So after an amazing weekend in Mammoth (pictures and video to follow) my car wouldn't start. Now I knew when I bought it that it would be expensive to maintain but I think Audi has reached a new level of sticker shock. Chris at Audi called me back with the estimate for replacing the battery, poor guy didn't know who he had on the phone. I thought, $100-200 max when I took it in. Amazingly the quote was $450!
This is the conversation that followed:
Brent - $450? Why?
Chris: uh....
Brent: Is the battery made from a space-aged polymer found only in very remote areas in eastern germany after falling from space for several milleniums?
Chris: I dont think so
Brent: Does it really take 2 hours labor for a certified Audi mechanic to replace a battery when it should take 5 minutes?
Chris: It shouldn't but they might have to re-set the codes.
Brent: Well how long does that take?
Chris: 5 minutes
Brent: So you're telling me to pay $450 for a mechanic to replace a battery in 10 minutes?
Chris: Um, yeah I guess
Brent: That seems pretty silly now doesn't it
Chris: Yes
Brent: Give me a discount
Chris: How's 50% off sound?
Brent: Still a lot but now I don't have to burn the place down
Chris: Um...so fix it?
Brent: I've put you through enough......fix it.
Note to self: Buy American from now on. Sure they break down all the time but at least they are cheap to buy and cheap to fix. Or wait, is that Japanese cars?