First impressions, I love the color. The Sebring Black has a blue / purple tinge in bright light and looks like a deep black in dull light. Reminders me of BMW Carbon black I had on a 5 series years ago. Is very stealth in Vorsprung and black with the black badges etc. Would I have preferred the gloss black wheels, maybe, but the titanium ones don't look too bad and the dealer said they can always powder coat the ones on it at a later stage if I wanted.
The interior and technology is light years ahead of my C7. Its going to take some getting used to as you can change so much. This includes deciding if you want fragrance pumped into the cabin from the air con, how much, and 2 different ones to choose from. Needless to say that is currently turned off. The touch screen is actually really good, responsive and having played with it for a while fairly intuitive.
However there are layers of options in options I've not even gone near yet so its going to take some fiddling. Coming from a Range Rover Sport SVR (which made its own mind up as to if or when it would turn on, depending on the day) its quick, clear and if you have had an Audi before most of the menus will be familiar. The touch screen does get lots of marks on it....and Audi are aware of this as you get a specific cloth with the car to wipe it clean.
The wheels are huge, and look good. I still think it looks bloody massive. The dealers C8 launch edition in Nardo was sat next to a C7 performance in Nardo, and the size difference is easy to see.
Really easy to get comfy in, seats very comfortable and supportive and didn't take me long to get comfy before driving it out. First impressions on driving are its fast, definitely feels faster than my C7 Performance did, but in a different way. The biggest difference is torque. You can feel the difference to the C7 and it feels like it has got a fair bit more. In gear acceleration is quick, and effortless. While I have been taking it easy (done about 80 miles), on the road it doesn't lack at all in the performance stakes. Even though its a big motor, it feels as swift as my Aston. There were a couple of moments accelerating down a couple of motorway slip roads when I found myself looking down and realizing I was well into licence loosing territory but it not feeling anything like it.
When driving it, it feels much smaller than it looks or when you first get in, and I think that is down to the 4 wheel steering. It feels much more nimble than it looks and turns in well and has a much smaller turning circle than you think. I've not had much chance to take it down anything super tight winding roads at the moment, and am taking it easy on the brakes and tyres. I have the suspension in comfort at the moment, and even though it isn't on air suspension, it didn't crash, and soaked up the bumps while cruising effortlessly on the motorway.
So onto my one niggle.....its quiet. It has a much deeper rumble than the C7 but never gets that loud. Even with the valves open, so far there has been no sign of pops and crackles, which to some may be a little OTT but I quite like it occasionally. My C7 was louder and sounded more raw and my SVR which the RS6 replaces was ridiculous. Dont get me wrong, stick your boot down and there is noise, but sometimes just not enough. I will definitely be getting the exhaust changed asap, the question is Akrapovic or Millet (both I think are still developing their C8 exhausts)
So my first days impression. I really do like it. Do I love it yet, not sure. But I think it will get better the more I drive it. I loved my C7, and to me, it is a very different car to that. More refined, better technology, and definitely quicker....but not as raw. However i am not disappointed with it in any way.
Couple of pictures, but the handover room was the size of a match box and the weather today has been pants, so ill try and take a couple more when we finally have some sun!
