Rich Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 OK, how many people under the age of 25 have had problems getting courtesy cars from Audi dealerships? I'm 22 and my S3 has already been in once for a warranty job on the fog lights and I was given a courtesy car (albeit a horrible little 1.4 Polo) but now my car is about to go in to have the rear bumper replaced after someone hit it. The same guy who dealt with me last time is saying I will have to sort the insurance out myself as they can only insure people above 25. I told him I have had a car already from them and his response was oh well you shouldn't of! That would of been interesting if something had happened! This bloke is having a laugh right? Surely there insurance should cover me, at a different dealership they allowed me to test drive the S3, surely that would be worse than giving me a little Polo for a couple of days??? It doesn't bother me about getting this job sorted, but I don't want this hassle everytime I take my car in for servicing etc and am pretty pi**ed off they are prepared to sell high performance cars to young people but won't insure them for a service they supply to everyone else! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidicks Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Once I got banned for speeding, the local dealer insisted I had to insure the car myself. However, I don't see why they wouldn't give you a car just because of your age. I'd also insist on another Audi, not some little Polo...... Stand your ground !! sidicks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A3Floyd Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 try a different dealership. they may have a different insurance policy. I've never head problems with whitehouse. they gave me coutesy cars when i was 22. The story that they are giving you does sound true enough. Plus most decent insuarnce co's will allow a certain number of temporary additional vehicals free of charge. I know it's annoying but it kinda makes sense: the dealership can save a fortune by changing their limit from 21 to 25 years old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 I don't think I have a choice of the little Polo as its an insurance job not warranty/service so they provide the Class A crap mobile! Only reason I had it last time was because they fcuked up and no cars were in when I went to drop my car off! They did say about a third party they use to provide like for like vehicles but then from the insurance side they could start throwing up stuff about trying to get a better vehicle etc and try to get out of paying for the hire car. I can't be bothered with the hassle! The car goes in on Tuesday I will speak to them face to face and see what they say. If it does turn out I can't get the car/insurance for future work then I will be looking elsewhere. There are 3 other Audi dealerships near(ish) by! OK I can understand it saves them money, but what about customer service, what about letting me have one before, what about being able to take the S3 for a test drive when I was 21!! Feckers! It took me 2 days just to get to talk to someone to simply get the car booked in! Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 There has been a change of policy a while back with Audi courtesy car insurance. Basically, you used to have to either cover it yourself (and prove it to them) or pay them to cover it (think it was about £10) I remember having to take my insurance certificate in to prove it would cover a car leant to me. Now they cover the insurance as part of the service, so maybe they do have to limit the age that they insure. HOWEVER. Just checked my latest Audi price list where they state in the back their level of service commitment ("Service By Design") and it states: We promise to keep you mobile. When your car is off the road you won't be. We offer a range of services to keep you mobile such as collection and delivery, or the use of an Audi Courtesy Vehicle. All our courtesy cars will be insured and fuelled. Your replacement Audi will be fuelled upon collection, all we ask is that you return it to us ready for the next customer with the same amount of fuel. on presentation of your driving licence we will also insure the car free of charge. SO, I suggest when you go in you ask them for a price list, then point out the commitment that has been made to you as a customer of an Audi car. There is nothing in there about age, just a written commitment as above. Notice it says "replacement Audi" too, not shitty old Polo..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidicks Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Ari I think the difference here is that its not in for Service or Warranty work. This is an insurance repair, so maybe that is different. For a service or warranty work I agree with you that (with sufficient notice) they should provide an Audi courtesty car, regardless of age of driver. sidicks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Thanks for the info. Thats exactly what I read about the courtesy car (they even have signs advertising it ot the service desk last time I was in there!). I was just about to go to the Audi website and see if I can print it off to take with me! I agree with Sidicks, it may be different being an insurance job. Thats why I'm just gonna leave it for now, although the service guy did seem to suggest that he meant it for all cases insurance/service/warranty, in which case I will have a good moan! In fact I think I will call Audi customer service just to try and get some facts. If they say they should supply the car for this then I will make them do it! Cheers guys! Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobstar9 Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Hi Rich Well the Audi customer service promises don't define the reasons for being off the road - so I would have thought an insurance job counted. In which case the age thing is nonsense. But then of course they guarantee to keep you mobile - and the variety of options means they could offer something other than a courtesy car if they're interpreting the commitment to the letter. But that wouldn't be very customer friendly! Doesn't your own car insurance cover you to drive a car lent to you by a garage whilst they have yours for repair? Mine certainly does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 To be honest I'm going to check if my insurance does cover me already for hire cars etc but I'm not sure (there are quite a few resrictions due to my age!). For this particular insurance repair I'm not bothered as its the other parties fault and Tesco (my insurers) have said they will pick up the entire bill with me not having to pay my excess out upfront, which is nice! My concern is more for future warranty/servicing, I don't want the hassle of having to keep phoning my insurers or it even costing me more money, which wouldn't surprise me! I have actually just phoned Audi customer service and actually got through to someone that seems to know what they were talking about! Firstly he admitted there website was "sloppy" and should have the age thing on there! Audi UK will only insure people above 25! BUT the dealerships are all franchise's so have their own insurance so some may insure younger than 25! I know of one nearby that other people have said do insure people younger than 25, so when I go in on Tuesday I will mention it to them and say it may well be the deciding factor of me taking my business else where, and likewise of my friends who are under 25 with Audi's! To be honest they havn't done a great job of custoemr satisfactino so far so maybe its a good thing! The first time I used them (when they did give me a car) I turned up to be told all the courtesy cars were still out! Is customer service really that hard? It only takes a bit of common sense! Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burti Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 ive had a courtesy car for the last two days off my local audi dealer, mine was in for some work which wasnt a service or under warranty ( ) but they still gave me a a4 tdi to drive and i didnt have to pay anything for it. however if i damaged it, it would of cost me £250 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajh Posted May 26, 2003 Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 I have an S3 that I bought from Dane in Chester - needed a minor matter sorted and got an Allroad for the day - no excess and no cost - seems like good service to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlo Posted June 4, 2003 Report Share Posted June 4, 2003 Had my A3 into Danes Chester for a couple of services/warranty work and always had no problem with getting a courtesy car... I was 22 with my first visit got an A4, when offered an A2 one time I commented jokingly about whether that would hack lugging Compaq servers around for the day so they offered me an A6! I think it comes down to the individual dealership and how customer focused they are. My A3 going in for a service tonight actually, going to see if I can get a TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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