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B7 to C7
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 5:11 pm
by jonicox
Hi,
I posted over on the B7 forum about my thinking of moving from a B7 to C7
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=115212
but would welcome any input from people that have made the jump.
Thanks
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 8:15 pm
by aljenod
Tough one. Still today I think the B7 is the best drivers car I've owned, but that was a few years back now, and I've probably matured (gotten very old very quick probably a better description) over the years. If you like the nimbleness, throw it anywhere, driving manual box, V8 snarl, then C7 probably not for you. But i guarentee that if you do end up in a C7 you won't be disappointed. It's a totally different beast, pure grunt and does it with such composure. Dynamically, its lacks, purely down to its weight, but don't get me wrong, there won't be many cars on the road that will sit on your bumper. I try to think it's a natural progression of my life, everythings getting bigger but I'm doing it in a more refined manner.
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 9:00 pm
by jonicox
Thanks for that. Kind of what I was expecting the hear really. Not sure I am past enjoying the nimbleness etc. etc. yet. Maybe in a year or so (two years into my B7), but by then the C7 will be older tech and the B9 RS4 will be around.
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 9:34 pm
by 10biscuits
well,had a B7 from new,had to go really,128000 miles,undoubtedly the best car Audi ever made,the handling,the sound,the engine,do I go on. So whilst waiting for my C7
got a B8-umhh after the B7-oh dear-along came the C7 in late March.I suppose you have to say move with the times. It's a very big car firstly and takes some getting used to,
handling =not in the same league as the B7,ease of driving=you have to be careful,any hard acceleration in my opinion it must be in full dynamic mode otherwise you could be in danger of losing it,which I nearly did last week in overtaking. However,it seems to have the same coolness that my B7 had,huge amount of interest here and in France.Do I like the car-yes in a strange way !!! Very very quick,but you don't get the sense of speed compared to the B7,so be very careful with the local Constab.
The world has moved on and so have cars,if Audi put the C7 engine and dynamics into something resembling the B7-now that would be a car.
So conclusion--what else is there? well nothing really-looked at M4 forget it,looked at Amg,exciting but not 4 wheel drive which I need in the Alpes and wear out tyres in 3k to 5k miles,it's by far the best car I could find,you will not be disappointed,but you will have to give it time after a B7. Good luck with your decision.
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 11:30 pm
by M1R XE

.10biscuits interesting could you elaborate more on almost losing it ? Please be intersested to see your thoughts was it a case of too soft and jelly like in comfort to go quick or more of a kick out or break of traction. The demo i had on a wet day was great but you could feel it trying to slip wriggle whilst full throttle first second low speeds,
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 6:42 pm
by 10biscuits
The car was in comfort on suspension,dynamic engine, I think it was you called kick out. Hard acceleration at the same time as change of direction,the car seemed all over the place--scared,so in future pull out first then hard acceleration,maybe just me not being a good driver. However,on a trip back in France we run a shortcut over the Jurals,set the car in full dynamic and wow ,it was fantastic. Only problem here is if you set it in full dynamic for everyday running the ride is terrible and had people in the back saying they didn't feel particularly well !!!
All to do with getting used to it,but I still love it but getting back to this thread,I don't think yet it will beat the B7,obviously it does for speed but that isn't everything.
Only time I nearly lost the B7 was going round a 90 degree bend at 65 mph,yes 65 mph,straight up,and the rear went a bit,unbelievable handling !!
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 6:52 pm
by doodlebug
Did you bury it steer then lift off?
I've not had anything like you describe just through burying it, even in the wet.
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 7:25 pm
by Graeme4130
doodlebug wrote:Did you bury it steer then lift off?
I've not had anything like you describe just through burying it, even in the wet.
I had one sideways, but you really had to try hard to get it to do it. It's a very composed car and even with the traction control on 'limited intrusion' it still cuts power to the rear way before it tries to overtake the front like a RWD car
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 7:33 pm
by 10biscuits
doodlebug and graeme--interesting,as far as I can remember,steered and hard acceleration at the same time,dry road,and it started to go sideways,corrected and off it went
as I said on the road over the Jurals,all twists and turns in dynamic full,it was abso fantastic,just got to get used to it and you do need to learn how to drive it--it's not meant to be a criticism,it is after all an extremely fast car.
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 1:20 pm
by almoRS
I drive it in dynamic all the time and have noticed that if you floor having just turned i.e. out of a junction or exiting a roundabout it can lurch from one side to other. Feels a bit like FWD torque steer but soon sorts itself out.
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 5:37 pm
by Seacube
almoRS wrote:I drive it in dynamic all the time...
Do you have DRC?
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 9:12 am
by almoRS
Seacube wrote:almoRS wrote:I drive it in dynamic all the time...
Do you have DRC?
Yes.
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 10:36 am
by jonicox
Well I got to test drive a '63 plate one with air suspension on Tuesday and it is just a completely different driving experience and there is almost no point trying to make a comparison to the B7. I do love the directness of the the B7 and feeling everything, whether through the steering or seat, but things have moved on and the C7 serves a different purpose I feel. I didn't really get much of a chance to push it, but I did feel as if I was much more insulated or isolated from what was going on on the road (might be good or bad depending on your view really). The car was set in dynamic for everything (it didn't have dynamic steering), but I would like to try one with DRC, just to compare really. As I said n my original post, the C7 would be one bike/camping/family duty as much as sports duty.
Bottom line really is down to two choices. Sensible one says get a Merc E350 estate to replace the W124 we have. Swap the B7 for a Golf R/S3 and see what happens with a B9 RS4 in a year or two. You-Only-Live-Once one says get the C7 and a Golf Diesel. Encouragingly/Worryingly my wife says go for the C7
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 10:37 am
by jonicox
Forgot to add that without too much pushing, I have got almost £13k of list price with Audi, so that helps a lot.
Re: B7 to C7
Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 11:01 am
by Seacube
almoRS wrote:Seacube wrote:almoRS wrote:I drive it in dynamic all the time...
Do you have DRC?
Yes.
Do you not find it a little bouncy on uneven road surfaces?