Audi Owners Beware: Luxury Car Maintenance Costs Far Exceed Mainstream Brands

An Audi technician vented on TikTok that many first-time luxury car buyers underestimate the high ongoing costs of maintenance and repairs. He noted that numerous customers decline recommended factory-approved service plans and instead opt for cheaper, temporary fixes that address symptoms rather than underlying issues. German luxury brands like Audi—due to their complex engineering, turbocharged systems, and all-wheel-drive configurations—have significantly higher labor and parts costs compared to mainstream brands such as Honda and Toyota. Although Audi’s long-term ownership costs are on par with BMW and Mercedes-Benz, they still place financial strain on some budget-conscious owners. The technician emphasized, “We’re not working on Hyundais or Kias,” urging consumers to thoroughly consider vehicle ownership expenses before purchasing to avoid ending up in a situation where they can afford to buy the car but not maintain it.