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New Car.....
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I have to say that the D3 was a substantial leap in build, tech and comfort from the D2, and I didn't think that was achievable again. I was sure the D4 was just a bit more of the same. but seems I was wrong.... Some of us will have test driven the D4, maybe at the Audi meet in Wales last year, but I think we got a bit distracted nailing it, and forgot to stand back and just admire it. This particular car is 6 years old, and having covered nigh on 90K miles, I was expecting some wear & tear. The odd squeak, or rattle. And especially having been an Audi launch car, you'd expect it to show some signs of use by test pilots. But nothing. If you told me it had 20K on the clock, it would seem most plausible. The 4.2 Tdi V8 is so smooth and refined. You do have to remind yourself it is a diesel under there somewhere. Subtle clues are the 800nm of torque and the fact that with the 8 speed box it barely hits 1500rpm on the motorway... The seats are just that bit better, the massage is hugely better, the instruments, controls and automation all work, just that much better. The MMI screen is bigger, the adaptive cruise works down to 0mph and all the way up to 155mph, the steering is lighter. The heated steering wheel is hotter, the brakes are better, the armrests even adjust more nicely. The rear blind mechanism is redesigned and is quieter, The auto boot is smoother. The interior illumination is more distributed and highly configurable, I swear even the sunroof slides quieter. The exterior is plain Jane, a real wolf in sheeps clothing. The interior looks fussy and cluttered in many photos - I never gave it much attention - but from the drivers eyeline, its beautiful. The level of details in the trims, is really pleasing to the eye. A well co-ordinated run of materials through the cabin delivered perfectly enough to leave even the most OCD obsessed with a smile on their face. I really do like it. I have a motto on my wall from Sir Clive Woodwood, and he speaks of improving his Rugby team not by radically changing anything, but by doing 100 things 1% better. and that seems to be exactly what the D4 is +++ |
Very nicely put as always Ian, looking forward to seeing photos +++
The RS6 sounds a distant (but great) memory already :) |
Ian, we shouldn't need to tell you that photos are a must! :)
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Pics?? :D
I was impressed with the 4.2 Tdi Engine when i first drove it on the D4 launch when they lent me a car for the long weekend. I did find the 8 speed gears a tad frustrating at the lower end as they were constantly changing but apart from that loved everything else. My D4 Extended Test Drive |
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And that was important, because if I got something that tried to be like the RS6, it would have failed miserably +++ |
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but not within 6 minutes of posting... :p Here you go: Extended leather, deep useful door pockets and handy flip up lid at far end for smaller items: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827 Comfort seat controls. Far too many controls for a 1 to 1, so the far end 4 way round control is a menu control for many many fine adjustments +++ http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827 Night vision and all weather headlights control http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827 http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827 Armrests lift up in parallel, level. Not hinged from the rear. http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827 Alcantara roof, sunroof, and you can just see the ambient light strips at the top of the B pillars: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827 DVD changer, for when 1 movie on tap is just not enough... and cold air inlet for chilled glovebox viewable at the rear. http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827 MMI and HVAC controls. All neatly laid out, and easily accessible when resting your write on the gear level as per Audis design.... http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827 Massage functions. Various ones, and varying intensities. Really very good ! much better than the D3 version that just wiggles the lumbar support about a bit... http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857 Seat fine adjustment menu.... http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857 Main 3G Plus menu: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857 Main DIS. Values were reset when I bought it. 200+ miles later and showing 35 mpg. Not bad at all +++ http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857 Ever wondered what a D2 looked like through infrared night vision? No probably not, but just in case: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857 Reversing camera, same as D3 from what I can see. Larger screen on D4 is good though. http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857 Drive Select. Lots of fine tuning if you want a slightly different ride: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857 Main car settings menu: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857 Leather dashboard. Moo. Perfectly done too. I've seen a few D3's with slightly wobbly stitching... http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857 Passenger side wider shot: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857 Interior lighting menu: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888 Driver Assist menu: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888 Cold feet ? Let me fix that for you sir.... http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888 Audi Privacy Handset, has phone book and O2 connection via rSap from my phone in the door pocket so the passenger can make a perfect quality call with external aerial in some privacy. http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888 Heated steering wheel button has moved here where the easy entry / exit used to be. Easy entry/exit is now an MMI setting that is stored per user memory +++ http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888 Children in the back who have video consoles each, and also want to smoke? Sure. Er, we can do that too it seems.... :p http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888 Rear climate / heated seat controls. Visually this looks like a flimsy armrest that plonks down onto the seat, but I now see its a very well constructed solid fitment and works really well +++ http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888 And finally the boot. Yes, shallower than the D2/D3, but does feel wider and more accessible. Two cubby holes either side, and also a space save spare wheel underneath. The auto boot action is incredibly smooth and quiet..... http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888 |
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Tidy indeed. That is a nice spec car. |
Very, very nice.
Not for me though - I doubt I'll live long enough to work it all out! :) |
Lovely, lovely car. I think I'm going to have to seriously think about a D4 when I finally decide to move my D3 on....
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I took a rental car one way to go collect it. Got a Vauxhall insignia. Drove it for 4 hours and couldn't get on with it all. Its 'MMI' has a screen smaller than my wifes iPhone 5 (Seriously) and a similar rez, so you can't actually read it from the drivers seat without taking your eyes of the road and squinting. 5th and 6th gear were tough to access, so kept accidently cruising along in 4th... :rolleyes: Its 'dis' is the same size as its 'mmi', and lower rez, so more useable, but despite being almost brand new, and an 'SRi' the whole car was a real disappointment. As a kid, Vauxhall was my pin up poster manufacturer, but the tat they chuck out now is dreadful. The point is, having never had a D4 before, I jumped in it, and within 5 minutes was happily heading for the motorway feeling completely in control of what was going on.... Its new, and better, but not strange...... +++ |
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