I have ordered one of the new Audi A6 Avant and been told that the dealer couldn't confirm a delivery timescale before ordering. Instead they would be advised of a "build week" once the car went on their system.
Well that was four weeks ago and the build week is still not visible to the dealer. They tell me that the other 4 cars ordered in the same allocation as mine are in the same position, but I never had any problem like this with the BMWs I have previously bought. I find this a bit frustrating, not least as I want the car before I go for a tour around France in the middle of May!
So my questions are these - does anyone know an approximate build time for the new A6 Avant and has anyone had experience of this situation before or could it be becuase the car is not released in the UK yet?
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I asked about quick delivery of the new A4 Avant recently and the dealer salesman fell about laughing. (I got the impression that if I'd asked for a discount I'd have been led to the door). Said it would be 12 wks minimum for a factory order.
So it might be touch & go for your May trip, although I imagine demand for the A4 is probably much higher than for the A6.
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I'm afraid I don't know the build time for a new A6 Avant but nothing much seems to have changed from 1982 when my father had to wait three months for an Audi Coupe and the dealer was only aware of the build week just before the car was actually manufactured. Also in 1998 I purchased a used Audi 100 Avant which was part-exchanged for a new built to order A6 Avant that took six months to arrive and its' build date was only known a few weeks before the vehicle arrived in the UK. So both myself and the new A6 customer had to wait for six months for our cars. I am surprised that you never had a problem with BMWs as in my experience built to order BMW's and Mercedes Benz always take months to arrive and the dealers can never obtain build dates until the vehicle is about to be manufactured.
Have you tried contacting Audi UK?
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From my days back in the leasing game i seem to remember that 12 weeks is about right for a factory build.
Normally most dealers should be able to change the spec of a car that is already in the build cycle to your particular requirements but it depends on your individual requirements.
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Thanks for the comments everyone - it does seem that 12 weeks is the concensus and that I will probably be lucky to get it in time for the holiday.
If my local dealer isn't able to get an idea of build time next week, then I think it is a good idea that he (or I) talk to Audi to get some idea if there is likely to be an extended delay.
I think I was very lucky with my BMWs as both were probably originally scheduled demonstrator cars that they instead sold to me and I was able to tweak the spec when I ordered. I ended up with a 330Ci to my spec in 7 weeks and X5 with 9 weeks.
Hopefully I'll be lucky with this one and I'll get a call next week that says they are building it the week after that, ready for an April delivery....!!
ps: Managed to get 7% off through my local main dealer which matched quotes from brokers. Took a bit of haggling, but not bad I thought.
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Must be because it's a new model. My A4 was a factory build because we wanted sports seats (to keep SWMBO comfortable), and I was told it would take 8 weeks. Eight weeks it was, to the day (this was January to March 2004).
Even if it's longer than that, the dealer really ought to be able to find out how long it takes and tell you. If he can't, or won't, he is arrogant and, as so often happens in this country, clearly doesn't want the sale enough.
If you're within range, try Aston Green Audi at Slough.
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I've already paid a non-refundable deposit, but thanks for the tip anyway! To be honest, I think John at Wayside in Milton Keynes is as frustrated as I am with this ... he knows how keen I am to get the car and wants nothing more than to see me drive it away!!
I think you are right though about the new model - the have no previous experience of order times for this model to use a basis (mine will be the second or thirs delivered to the dealership when it arrives). The other thing that might not be helping is my liberal addition of optional extras (if they had included a kitchen sink option, I think my wife reckons I would have gone for it!!).
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Like you say it is almost certainly all the extra's which is causing it to be a full build. Your Beemers are exactly what i was talking about - cars already in the build process than can have 'tweaks' to the spec.
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I have an A3 Sportback on order and was quoted 10-12 weeks when I ordered it. The dealer said they are allocated a build week and the car arrives about 3 weeks after this date, the build week can take up to 6 weeks to come through.
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I hate to state the obvious but why don't they just build a bigger factory if the demand is so high? It's not exactly competition car logistics if they can't tell you when they plan on building your order.
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I ordered an A4 Cabriolet two weeks ago, got told last week that my build week is the first full week in March and that it should be around four weeks to delivery from then. This was from Aston Green Audi in Slough.
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Well the dealer has been in touch with Audi and I now know what the problem is. Turns out that there is an issue with rear side blinds. These pull up out of /retract into the doors and mean that I don't need a stick on "winnie the pooh" set!
Not sure what the actual issue is, but been promised more info by the end of the week.
I feel almost cheated - a missing sprocket widget that is essential to the operation of some uber-technical bit of kit is one thing that makes my car sound very special and highly designed, but to be scuppered by pull up side blinds is a bit lame really!
So, want an A6 Avant? Don't order side blinds, don't be vain like me and just get the Winnie the Pooh set from Halfords. Or order an A4 Cabrio like Chris W and you'll have it before I get a straight build date from Audi!!!! ;-(
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Sorry, didn't mean to rub it in!
I think the winnie the pooh set is very classy and in keeping with an A6!!
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I think the winnie the pooh set is very classy and in keeping with an A6!!
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It could be worse - they could be a mickey mouse set!
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Yeah, I agree ... perhaps Winnie isn't so bad after all!
Seriously though, if you were a car designer, you must be gutted everytime you see one of these. You've spent years on a creation that you have lovingly created, agonising over every last detail down to the shape of the door handle and made the side profile symbolise speed and fluidity .... then the owner sticks a great Winnie the Pooh thing on the side windows and suddenly the effect is ruined!
Then again, could be worse - it could be those day-glo bits that you used to be able to get to go over the windscreen wipers (and only seemed to be fitted to Ford Escort/Orions for some reason!)
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