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  #1  
Old 28th February 2019, 03:40 PM
homer simpson's Avatar
homer simpson homer simpson is offline
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Default A8 D5 mini review

Having had a new A6 recently (to loan) I thought it was very nice, The Tech inside was great. Then the call came from Audi...'unfortunately, the A6 you are in has been sold, but we will put you in a new A8'. No complaints there!

So the D5 arrives in 55 3.0 petrol form. Fairly tame on the outside but then again it's a base model. Inside, it looks huge! Seats are comfortable and the touch screens are good (same as the A6). Bit, the virtual cockpit it awesome! Picking up the road speed limits correctly, even on the M25 when it changes at virtually every gantry, the A8 was precise.

Ride on the air suspension was smooth, even in individual mode with everything set on Dynamic. The engine has good power for such a big car, 340PS is adequate. Very comfortable - I don't do long distance as I can't sit for too long due to numerous operations however this thing just ate up the miles and 2.5 hours later I wasn't aching anywhere near as I thought I would.
Steering is also precise as you would expect in a new car.

What I love is the Head-Up Display. Doesn't distract at all and when using the Sat Nav is particularly handy as it comes up in there.

This seems to be a poverty spec model as it doesn't seem to have any extras - no interior lighting, no advanced sound, no rear heated seats, blinds, 360 camera etc etc. The only thing looking at the configurator that seems to be added are the alloys and soft close doors which I would have thought should have been standard. I would have liked the Matrix headlights and OLED rear lights! Even dynamic indicators are extra.

I will say the adaptive cruise is much better than my D3. It is a lot more seamless and I happily sat there without having to touch either pedal. Glad at least this is standard. I did have one occasion where the speed went from 70 to 40 and the car braked itself to slow me down. Not sure if it is a setting in the Safety Features but took me a bit by surprise.

I will have it for a couple more days (hopefully until Monday) and I love it but I do miss my S8. Will be interesting what the D5 S8 is like.

Likes: Touch screen displays, Audi VC, adaptive cruise, comfort, adequate power, HUD.

Dislikes: None really. Poverty spec but it is a basic demo car although more options should be standard in a £70k car.
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2008 (facelift) S8 with B&O, ACC, glass sunroof, reversing camera, front and rear heated seats, ceramic brakes, homelink, electric side and rear blinds, ski load through, heated fan washer jets, remote boot closing, de-flapped manifold, fridge, umbrella holder
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  #2  
Old 28th February 2019, 07:59 PM
paulrstaylor paulrstaylor is offline
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Originally Posted by homer simpson View Post
I did have one occasion where the speed went from 70 to 40 and the car braked itself to slow me down. Not sure if it is a setting in the Safety Features but took me a bit by surprise.
A pleasant surprise I assume!? Try approaching a roundabout
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Old 1st March 2019, 12:02 PM
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homer simpson homer simpson is offline
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A pleasant surprise I assume!? Try approaching a roundabout
It was on cruise and I was about to brake and reduce speed but then it started to slow down itself. It is good providing there is nothing behind you as it was only a short section and the speed limit increases again. I would imagine some just drive through.

Should I drive without braking and see if it stops for the roundabout? lol
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2008 (facelift) S8 with B&O, ACC, glass sunroof, reversing camera, front and rear heated seats, ceramic brakes, homelink, electric side and rear blinds, ski load through, heated fan washer jets, remote boot closing, de-flapped manifold, fridge, umbrella holder
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Old 1st March 2019, 07:38 PM
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tc4332 tc4332 is offline
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Won't be long and you will not be able to speed. The powers that be (all non-drivers) are looking at ways to implement auto speed control in all cars. Using GPS and posted speed restrictions, all vehicles will only be allowed to travel lower than the local speed limit.
This means that everyone will drive at full throttle and overtaking will be a thing of the past.Makes me glad i'm an old booger.
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  #5  
Old 1st March 2019, 08:22 PM
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homer simpson homer simpson is offline
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Originally Posted by tc4332 View Post
Won't be long and you will not be able to speed. The powers that be (all non-drivers) are looking at ways to implement auto speed control in all cars. Using GPS and posted speed restrictions, all vehicles will only be allowed to travel lower than the local speed limit.
This means that everyone will drive at full throttle and overtaking will be a thing of the past.Makes me glad i'm an old booger.
Probably will become mandatory in years to come (like ABS did in the 2000's) on new cars. Which means my D3 S8 will be worth even more!
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2008 (facelift) S8 with B&O, ACC, glass sunroof, reversing camera, front and rear heated seats, ceramic brakes, homelink, electric side and rear blinds, ski load through, heated fan washer jets, remote boot closing, de-flapped manifold, fridge, umbrella holder
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  #6  
Old 2nd March 2019, 10:02 PM
paulrstaylor paulrstaylor is offline
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Originally Posted by homer simpson View Post
It was on cruise and I was about to brake and reduce speed but then it started to slow down itself. It is good providing there is nothing behind you as it was only a short section and the speed limit increases again. I would imagine some just drive through.

Should I drive without braking and see if it stops for the roundabout? lol
It will probably slow down enough to go round it before accelerating again
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Old 5th March 2019, 07:49 PM
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homer simpson homer simpson is offline
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Just remembered one thing I did find really annoying...the screen wash reservoir! The bottle is in the O/S wing area (same as my D3) but the neck is soooo narrow! You can only trickle a very small amount at a time and it took me forever to fill it up. Trivial I know, but annoying nonetheless.
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2008 (facelift) S8 with B&O, ACC, glass sunroof, reversing camera, front and rear heated seats, ceramic brakes, homelink, electric side and rear blinds, ski load through, heated fan washer jets, remote boot closing, de-flapped manifold, fridge, umbrella holder
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Old 7th March 2019, 09:24 AM
J i m s t e r J i m s t e r is offline
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It doesn't sound like £70K buys you much in the way of an A8 these days. Not sure I'd enjoy the auto-braking either.

I did have a go in a new V90 and that was overly-safe. If you moved lanes without indicating, it would vibrate the steering wheel when the camera sees the lane lines being crossed.
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Old 7th March 2019, 10:14 AM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
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Originally Posted by J i m s t e r View Post
I did have a go in a new V90 and that was overly-safe. If you moved lanes without indicating, it would vibrate the steering wheel when the camera sees the lane lines being crossed.
My 3-year-old V40 does that, I find the level of vibration and correction (there's resistance force too!) to be reasonable. It will nudge you back but is easily overridden. And there's a button to turn it off, though I don't.
Maybe current practice has changed but I was taught to indicate when pulling out to overtake but not when returning to the original lane at the completion of a continuous single manoeuvre, so it can be slightly annoying at times.

It also has a more forceful nudge if the blind-spot sensors (radar in the rear bumpers I think) believe you're pulling sideways into another vehicle, that's certainly helped me once on the M25 when an impatient white van decided to undertake me just as I was about to move left out of his (always a he!) way having just overtaken a slower car.
(It was in a managed motorway average speed section with a mandatory limit displayed and clearly he wanted to get caught)
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2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!

Last edited by HPsauce; 7th March 2019 at 10:39 AM.
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  #10  
Old 7th March 2019, 10:48 AM
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moltuae moltuae is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J i m s t e r View Post
If you moved lanes without indicating
Now we just need some technology to stop people from indicating without looking.

A lot of drivers seem to think it's Signal-Mirror-Manoeuvre not Mirror-Signal-Manoeuvre. It's so bloody annoying when someone indicates just as you're overtaking them, forcing you to brake hard in case they haven't seen you!
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2002 FE S8 Ebony Black Pearl
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Cars Owned:
The Tesla Era: 2020 Model S Performance Ludicrous+ (present)
(Black, with all black premium interior and carbon fibre décor, 21" sonic carbon twin turbine wheels and FSD capability)

The Audi Era: '97 A8 4.2 (Ming Blue) --> '96 A8 4.2 QS (Dark Green) --> '02 FE S8 (present)
The Citroen Era: '84 BX 1.6 RS --> '89 BX 1.9 DTR Turbo --> '94 XM 2.0L Turbo --> '96 XM 2.0L Turbo Exclusive --> '00 Xantia Activa 2.0L Turbo
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