Delivery time for a new Audi Q5 S Line 2.0 TFSI Quattro 225PS S Line Plus

**SilverTop669** · 16-07-2013,09:43 PM

I handed over a deposit on 26/04 for an Audi Q5 S Line 2.0 TFSI Quattro 225PS S Line Plus in standard black and standard pack. No special features and just as it appears in the bochure. It's now mif July and I have forgotten about what the car was like to sit in or drive. I have been told production will start in August and delivery to me will be the end of September into early October on the new 63 reg. 5 months wait for a car is frustrating to say the least and I wish I had gone for a new BMW X5 instead, rather than wait all this time. I would have taken a new 13 reg to at least enjoy the summer in a new car but was told there were non available. I have come too far now to change course. Does anyone know why these orders take so long or why manufacturers can't produce cars that can be easily bought "off the peg" as it were? Am I unreasonable in thinking that I should be able to get a car in 2-3 months? I don't think I will ever wait this long again for any car and suspect some other manufacturers can provide cars more quickly.

**aldfort** · 23-07-2013,05:41 PM

Originally Posted by SilverTop669

I handed over a deposit on 26/04 for an Audi Q5 S Line 2.0 TFSI Quattro 225PS S Line Plus in standard black and standard pack. No special features and just as it appears in the bochure. It's now mif July and I have forgotten about what the car was like to sit in or drive. I have been told production will start in August and delivery to me will be the end of September into early October on the new 63 reg. 5 months wait for a car is frustrating to say the least and I wish I had gone for a new BMW X5 instead, rather than wait all this time. I would have taken a new 13 reg to at least enjoy the summer in a new car but was told there were non available. I have come too far now to change course. Does anyone know why these orders take so long or why manufacturers can't produce cars that can be easily bought "off the peg" as it were? Am I unreasonable in thinking that I should be able to get a car in 2-3 months? I don't think I will ever wait this long again for any car and suspect some other manufacturers can provide cars more quickly.

Sadly you ordered at a very busy time for Audi. The lead time will vary through the course of the year and can be as little a 7 weeks if you ordered in very early January to as much a 26 weeks. A few things should have happened. (1) When you placed your factory order the dealer should have looked to see if there as any stock of the car you wanted in the UK. If there was not an exact match (which is probably the case) he should have looked to see if there was something close and offered you this IF he could arrange an exchange with another dealer. (2) at the time of order the dealer should have placed your factory order into the system which would have produced an approximate lead time. This should have been communicated to you at the time of order placement. (3) this provisional date changes to a fixed build date at some point. Once this fixed build date is confirmed (the dealer can see this on the system) this date should be communicated to you. This is just pat of the process to keep you informed. Any good dealer should be doing this for you. You have a chance to tell Audi if this is not what happened as they will call you post handover of your new car and ask you to rate the whole buying experience at your dealer. did you ask the dealer about buying an ex-demo or anything like that? Also I assume you shopped around 1 or more dealers locally? As to the reason this happens: The only Q5 that might be easily available is the 170PS diesel. You (like me) ordered the 225 PS petrol (good man!). This is probably always going to be a factory order. Due to the recession most, if not all European car makers are on a build to order system at the moment, there is very little or no building for stock happening. The factory wants firm orders even for the demonstrators it builds. Given that demand varies and there can be supply chain issues (The glass roof and DSG being 2 well known ones) then the lead time on the fixed capacity of the factory will vary. (Those tales of very quick turn around times you sometimes here are usually cancelled orders.) So your experience is quite normal in the current climate. On the plus side you'll get a MY 14 car

**SilverTop669** · 24-07-2013,11:35 AM

Hi aldfort. Thanks for replying. It’s lovely that you made such an effort.
I retired at the beginning of May and decided for my 60^th birthday, to blow some of my retirement lump sum on a nice car. The criteria I used was to choose a car I wanted, rather than one based on need, logic or economy. I can remember the feeling of comfort and exhilaration I felt driving the Q5 that I did not feel with the other cars I test drove or just sat in. I only did about 4,000 miles a year (even when I was working) and so decided a petrol engine was more suitable for the short journeys I generally make.
It’s frustrating knowing that I ordered the car 3 months ago and yet it’s not even being built now. I don’t think it is right that companies put their own commercial self-interest above the interests of the customers who are their life blood. It’s like travelling abroad these days. We spend a lot of our hard earned cash on a holiday only to have our cases lost or damaged, and get treated like we are all potential terrorists with personal searches. Spending a lot of money on cars and holidays does not get us the service we deserve.
My only previous new car was my current Ford Mondeo which I received about a month after ordering it. The only consolation with the Q5 is that I have now passed the half way point to seeing my new motor.

**aldfort** · 24-07-2013,04:38 PM

I'm not saying it's right but it is how it is. I looked at a Q5 in late Jan. By the time I placed the order in early Feb the lead time had gone from 5 weeks to 12 weeks! Car actually turned up at the end of March. That is the other thing you'll have to contend with. After the car is built it takes a little while to get it to the dealer. But look on the bright side. We've just ordered a Golf GTi for my wife and the delivery on that is at least 22 weeks!!!

**josedebardi** · 27-07-2013,09:30 AM

This problem is not specific to Audi (Volvo for example have some alarming lead times on the XC90).
BMW though seem to have got it right, 2 years ago I was about to place an order for an Audi TT (literally pen in hand), my final question was regarding lead time, it started as about 3 months (couldn't confirm as end of the day), then when they tried to confirm the next day it was 4 months but they would try and sort me the demo car for a month, then the next day they finally confirmed 6+ months and no demo loaner!
The next day I went to BMW, I ordered a 135i convertible with estimated 8 weeks delivery (he could tell me this even though it was 6.30pm) - the car arrived in 6 weeks - and was twice the car any TT could ever be!

This time around I wasn't under any time pressure and ordered my SQ5 in the first week in January with estimated June/July delivery. I really wanted this car as there is nothing on the market that gets close to ticking all the boxes so the wait was just about OK.
Luckily someone that ordered an SQ5 in Nov cancelled their order and I took their slot, I took delivery on 4th May.
I know of a couple of SQ5 orders from Nov that are still as yet undelivered which is CRAZY! I would definitely not have waited that long despite wanting the car and would have probably settled for the BMW X3 35d...

Sadly Audi are in a strong position when it comes to supply/demand and they are taking advantage of that fact it seems. Some say they do this to avoid having to give discount, but in reality anyone with some common sense should be getting 8-9% off if they negotiate right (this is easier via brokers, but totally possible face to face with a dealer).

As you don't seem too fussed by the options I'm surprised as Aldfort says they didn't look for a close match that was on a forecourt or about to be delivered to another dealer in their group.
I would definitely make a point of saying you are not happy about the delivery time at handover, personally I wouldn't walk away until they have given you the first 2 services for free...

Anyhoo, as you already found from the test drive, I can assure you the Q5 is a great car and will be well worth the wait.
Look forward to hearing from you when you get the car and seeing some pics!

José

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**shabazmo** · 28-07-2013,01:02 AM

If its any consollation I orderred my Q5 on the 8th June and as yet do not have a build date. I am told that it may be January before I get the car so a 7 month wait potentialy. The problem here is that Audi is a global brand with China its biggest market, so it doesnt take much for a serious backlog to take place. How long ftom order date did you get a build date? Regards

**SilverTop669** · 04-08-2013,08:33 PM

shabazmo, I ordered the car on the 26th April. All I know is that it should be built this month (August) and I might get the car at the end of September or early October. So I still have no idea. No matter how I look at it I don't see this putting the customer first. If the demand for the Q5 is so high then why not produce more rather than encourage customers to go elsewhere rather than wait what seems forever. 14 weeks already gone and probably 8 or 9 weeks to go. There are plenty of cars that come a close second to the Q5 that I would pick rather than wait 7 months in your case.

**shabazmo** · 04-08-2013,11:43 PM

If only I felt that way about other brands. I am the ultimate audi nut, having owned my first one since 1987. Whats more, I have am all toolled up to service and repair my Audi's, so am prepared to wait as long as I need to, to secure the Audi I want. I take a very pragmatic view in that the longer it takes, the more I save. From Audi's perspective they are building factories all over the world and until they come online, then the wait will continue. The Q5 is particularly sought after. This model commands a discount of about 9%, whereas the A7 is now being discounted at 25%. I wish people would stop orderring Q5's.

**SilverTop669** · 05-08-2013,08:22 PM

I have had mostly Fords over 40 years and been very happy with them. This will be my first Audi and I have pushed the boat out a little because cost was not a significant issue. I have to say I loved the car on the basis of a single test drive and can understand the enthusiasm people feel for Audis. I now drive myself mad spotting Audis on the road and 1 in every 5 car seems to be one. There are so many on the road although not many are the 'Q' series. The money is in a savings account earning a pathetic interest rate so I would rather have the car. The best I could negotiate was a 5% discount with the salesman arguing that that is the best anyone can get because of the popularity of the Q5s. I stopped working on cars when fuel injection and electronic ignition came along and without specialist equipment monitoring emmisions is impossible, not that I would want to climb under cars anymore. I think I need psychiatric help to overcome my anxiety and impatience. LOL.

**shabazmo** · 05-08-2013,08:44 PM

Good to hear from you Silvertop, and happy 60th. At 54 next month, I hope to retire at 60, but have much pension planning to do. Just got this year's sales figures from Audi and they are out selling BMW as 1 in 16 cars is an Audi 6.4% of the market. The VAG group is the biggest selling group in the UK with a market share of 19%. Still love my servicing and have a pit and all the tools I need including diagnostics and Audi's workshop manual. It will keep me busy in retirement.