Test Drive today

[brn7y]

Took Aberdeen Audi's demo out today and must say I was very very impressed.

Loved the throttle blip and burble on down change in dynamic, however you guy's are right about the dynamic ride being a bit harsh, felt like my B7 did till I got it back this week with new DRC.

Settled with dynamic throttle/engine, comfort ride, dynamic gearbox, comfort steering seemed a nice set up.

Scary thing was it didn't feel as fast as my B7 which is a recipe for disaster.
Officer: "Afternoon sir, do you know what speed you were doing"
Me: "Felt like 70mph"
Officer: "Well sir it was 100mph pass us over you licence"!

Will definitely be making the swap once the big depreciation has hit them.

[RS Owner]

I have a B7 and had the B8 demo for a day in Hampshire a couple of weeks back. My main concern before the demo was the auto gearbox but like you I loved it, really good and almost the highlight of the car, would never order with a manual after (if you could). Also thought there were a lot of incremental improvements which you only notice after having had a B7 for years, such as the switch for the heated seat which always bothers me in winter in B7, folding mirrors etc.

The one thing I really did not like was the dynamic steering, I thrashed around roads I was very familiar with and the "variable input" on the new steering very nearly caught me out. A massive put off, I will need another day long drive without "incident" before I put in an order.

Agree comfort is the only realistic option for ride in DRC.

[doodlebug]

If you're thinking of ordering you can't wait that long. Book won't be open forever. 4-5 month lead time too.

[RS Owner]

they told me 6 months, which TBH took the shine off it a bit. I bought the B7 new from them and it came from stock and I was expecting the same. I don't like the idea of waiting 6 months, I tend to buy on impulse a little.

Went for test in M3 following weekend, and when we went to check delivery dates, dealer found BMW had ceased production. Shows manufacturers stop production without warning.
Not expecting RS4 will stop anytime soon though.

[doodlebug]

There are a few physical cars around. Dealers have been nervous about taking orders.

A lot of the used offerings are pretty miserable spec, so many with the crap 19s.

I was warned that RS4 book is not likely to remain open that long because the SQ5 and RS6 are about to go into production.

[Noyjatat]

I had a similar experience when test driving the RS5, the steering was not for me giving little road feel.

[Graeme4130]

There's plenty of physical cars in the dealer network as a fair few order in nicely spec'd stock knowing they'll shift them to lead time avoiders.
You're right about Dynamic suspension, I've only used it once in mine on a super smooth stretch of tarmac I know locally, and even then, comfort setting was better.
I'll get mine on a track soon to see it it works there, but even then, I'm doubting it'll be workable. I honestly don't know what they were thinking when they signed the car off with that suspension set up...
The suspension is variable in it's construction, so a halfway house between comfort and dynamic would be perfect for the sportier setting..

[doodlebug]

I failed to find anything close to my desired spec in the new physical pile. I have found a lightly used DP car which I hope to get my hands on shortly.

There was a fully spec'd, 'ramics, buckets, the lot, from Audi UK (management car), low miles. Went for mid 50s before I could blink.

[Graeme4130]

I failed to find anything close to my desired spec in the new physical pile. I have found a lightly used DP car which I hope to get my hands on shortly.

There was a fully spec'd, 'ramics, buckets, the lot, from Audi UK (management car), low miles. Went for mid 50s before I could blink.

Did you get your dealer to print off a national inventory ? They're reluctant to do it as, of course, all the dealers are franchised and it's not easy to get one dealer to release a car to another if it's out of their 'group', but it's worth doing as there's a lot of cars available out there as long as you're a bit flexible on exact spec

I had heard previously that some dealers will sell on their demonstrators as 'mgmt cars' as it makes them easier to shift
In my experience, demonstrators of sports cars will have done their first few 1000's of miles flat out and possibly worth steering clear of if you're planning a long term purchase

[RS Owner]

I had heard previously that some dealers will sell on their demonstrators as 'mgmt cars' as it makes them easier to shift
In my experience, demonstrators of sports cars will have done their first few 1000's of miles flat out and possibly worth steering clear of if you're planning a long term purchase

I read somewhere quite respectable (think it was Sunday Times) that cars first registered to their respective manufacturers develop more problems than other cars, I put dealer cars in this category. Personally I would not look at such car, just assumed they have been tracked.

[brn7y]

Aberdeen Audi demo is an Audi UK car on an OY reg.

[doodlebug]

I failed to find anything close to my desired spec in the new physical pile. I have found a lightly used DP car which I hope to get my hands on shortly.

There was a fully spec'd, 'ramics, buckets, the lot, from Audi UK (management car), low miles. Went for mid 50s before I could blink.

Did you get your dealer to print off a national inventory ? They're reluctant to do it as, of course, all the dealers are franchised and it's not easy to get one dealer to release a car to another if it's out of their 'group', but it's worth doing as there's a lot of cars available out there as long as you're a bit flexible on exact spec

I had heard previously that some dealers will sell on their demonstrators as 'mgmt cars' as it makes them easier to shift
In my experience, demonstrators of sports cars will have done their first few 1000's of miles flat out and possibly worth steering clear of if you're planning a long term purchase

I've had a man looking high and low. The car I'm looking it isn't Audi UK's. The DP does a daily commute in it so its had a relatively easy life. Closest I can get to spec and a hefty chunk off list.

[Brooner]

If its the same white demo car at aberdeen it needs the shockes change as there is a definate clunk over uneven roadswhen i took it out mine is fine even on rough roads and it is always in dynamic and i would say no harsher than the B7 set up.
The comfort setting is too soft for me i agree the steering does at first take a bit of getting used to but having covered over 2k in the car now i'm very happy with the hole dynamics of the car and the gearbox is a laugh stick it in S for the overtake and watch the cars fly by
I don't think there are any demos with out the dynamic steering for a comparison and all the guys on here so far as i can tell have took the dynamic set up so the chances of getting a 2nd hand one with out the dynamic steering could be slim

[doodlebug]

A lot of used cars on 19"s so I suspect many without dynamic steering.

[Nickyboy]

A lot of used cars on 19"s so I suspect many without dynamic steering.

Those 19s are truly terrible as well. Lots of black edition A4s with better wheels than those. If you had those 19s and pulled up next to a black edition A4 you would think the side view of the A4 is actually nicer than the RS4.