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New member to RS246 so be gentle, after hankering after a B7 RS4 for some time now I'm deciding on preferred spec for B8 that I'll look to source in next month or so and thought I'd get some views from forum.

Current thinking is need to have's are Black/Daytona, black optics, carbon trim, black full leather, sports pack or DRC, 20" V spoke or rotors, nice to haves B&O, pan roof, bucket seats, electric boot (so would need to be 2014 or earlier I think).

Couple of minor things on don't want list which are aluminium trim on front/rear spoiler and I've seen couple examples on PH and AT which have what I assume is single front fog light on drivers side and Alcantara.

Realise I can't be too picky on spec when trying source a used car but few coming up recently that are pretty close to what I'm looking for, will be looking to spend between £40-£42k, any views/guidance/things to consider much appreciated.

Just spotted iboase's similar post from January, some good info for me there,

I think your spec list choice is pretty good, very similar to mine.

The "single front fog light" is actually the radar unit for the adaptive cruise control and lane assist etc. I didn't spec this and haven't really wanted it but I now think it would have been nice to try. I'm gonna put it on the RS6 PE spec.

I have black panther crystal which is stunning, essentially black but flips between purple and green, a lovely surprise when the sun comes out. If its a black B8.5 you want then worth taking a look at this colour in the sunlight.

Electric tailgate is 2014 or later, not earlier as it became standard spec after that, these is a thread here somewhere with all the details on and which year they were added.

I wish I had gone for carbon dash inserts and not the pion black but I wanted the quad black (paint, optics, leather and dash) but its show the dust so quickly, carbon would have been better.

Sports pack is great, 20" wheels, Sports Diff, Sports exhaust etc. I wanted rotors until I saw the V-spokes and loved them, now looking for 20" Rotors for next years winter wheels.

Pan roof is nice to have, B&O better than standard and its a common upgrade as its part of the Tech pack so you should find many with these. Tech pack is good, gives you 3g+ MMI with google maps and full bluetooth audio etc, stunning slick and works well. Google earth gives you street view and terrain maps and Audi connect gives you full integration with you desktop PC for navigation locations direct from google maps ( I never tap in a location while sitting in the car).

Black optics eliminated that Aluminium trim you don't like. The extended leather on the armrests is a nice thing too.

The adaptive cruise is good but I would like the ability to turn off the adaptive part and use it as normal cruise.
If you find a car without DRC and dynamic steering but with sports exhaust and 20s then try it, its really very good.

DRC is excellent, its like having 2 cars in 1, it was an absolute must for me and I get no knocking at all, although many have reported issues, most of which can be sorted under warranty.

I have adaptive sterring and find it took a little getting use to but now I love it. Around town nice and light, on motorways and at speed nice and firm.

A little part of me almost wished I'd spec'd ceramic brakes, they cost very little extra to run once on the car. The RS6 PE will have them.

Thanks for the feed back guys, much appreciated and helpful pretty much firms up my initial thoughts plus probably wanting to try and get 2014/later model with tech pack, nice car geoffdunk, like the sound of Panther Crystal although living up here in North East of Scotland I might only see purple/green effect one or twice a year!!

Radar unit makes much more sense than my assumption it was a 'single front fog light'...............every day's a school's a day!!

Wouldn't rule out your suggestion on trying non DRC/dynamic steering ARSEY4 but challenge would be having to travel to try it out unless something came up local and would need to try car that has DRC/DS to compare, also think (i.e. know, bearing in mind my current car is mini cooper s) I'll be very impressed by any B8 I try as it'll be the first I've driven so any subjective evaluation will go right out the window!!

I agree. There are so few cars without that it would be a challenge. I was actively searching for one with the right spec without DRC and DS and dropped very lucky. Had I not had a B7 and an RS5 that both suffered from DRC problems I would have probably taken the plunge and gone for DRC. My personal view is that we are conditioned to buy into these "must have" options and the truth is that I had my 5 in dynamic mode twice and that was just to try it, I've never used launch control, I dont need a radar to keep my distance from the car in front and why on earth do I need steering that gets lighter when I slow down? Do I need a push button starter when I can put the key in the slot and how irritating is it when you are cleaning your car with your keys in your pocket and the bloody thing keeps locking and unlocking?

For me, it is the below which is taken from another thread:

Surrey Sam wrote: Realistically I will not find a car with my ideal specification, so will have to retrofit a number of items over time. A car with less 'would likes' would need to be cheap though, as the spec will be fairly basic and cost me shed loads of ££££'s to improve upon.

Must have's:

• Car - Sub 20k miles ideally, full Audi history, well loved.
  Colour - Sepang Blue, Nardo Grey, Suzuka Grey, Ibis White and will consider other muted Exclusive colours.
  Interior - Full black leather, black headlining, again Exclusive colours considered but probably nothing I'll like, Carbon or Piano Black inlays.
  Seats - I want buckets but will probably have to retrofit, so ideally the standard seats should be full memory and heated.
  Options - DRC suspension (doesn't have to be full Sports Package), 3G MMI+ with 7" screen, B&O Sound system, DAB radio, Panoramic Sunroof, Advance Parking

Would like's/Retrofit list:

• Extended Audi Warranty
  20" wheels
  Ceramic Brakes
  Bucket Seats
  Power Tailgate
  No privacy glass
  Mobile Telephone Prep High
  Advanced Key
  Side Assist
  Adaptive Cruise
  Hill Hold Assist
  Homelink
  Carbon design engine cover

Surrey Sam wrote:
Must have's:

• Car - Sub 20k miles ideally, full Audi history, well loved.
  Colour - Sepang Blue, Nardo Grey, Suzuka Grey, Ibis White and will consider other muted Exclusive colours.
  Interior - Full black leather, black headlining, again Exclusive colours considered but probably nothing I'll like, Carbon or Piano Black inlays.
  Seats - I want buckets but will probably have to retrofit, so ideally the standard seats should be full memory and heated.
  Options - DRC suspension (doesn't have to be full Sports Package), 3G MMI+ with 7" screen, B&O Sound system, DAB radio, Panoramic Sunroof, Advance Parking

Would like's/Retrofit list:

• Extended Audi Warranty
  20" wheels
  Ceramic Brakes
  Bucket Seats
  Power Tailgate
  No privacy glass
  Mobile Telephone Prep High
  Advanced Key
  Side Assist
  Adaptive Cruise
  Hill Hold Assist
  Homelink
  Carbon design engine cover

20's are essential. 19's look so wrong on the B8.
Full black/black interior again is a must for me. Not a fan at all of light interiors.
DRC (without optional knocking) is tremendous. Can drive my parents around in limo style comfort, then the next day firm it up and take the car on track.
As I track my B8, I don't want ceramics.
I'm too fat for buckets, and like the supersport seats with full memory etc. IIRC you can't have memory mirrors on buckets too.
B&O is in a different league to standard. Get it. DAB also essential.
Pan roof. Screw the haters, it's lovely!
Advanced key worth it's weight in gold.
Advanced parking - not sure how I got through 20+ years of driving without it but don't want the next 20 years without it now I have it!
Power tailgate is standard on 2014(?)+ cars.
HHA - no idea why this wasn't specc'd by everyone. Again, it's awesome.
Homelink I still haven't got working and every time I open my garage a little bit of me dies inside that I paid for it. I wish I could get round to making my garage work with it - not the cars fault!

Only think I repeatedly wish I have and don't is side assist. It'll be 100% on the next car.

I appreciate the ceramic debate is a deep one, but the added benefits that are less talked about are ;
The unsprung weight is reduced significantly, and the car tracks poor road surfaces much better (my first B8 was non ceramic, and my current one has them, and the difference is tangible)
No brake dust, so you don't have black wheels after 30miles of driving
Over time, the initial purchase price is partially offset with longevity

I've done track days in my car, and the braking performance is significantly extended with ceramics. I warped a set of steels in one day at Donnington, and it'd only last around 8-10 laps before there'd be a noticeable increase in pedal travel and bite. With ceramics, you can do lap after lap without fade - Turn the ESP completely off though, or you'll cook the rears as the system is constantly braking the rear wheels to control angles, and the dash lights won't tell you it's doing it - The car is also much more playful with the system completely off (Hold button for 5 seconds to completely deactivate)

Another consideration on your preferred spec is that I've seen a couple of cars with carbon interior inserts that have gone 'cloudy' over time. I like the aluminium inserts, so specced the on my car

You have just detailed the reasons why I wish I had spec'd ceramics, they'll deff be on the the next RS (6PE or B9, not sure yet).

I always wished I had spec'd carbon inserts as my piano black ones show the dust almost immediately after cleaning but now I'm glad I didn't if you say some have gone cloudy. When clean the black ones look good.

Graeme4130 wrote:I
Another consideration on your preferred spec is that I've seen a couple of cars with carbon interior inserts that have gone 'cloudy' over time. I like the aluminium inserts, so specced the on my car

I had cloudy carbon on my 5 but just used scratch x (or could have been another similar product) and the shine came back straight away with little effort.

Steels with uprated pads on the 'ring don't fade with me. That's enough. The price isn't worth the reduction in unsprung weight for me personally. Brake dust? I clean the car several times a week normally so don't care about dust

RossDagley wrote:Steels with uprated pads on the 'ring don't fade with me. That's enough. The price isn't worth the reduction in unsprung weight for me personally. Brake dust? I clean the car several times a week normally so don't care about dust

Maybe it's a reflection of driving ability