference who is paying the bills with BMW......

Not in my experience!
When I've had company BMWs they've been just as poor and I was based right next door to the dealer!
Do you realise what they actually do with your cars when you leave it with them? All those M owners I really feel for, cars were ragged up and down the road when clearly cold.
...also had major issues rejecting a car too. They knew there was an issue and after several rounds they suddenly denied it all. I only got the rejection accepted as at the time a friend was high up in BMW.
I really think BMWs attitude to customers really sucks.

My cousin is a salesman for them and he does tell me stories that confirm it all!

 

[Pulp84]

Fair point Martin L. My employer is a massive company and we are a big customer of BMW and they are a big client for us too. Might make a difference but not sure.

One very odd thing I find with BMW is trying to get a test drive. Audi always obliges me as long as they have the model in stock - I can drive it same day. Walk in to BMW and it always results in booking an appointment with a sales person on a Saturday or a time totally inconvenient even though there are available cars sat everywhere!

Looked at a M 135i before settling on the S3 and initially was told no discounts after a extended test drive. Next day the sales guy rang me and said he could do £5k off "just for me" if I ordered there an then. I did laugh

 

[S32B]

Do you realise what they actually do with your cars when you leave it with them? All those M owners I really feel for, cars were ragged up and down the road when clearly cold.

I've got a dashcam fitted to my current car which will be moved over to the S3, in a way I can't wait to take it in for it's service just to see how they treat it!!! lol.

A mate of mine worked for Fords many years back, a customer came in and was ranting at the manager about why his Escort RS Turbo was being driven like it had been stolen, the manger said something along the lines of "Oh no they wouldn't do that", he didn't know at that point that the customer had been in his mates Cosworth following them!

 

[cuke2u]

There's always going to be good and bad dealerships and salespeople and I expect on other manufacturer's forums you will find just as many similar stories about Audi ones. Some even in this forum...

 

[r6ymy]

I had the opposite experience when I went for test drives with my local dealers. The BMW dealer was really helpful, found a car in the right spec, took my details and a copy of my licence, then gave me the keys and let me out on my own for as long as I wanted. Unfortunately I didn't like the 3 series.
Contacted my local Audi dealer (Oxford) for a test drive of an A3 saloon TFSI, they said they didn't have one, but there might be one at there branch in Newbury, suggested I could call them. I would have expected them to do that, and arrange to get it to Oxford. Went in to see them a few days later, they let me drive a 2.0TDI around the block for about 10 minutes with a salesman sat next to me. I said I was very interested in placing an order, asked what level of discount I could expect and was told about 5%.
A week or so later I stopped off at Stafford Audi on the way to a meeting for work, initially just to see a colour option in the flesh, as they had a secondhand car in the right spec. They were really helpful, gave me a test drive then, and arranged another for when I would next be passing of a car in the exact spec I wanted - S Line, 1.4TFSI, manual. They matched the quote i had from Carwow, so now have my order.

 

[tankclark]

My bmw dealer is fantastic, massively accommodating and couldn't help enough, local Audi dealer had to ask ME what engine the S3 had

 

[Daz Auto]

Mate of mine worked for BMW. The stories he told me put me completely off BMW. He said it was a very toxic work environment. A large amount of the customers were demanding and had no manners. The staff were expected to bend over backwards no matter how ignorant and unreasonable the customers were being. I wonder do Audi have the same problems with their customers? Then I wondered - am I one of THEM.