Well this isnt good for a first day

[Joe2.0E]

If it was me, I'd be letting Oscar deal with the workshop as he will be picking up the tab anyway. He's also much more likely to be able to loan you a decent car until it is sorted even if this means taking the loaner to France.

[limoncello]

Oscar and the garage are now talking, Audi have suddenly diagnosed the issue, so hopefully there is still just enough time to get things done.

[Joe2.0E]

Thats great, hope it gets sorted for your Holiday.
The one benefit to an A4 Loaner is you will really appreciate your A8 when you get it back

[limoncello]

well thats for sure, its a manual with stop and go , makes you think youve screwed up the clutch, had to turn it off

[briang9]

Originally Posted by Joe2.0E

If it was me, I'd be letting Oscar deal with the workshop as he will be picking up the tab anyway. He's also much more likely to be able to loan you a decent car until it is sorted even if this means taking the loaner to France.

I was just thinking that as well, your deal/contract for the car is with Oscar, so I would be chasing them for a loan for your hols, hope it all works out for you and you have a stress free holiday

[limoncello]

good thoughts, unfortunately Oscar is a long way from me, not thast he has offered, and with time running out i dont see it happening.
The way i see it now is, the car has been diagnosed, and quoted, its a 7 hour job, from when oscar says go (if they have the part),

At about 4 on Friday Im picking up a hire car at which point i will be rejecting the car, and getting a refund. If he wants to use some of these hours negotiating a couple of hundred quid off rather than make sure i get the car on time thats up to him.

i am getting quite relaxed with the idea, if i get the car back now, i will be taking a fully loaded car with wife and 2 small kids in a car which ive driven only once and then it failed, on a 2000 mile round trip. one of the main reasons i changed was to have a car less likely to be breaking down in the middle of nowhere in central france, and though there are no garantee's whatever the car, this one doesnt have a great batting average.

[gninnam]

Sorry about the crap Nick - hope it works out for you the right way, but enjoy your holiday visiting the family

[limoncello]

Thanks Andy, it isnt working out at the moment, i dont see this being done on time. il give it until 2 if i dont hear they have started and are liable to get it to me tommorow, im going for the hire car option.

[ainarssems]

Feel for you mate, does not give much confidence in the car or the dealers. I know when I have done some work on car I feel uneasy to do a long journey straight after in fear that I might have missed something even if I am always double checking and paying special attention to anything safety related.

It has happened before, did not secure radiator hose properly on Freelander after head gasket replacement and it popped off with a cloud of steam just as wife pulled in work car park 5 miles from home. Not a biggie, went over with the other car, found the issue and was fixed 10 minutes later but if it had happened 100 miles from home it would have been major inconvenience.

I would not be confident taking car to France knowing that dealer might have rushed things to get it done on time. Not before having it driven for at least couple of days locally. The way they handled it does not give much confidence as well.

[limoncello]

i agree, have just called them and they still havent got started or the part in yet, and havent ordered it until oscar finishes his negotiations, so best will in the world it isnt going to happen by close of play tommorow.

Audi are looking at whether they have a bigger car than the A4 to give me but all the a8s are out (didnt know they had a8s as courtesy cars) they obviously keep them for people with newer 8s than ive had.

i will give him an hour then arrange the hire car, choice looks to be a BMW 530 or something like a seat alhambra
oh well at least the kids get to see the grandparents still