My 'new' A8....
 

Well, to say it was a part ex runabout, I seem to have just gone an invested a bit of time and money in it today....

New boot carpet
New daylight running bulb
Power steering fluid flush
New battery
New boot lid motor (pending delivery)
New parking brake motor
Digital TV tuner
A/C regas
Fitted CD Changer
Filled the tool kit

Sadly, the Bose isn't a patch on the B&O that was in the A7 and there's not much I can do about that... <sigh>

Anyway, as I've said before, the 4.2 Tdi is the best all round engine you can get in the D3. They have economy, power and solid reliability. This one has a stage 1 map and I guess that shows as the Quattro was still struggling with the torque by 3rd gear as I left a roundabout today... Whooooosh..:D We have the same engine in the Q7, but the extra half a ton of weight does temper it slightly. But only slightly.. ;)

So it has grunt, and the economy isn't to be sniffed at. And if I'm totally honest, after years of light interior bashing, this cream interior looks quite nice as the interior lights glow on it at night - although this is as much testimony to the previous keepers keeping it nice +++

Should have said it had a regas back in july... didnt realise a DRL bulb was out though.

I am missing that torque a little bit, but will get used to having to rag the nuts off the engine to get it going soon enough.

It was only 100g down, so I figured it had been done recently..... I think the bulb is dedicated to DRL, which was turned off. I was a slightly piddled passenger playing with the buttons on the way home from the a8parts crimbo party and turned on DRL and the DIS errored due to failed bulb... Would never have known otherwise...


Yes, they are two very different beasts. At least with a little effort (and no stop/start) you can get the A7 off the line pretty dam swiftly.. The A8 is just a waiting game.... If only it had launch control +++

.... which incidentally I believe the A7 does and I'm kicking myself as I totally forgot to try it... Doh...

The 3.0TFSi is a peach of an engine. A software remap unleashes many torques, and then you can get a pulley and DSG map too. Equals a quick car!

I did read the launch control bit in the manual.. will give it a bash soon :)

You'll get used to pre-empting the launch with the old-style torque converter.

Also.. It's had a gearbox service with latest software and LG8 fluid earlier this year at Mackies.. Receipt should have been in there somewhere.

I was just looking at the prices of 4.2tdi D3s, they really are holding their prices well, the cheapest is around £8k, the same as a D3 W12.

Congrats to both on the new acquisitions +++