Cavender Audi

Please note that many of these reviews are for the sales department from customers who just purchased a car and are thrilled by how awesome it is. If you want additional honest feedback about this dealer, read the other one star reviews about the service. Actually, most of the ones not recommended by Unilocal are pretty accurate in this case. Having said that, I’ve experienced very little beyond frustration with this dealer in the past 2 years. First of all, technology is cool… but don’t bother scheduling an appointment on the website, as it appears to be there just for appearances and you will end up having to call and schedule an appointment. Before you call, expect to have the appointment scheduled at least 2.5 to 3 weeks out. That seems to be the norm for everyone. Now on to my personal experience…
I replaced the windshield through an outside provider and soon thereafter, although as it turned out not to be related, I noticed water collecting on the driver side door mat every time it rained. After scheduling with the aforementioned lead time, they finally were able to even accept it into the queue. I didn’t hear anything for a couple of days and followed up for an update. They said they didn’t find any problems and asked if the windshield has been replaced recently and I told them yes. I was then advised to take it to the provider since it was probably their fault. I went ahead and picked it up and had it checked by the third party, and they not only verified their install was not to blame, they found the defect causing the issue. This only took a total of two days.
I then had to wait the required 2 – 3 weeks to return the car to the dealer and tell them what needed to be fixed. Equipped with exact knowledge of what the issue was, they were actually able to fix it in a reasonable turn around time. However, the total time to resolve this issue was about a month and a half, and involved referring to another company to identify the issue. Is that the kind of service they charge a premium for in order to purchase and maintain their products?
Admittedly, since then, I did have one experience that wasn’t completely frustrating: After some back and forth emails with the service manager at the time, I was able to schedule a routine maintenance (with the expected lead time) and have it completed and my car returned to me without any issues. With the exception of having the initial back and forth, and the usual long wait to schedule an appointment, this is pretty much standard for most non-​luxury brands from my experience.
Unfortunately, my most recent experience included the long lead time, and the added bonus of a failure of a technician to diagnose my vehicle within a 30 hour window. Whats the point of the lead time (or even scheduling an appointment) if you’re not going to have any technicians available for the appointment? I also asked the specialist to provide me details on how I can obtain a rental through them and have them reimbursed by the third party warranty service I purchased. He also failed to do so in a timely manner, leaving me without any transportation options (outside of incurring my own expenses). Was it too much to expect a seamless experience between the warranty service and the dealership? They had no problem selling me the warranty. I just decided to cancel the service request and consider other options altogether. I have no intention of returning to this dealer, or this brand.
I feel as if the premium I pay is an investment in frustration and it pays huge returns. It’s unfortunate, because I have thoroughly enjoyed driving the vehicle itself, but it is no longer worth the aggravation of having to endure this operational nightmare. At this point, I can only speculate that they are performing triage on their customers, and prioritizing high value customers over lower value customers. I can’t imagine they would possibly treat an R8 owner this way.

I tried to make an appointment to service my car but could not get a hold of anyone in the service department. I called about 5 times and left messages with the service agent and manger and still didn’t get a call back. So I decided to take my car in and told me it wouldn’t get worked on till a couple days and they said that their loaner cars won’t be available till 2 weeks later. If I knew that this is how they treat their customers I would have never bought an Audi.
How am I suppose to take that response seriously when it’s the same word for word as the previous to a review. Looks like Audi has a automated response to any negative feedback. Thanks for taking the time to take my concerns seriously.

The daunting task of going to a dealership is a very mentally draining process. I like to not waste my time nor the sales rep’s time so I try and plan out as much as I can before I get to a dealership. It was time for me to trade in my Audi as it was too high on mileage and the maintenance was going to be far too much for the car. With relocating out here temporarily I wanted to have a fresh new start so why not get a new car. I already knew going to a dealership to get a vehicle is a process that takes all day and drains you mentally. I was greeted by Stephanie McCranie who greeted me with a smile. I laid everything out to her at the beginning letting her know what my situation was and my expectations so that we could start as honest and upfront as possible. Then she showed me some cars and what could be done for me. This is a family owned business I learned and I also got to meet the owner. The reps were all very friendly and even with the construction going on it didn’t seem to be a distraction. Stephanie McCranie was GREAT and she has a wonderful singing voice, maybe you can get her to sing something. So after feeling as if I had no good options everyone in the team tried hard to get me what I wanted. After all the back and forth that normally goes on at a dealership where you and the dealer have to find a middle ground, I got something I wanted and could walk out happy with in the end. Everyone was great and friendly. I love Audi cars and would hate to go to other dealerships. Let’s just say we will be coming back again for a second vehicle the Q7. All I have to say is have some patience, a positive attitude, and just realize that buying a car anywhere is always stressful. I’ve bought a house before but it always feels like buying a car is harder. And remember the car buying business is tough both on the buyer and the seller. But with a great team like they have at Cavender Audi, the experience is a lot less stressful. Thanks again for helping me walk away with my 2016 Audi A4.

Disappointing service but they made up for it.
I had my 35,000 mile service scheduled today and called early at 10:40am to confirm my appointment and make sure a ‘loaner’ vehicle was ready. I spoke with David Aguirre and he confirmed everything. I arrived at 2:30 to find out there were no vehicles available. When I went in to talk with David he said «well I’m not in charge of the fleet.» I am extremely disappointed with the level of service of this dealership.
UPDATE**
Service manager personally called me and had my car brought out to me the next day. He also gave me his personal cell phone number in case anything went wrong on the next service call. I really appreciate him reaching out.

Wow is all my wife and I have to say.
What’s your expected experience when visiting a car dealership? I’d wager there’s an element of depression mixed up in there somewhere. You usually expect at least a degree of disingenuous smiles, some passive-​aggression, or that look from their closer by making you feel indecisive, dumb, or penny-​pinching.
None of that at Cavender Audi. NONE. As in zero.
On the contrary. We had three visits total — two test drive sessions and one session to negotiate and purchase. During each of those visits literally (and I do mean LITERALLY literally) every employee, from the Julie, the manager, the best in the biz for my money, to sales personnel, the make-​ready guy, Juan, wore easy genuine smiles and appeared to really WANT to engage us in short non-​intrusive conversation.
Full disclosure: I had considered shopping the store, getting to know exactly which Audi I wanted, then trying to get it from an individual, even if it meant I’d go months before I found that one with all the features I wanted. Those three visits removed any urge to follow that path.
By the end, our sales rep, Stephanie, who was knowledgeable, positive and energetic, and the rest of the bunch over there had us feeling as much like family as a group you’re doing business with can. Looking back, I wouldn’t consider any other dealership when purchasing an Audi.
Here’s to hoping it rubs off on all the other dealerships around town.

This place has made a complete 180. Wow!
Christi and Mojda truly changed my perspective on the service department.
As of a few months ago my wife and I vowed never to purchase an Audi again. Not because of my disappoint with the manufacturer. I feel Audi’s are the most amazing vehicles. But the service department was deplorable the numerous times we took our Q5 in. Our vehicle came back to us in worst condition despite extended stays.
We were not looking forward to our 15,000 mile check up but went forward with the appointment for the sake of our vehicle. And at last we were treated with respect, professionalism, and kindness that had been lacking in the service department. The difference was Christi and Majda. They have made all the difference.

I have been an Audi customer since 2006 when I bought my first Audi. My first experience was with their service department since I bought my car from my brother. Ken was excellent and never disappointed me. He retired and Brian was my main guy then. They moved to I-​10 and Brian and the other guys kept the good work, always got me a loaner or a rental if they didn’t have an available one. It was time to trade in my 2004 A4 and since then I have always trusted their help even if I was not to buy from them. Right now my wife and I have two new cars Q7 and S4 and we have nothing but gratitude for Albert our sales person, Domingo, Linda and Andy in finance and Chuck in trade, always kind and professional… We even get a written thank you note from Rick Cavender every time we get a car… We feel treated as friends when we get in the show room and our faces are now familiar. keep it up!
Jairo a Chavez DDS

My husband decided definitely NOT to get a car here due to the very poor customer service in this service department.
The wait time for a repair was three weeks! They are certainly not apologetic about the wait or the least bit helpful. They left a torx head in his engine after finally completing the work! Sloppy work and quite expensive I might add! We paid a lot of money for rude service and sloppy work.
The Audi in St. Louis, where we used to take hubby’s car, would work with us to keep our costs down. They did good work and the customer service was outstanding. My husband was definitely planning to get another Audi while he received service at this location — in fact he already had the next one picked out!
Not here. He quickly changed his mind. Hubby and I are both completely turned off to Audi after just a couple of bad experiences at Cavender Audi.

MUST GIVE KUDO’S TO CAVENDER AUDI!!! I have never had such great service in my life!!! Driving back from College Station this weekend, my car was acting up and we thought it was the transmission which was strange for a car with very little mileage. Anyway, we babied it home and Monday I called my contact at Audi and immediately within 45 minutes, a wrecker was at my office in New Braunfels taking my car (because they did not want me to drive it if it was the transmission) …and a rent car right behind it. Turned out it was just the #2 spark plug. I got a call today that it was ready to go and I was planning on going in the morning to get it-it’s not close by, it’s out by Fiesta Texas. Anyway, I alerted my manager that I might be in a little late. Tonight I get a call from my contact and he said he was sending a porter with my car to my office tomorrow and they would take the rent car back to Enterprise. They made my life so easy and not inconvenienced one bit. Now, that’s what you call service. I recommend them, not to mention the great cars they have!!! Thank you Cavender Audi!!!

In short, ask for and work with Terry, great guy. Run from David Soto, do not even make eye contact. Read the rest if you want…
At first we were kinda treated like crap by David, apparently a young couple in their mid-​twenties can not afford your cars? That is funny, sad sad San Antonio.
So anyways, I wanted an A5, test drove it finally after long unnecessary chat, we said we wanted to discuss numbers and went inside. He would not give us any information, gawked at my wanting payments at around $ 500 (because assumed I did not have enough cash to put down? Cute.) He rattled of some ballpark numbers, did not talk to the manager and seemed bothered by us but said he could see what he could do if we were interested in getting it today…
We went up the road to the Rim to eat and on the drive back called him to say we wanted it. Someone had just purchased it he claimed. We told him we were very serious so go ahead and find us one just like it to buy. After some looking around he found one at another location and since it was late they were going to call them on Monday to get it done.
Surprise surprise Monday rolls around and the guy they had backed out so it was available. He said the price we discussed was not an option because of course they had another guy who wanted it… Even though this was clearly BS we figured we would pay for the convenience of not having to wait. We were only given a short window in which to get this done which would involve way too much rushing as we were required to be downtown by 3pm and he told us to come in at 12.
Having to pay well over a thousand more than what was discussed and only having a few hours to rush, do all the financial stuff and have to rush downtown. (Plus when has the buying a car process ever taken only 2 – 2.5 hours?)
When we told David it wasn’t worth the rush and stress to pay more he was clearly upset, and rude about it. He barked «Do you want the car or not?» We repeated the stress over the window of time vs. paying more than discussed, and he basically told us that was dumb, it was only an extra $ 100 or so, and that he was sure our schedule requirement wasn’t that necessary…
(If $ 1000 «or so» wasn’t a big deal he should have been able to discuss offering a better deal to get it done. I should add this was the last day of not only the month, but the year, I would have thought they would want to make a sale on a 2013 A5 Prestige w/​S-​line package…)
We told him we were still wanting a car just like it so go ahead and sell this to whoever was waiting for it and let us know when we could get another. Never heard from him again.
Obviously, not only is David rude, unprofessional, and condescending but a moron. I kept an eye on the car, it was still there end of March, same exact car.
Came in saw Terry, who was great, helpful, polite, didn’t make assumptions about what we could and could not afford and I bought the car. I told them I wanted it back in December and why I didn’t get it, that I knew it was the same car, etc.
Terry was great, no nonsense, polite, professional, deal with Terry.

I am the guy who drives the 2001 Audi A6 but acts like it is a 2008!
My vanity plate says SUK1T.
Aw shucks you know me better than that.
Anyway all of the mechanical issues with Audi that you have heard are true. I actually liken it to the luxury version of a Pontiac, powerful engine, stunning handling, but all of the flimsy plastic pieces inside fall off easily. But boy that handling! I live for hill country drives winding through state highway 16 with the sunroof open on a sunny November afternoon.
When the car is in need of repair or the unyielding check engine light is on or maybe it is just time for an oil change, I always take my car in to Brandon at Cavender Audi. Being the only game in town now makes it an easy choice but these guys have been treating me well for over 4 years and I love the service. The Quattro café is stocked with coffee and bottled water and you can watch the big flat screen TV on the wall while you wait. If a rental is needed they arrange that right on site and if you need a ride to or from home the courtesy shuttle is at your disposal.
Plus you can walk across the street and marvel at the new A5 coupe that you can not afford or maybe you can, I don’t know. If you are lucky enough to buy one, give me a call and take me for a ride.