- Joined
- Sep 4, 2003
- Messages
- 29,115
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- 113
- Location
- Solihull, Midlands
- Website
- www.audi-sport.net
So practically the first public person to walk through the doors to test drive the new A4 this morning at Lister's Birmingham Audi.
There was a choice of the 2.0TFSI(black car) or the 2.0TDI(silver car), I opted for the TDI, as if I was to ever purchase one, it would be a TDI, the only petrol model I would consider are the V6 models, or S/RS models. The testdrive was short'ish, but it gives you a nice impression of what to expect. My current car is a 2012 C7 A6 Avant, and sitting in the New A4 2.0TDI in SE trim, it feels very much like a junior version of my car, with most of the switch gear already familiar. Out on the road, the car feels nimble, and I would say it handle pretty well, it feels very compact after driving an A6, and despite having SE suspension, it feels light to drive. The engine is quite refined for a TDI, you would be hard pressed to know it's a TDI if it wasn't for the torque delivery and rev counter. So the power was smooth on delivery, but the engine did feel tight, I would expect it to free up some more with a few more miles under it's belt. The ride is refined, and it went over uneven surfaces nicely too.
On our return to the dealership, they had an S-Line model in the showroom which I sat in to have a poke about. I must say, the S-Line feels like a totally different car inside, most noticeably the S-Line steering wheel is so much more nice than the standard item. The showroom car was also equipped with Audi's Virtual Dash, and for me personally, I'd have to have this option, just because it looks bang upto date and quite awesome actually! The MMI is also pretty slick, nicely animated, a more updated version of the one I have in my A6 anyways. The only thing I didn't like was the fixed screen in the middle of the dash. It does not fold away and hide itself in the dash, it's just there at all times.
So overall, the car follows in the Audi tradition of being built to last in my opinion, the fit and finish of a modern Audi is there, and it felt very capable and tidy out on the road. A nice upgrade over the B8 model it replaces.
I'd like to thank our very own Sandra, Mark Rennie and Fawn Wooller and the rest of the Audi team for inviting me to this event, it was a privilege.
There was a choice of the 2.0TFSI(black car) or the 2.0TDI(silver car), I opted for the TDI, as if I was to ever purchase one, it would be a TDI, the only petrol model I would consider are the V6 models, or S/RS models. The testdrive was short'ish, but it gives you a nice impression of what to expect. My current car is a 2012 C7 A6 Avant, and sitting in the New A4 2.0TDI in SE trim, it feels very much like a junior version of my car, with most of the switch gear already familiar. Out on the road, the car feels nimble, and I would say it handle pretty well, it feels very compact after driving an A6, and despite having SE suspension, it feels light to drive. The engine is quite refined for a TDI, you would be hard pressed to know it's a TDI if it wasn't for the torque delivery and rev counter. So the power was smooth on delivery, but the engine did feel tight, I would expect it to free up some more with a few more miles under it's belt. The ride is refined, and it went over uneven surfaces nicely too.
On our return to the dealership, they had an S-Line model in the showroom which I sat in to have a poke about. I must say, the S-Line feels like a totally different car inside, most noticeably the S-Line steering wheel is so much more nice than the standard item. The showroom car was also equipped with Audi's Virtual Dash, and for me personally, I'd have to have this option, just because it looks bang upto date and quite awesome actually! The MMI is also pretty slick, nicely animated, a more updated version of the one I have in my A6 anyways. The only thing I didn't like was the fixed screen in the middle of the dash. It does not fold away and hide itself in the dash, it's just there at all times.
So overall, the car follows in the Audi tradition of being built to last in my opinion, the fit and finish of a modern Audi is there, and it felt very capable and tidy out on the road. A nice upgrade over the B8 model it replaces.
I'd like to thank our very own Sandra, Mark Rennie and Fawn Wooller and the rest of the Audi team for inviting me to this event, it was a privilege.
