RS4 Avant

[Jezzer]

I've just placed an order for an RS4 Avant (B7) this afternoon. The dealer said the car would be available in Aug/Sept next year but have still given them the following spec.

Phantom Black, technology pack, sports suspension plus, auto dimming rear view mirror with light and rain sensors and coming home function, black suede RS sports steering wheel gearknob and handbrake grip,automatic opening rear hatch, carbon fibre trim, black optic pack, privacy glass, Tracker monitor. Couple of questions - does the suede still come on the Lambo Gallardo s/wheel or does this only come on the A4 sports design s/wheel? Does the car need a sunroof? Is it a good idea for the RS4 to have factory sat nav to help with future resale value? Have found that in the past, cars without sat nav are difficult to sell on. Could this have changed with the introduction of Tom Toms etc. Anything that I have missed out that I should order.

[Dave]

Looks ok mate.. be careful speccing different steering wheel and phone prep as it can delete the standrad wheel with the sports button on it! The one that boosts the side bolsters and changees the throttle response.

I've also gone with the DVD, 6 cd changer as i feel a £50K car should come with it .. else you'll suffer later!

Cheers
Dave

[gIzzE]

Wouldn't touch a car without built in Nav myself and the new dvd Nav+ is a superb system and makes what is now feeling like a bit of a dated cabin far more up to date.

[bobjebb]

Ordering mine this week - Finally made a decision. Hoo-bloody-ray. Black or Mugello

Will order technology pack too, I think that these days sat nav is so good that it's a must have. Arguably the same theory doesn't apply to cars like the B5 that are now 5 years old, what with the technology being much newer then and now surpassed by Tom Toms etc.. I think for some reason sunroof is one of those things that are important at resale, I'll be speccing one. (even though how often do we actually use them?!)

Anyway, I'm still not sure of a few things - suede steering wheel etc is very tempting, and I think it'll look great, but for how long? Anyone got any experience?
Tracker - there seem to be three options, any advice on pros and cons for each?
Lastly will probably go for the obvious seats, although probably only for resale purposes, I think I'd probably prefer the less buckety type. Don't suppose anyone has a reference of what the Recaro Sport seats look like?

Thanks,

Bob

PS one more thing, has anyone considered an import? Faster delivery? It's a 2 year warranty versus three but presume there is a saving to be made some of which could buy the third year from Audi? Just want to explore all the options before I take the plunge.

[CliveH]

IMHO :-

The quality of the satnav is the Audi's (especially the new ones) is excellent, includes TV etc, and is far superior to the likes of Tom Tom.

I used my sunroof today - not because it was hot but because I wanted some fresh air and to listen to the exhaust (how sad is that?!) - but I do like to have the option and I agree it does help resale values.

I would definitely look at importing - as you say, the only difference is warranty, which is often questionable anyway. I think you could save £5k going this route - consider Belgium and Holland as well as Germany. I got a very good quote from a dealer in Holland when I was considering buying a new S4 - you just go in or ring up and tell them you want a RHD - was 10 weeks wait at the time.

[jord_]

What is the starting price for a RS4 Avant?

In Norway the starting price for RS4 sedan with standard factory settings: 170.000 EUR.

This is witout RS seats, 19", navi+ etc.

[CliveH]

The prices in Scandinavia are crazy! That's more than twice the UK price. Consider importing from Germany - or do you get hit for Norwegian car tax?

[bobjebb]

Clive thanks for the info - does anyone have experience in the import process or recommend a company to use?

Thanks

[CliveH]

Bob, although I didnt actually do it, I did do some research and I have some contacts in Holland.

I'll PM you.

Cheers,

[Jezzer]

I've changed the spec slightly today. Have decided to change from Phantom Black to Misano Red and have therefore deleted Optics pack because of colour change. Think the chrome looks good with Misano Red. Also found out today that the Black suede is available with the RS sports flat bottom s/wheel as well as gear stick and hand brake lever.

[Taipan]

IMHO :-

The quality of the satnav is the Audi's (especially the new ones) is excellent, includes TV etc, and is far superior to the likes of Tom Tom.
....

Hi,

Can you upload speed cameras/radars locations on the Audi SatNav as you can on most/all Tom Tom products ?

Eric

[CliveH]

No, but didnt know the Tom Tom could do that - thought it was just a basic satnav, not a speed camera locator too?

[Taipan]

I don't know for the UK market but Tom Tom France is now officially marketing a "Radar Pack" with its Tom Tom GO series.
http://www.tomtom.com/plus/service.php?ID=8&Language=2
(the screen shot seems to be a UK version one though).

It's actually a copy of a free service offered by a french site
http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/defa ... ?CAT_ID=14
which uses the Checkpoint freeware and a database of locations gathered by the community.
I've used it since Nov 2003 on my Asus PDA with Tom Tom Navigator and it's a beauty for that part of the GPS.

It has about 8,500 speed trap locations, with the fixed ones (like 500) and the rest being "mobile" traps scouted by the community on regular basis.

[CliveH]

That's way kool!

[bobjebb]

if you do a search, you'll be able to find a site where you can download this info for free... (allegedly)

Had a chat with a dealer today, regarding the Avant, he informed me that, NO ONE knows when the Avant will arrive, and anyone who has been given a date was done so because it's what we want to hear. I have been given a date of June (ish) and was promptly told that was boll*cks. His opinion was that saloons won't even be delivered much before then, never mind the Avant.

Cheery news and possibly inaccurate but he had nothing to gain by telling me, and claims to know the "man" at Audi with the info....

Just passing it on... I'm now looking at the import route.