Test Driving the Opposition
 

Had a test drive today with David's8 in the first 4WD M5, very nice car, loaded with high tech, and very quick. Even if I had the kind of money they are asking for it to spend on a car, I'm not convinced it's worth the £101k price tag:eek: ..and even if I wanted one I would need to wait till 2020..so they are obviously selling well+++

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1523036744

Thanks to Brian ... and, of course, Connor, +++
A blistering fast car, more refined than Brian's RS6 (sorry brian). I liked the styling and, of course, the power through a smoooth 8-speed box.

Options I can do without include massage seats (having your buttocks massaged whilst negotiating a tricky section of country road is one I can, frankly, do without)......and thats from an ex-Navy man :ROFL: )

Lane assist is a pain in the ar$e in another way. If I am sober and awake why do I need the car to try and haul itself back into line when I want to pull out early without signalling (no one behind me).

But an interesting and different drive +++

Remember David, you are NOT a BMW driver................ :rolleyes:

IIRC Even a 600 volt cattle prod is inadequate to convince a BMW driver to use indicators correctly.

I hope you are not insinuating that i was driving lke a BMW driver :tuttut:

I really cant think of any purpose for this technology unless its part of a self-driving system.

Glad about that, always worked hard to avoid my name being linked to any sort of refinement:ROFL:

Seriously though, I agree, the fact the RS6 is 10 years old with 82k on the clock, less tech and an older 6 speed box has something to do with that...oh and I paid less than a quarter of that £101k+++ the reason I bought it was for the raw performance experience of the Audi V10, and despite the 10 year age gap the V10 power delivery still feels much better IMHO:D

You're probably right on that, our Volvo has it and it just seems pointless.
Not sure how the BMW system works, but the Volvo one is actually fairly gentle. If you change lane without indicating (typically pulling back in after overtaking which in my opinion definitely does NOT require a signal) you just get a gentle shake of the steering wheel and a bit of pressure, nothing that really diverts you, just reminds you.

That said, it does integrate very well with the adaptive cruise, seemingly intelligently scanning both the lane you're in and the one adjacent when you indicate to overtake, accelerating appropriately if it's slowed down due to a vehicle in front in your lane but the overtaking lane is clear.

Well, if I wasnt wanting the drive the car it might be might be useful. it was quite assertive (considerably more than SWMBO shouting "why are you overtaking - i am quite happy behind this lorry") It tugged the steering wheel bringing me back off the overtaking line. Its crap with no discernable benefit - at least to me. Not on my options list.

What would be good is something to help enforce MSM (Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre) rather that SMM (Signal, Mirror, Manoeuvre ... or even Signal Manoeuvre, Mirror) ... ie those idiots who hit the indicator just as you're about to pass so that you have to slam your foot on the brakes in case they haven't seen you.

Our Volvo has sensors (I think radars in the rear bumper) that detect vehicles in the so-called blind spots (slightly behind either side) and light up a warning by the relevant door mirror.
They don't enforce anything, but do work very well.

Any decent autopilot system will do that, and ensure that it keeps you safe - mine does +++