The Motor Forum

Frank Bullitt

...this time its an A4 3.0TDI quattro manual.

Deciding to take advantage of Audi's reduced-price servicing I will now get the A2 a 'long life' service annually irrespective of mileage; I've only done 15K since the last one in September '08 and it still had 17K showing to the next service.

As per, it's courtesy-car lottery time and reading Simon's comments on the Q5 it's clear there are some strong links between the two cars; they are, after all, based on the same floorpan.

I was quite pleased to get this one if I'm honest, as I fancied something a bit meaty. First thing to note is the offset driving position which was a little uncomfy if not actually painful. The dashboard ergonomics are pretty good and the level of adjustment is excellent; unusually, I didn't have the drivers seat on its rearmost travel. The front seats (non sport ones) were very comfy but it had the basic leather option (valcona? - I always get the name wrong) and it felt like plastic; not nice.

The electronic handbrake - don't see the point in it, the space it free's up would fit monster bucket-sized drinks in; I don't drink in the car. Pulling away on anything other than a flat surface always felt like I'd over-revved it. Braking the car to a stop would see a slight rocking motion, similar to when Septics in films park their auto's without using the handbrake, instead purely relying on the transmission.

The key - same bladeless key as the Q5, fitting into a slot on the dash. It didn't upset me as such but I felt it was an answer to the question you'd never ask.

This one came with an odd spec - FG'd up with leather, Bang and Oulfson audio and full MMI colour-screen DVD-nav but no parking sensors (I thought the A4 SE models had this standard) or cruise control. The stereo kicked-ass, but the radio tuning was awful; stations that are crystal in every other car I've driven were fluffy and often sounded badly tuned (but a better signal couldn't be found). The shat-Nav only uses the first five digits of the post-code; acordingly it will only find a street location. However, I'd say MMI is excellent; a few minutes familiarisation and I had it totally sussed. It's nice to get an Audi with buttons on the wheel that don't display 'no function' in the DIS display when you have a fiddle.

The engine? Strange one, really. The noise (6-pot derv) reminded me of the BOVA coach that used to take me to college - clearly diesel but with a hint of multiple cylinders but not at all 'pleasent'. A touch noisy at idle and no character anywhere else. Perfomance wise, between 1500 (2000 in 4th and 5th, I'll come on to 6th in a bit...) - 3500rpm it was utterly devistating; A car pulled off the main carriageway of a NSL road in front of me so I gave it full-beans at 25mph in 3rd; after a moments lag, it took off like a scalded lion, I reckon we were at 70 leptons within about 3.5 seconds at most. Use it in the rev-range and it's incredible, but apart from 3rd gear (2nd runs out of steam too-quickly) it's largely academic in the UK otherwise you'll loose your license, 5th, 6th and generally 4th are only really for cruising.

Top pulls a faintly rediculous 40mph/ 1000rpm and is therefore useless except on the motorway. Above 3500rpm it tails away markedly; apparently it has 240bhp at about 4000rpm, but I can't really see how as it soon runs out of puff.

To be honest, I found the engine borning and a 2.0 TSI petrol would be nicer and still get close to the 33mpg I averaged for the day, if not match it. Best off sticking with the smaller engines I say.

I forgot it was a quattro until giving it the berries above and being surprised there was no fight at the wheel - it gripped like a...erm...grippy thing but the steering was plain odd - I don't know if you an get these things with variable assistance but around the straight-ahead it felt leaden and incredibly heavy, almost unassisted. Turning in, it would lighten up but the feeling is always artificial; I gave it a few corners but it never felt anything like inspiring confidence. It also did a few body 'shimmies' when straightening up, very much the body causing inertia.

Was the ride any good? It was OK I suppose, it never became uncomfortable but poor road surfaces were transmitted through the seat and made for a generally tedious experience.

So, did I like this big diesel A4? Er, no. I don't know what the price is, but post-FG it must be over £30K list; I wouldn't spend £20K on it, there was just no way in which it felt special.

They had a Q7 in the showroom that looked like it might be slightly facelifted; they have shoe-horned as many twat-lights onto the front of it as possible; this thing will look like Heathrow; surely DRL's are becoming a parody of themselves by now?

Getting back in the A2 (phew) made it feel incredibly tall though, much more so than I've noticed before - I think the A4 (or just its driving position) must be quite low-slung compared with its predecessor.
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Shame your mind don't shine like your possessions

Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:50 am Post subject:

The thing I find with diesel engines is that they seem to haul along most installations at the same sort of pace. Certainly an A2 would benefit as a result of lightness, but all Golf/A4 iterations I've driven have felt similarly and adequately powered. The A8 I had for a couple of weeks had the 3 litre, and it's more than up to the job.
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"Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness.'

Racing · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 10:09 am Post subject: Re: Another Audi Courtesy Car...

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 10:21 am Post subject: Re: Another Audi Courtesy Car...

Racing · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 10:29 am Post subject:

Oh I know. I have to do this in the 135i and it's daft.
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 10:30 am Post subject:

Apparently you can get it on BMWs, but in true Bavarian fashion you have to pay extra for it.

Racing · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:18 am Post subject:

Yes, it's called Comfort Access and I didn't bother as it was quite expensive.
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TimR · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 12:11 pm Post subject:

It also seems to be a bit of a security and battery life risk from what I've read in various car mags.

Martin · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:07 pm Post subject:

In the Passat, you slot the key into the dash and then push it in to start the engine, there isn't a separate button. That's fine, but if you go for their version of comfort access, you get a plastic fake key that you need to press to start it.

I wonder how many are broken into when the local scrote thinks the key has been left in the ignition?!! The solution would be to remove and hide the 'key', which can of makes the whole thing pointless....

I'd rather have a key that slots in the dash than an old fashioned metal key, even if it's the 'blade' type that the Jetta has.
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Boxer6 · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:14 pm Post subject:

When I had my dad's V50 T5 for a few months, it had a 'key' with a square (I think) shaft which was slotted into the centre of the dash, then I had to press the 'engine start' button. Handy for him being left-handed (and me, as I'm left-handed too) but a pain for most I'd imagine. Don't know if that's just a T5 option, or if it's across the Volvo family.
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Just keepin' on keeping on.

DaveGibson · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 10:12 pm Post subject:

SpecB · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:48 am Post subject:

simonp · Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:56 pm Post subject:

On the Honda CTR you put the key in a standard ignition barrel, turn it and then press a starter button. THAT is the most pointless way of starting a car!

SpecB · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:05 am Post subject:

You do have to press a button to start my car - but only if you fail to start it within 30 seconds of unlocking it. Confuses the wife no end.

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Mark

Martin · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 8:10 am Post subject:

simonp · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 9:31 am Post subject:

It is completely crap. You may as well just turn it a little more to a starter position and get rid of the button!

Mind you, when I test drove it I had a turbo diesel at the time and therefore stalled it about 6 times due to the dearth of torques, so that button was used a fair bit!! 140lb/ft is not enough to pull a 1.3 tonne car along.

DB · Running In Joined: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 71

DaveGibson · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 9:31 pm Post subject:

The 1960 Austin A55 Cambridge that my parent's had used a combined key/starter switch but it was in front of the driver in the facia between the dials. You had to put your hand through the steering wheel to get to it. It also had a foot-operated dip switch to the left of the clutch.

And that post is my 5000th. I'm now supercharged.

Boxer6 · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 9:44 pm Post subject:

"him" · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 10:50 pm Post subject:

Frank Bullitt · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:11 pm Post subject:

Seems a while since I drove this one:

Promises lots, delivers little:

Silly key:

Still makes no sense:

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Shame your mind don't shine like your possessions

Martin · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:25 pm Post subject:

Did it have the Auto Hold for the handbrake? It looks like it doesn't as that's a blank switch?

Without out it, I completely agree, it makes very little sense apart from freeing up some space in the centre console area. With Auto Hold, it make perfect sense and is dead easy to use.

I'm just about used to an old fashioned handbrake now after 9.5 weeks (9.5k miles) in the Jetta! Still can't get used to a few other things though....
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Frank Bullitt · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 6:51 am Post subject:

Martin · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:07 pm Post subject:

Auto hold puts it back on automatically and holds the car stationary when you come to a halt. My Passat Hire car didn't have it and I could understand why electronic handbrakes annoyed people so much.

As for pulling away, it sounds like you just need to improve your clutch control

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