A particularly sad day... but D3 now or D4?

[d.f.]

Apologies that I've not been too active of late but I have been watching the shenanigans going on here when I flop at the end of the day. Love this forum.

Well, here we go: sadly I have written off my beautiful D3. A flukey 17-20mph clip of the curb, to avoid being hit by a white van recklessly careering towards me, and at such an angle that a) the steering rack buckled and b) the subframe cracked in 3 places (at one part sheared in two). My dear uber-mechanic Duncan Slade says if I tried it 100 times again it wouldn't happen.

At least nobody got hurt but gutted doesn't come close to describing how I feel.

Once I have been through all the insurance business another A8 is absolutely-no-doubt-about-it-definitely happening, but I wanted to reach out for hard-won wise advice from forum members:

I sat in a D4 recently and I have to say I was really taken with the internal layout. More ergonomic I thought. You know where this is going...

Are there members here who have gone from D3 to D4? Would love to read your thoughts on the switch. Pros and cons and indifferences.

And then there is also the diesel (which is what I had - 3.0) to petrol conundrum.

Regards to all in advance...

All hail the 8.

David.

[Johnmed]

Sorry to hear about the demise of your '8. I too would like to know others' impressions of the D4 compared to the D3. I sat in a D4 a while ago, and while the interior felt updated, it didn't impress me if I'm being honest.

I'd be interested to know how the economy of the more modern TDi range compares with my D3, and any other differences...

John

P.S. Great (US)comparison between D3 and D4 here:

http://www.audiworld.com/forums/a8-s...hs-d4-2866829/

[d.f.]

Originally Posted by Johnmed

Great (US)comparison between D3 and D4 here:

http://www.audiworld.com/forums/a8-s...hs-d4-2866829/

Ha! Useful comparison piece, thanks John. Don't think I'll be stretching the extra £6-ish+K for cupholders.

Though maybe this IS where I've been going wrong... could be a strong missus point.

At one of the Forum A8 meets (Castle Coombe) i got nattering to a couple of chauffeur drivers parked opposite where our mob were hanging. They were driving D4s and were similarly bemoaning the boot space as compared to the D3s and actually preferred the D3.

[Norretal]

Originally Posted by d.f.

They were driving D4s and were similarly bemoaning the boot space as compared to the D3s and actually preferred the D3.

Must be the same as the D3 compared to the D2, is it the added equipment requiring electrickery that reduces boot space?

[d.f.]

Originally Posted by Norretal

...is it the added equipment requiring electrickery that reduces boot space?

Don't know the answer to that. Be good to find out..

Further to investigations I went and sat in another D4 today at the Audi dealership (so a brand spanking new one rather than a 2011 model I'd most likely spring for). The driving position definitely feels more "sunken" and "cockpit like" because of the height of the drivers armrest, which is kinda cool. The MMI controls definitely feel in a better position being more forward towards the dashboard so I would suggest safer for fiddling with while driving. This I like the most, and also the more subtle, low-slung gear stick.

I do rather like the slightly sleeker / shark like exterior look of the D4, however, it could really have done with standing on 20" rims which, IMO, vastly improves the look of both models.

I am certainly tempted as of today... but the price would have to be very right/an out-of-the-blue steal for me to plump for one over a D3.

[Architex_mA8tey]

The design of the D4 is such that a lot of the electrics for the rear end are put into a void between the back seat and the rear of the boot, so reducing the boot by quite a few inches (about 6-8 Inches from memory). It's even worse should you ever decide to go for the hybrid 2 litre A8 with electric power as the base of the boot is also raised a number of inches to accommodate batteries etc which meant when we had one on loan from Audi that one of our drivers couldn't even get proper luggage for only 2 people into the boot at Heathrow and ended up putting one large case onto the front seat which is just ludicrous

[paulrstaylor]

So I recently went from a D3 4.2 TDI to a D4 with the same engine, my reasons for changing were mileage and age as opposed to toys but I think it is fair to say that the new car has a lot more toys and feels like a much more modern car. Navigation on the D3 always seemed "old hat", even when it was new, the D4 version works so much better and google maps is a novelty. Adaptive cruise on the D4 works really well in stop start traffic, the new gear box is just as good as the old one but with the added bonus of a improved MPG. the car is quieter than the D3 and feels a nicer place to be. The downsides are few, smaller boot being the main one.

I have been driving round in a 1 month old 3.0 TDI for a week ago while my car is having a few issues attended to by the supplying dealer, this facelift car actually has a smaller boot as it is fitted with an EU5 engine and so I suspect the AdBlue tank is in the right hand side rear wing further eating into boot space. Also it isn't as quiet as mine, don't get me wrong still not exactly loud inside but I'm not sure if that is the glass sunroof, lack of alcantara headlining, smaller engine or I suspect a combination of them all.

Personally I like the "looks" of the D4, I'd much rather be anonymous than flashy so looking like a "big A4" is perfect to me

If you can afford it then I'd say go for it, be aware they seem to be very spec dependent, lower spec cars seem to hand around for a long time where a high spec will sell for the same money in hours, I picked mine up from a main dealer before it was advertised (they get listed on audi.co.uk before prep). Good luck with whatever you decide.

[d.f.]

Very, very helpful Paul. Thank you so much. David.

[IT]

If noise in an issue, try and find one with the noise cancelling system in the roof. I was blown away by how quiet the D4 S8 is (standard kit) compared to a D4 A8.

It was the step up in refinement from a D2 to a D3 again, easily.

The D4 tech is very much modern compared to D3 which is starting to show its age now. Even the 3G system is essentially a prettier sat nav with not a great deal more functionality.

The A7 I had (same tech platform) was simply amazing. My phone ran a wifi hotspot in the car for multiple devices, and done over rSAP with the roof antenna I got data signal places not previously possible. Never mind postcode lookup, you also get google POI etc which is a dream.

The advancements in engines are bigger than you may first think. The D4 engines will be quicker, and more economical with lower tax disc.

Like others, the D4 looks are a long way off growing on me, but I think the rest of the good stuff would make up for it.

(don't quote me lol) but I'd be surprised if I had another D3. I'd rather find a high spec, higher mileage D4 any day.

[d.f.]

Thank you.