Audi Schmaudi - never again

So here is my experience and opinion about Audi South Africa. Please note this is my opinion based on my experience and it could well be different for others.

Let me say this at the outset - I will never ever buy another Audi from anywhere as long as I live. Why you ask, so let's start:

Ok - Audi Q5 number one. The one thing we are not told about when you buy an Audi is the notorious DSG gearbox and yes we were affected which left countless hours of stress in wondering if we were going to breakdown at anytime.

After this experience I thought I would never buy another, but then, thinking maybe this was just bad luck we took the plunge and bought a 2019 Q5 pre-owned from Audi. for around R550,000 (if I recall). We traded in the old Q5 which mean we dropped R140k odd off the value and financed the rest over 6 years with Audi Financial Services and even bought an extended Motor Plan to 120,000km to ensure piece of mind.

Fast forward 18 months, things change in our lives and just over the 120,000km service we need to sell the car. I download an AA report which gives the trade value at between R360k and R400k odd. I then ask Audi for an offer - bearing in mind this is their brand and the car has only been serviced and maintained with the same branch in the 18 months odd we owned the car. Audi offers us R300k when we still owed R360k on the car. This is how a company supports its brand. In the end we sold the car to We Buy Cars for R350k - bearing in mind this is a wholesaler and they were prepared to pay R50k more - shame on you Audi and a clear indication, in my mind, of what the company thinks about its own products on resale market. The brand, in my opinion, clearly does not maintain its value in the secondary market.

Then there is Audi Financial Services. In the small print they tell you if you want to sell the car you need to give them 3 months notice - I mean really who decides to sell their car 3 months earlier. This is the same as I would need for a house (when this is no more than a short term loan) and then it is up to their discretion if they want to give you a penalty for ealry settlement - no mention of how this will be calculated etc. I was informed this was 3 months penalty, so another R10k odd added onto costs for some reason - given this is short term finacing and the company coould redistribute funds easily. In speaking to the consultant online, she indicates, if the balance is less than R250k on debt then they may waiver the penalty. So, off we go and extract R130k from our savings and deposit only to be told there is still a penalty. After pleading this was removed, but it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth in having to do this.

After all of this - would I want to own another Audi again - certainly not and would rather stick to other quality German brands....

I am sure Audi will give their usual response and argue with other comments, but whatever they say, I will never touch this product again....