[E172Essex]

Chelmsford, Harold Wood and Chingford are the ones I've used and now avoid.
Madant is at Southend (in service) , don't know what their sales are like but the set up looked a lot better than the others I'd been to. I also have found the Southend dealers overall to be more interested in your business than Chelmsford ones.

I had no problems with Chingford, other than it was me who had to ring them to make sure my build/car was on time.
They delivered to the day when they said they would, and the salesman even came in on his day off to do the hand over.
It depends on which salesman you have to deal with I expect and what the problem is!

 

[taconite2]

It does go without saying that the A1 (in my opinion) looks better than any of these inside and out but the A1 was in fact cheaper than a Polo by quite a bit once you added on the air con, elec windows, alloys etc, just basic stuff which I was quite shocked about. Firstly because the Polo and Fiesta never came with any of these and secondly because it was an Audi and it was cheaper or at the very least the same price as the others. It is a premium car and I appreciate that but I don't get the "barely an Audi" remark. If Audi weren't happy enough to class it as one I doubt they would be putting their name on the front of it. I get frustrated when people assume you have bought something a lower price because you can't afford anything else, :roll: I wasn't after anything flash and fancy just a quality car that will last a long time, after all that is what an Audi is well known as well as a car that somebody owns because the have cash to splash.
Sorry rant over now ha ha

It's def a proper Audi! I'm not arguing that! and there's a very good reason to sell a car like this....it's an entry for many people into the brand and hopefully as wealth increases they "upgrade" to larger more expensive models

 

[TeeJay]

Apologies if any of my remarks caused offence, it wasn't intended.

I actually just looked at the Polo, and you're right, I couldn't believe how quick the price jumps up once you start getting it to a similar level of spec to the A1. Same with the Mini I guess.

Anyway, I derailed the thread a little, so back on topic!

EDIT:

Yeah Taconite, I've just had a look at a few of the alternatives to the A1. I'm quite surprised how competitive the Audi is now! I withdraw previous statements. The Mito too, nice entry level price but add the extras and it's quickly very expensive.

 

[taconite2]

Apologies if any of my remarks caused offence, it wasn't intended.

I just think the SE is very very basic and the facts and figures show that it is the very cheapest way to buy into Audi. The only reason anyone would buy an SE over a Sport, is simply because they cannot afford the Sport. That's no bad thing, I'm not suggesting those who can't afford it are 'poor' because even the SE is a premium car. I could barely afford the Sport when I configured mine, and now I can't afford either since I've just had to take a salary cut!

The relatively small increase in price from the SE to the Sport does include a lot of things that make it worthwhile, I couldn't believe the difference when I sat in each, most notably the seats. In terms of the tech specs, they're the same; insurance is almost identical, fuel economy is the same. Now if you're talking thousands of pounds worth of extras and options, or going up to the S-Line, then yeah that's a big jump, and anyone spending cash on that is doing so because they want to add some further features and a higher level of 'luxury'.

I'm sure I'm just speaking the thoughts of others, it's been said on here before that the SE is lacking for an Audi model. I remember specifically seeing something along the lines of 'The SE really doesn't do the A1 any favours in it's standard configuration', and there was even mention of Audi dropping the SE altogether and it was included in the lineup to drop their 'Starting from £xxxx' on the marketing at launch.

Anyway, this is off topic and I started it, so I'll shut up now...

You need to sit in a DS3 then! Even the top sports model (17k) isn't comparable to a basic a1 everything is hard plastic! :-( made my 11k seat Ibiza look amazing!

And that's coming from an s-line owner hehe good discussion though!

At the end of the day I would love an r8 but we get what we can afford Audi bringing out such a cheap model can only be a good thing

 

[Pommyboi]

Some of the issues in the OP were the same as the ones experienced by myself and my partner at BMW dealers and a few other places. It seems how you dress, what car you arrive in, the way you look or the money you have to spend sometimes makes no difference at all. I have the feeling you are expected to wait until dealers are ready to serve you because you want/need the car after all it's top quality and expensive - so you'll put up with anything just to get it.

Thankfully the guy at Audi Wolverhampton I dealt with last weekend was great, relaxed and down to earth and did a great deal which is always important. I hope follow up support is just as good if I need it.

 

[simonski]

I know it is not local for you but I had a good car buying experience with Tamworth Audi.
If you ever want a Land Rover dont go to Guy Salmon in Coventry. Newer been treated so poorly while spending 20k.
Perhaps I should have bought an 80k Range Rover. They couldnt even be bothered to reply to my comments in a letter I sent outlining my concerns.

 

[Pommyboi]

It's worth saying you should write and complain about poor service, if not to the dealer principle then to Audi/BMW etc. I regret not doing that with the past bad experiences I've received but certainly will in the future.

 

[hydeyho]

I turned up at Stafford Audi in my old Clio 182 (obviously carries a stereotype), skinhead, hoody and jeans and was treated great by John Robinson. So much so, I purchased an A1 there and then. Since then he's called to tell me my built date and the delivery date. Highly recommended!

 

[jollyretard]

well im 19, skinhead, hoody and jeans and drive an audi a6 V6 , i went to coventry bmw as i was set on a 1 series but they may as well have asked me to empty my pockets to see if id stolen anything as i left the dealership... very rude! I then went to Coventry VW... they didn't treat me badly because of what i looked like but they just simply ignored me!

Unhappy i tried Audi Coventry to look at the A3 (which i didnt really want) and a chap called Mark talked me into buying an A1... Ive been back a few times now and i cant recommend Coventry Audi anymore... top notch!

 

[crosbydavid91]

I turned up at Stafford Audi in my old Clio 182 (obviously carries a stereotype), skinhead, hoody and jeans and was treated great by John Robinson. So much so, I purchased an A1 there and then. Since then he's called to tell me my built date and the delivery date. Highly recommended!

Yh, one of my mates at work has an Audi TT TDI, but he swears by Stafford Audi and has his mums recently just bought an A5 from there, he said again how good they were!

 

[daytonasliner]

I know it is not local for you but I had a good car buying experience with Tamworth Audi]

I got treated as if i was something they had treaded in , so went to Audi Halesowen and spent 20k with them instead

 

[audiphil]

It's def a proper Audi! I'm not arguing that! and there's a very good reason to sell a car like this....it's an entry for many people into the brand and hopefully as wealth increases they "upgrade" to larger more expensive models[/quote]

I agree its a proper Audi having two A4 previously, unsure that Audi are expecting buyers to upgrade as many of the A1 buyers have downsized due to the ridiculous price of fuel an other running costs

 

[MAM]

Have always had great customer service from Newton Abbot Audi, sales & especially the service dept...highly recommend this dealer.

 

[tim]

Perhaps some dealers would like the A1 to go the same way as BMW did with Mini and give it a separate showroom.

 

[GWB1971]

I am so interested in the A1. I have been looking for a new car for ages, and the A1 seems the best in terms of style, residuals and quality.

I don't have much money to spend as I'm only 25 and am not exactly well-off, but I could probably just about swing a base level SE.

However, I have been into 3 dealerships in the past few days, and have been completely ignored in all of them.

Join the club my friend!, I went to my local Audi dealership 2 Sunday's in a row and on the first visit I said to one of the sales guys that I was interested in buying an a1, he handed me a brochure and walked off!, great I thought. Went back the next week just before lunch on the Sunday and parked my BMW m3 right outside the main entrance and walked inside, not so much as a hello nice day isn't it or can we help you, was inside for 20 minutes then left feeling more than pissed off, NOT ONE PERSON MADE ANY EFFORT WHAT SO EVER TO TAKE ME ON. So for that ABERDEEN AUDI DID NOT GET A SALE and instead I went to HIGHLAND AUDI IN INVERNESS who were more than friendly and very happy for me to spend the best part of 24k on a new car. I thought it was maybe my m3 they were offended by either that or I didn't have a jumper draped over my shoulders!, either way it's their loss.

 

[Mojito]

If i was a Audi salesman... I would be on you lot and everyone that entered the showroom, like a bad rash! Just think of all the bonuses these guys have lost! :ugeek:

 

[kamza]

Another vote for Stirling Audi. Glasgow Audi are all but a 5 minute drive from me but ended up going to Stirling to buy my A6 Le Mans. Glasgow's attitude is nothing short of shocking yet like the posters have experienced the Stirling guys go way beyond the call of duty. Looking to replace our faithful 8 year old A4 now for an A1 and no prizes for guessing where our one and only port of call will be!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dnitu001]

I too have had problems with Audi and their Snooty staff.

could not order a Audi from Derby or Nottingham. While sales men where ok, no better.

When It came to placing an order Derby and Nottingham simply said they where not interested. More than happy to take an order for a Sport or S line. But not for a SE

Sheffield where nice and should have ordered through them.

But went with Coventry. Seemed ok.

But they are the worst garage I have every had the miss fortune to deal with.

So 1 out of 4. Not good in my view.

Car when it has all the parts attached and is working is great and worth the money I paid for it. I love it.

Just Audi customer service standards are the worst I have ever experianced.

David.