Well, I took the plunge and invested 45K of my hard earned in an 07 RRS, Java Black, HSE, all the toys with 3000 miles on the clock. After 6 days took a drive to Cardiff (from Devon) where a red warning light came on (DSC). Cue lots of messing around and sitting waiting for Land Rover Assistance.

Eventually (next day) the car gets taken to Stratstone Cardiff, the main dealer. They do not keep in contact, don't call when they say they will, don't explain what is going on... even my local dealer is confused why they are doing certain things.

It has now been 2 weeks and so far they claim to have replaced an ECU, had problems with the air suspension and now are replacing the power steering pump and pipes!!! I have still not got it back and am seriously considering calling it "not fit for purpose" and getting my money back.

I love the car but this is just plain stupid. Is it worth waiting for or do I dump it and go back to Audi who know how to look after a customer?

Mark

I had the same feelings after the first month of ownership, although I had less serious issues. By that time, I was already too fond of the beast. Now, some 4 months later, it seems as if the problems have all been solved and my S/C is running faultlessly. I get the idea that if one has a knowledgeable dealer, one will be fine – once they have finished what the factory did not do properly, these vehicles seem to be quite reliable. Maybe that is the reason for the poor reliability rating they achieve in surveys – the surveys cover brand new vehicles and problems in new Land Rovers are fairly common, but once those have been sorted, reliability is fine. Believe it or not, but it’s been some time since I’ve driven my A8 – each and every time I have to decide which one I’m going to take, the Audi stays in the garage.

Would not blame you for wanting your money back, sounds like you are getting completely messed around by the dealer, replacing the PS pump and pipes???????? that I think is a new one.
Have a serious talk with the supplying dealer, keep it calm and insist that LR customer services are informed about what is going on.
Would be interesting to see if it is as simple as 'not fit for purpose' and money back.
I got an exchange D3 after much pushing of the dealer (same chain as you )

Good luck, as you say this is not acceptable, it is one thing if there is a genuine delay but it sounds like this dealer is just fobbing you off.

Direct quote below from the Land Rover web site for second hand purchases - apparently you still have 24 days to make up your mind.

"• CONDITIONAL VEHICLE EXCHANGE POLICY
A 30-day/1,000 Mile (whichever is sooner) Exchange Policy." Gone - 2008 TDV8, Stornoway Grey, ebony, zabrano trim, TV, Tasmods, mudflaps.

very true rrsjo, well remembered

rrsjo wrote:

Direct quote below from the Land Rover web site for second hand purchases - apparently you still have 24 days to make up your mind.

"• CONDITIONAL VEHICLE EXCHANGE POLICY
A 30-day/1,000 Mile (whichever is sooner) Exchange Policy."

Sounds like a dealer making money out of the warranty or just not interested in doing the work or doing nothing.

I'd go with rrsjo's idea if I didn't get an informed result PDQ......But I would also follow Cliff H's advice keep calm and go via your supplying dealer to apply some pressure.

Your DSC warning light is quite common and usually a simple turn on/off a few times resets the onboard pc and it goes away without any dealer involvement or a laptop down load and reset by a dealer. Can't see where power steering etc comes into it

So I'm very suspicious that that dealer has just stuck your car in the compound and forgotton about it. TDV6 - gone
TDV8 - gone
Audi Q5 3.0 Tdi Sline wef 6/11/10

Thank you for all your comments.

To be fair, the dealer that I bought from (Matford in Exeter) have tried to have the vehicle brought back to them as they do not understand the delays and trouble that has been caused. They have called me several times and seem to be genuinely concerned.

The Cardiff dealer have been the opposite and 15 days after it first went in I have had only one phone call from them.

I'm giving them till Tuesday and if it is not back then I'm rejecting it which will be sad but I'm not standing for this. Trading standards have told me that I am perfectly entitled to reject the vehicle and get the money back due to what has happed rather than use the guarantee which ties me to buying another.

Will let you know what happens.

After much complaining the car is on the move, albeit in bits, to another dealer in Newport.

The final straw was after waiting an entire week for parts it turns out Stratstone ordered the wrong ones.... A complete and total bunch of morons, thank god my car is going away from them.

Still giving them till Tuesday then its bye bye Rangey hello Audi

Another Stratstone's horror story.... although I'm sure there are some Stratstones staff who have grasped the notion of customer service, this does seem to be a recurring theme.  

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So, it's being taken from Stratstone Cardiff to Stratstone Newport........ Why?

Surely the place where it will recieve the best attention is Matford in Exeter who face 'buying it back' because andother dealer is unable to rectify the fault?

I'd push to get it back to Exeter somehow.  TDV8 HSE in Java/Ebony with Zebrano Wood, RSE, Hybrid TV, and a few other bells and whistles.

Discovery 1 V8i Auto (The Off Road Toy)

Stratstone refuse to release it to Matford as I believe they won't be able to get paid if they don't finish it, trust me we have tried repeatedly!!!

So Newport is another Stratstone dealer? That's not what you want really is it.... like LRS has said, I'd be looking to get it back to Exeter. Seems they give more of a sh*t anyway, AND they're going to be the ones dealing with the replacement. Word of warning then, don't go to Wales again

webselect wrote:

Stratstone refuse to release it to Matford as I believe they won't be able to get paid if they don't finish it, trust me we have tried repeatedly!!!

Then I would engage LR Customer Service and let them handle the process - they have remit over all the dealers, so should be able to resolve that sort of issue. Seems to be Cardiff have their noses out of joint (serves them right for being useless s). 

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It's back!!!! Nearly 3 weeks later and after all sorts of pathetic excuses and useless service by Cardiff.

Congratulations to Exeter & Newport who, between them, managed to have car fixed, transported back to Devon, checked over and valeted in 24hrs..... after I had rejected the car!!!

But on seeing it sitting there all shiny and black i am giving it another chance... just the one though.

But Land Rover customer care... its your turn to feel my wrath now!

webselect wrote:

Well, I took the plunge and invested 45K of my hard earned in an 07 RRS, Java Black, HSE, all the toys with 3000 miles on the clock. After 6 days took a drive to Cardiff (from Devon) where a red warning light came on (DSC). Cue lots of messing around and sitting waiting for Land Rover Assistance.

Eventually (next day) the car gets taken to Stratstone Cardiff, the main dealer. They do not keep in contact, don't call when they say they will, don't explain what is going on... even my local dealer is confused why they are doing certain things.

It has now been 2 weeks and so far they claim to have replaced an ECU, had problems with the air suspension and now are replacing the power steering pump and pipes!!! I have still not got it back and am seriously considering calling it "not fit for purpose" and getting my money back.

I love the car but this is just plain stupid. Is it worth waiting for or do I dump it and go back to Audi who know how to look after a customer?

Mark