Do you want to know where Audi is with their classics...

[Graham]

I have just posted this:
I am mortified about the news that Audi is discontinuing spare parts for the cars that made Audi what it is today. Before the original Quattro what was Audi?--A average run of the mill manufacturer comparable to the mass produced crap such as Ford and GM. The original quattro put the company 2 steps ahead and raised the prestige of the brand to the luxury class of cars. So to the people who maintain and cherish these magnificent cars and its derivatives (S2, RS2) are now being kicked in the teeth. I love the brand and the quality is amazing. Why scrap perfectly good cars which show the roots of the quattro?---Greed is my only conclusion. What happens if everyone scraps their car for a new one--in 3 years time or as soon as a model change comes out will you discontinue spares for them too. I have owned an S2 for a long time and spend a fortune to yourselves on it keeping it pristine, if this is your attitude towards your loyal customers then i will never buy or reccomend an Audi again. This is a bad bad desicion---what clowns are making these desicions--look at the other marques which have made an impression in motoring history--they are still looking after their heritage.
Yours angrily
Graham T

[Graham]

To Audi UK Customer service

[Keeper of The Kitten]

Graham can you post the contact details up?

[Graham]

Here is the link i used: TELL THE BASTURDS

[Keeper of The Kitten]

Thanks ...this will be a good start ....spread the word!

[DJones]

Money is a funny thing...... they love you when you give it, they hate you with a passion when it stops... ask any divorced sod... including me...

They can kiss my ****...

[Keeper of The Kitten]

Anger suitably vented. I've paraphrased your version extensively, Graham, respectfully:

I am extremely angry about the increasingly common news that Audi is discontinuing spare parts for the cars that made the brand what it is today.

The original Quattro put the company ahead of every other car maker and raised the prestige of the brand, making 4wd cars a recognised advantage that others have since imitated.

So, to the people who maintain and cherish these magnificent cars and their derivatives (in my case, an early Coupe S2 - the first Audi to carry an S badge, and RS2, still one of the most extraordinary cars available over 10 years since it was introduced) - it feels like we are now being kicked in the teeth.

Furthermore, to find a link to Audi's scrappage scheme when searching keywords like RS2, utterly amazes me.

I have been loyal to the brand because of the quality and prestige that comes with owning an Audi. Why scrap perfectly good cars which are part of the heritage of quattro?

What happens if everyone scraps their car for a new one? In 3 years time or as soon as a model change occurs, will you discontinue spares for them too?

Other manufacturers are keen to protect their heritage and continue to offer spare parts for their older models, given that they are aware of what has made them the companies that they are today.

I have owned an S2 for many years and I have spent a fortune (to yourselves) on keeping it pristine. If this is your attitude towards your loyal customers then i will never buy or recommend an Audi again.

This is a bad desicion - look at the other marques which have made an impression in motoring history - they are still looking after their heritage.

With much anger,

Martin Cutting

[S2central.net]

I REALLY appreciate the very best intentions of such letters... and actually the shawshank redemption is one of my favourite flicks of all time - but I think its highly optimistic to think we'll get somewhere. Maybe I'm too much the jaded cynical old git tonight, but the writing is on the wall so I'm not so sure we'll get anywhere - other than some carefully worded response of marketing ballcups from an empty suit in Milton Keynes (otherwise known as Satan's layby).

I wonder how many of the suits in Audi UK run with an older Audi - I'll bet its a very small number. They don't care about us - just show them the money - thats all phrikkin matters.

[Keeper of The Kitten]

It is a numbers game Paul, for sure ...but even if it doesn't make two tenths of diddly squat difference, it won't be because we didn't try ...and they'll struggle to say they weren't told either.

We are a small, but significant minority - and yes you're right, it will probably fall on deaf ears - but there is no way I will sit back and watch it happen without doing at least something.

It took me a couple of minutes of my life, it's worth a couple of minutes of everybody's life on this forum and of those on all of the other Audi enthusiast sites.

[RAOUL]

I sat for a moment and thought about writing something official and formal by way of complaint to Audi UK and AG about this - but then I decided it will be a waste of ink - and my energy. All they are worried about is the bottom line - money... And they make much more of that selling new cars and maintaining currently supported product. Looking after the old timers is only an issue of morals, heritage and customer car - something that generates a lot less money and a lot more headaches for Audi - so our cars are destined to be cast off and ignored by the factory I fear.

So all we can do is look after ourselves boys (and girls) - acrue as many spare parts as you can afford or have space for because Audi doesn't care about us. Its the self preservation society.

I was telling a guy today that if I ever made a ton of cash out of this startup I work for that I'd love to order an Audi R8. But you know - I ****ing won't - they can go swivel for it. Some other mug can buy it - I'd sooner put that sort of silly money into a Ferrari (at risk of looking like a ****) or an Aston (potentially looking like a property developer)... Ahhh Ferrari then - at least they will look after me. I know a guy with a 1970 something 512BB and he can still get parts from Maranello and their official channels. THAT is heritage... THAT is giving a ****.

So very well put Paul. It totally astounds me does this, but as you say its all money, money, money! Can we not start a new bi-annual bank holiday? Shoot an accountant day?

[Skull]

just a stupid idea:

when audi makes a public presentation for a new model, a couple of you guys with real cars shoud show up, park the cars near the event. put a table there, and of course, many people would come there to see the difference between a car and glamour, any you could than teach everybody about the ignorant attitude of the stealer. than you only need a bit of luck to have a reporter there to write something...

and the **** is on

p.s.: s2central.net: if your address is 22 acacia evenue, than you should know a lady... tell her that you know me, you might even get it free

[s2driveruk]

the gauling thing about most of their rcent launches is they roll out an S1 or an RS2 or a UR to remind the journo's of the 'history of quattro' and how it dominated virtually every form of motorsport it featured in, WRC, BTCC, American tintops etc etc.

In a period where new car sales figures have fallen (for Audi) by something like 36% against the same period last year, you would fully expect that what would be high margin parts for older cars should be embraced with both hands. Bar storage and inventory mgmt costs, i doubt there are any other major cost overheads on parts which are out of lifecyle like ours would be.

i'd expect anyone who can work a spreadsheet either in the Uk or Audi AG should be able to see that activity on these motors is probably very healthy, driven no doubt in part by the now much missed VAGPArts but others too.

Th arrogance of a major brand in ignoring a decent (loyal, predominently monied) proportion of their customer base will always come back to bite them......I for one really hope it cripples them. You simply can't prostitute the older cars to drive new business and not maintain them in the marketplace, the public and the press will soon cotton on to that i'm sure.

[Rusty]

I'll be sorting a letter out and contacting the motoring press. Magazines like Performance Car love the older cars and Evo hail the RS2 as a hero. A dying hero. How many times has the quattro been dragged out in there magazines?

It might start small but if we keep going, send an email a month each, get other forums on board and keep going then who knows...

[stiglet]

There is no point contacting Audi about this. They are a corporation and as such only care about making money. They don't have principles.

However, the people you need to get to are the potential buyers of an Audi. They would be less likely to buy an R8 if they knew that parts will no longer exist in a few years time. Better to get this point across to magazines like PPC and Practical clasics, then write to EVO and Perfromance Car etc etc. Might even be worth writing to Top Gear, get a mention in their news section? Best to create a bad image for Audi, that's what they fear most.

[pixsaudisex2]

I think you should keep quiet about saying you own an s2 pretend you really really want a new audi but tell them you are getting it as part of a ten year plan. You think audis are one of the few cars that you think will last that long. reel them in like a fish an then say ***** the bed just spoke to my neighbour with a s2 or what ever an he laughed saying ten years. audi stop making parts after 6 years you wont get the car to last ten years so im going for a merc as my other neighbour has a merc thats 22 years old and he can still get the parts. let them feel the cash slipping through there fingers. Maybe. Suppose i need to by hot rodder weekly to work out what to put under the car..