A8 Parts Forum  

Go Back   A8 Parts Forum > Generic A8 / S8 forums > A8 / S8 Generic Posts

A8 / S8 Generic Posts All other useful info

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 2nd October 2023, 07:42 PM
quattronutter quattronutter is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 122
Default D3 vs d4

Having owned many d3s and 2 d4s,the latest being a 2012 d4 3.0tdi with decent spec,it is fairly obvious the d4 is not on par with the d3 on most levels,while the d4 may drive nicely,the quality and engineering is not there...
things like comfort sitting position and foot rest are wrong in the d4,with basic things like screen top tint absent,poor front storage and a boot almost half the size of the d3...mechanically the d4 fairs much worse too after over 200k combined d3 miles
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 15th October 2023, 08:28 AM
monkeyboyuk monkeyboyuk is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Midlands
Posts: 138
Default

Yeah I’d agree, and that sunstrip omission is so annoying cos the screens so big…. Miss my d3 all the time
__________________
2014 D4, FL 3.0tdi, phantom black, sport exec lwb
2002 D2 S8, Aqua Blue Pearl, original bar FE alloys and miltek
1997 D2 PF 4.2q, silver, Sport on roughly 90k and counting….
1990 2.3 20v 7a Coupe Quattro

**SOLD** 1996 2.6 v6 cabriolet, Isis red metallic
**DEAD ** 2009 D3, 3.0tdi sport, black

Had a few Audis over the years, mostly early stuff, newest was a D3 prior to my D4, nothing much kept me smitten with other marques so I floated about a bit from one thing to another until that four ring lure caught hold

Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 15th October 2023, 08:41 PM
tonupkid's Avatar
tonupkid tonupkid is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Near Lichfield, Staffordshire
Posts: 2,277
Default

Missing top tint LOL. I'd not even noticed this omission till reading about it here.
If it's such an issue, why not pop into a window tinter and get one applied to your screen.

My overwhelming impression when I first went from a D3 to a D4 is that the D4 feels, drives and goes around corners significantly better. The first drive put me right back into my D2 (yes I've had one of those too.)
The D3 is undoubtedly a fine car, but it took some effort to throw it about. Perhaps the non-V10s are dynamically better but I don't know having never driven one. They were well-built and still look good IMO.
The D4 doesn't visually do it for me the same as the D3, but I am continually surprised at the number of times strangers tell me how much they like the look of it.

The odd thing about the D4 is that the info/media system was already dated when they launched the car. It all works well but it's just a tweeked version of what is in the D3 and lacks much that is common cars of its age. And it's so slooow.

The engine (4L V8) is a masterpiece, coupled with an 8-speed gearbox that is also perfect. The former delivers power like no D3 could ever manage and the second makes seamless gear changes, and way faster than anything the D3 could manage.
Overtaking is effortless, cruising is very quiet and the suspension delivers smoothness or tautness as demanded by your right foot.
A bonus is this car's MPG. Three years in and it still amazes me.
Then there's the matrix headlights. These alone would swing me towards the D4.

Small boot? Nah, not an issue for me it's still huge.
Lack of storage in the front? I've never had a car with enough.
Footrest? Hadn't noticed.
Seats?. I love that the bolsters inflate once you're moving. I do find the big bolsters, say in the Golf GTi, difficult to navigate when exiting. Not a problem in the D4.
And comfort-wise, I can't detect any difference between the D2, D3 or D4. They are all great at cosseting over long distances.

Just need to try a D5 now. Fugly they are, but if they have progressed like the earlier models, they should not be to shoddy to live with
__________________
A journey of a thousand+ (epic) miles, begins with a single step, (to the door of an 8). Lau Tzu
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 17th October 2023, 12:15 AM
tc4332's Avatar
tc4332 tc4332 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK
Posts: 2,333
Default

+1 Nick.
I really enjoy mine over four years in.
__________________
Ray at Wigan Pier

2014 A8L D4 4.0TFSI Gold (Sticker says "Beige") Can't leave you in a black smoke cloud anymore..
In progress, Nothing left to do.



Gone 2004 A8 D3 3.0 TDI. Ebony Pearl Black (with little bits of other colours and glitter)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 06:58 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.