Loosing my faith in specialists!

[swivelonit]

I slid my car on a roundabout last August, there had been a diesel spill and a heavy rain shower, the damage was to the near side suspension front and rear. The car was sent by the insurance company to a body shop, they replaced the rear subframe, bottom wishbone on the rear and also the bottom wishbone on the front, also replaced was the front and rear wheel bearings.

I got the car back and it drove like a pig! If I let go of the steering wheel it would swerve into the central barrier, the car went back and was re aligned, now it would swerve the other way when the steering wheel was let go of. I took it myself to an independent for four wheel alignment, they sorted the road manners out but in only 15,000miles the rear tyres had worn to the wire on the outside edges.

I got the insurance company involved again and my car spent three weeks in an Audi dealer bodyshop, they spent a further £1200 replacing the parts that were not replaced on the first repair, I now have the car back and it drives in a straightish line, the steering is very heavy and fuel economy is sub 40mpg (diesel) The car also likes to track with white lines or the camber of the road and is not a nice car to drive anymore.

The mystery with all the above repairs has been that the four wheel alignment readings are all within Audi's tolerance even when the car drives terribly. It is a complete mystery, if anybody can restore my faith and maybe look at the car I would appreciate it.

[vwcabriolet1971]

I would never use the insurers approved repairer for any repair other than than for minor repairs. If you use the approved VAG repair shop then you only have to deal with one repairer and most importantly they have to satisfy you and not just the insurance company.Even if you have to pay an insurance excess fee it can be cheaper in the long run.
The 4 wheel alignment check should have included a full geometry check and also a chassis alignment check should have been done to check for any distortion