Bow down to the forum

[Big_kev]

Just been to the local steelers in Glasgow (the big one) looking for a washer jet for the overider on my S2. Quoted £132 near fainted and felt histerical laughter set about me. For a washer jet I cried (nearly did too). We only sell these as a whole unit with the overider i was informed. Much to the parts managers annoyance and my relief i came equipped with the part number as supplied on the forum in previous posts.

End result I saved just under £128 sovs and the parts manager requires a bit more time to meet his sales target.

Thanks guys for being you.

[dan_b]

Great story, nice one! Bloody stealers...

[Robatron]

I've had mostly bad experiences with dealers...

I've had the normal "Whats an S2?" to "That isn't an S2 sir". I've even had "We never made a sporty A2!".

But the stealers did come up trumps when my header tank cracked. I went to GSF and asked if they supplied a header tank to which they replied "Yes we do, but it only come with a new radiator and pipes, so that will be £xxx". I laughed, drove to the dealers and spoke to an old chap who used to own an S2! £25 later I had myself a header tank.

[dan_b]

I must admit my usual route is this
1. ask forum. If no answer, or not quickly enough for my impatient tastes go to...
2. call VAGParts. If no answer, or not quickly enough, go to...
3. the forum and learn some patience!

[Acidburn]

Lol, I was lucky enough to get a pair off a forum member for £5 + P&P which was cool, prices are mental for some parts tho, iirc rear view mirror £50 ish.

I normally look at Etka and then ring thru with the right part no's plus it has a rough guide to prices on mine so know roughly what they are taking the mick over.

[Nj]

I always feel like such a scruffy git wandering in through that giant greenhouse and past the immaculate receptionist and over to the parts desk (usually to be bent over and shafted some silly price for a small, simple part)
wish i'd been standing nearby when you were in mate

[Rusty]

Not all dealers are bad

[Dubbedup]

Not all dealers are bad

The one in Glasgow is.

Snotty sales staff, that unless you are dressed in your finest, asian or Chinese then they will not look the road you are on (this coming from one of my Asian colleagues)

The parts department are not interested...and take an absolute age to get your parts, even if you phone ahead and tell them to leave the stuff out for you.

Went in to buy a car from them when they were in Townhead, and ended up walking out on the salesman as he was being such a ****...They really need a kick up the backside...

Why is it rare to find someone who is actually "into" cars, that also works in a dealership?

[s2driveruk]

if you are vaguely in the south of the UK and not far from Camberley, Graham in their parts department obviously went to the same school as martyn and the guys at VAGparts. He conceeds that their parts are sometime expensive and is always happy to help, even telling me to go to Quattro Corner the other week for a part cos they were never going to get close to a reasonable figure.
I go through him for stuff GSF dont stock and VAGParts would take a few days for that I can't wait for.

[Jas11n]

Not all dealers are bad

Very true.

Teeside Audi are very good. One of the salesman is a proper old school Audi petrolhead and the parts manager and his sister in the parts department are very good.

Weaside Audi on the other hand are pants, as in a big pair of size 50 paisley Y fronts.

Jas..

[dubmeister]

I'm very lucky that my mate is the parts guy in Swansea Audi, a petrolhead (Club GTI area organiser) and he gets me most of the parts with his discount. Other than that i use GSF but there a some items that i will only buy genuine due to aftermarket/oem failures (yea oem isn't always as good as genuine-so don't be fooled)