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In December 2022, I purchased an Audi S7 with about 82,000 miles. Despite my requests to have the vehicle inspected by my local mechanic, the salesperson, Ashlea, assured me of the superior quality of their cars. They offered me an unfamiliar "SWAG" warranty and inspection paperwork attesting the car's pristine condition given its age and mileage.
Within 48 hours, I was back at the dealership addressing multiple issues including engine mount error codes, malfunctioning back seat AC, poor paint and wrap quality, scratched passenger window, and misrepresented audio features.
Shortly after dropping the vehicle for repairs, I learned of additional control arm issues, culminating in a repair bill of ~$5,000 within just 200 miles of ownership.
Distrusting the dealership, I had the car inspected by my local mechanic. By February 2023, more problems surfaced - shot axles, a missing engine heat shield, poor rear repaint, and a non-OEM exhaust, all amounting to nearly $9,800 in parts and labor within the first three months.
By March, the car’s transmission began faltering. It jerked in reverse, stalled at idle, and couldn’t shift into 2nd, 4th, or 6th gear. The diagnosis suggested a clutch, mechtronic, or transmission issue, potentially requiring a $17,000 transmission replacement, after already having spent ~$12,000 on repairs for a car hardly worth $20,000. I later found out about a class-action lawsuit against Audi for these exact DL transmissions in the S7/S6, a fact omitted during my purchase.
The dealership response to my plight was unhelpful unless I considered buying a new vehicle over $90K.
To put it mildly, this dealership should pay more attention to its used car inspections to avoid selling subpar vehicles. While the sales rep pocketed their pre-Christmas commission, I bore the financial fallout.
I've acquired 35 "AUDI GREENVILLE SUCKS" t-shirts for distribution at the next Cars and Coffee event.
P.S., I bought an RS7 at another dealership, which even replaced engine mounts and brake rotors before purchase - a far cry from selling ticking time bombs. I would've been better off had I gone this route initially.