D2 vs D4
 

me and Neil had a little lunch meet to have a side by side comparison of the old and new

i had a little drive (cheers Neil) i must say the 4.2 diesel is pretty quick :cool:

rubbish phone pic :rolleyes:

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/s...0105-00264.jpg

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/s...0105-00261.jpg

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/s...0105-00262.jpg

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/s...0105-00269.jpg

there is some weird optical illusion going on with the length of the cars as in these shots the D2 looks much longer lol

bumper to bumper
http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/s...0105-00267.jpg

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/s...0105-00268.jpg

there is loads of nice touches that make all the difference id like to see a S8 version with light contrast trim :love:

I really am loving the D4, Parked my D3 LWB next to one and it made my D3 look like it had been put in a boil wash haha

I want Neil's wheels mmmm

Nice pics +++

Gutted that I couldn't make it down too this. Is it a lot smoother/quieter then then our D2s?

Other than styling, what differences does the D4 have to the D3?

When I drove the D4 on launch day at my local dealer, I was very impressed. I can't really compare against a D2 as it's been a few years since I have been in one (and that was as a passenger), but the D4 made my gorgeous, 98% of extras D3 '8 feel like it was 20 years old. :(

That said, everyone comments on my car being the nicest they have ever been in, which say's something for the D4 imo.

I will be upgrading when needs be and my D3 has done a million miles to the moon.

I thought it drove superbly, VERY quiet, nice and responsive, less juicy than my D3 and it felt even more huge than mine inside (that was something I noticed alot)

I know they are a little marmite from the back, but they look alot better in the flesh +++

its an A8 SE Exec 4.2 Tdi Quattro - 346 BHP with 8 speed tiptronic. the gearbox has 3 modes - drive, sport and manual - I was frankly wondering about the 8 speed box and the point of that many gears but you really don't notice the changes and the revs would only be at something like 1500 rpm in 8th gear if you were doing 90 on the autobahn etc (ahem). 0-60 is 5.5 secs which is properly quick for such a big car but the torque is massive at 800 Nm vs 445 for the 4.2 fsi engine and maximum torque is at between 1750 and 2750 rpm!

The 4.2 Tdi also gets the sport differential as standard and this car has 19" 10 spoke Y design wheels, adaptive headlights, advanced key and parking, Bose, Ambient lighting, mobile prep high with online services bluetooth and cordless car phone in centre armrest and Electric side and rear window blinds plus rear climate and heated seats, homelink garage door opener, power boot lid, 6 disc dvd changer in glovebox etc etc

I suppose my biggest impression has been the sheer size of the car - when not next to anything it looks fairly innocuous and bland but when you see it next to other cars its wide, quite high and just HUGE lol

From a driving point of view the turbo lag occasionally catches the gearbox out which then can lurch slightly when it does cut in but its more about getting used to driving in a style that suits a diesel etc

I'm also impressed by the fact that it doesn't feel huge to drive and that its such a nice place to be behind the wheel.

More pics to follow . . . . . +++

Must have been good.... You're still up at 4am writing about it :D

Looks like I'm the odd one out when I say that in the side by side photos it looks like a whale next to a Mako Shark......

I've seen bulldozers with smaller front ends...........IMHO :rolleyes:

I agree, no doubt it's a great car though with a fantastic interior and engine. Maybe the looks will grow. The new XJ on the other hand looks gorgeous. VWJ is looking as good as usual +++

LOL well I do get up early most days, contrary to popular belief . . . or was that go to bed late hmmm :p

It is made a little worse of course by the fact that James has lowered his even lower than, say, projekt AnA :D :p

Heres a link to a bucket load of pics I took on both phone and camera - lots more interior shots here too! apologies an advance for the quality of some
D4 Pics

Enjoy!!

Still not 100% sold on the back end, but I just love that interior..

I quite like it but it does look high next to James's 8 but then most things do i reckon.

Got to be lovin the inside though eh?

Heres a pic of my Cat D5B dozer (take no notice of the poser in front of it) so you can compare
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1294319897

:ROFL: Im still trying to work out why you would wear a tie to drive that, is it a chauffeur driven bulldozer or where you going to the Bulldozer Owners Club Dinner Dance?

Its take a few days of looking at the pictures.......... but I think I actually like the D4 now. Even the rear! Its grown on me :D
(not that I can afford one for many, many years! >_< )

:ROFL: What that old thing, it was the first thing I picked up that morning.:ROFL:

On a serious note i can't wait to see it in the flesh.

Wow, the size difference is really quite somethings isn't it?

I don't now about others but it really proves to me how well designed the D2 is. I still struggle to 'fall' for the D4's looks in the same way that i did when the D2 came out.

That said, it's taken a few years for the D3 to grow on me but it has...:rolleyes:

What was the reason you got to drive it Neil? (nice pics in the link by the way).

Oli

Hey there, some great pics. Fab car.

My A4 went in for a major service and -
1) I had asked if I could try it sometime
2) They know I'm due to change it this year (probably for something bigger) and
3) Im liking the A7 Sportback a lot and they are trying to tempt me with one of their 2 demonstrators when they want rid of it in a few months!

Im trying the sportback next week but wont be able to "borrow" it for a weekend or for a few days until a month or so when the A7 is further away from last week's launch. The inside of the front is very similar to the D4 but I'm liking the Coupé looks and also the hatchback would be handy for me for work, as would Quattro, so I'm looking at a 3 litre tdi quattro with s-tronic (245ps and only 158 g/km of C02 whiich isnt bad at all. The A6 Allroad 3 litre tdi that I had for a week recently averaged an amazing 44 mpg based on my week's motoring and I wasnt hanging around lol

My A4 may have to go back in for some warranty work for a week soooo. . . hmmm hehehe :D maybe another report to follow soon!!

I popped into my local dealer yesterday. I really, really like the D4!

I Drove my D2 today and whilst I know it's got a new tiptronic gearbox it did drive smoothly quietly and just felt "sportier" in terms of driving position and didn't have as much road noise or gearbox engine noise in the car, or didn't seem to! It didn't go as fast of course and I'm sure the fuel consumption is less and I KNOW the toys are less but it didn't feel terrible after the D4 - I guess I'm saying they both have plusses and minuses but both are enjoyable :D
Ok, now where's that A7 to try next . . . Lol +++

Great Picts and write up. Thanks +++

I think that I should test yours now so I can be objective about the D2 vs D3 vs D4 LOL :D

Happy to oblige. Although I guess that means I'll have to clean her up. She's really dirty at the moment. Filthy in fact ........
Oh God. whatever. My cars unclean.

Are there any meets in the diary for 2011 yet? Got a sprint circuit just down the road here (Lichfield) and I reckon its possible to hire it

Woooo! if I was the Librarian then I'd offer to get people to clean her :D
I think if you booked the local circuit you;d have a queue of us wanting to try her out! Could become the next theme park. . . . hmmm! :D

Crikey! I meant you run wot you brung, not wot I brung. Although you're very welcome to have a go on the road, insurance permitting of course

Ok deal!! Sorry everyone else!!

There was a nice silver used one with 5000 miles on it at West London Audi today with your name written all over it Becky! :D:love:

I was in Istanbul on Friday and spotted this nice white A7 example! ... I do prefer these over the new A8...just love the lines! +++

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/...9f0325fe_z.jpg

You jet setter you! work or checking out honeymoon destinations? :D
i hope whatever it was that they gave you enough time to look over it properly!!

haha - i was lucky enough for it to be work! I was only there for 1 night unfortunately but it's a beautiful city.

The A7 is the first car i've seen in a long time that i could see myself swapping my D2 for.

I'd have to clearly start my own forum though it being a '7' and not an '8' :ROFL:

LOL just keep the 8 too :D
the front half is the new A8 too lol :rolleyes: