So finally sent the car to a trusted FNG - they took all of 2 days to fix the car and deliver it back - a fault related to a sensor. Hasn't even sent me the bill (unlike these ASS who insist on a DD/RTGS before releasing the car, and ensuring that they always release the final invoice at the last moment so your car spends that extra night at the workshop for no reason).
Drove the car back home from work, and I must say - that even though the service is horrible and reliability is average at best; the car is still amongst the most comfortable options in it's segment! It cocoons you in silence, and the air suspension just glides over poor roads (sharp edges not as much, but undulations are very well taken care of) - the new E220d can't even hold a candle to this car in terms of ride quality!
What is clear though is that it isn't going to be as reliable as our old BMW 5 series (E60), so we need to be prepared for that; as well as the fact that an independent mechanic is going to be our best bet in maintaining the car!
Interestingly, this month also marks the cars 6th year with us!
It hasn't been driven much (40,000kms) as dad finds the rear seat a touch too low, driving pleasure isn't great (light steering), neither is reliability!
But the plus points still hold - even after 6 years; the car looks quite modern, ride quality is amazing as is body control, the engine is a workhorse, and the gearbox is very smooth!
The interiors don't make you feel special anymore (compared to the new Mercedes at least), but at a good price, this car could be a very competent comfortable limo to be chauffeured around in!
However, if someone were to ask me if I would buy another Audi - I honestly doubt I would. As an enthusiast, I haven't been able to connect with this car in the same manner as I did with the E60 525d, or the W211 E270 CDi; the reliability is average; and the service quality below average!
In fact, even dad who was an ardent fan of Audi is already thinking along the lines of a replacement for this as it's just not been able to maintain it's emotional appeal.
But as I mentioned above, for a non-enthusiast who wants a VFM package and excellent ride quality - it doesn't get better than this at this price point, especially with the 5 year service package and warranty that Audi offers.
EDIT: Just went through the thread, and missed out on a couple of updates that have taken place in the last 12 months.
After the suspension work was carried out with a INR 1L quote, the rear sun blind motor failed (Audi asked 1.25L to replace the same) as did the rear door child lock (some 20-30,000 IIRC). These jobs came up literally a week after the extended warranty expired, and Audi clearly doesn't believe in providing any form of goodwill warranty to a customer who has 3 VWAG products and in the past has owned 2 other VWAG vehicles (and unfortunately, the 6th VWAG vehicle was recently booked
![Stupid](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/Sign stupid.gif)
but let's not count that).
Net net, the total maintenance cost over the past 13 months (Sept. 2016 when suspension work was carried out, outside of extended warranty + work done post extended warranty expiration) is almost INR 3L (1.6L for child lock and sun blind motor + 1L for suspension + what I am assuming to be 30-40K for steering work that was just carried out but I am sure Audi would have charged a significantly more than the independent mechanic)!
That's 6% of the purchase price of the car spent on repairs within one year, on parts that ideally shouldn't fail and haven't failed on any luxury car we've owned in the past!!
This is not including 22K spent on a routine service, and 20K spent on a new battery.
Didn't spend even close to so much annually on either the BMW or Mercedes in it's last few years with us (8th - 10th year of ownership), with 4 workshop visits (September 2017 for suspension, November for service and sun blind, July for battery, and October 2017 for steering issue). Won't be surprised if this car is replaced sooner or later with another Jap or a BMW in the near future.