Used RS4 B8 Which Optional extras are a must have

[MikeFish]

The S3 (8P) doesn't have a switch to turn it on and off, has to be done with VCDS, so it sounds like the software is different too. And maybe i'll try with the seat belt on to see if that makes a difference.

[MikeFish]

From the audi website:
Hill-start assist
The hill-start assist function helps you drive off on a hill.
If you hold down the foot brake for a time when the vehicle is stationary, the brake pressure is retained for brief a moment after you release the brake pedal

I wonder if that is different to Hil Hold Assist (which is not listed in the glossary)?

[MikeFish]

Found it, it was under A, obviously:
Audi hold assist
Audi hold assist keeps the car stationary once it's stopped and automatically prevents it from rolling on uphill and downhill gradients.
During stops on uphill and downhill gradients, Audi hold assist holds the car stationary for as long as needed.
It's activated by pressing a button and allows the driver to set the car in motion smoothly without having to use the handbrake at all. If the vehicle remains stationary for a long period with Audi hold assist active, the system automatically switches over to the electromechanical parking brake.There's no need to operate the handbrake to pull away.

I think the difference may be due to the fact that the 8P didn't come with an electronic handbrake.

[Graeme4130]

The S3 (8P) doesn't have a switch to turn it on and off, has to be done with VCDS, so it sounds like the software is different too. And maybe i'll try with the seat belt on to see if that makes a difference.

It has a small button with the circular brake sign on it located just under the electronic handbrake button

It works faultlessly to be truthful, just I prefer not to use it. If I was doing a lot of night time traffic crawling, then I'd probably use it to stop the person behind from being constantly blinded by my brake lights
When you pull to a stop, it illuminates a small sign on the dash, and as you apply a bit of accelerator pressure, you can feel it disengage, but it's pretty smooth and not light the jerky old systems of older cars

[MikeFish]

Yeah there is no button or light on dash here; sounds like it must be one of the old jerky ones then. she didn't spec it on the RS3 becuase she thought it would be the same; judging by the comments here it sounds like it probably has the new improved version though.

[Johnsmith]

Yeah I did originally like the look of the buckets but noticed they aren't electric which to me I want so have decided i'm not looking or them, I just hope the sports seats hold you in enough hand are a little more special than the s-line versions. HHA is something i would like on a Manual car but as the B8 only comes in Auto then I'm not fussed.

[Outtlaw]

HHA is fantastic on an auto and for me would always spec it on a car now.

Most important things would be
Tech pack, sports pack and the B&O thats if you can find a car with that specced now.
The other options are just nice to have!

Good luck with the search.

[RossDagley]

Hha green "I'm holding the brakes" legend.

[innercry666]

For me the essential options are:

Sports Pack - Sports Exhaust and 20" rims
Privacy Glass
B&O
Convenience Pack - Mainly for the folding mirrors but the seat memory is useful as the mrs has a very different seating position

These options are nice to have but not essential:

Adaptive Cruise Control - Didn't have it on the last A4 but it works a treat through roadworks on the motorway
Pano Sunroof
Parking Advanced - Rear view camera is useful
Advanced Key - I could live without it, but the starter button is more of an event than plugging the key in the hole and starting her up (so to speak)

Hope that helps...

[Astonished]

Lots of personal stuff here. My preferences:

Pano roof - yes
B&O - yes
Hill assist - was standard on my R36 and in Oz on RS4 - um .... Going against trend as I used it a few times and found it to be a frustrating waste of time. I keep my feet doing the work.
Dynamic exhaust - yes
Dynamic suspension - yes, but I haven't tried "non"
Dynamic steering - no - so I selected the dynamic options separately including staying with the 19" wheels which I like the look of and are lighter
So I paid more on the invoice by not selecting a sports package but then there was a healthy discount ackowledging that (did the sums both ways to check)
Privacy glass - no - it makes the back really dark and the front still light (like a hearse) - so went with high quality local applied even all round film - very good and tint I wanted
Adaptive cruise - no - not sure what I'm missing but maybe
Headlight assist - selected it as a whim but now really find it useful as I do long country drives at night
Lane assist - frustrating on missus' A class Merc so as it would be something else to turn off - no
Advanced key - standard in Oz - it's ok, but not sure I'd pay extra, although very happy to not have to stick key into dash
Convenience pack - standard in oz along with the under seat storage
Electric standard seats with memory - yes because I like "seat memory" but ideal would be electric memory buckets with a "more ample" bucket for the passenger
Parking advanced - another standard in Oz - would definitely have rear camera on any car

That's it ?!

[carsarecool]

Isn't there a slight hesitation though?

If there is a slight hesitation it's so minimal it's hardly noticeable. That might be a characteristic of it being mated to the S-Tronic and V8, but I've never noticed it with issue. In fact roundabout getaways (such as the one you mentioned) are particularly good with the HHA feature because you don't have to hold the brake with your right foot whilst you wait, you can simply have you foot on the accelerator pedal ready to go as soon as it's clear, so in effect it makes your getaway even quicker.

And if you take your foot off the brake doesn't it release after a couple of seconds and start crawling?

Nope, mine stays activated until I press the accelerator.

What he said....I wouldn't be without it.....it great for a quick getaway at the lights......no crawling into back of car in front.

[Brooner]

My spec is wouldn't want anything else not too keen on all the cruise gizmos

EA9 Audi Warranty 5yr 90000 miles N1T Fine Nappa leather PNQ MMI navigation plus
PS5 Bucket seats Fine Nappa QV3 DAB digital radio UH2 Audi hill-hold assist
VC1 Garage door opener (Homelink-* VW1 Privacy glass WB3 Sound package
WC9 Sports Package 3G0 Without ISOFIX 3S2 Roof rails, black
4A4 Heated front/rear seats 4UE Fullsize airbags 4ZD Black styling package
6SJ Reversible load floor mat 6XK Door mirr,dim/elec/fold/heat 7QA Without CD/DVD for navigation
9ZW Phone prep - High w Bluetooth

the hold assist is great no fecking about at the lights or hills

[johnnydog]

I wanted HHA with my B8, and ceramics as must have's - on my B7 I had major issues with brake judder, which resulted in Audi fitting ceramics under warranty, but one of the causes of brake judder at the time was said to be sitting on the foot brake whilst stationary when the brakes were hot. The B7 was a manual gearbox but the habit of sitting with your foot on the brakes was still there and is a necessity with the B8 being an auto. Whilst the B8 has the wave brakes which are supposed to be a great improvement, I wanted HHA so that I could sit at traffic lights without the need to sit with my foot in the foot brake. I find it great - if you come to gentle stop then it doesn't come on until you apply a little more pressure to the pedal. It releases on take off quite smoothly too. And the ceramics are superb, and look great too. That massive disc with the imposing grey calipers look the dogs........
I personally don't like the buckets. Had them on a loan car for month, and they were terrible - fine if you like a metal bar sticking up your arse getting in and out, but the super sports seats are very good - a vast improvement on the B7's comfort seats.
I was fortunate to find an exceptionally highly spec'd ex demo used by the Head of Business at the dealership - I would say go for what you personally want, and any options over and above are a great bonus, whether you are likely to use them or not. Can only assist the resale appeal when that time comes!

[boff]

HHA rocks - works really well on the B8 with the Auto; it's an option on mine that I didn't spec and have been most impressed by. Calling it HHA is wrong IMHO as it works all the time when on - but what I like is I can slow down using the brake and then decide if i want it on or not, so the car will coast until you press the brake pedal harder to a stop and then it engages - with finess you can activate it using the brake pedal.

It is sometime a pain in the arse when you are reversing into a space though - and that's when you hit the button to turn it off. Also yes my MY15 Car Remembers if I had it on or not.

As for the seats... the seats - well I kind of love them is that makes sense? kind of is the key - would i Have paid the £7500 to have them in my car? NO (part of ltd spec) but when you look at them, and when you climb into them; they do give a special feeling.

Now I'm too big for them - so had to lose weight; that;s a great thing!! (Getting comfy now) and i think the standard seats make the car a more appealing everyday drive. They are certainly an event to get into. Mine hasn't had any track use; but on the twistys I find they do come into their own.

I think this seats debate is one that'll be debated until the last B8 is scrapped; or in an Auction as a classic car!!

[johnnydog]

Most would agree that pano roof, phone prep high, sports pack (many say buckets, but not my choice!), etc etc are the must haves, but another for me is the advanced key. Liked the remote starter button on the B7, so the stop start button carries on from that that. I hate using the 'key in the dash slot' - if you are a bit over enthusiastic in trying to remove the key once pressed to kill the engine, it gets 'stuck' so to speak, you have to restart the engine to then switch off again to release the key. I drive different work Audi's all day long and I find it a pain - a real let down right from when the original B8 Audi was introduced in 2008. At the time couldn't understand the logic in moving from the standard ignition key. Advanced key - a small option, but IMHO another definate must have!