2021 Q5 55e PHEV - 671 miles - Problems already ( resolved )

[Daemon64]

I figured you guys would be interested to hear about this.

So I got my Q5 delivered last monday. Drove is over 500 miles round trip to new york no issues. And then on Monday I was driving on the highway @ 78 in the left lane when it lost any and all acceleration, the gear stick light was flashing on drive, neutral, and park, and it was cycling the gas engine on and off repeatedly. I pulled over to the breakdown lane, and parked it up, it was still cycling the engine, so I shut it completely down, restarted it, and still doing the same, refused to go into gear and etc.... Totally messed up. I used the audi roadside assistance button and waited about 1.5 hours for a tow, and then go to the dealer who I had give me a loaner and I went home. It took them all day yesterday and this morning to diagnose with a specialist looking at it. They called me this morning to let me know the Gateway would need to be replaced and that since the car is so new, and the part is coming from Germany... that they have no idea how long the new part will take. I assume the gateway is the ECU... But damn what an interesting thing to have happen. Fun times with newer technology.... hahahah...

Something that kinda aggravated me is this: I've had around a dozen or so cars, and even more rentals and etc, and driven a LOT of miles, some of these vehicles over 200 and 300k miles on them, plenty brand new. Until monday I've NEVER had a car leave me stranded. I get that these things happen, but interesting times indeed.

 

[turbobrick240]

That's a bummer. Hopefully the chip shortages don't affect availability for that part very much. Is 2021 this first model year for that drivetrain? You're basically a beta tester with the first model year of a new powertrain. Decent loaner?

 

[Daemon64]

That's a bummer. Hopefully the chip shortages don't affect availability for that part very much. Is 2021 this first model year for that drivetrain? You're basically a beta tester with the first model year of a new powertrain. Decent loaner?

The 2020 was the first model year. This is the (2021 ) B9.5 platform... B9 being 2018 - 2020... so the underpinnings have some platform differences, but the drivetrain is the same as the 2020 model PHEV. If it was the 2022 model i'd have a 17.8 KwH battery instead of a 14.1..... The loaner is a 2021 Q5 Premium Plus w/ optional 20's so pretty decent. So far it seems to get around 28 mpgs on the highway and about 23 city, which seems bang on....

I will say the two longer trips i had taken in the PHEV... 33.5 MPG, most of that constant highway... thats better than the regular and even better than my TDI. So 100% can't complain there, and for shorter trips I am primarily on battery... I've gotten about 26 full electric miles on the regular in 40 - 60 degree temps... so thats better than the EPA rated 19 for sure...

 

[Daemon64]

Fun update. Just got a call from the dealer. Audi is telling them that their is a lithium shortage and therefore they will not get the gateway until 5/31/21, fun times...

 

[turbobrick240]

Sounds like they got their wires crossed. Should be the silicon semi-conductor shortage that's holding it up.

 

[Daemon64]

Sounds like they got their wires crossed. Should be the silicon semi-conductor shortage that's holding it up.

Fun Update. Part is pushed backed until 6/7/21... lovely... hahaha

 

[Daemon64]

New Update. The gateway was installed and on final test drive a new code came up. Now they will need a new Transmission Control module. Only 1 of them in the US and its in California, so waiting atleast another week now... Guys I need opinions here: Am I crazy for waiting this long dealer has had my car 30 full days, and of those 27 are business days. ( Lemon Law is 15 business days in mass if you car is down for repair that long). Am I being too patient, how would you guys handle this situation?

Thanks

 

[turbobrick240]

That sucks. Not an auspicious start to your ownership experience. I think you should test drive an ID4 and Model Y(maybe a Mach E also), if you haven't already. That might help to inform your decision. Neither one is likely as nice inside as the Audi, but they are both cool vehicles.

 

[Daemon64]

So I got the car back yesterday.... so far so good. .

 

[Daemon64]

So I got the car back yesterday.... so far so good. .

Well had the car back almost a month. Going well so far, about 1000 miles and no issues. Seems to be doing well, been running the car in battery hold this whole time to fully break in the gas motor. Even so my current long term average is about 44MPG gas over everything and now that I can use the battery more it's going up rapidly.

My TDI was 28.2 over the life I had it which is 357.59g of co2 per mile and at the hybrids current rate it is at 44 mpg 199.73 g/m. All of my charging of the battery has come from green sources only and I really haven't done much of it. But that number number is only going up as I use the battery much more.... so far so good...

Also for all the issues audi came through. They gave me audi care for the first 40k of miles, extended all my audi connect stuff for 6months and paid for a year of sirius xm. So it appears that they stand by their products.

 

[Daemon64]

Still going strong at 2200 miles now. AVG MPG on gas is now up to 46.8 MPG. As far as electricity use, on a 70 deg day w/ the climate control off and driving "normal" i am around 31.5 kwh / 100mi, to 35.0 kwh / 100mi, w/ the AC running on a hot day around 40.0 kwh / 100mi... Not bad honestly as I am running 20" summer tires on factory rims.

But BIG NEWS to me: I order 19x8 ET35 BC Forged RZ01 -- Forged Rims in brushed clear.( I've never purchased rims, and here I am going straight forged ) Going down to 19's should remove 4lbs from the tires each, and my estimate is ATLEAST 10 lbs from each rim. The bigger part is that I will be going from a Summer( Pirelli ) 20" w/ 8.5" of contact patch, to Continental DWS 06+( new formula ) w/ 7.8" of contact patch. So the reduction in contact patch which is significant at .7" each tire, and the aero benefits of going to a smaller rim should net some pretty decent performance gains. Keep in mind I will be betweent he sunroof not being there and the new rims be around the same weight as my Q5 TDI... with a much better suspension setup, the weight slung log and etc... w/ the same tires in the same size but with a little better traction in the compound... and i NEVER struggled for traction on those tires. 4 Wheel launch w/ no TC no slip what so ever, higher speed hard corner scoot and boot? Back end came around just a little with the sway....

So my expectations are the same or better traction as the TDI, while still likely giving me a good boost in electric range... Mind you I've been getting 32 - 34 miles out of the battery.