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Does anyone know if its possible to retrofit the front armrest? If so is it a big job? How much will it cost?

Not sure I'd bother, I drive everywhere with mine tilted up as it gets in the way of gear changes and the handbrake!

Ditto. It's not that useful really.
Mine is up all the time as you can't get to the handbrake otherwise. You can't really put anything in it as when raised up the catch is very easily opened (esp by rear animals, er passengers).

Add my vote to the "why bother". I specified the armrest but I've only ever used it on long autoroute drives for the same reasons as above - it gets in the way of the handbrake and gear changes when it's down.

The only thing I use it for is storing the charger lead for my phone so it's easy to get at when needed.

I get where your all coming from, but will be doing some loooong drives to south of france etc so having an armrest is def needed. Just trying to work out if its going to be essential on the actual car I buy or is relatively easy to add if the car does not have it when purchased. Trying to work out which options are actually serious deal breakers........

Use mine all the time, constantly leaning on it. Doesn't affect gear changes and I (probably badly) only ever touch the handbrake twice every journey ;]

Pyrotechnic wrote:Doesn't affect gear changes

This gets said every time this topic comes up - but I don't see how it doesn't get in the way, unless you always change gear with your hand on top of the gear lever. On an advanced driving course I was taught to just guide the gear lever with a fairly open horizontal hand and not to move the gear lever with a closed hand as that puts more strain on the linkage and selectors?

Pyrotechnic wrote:I (probably badly) only ever touch the handbrake twice every journey ;]

Good practice is to use the handbrake whenever you're going to be stationary for more than a few seconds. I use mine at least a dozen times in my 4 mile drive to work.

I use mine for long trips and for loose items (cell phone charger, etc.)
doesn't impact my shifting much, but does interfer with the e-brake

I use mine all the time - I even have the two cup holders in there too which I love for long journeys (£30 from Audi), it doesn't get in the way of the gears on a normal drive but if I was holiganning about on B-roads then i'd put it up. You can still apply the handbrake with it down but it's not ideal.

But still no one has enlightened me as to whether or not it is an easy retrofit? If possible, cost?

My RS4 doesn't have one either but my old S3 did and like others have said it always got in the darn way, hated the thing

This might go on for a while vestax - If I remember rightly it can be done but I don't think it was cheap - £250 springs to mind - you might need to call Audi on this one.

PetrolDave wrote:This gets said every time this topic comes up - but I don't see how it doesn't get in the way, unless you always change gear with your hand on top of the gear lever.

Totally agree - I chose one in my previous S4 and regretted it from the start

PetrolDave wrote:I use mine at least a dozen times in my 4 mile drive to work.

Is your commute one long hill? Otherwise, I can't see the need...

Using the handbrake to hold the car when not moving reduced pad material transfer and te chances of 'warping' the front discs.
The worst thing you can do to a hot brake disc is press the pads against the same spot.

Agree entirely, it's just that most of the time (where I drive at least) things are pretty flat - hence not needing either brakes or handbrake to keep the car stationary