I guess it is now inevitable that cars will start to use electric handbrakes over the manual ones. It saves quite a bit of space in the interior, and I assume it auto adjusts the tension in the brake system.
The previous car I had, was a new XC70 from Volvo. This had an electric handbrake, but the switch was not in a great place.. i.e. it wasn't obvious and you had to reach for it. I also could not work out the logic of the auto release. Very often it didn't auto release as you would expect.
The Audi one is much better than the Volvo. For starters, the switch is very nicely placed in the centre console, near the gear lever. It is very easy to see if it is on or not by a red LED (of course also on the dash too). It releases everytime in auto mode.. as long as you have got the seatbelt on. You can't release it manually unless you have your foot on the footbrake. So overall, it seems to have sufficient safety built in, with ease of use. Something the Volvo failed to do.
Friday 12 December 2008
Sunday 7 December 2008
Strange noise when opening the door
When you open a door on the car after it has been locked, it makes a really strange noise.. like oil being pumped?? does it on both passenger and drivers side??
Sunday 30 November 2008
AUDI A4 - and the mystery key !!
I was visiting my relatives, who have an Audi TT. So my brother in law wanted to have a look at the Audi - he sat in side, played with the controls etc.
He then declared he could start the car without my key. Well I knew this wasn't possible, since I had the key and there is no other fancy option to start this car.
He then started the car, much to my amazement!
How? Well apparently there is a back up key in the glove box. Nobody had told me about this backup key. It is a plastic key which fits into a spare plastic key body. The key body fits into the socket like the normal key - but doesn't have any electronic functionality. However once the other piece of plastic is inserted..it appears to work like any other key.
So I have been driving around with the spare sitting in the unlocked glovebox the whole time. How unsafe is that. I wonder how many other Audi drivers are now in the same situation. Does the insurance cover this?
He then declared he could start the car without my key. Well I knew this wasn't possible, since I had the key and there is no other fancy option to start this car.
He then started the car, much to my amazement!
How? Well apparently there is a back up key in the glove box. Nobody had told me about this backup key. It is a plastic key which fits into a spare plastic key body. The key body fits into the socket like the normal key - but doesn't have any electronic functionality. However once the other piece of plastic is inserted..it appears to work like any other key.
So I have been driving around with the spare sitting in the unlocked glovebox the whole time. How unsafe is that. I wonder how many other Audi drivers are now in the same situation. Does the insurance cover this?
Sunday 16 November 2008
Steering noise..
noises.. you want your car to make all of the right noises.. and none of the strange ones.. well a few strange ones have started in the audi a4
Perhaps only happened 3 times... but when parking and turning the steering wheel sharply, you get this horrible noise.. almost like a poor type of horn being hit.. what is that..
also another irritating noise.. it's as if there is some static on the radio..
Perhaps only happened 3 times... but when parking and turning the steering wheel sharply, you get this horrible noise.. almost like a poor type of horn being hit.. what is that..
also another irritating noise.. it's as if there is some static on the radio..
Tuesday 11 November 2008
Audi Economics - Fuel and Tax
From the maths I did before getting the Audi A4, I knew it would be a significant saving over running the XC70 from Volvo. However with all of these good ideas, you never really know if the theory will work in practise.
One big saving area was in fuel consumption. Now with the diesel price dropping, the saving is less.. but is it significant, now after 1000miles - how is it working out. The car is saying it is making 44mpg on average since new.. now I don't know how the average works though.
One thing that used to frustrate me with the Volvo was that despite the big 70litre tank, you always felt you were filling the car up. My weekly business mileage was 4 round trips of 36miles and then one trip of around 240.. now in reality this seemed to use up the tank !! despite the average being about 35mpg. With the Audi, I can make 7 round trips of 36 miles plus the 240 trip.. on less than 60 litres. The fact I don't have to visit the petrol station every week.. is already a telling the story of saving money.. I always seemed to be at the station before.. with some bills at £85+.. I just filled up at Sainsbury using a voucher and got 58litres for under £60. So approx £30-40 saving per week less versus 6 months ago.
I am waiting for the end of the month to see if the tax saving will be identified. However tax saving I expect to be around £400 per month. So compared to this time 6 months, the total saving of tax and fuel must be well over £500 per month. There is no way the Volvo was worth £500 per month more than this Audi A4.
One big saving area was in fuel consumption. Now with the diesel price dropping, the saving is less.. but is it significant, now after 1000miles - how is it working out. The car is saying it is making 44mpg on average since new.. now I don't know how the average works though.
One thing that used to frustrate me with the Volvo was that despite the big 70litre tank, you always felt you were filling the car up. My weekly business mileage was 4 round trips of 36miles and then one trip of around 240.. now in reality this seemed to use up the tank !! despite the average being about 35mpg. With the Audi, I can make 7 round trips of 36 miles plus the 240 trip.. on less than 60 litres. The fact I don't have to visit the petrol station every week.. is already a telling the story of saving money.. I always seemed to be at the station before.. with some bills at £85+.. I just filled up at Sainsbury using a voucher and got 58litres for under £60. So approx £30-40 saving per week less versus 6 months ago.
I am waiting for the end of the month to see if the tax saving will be identified. However tax saving I expect to be around £400 per month. So compared to this time 6 months, the total saving of tax and fuel must be well over £500 per month. There is no way the Volvo was worth £500 per month more than this Audi A4.
Monday 10 November 2008
Audi A4 and water
Well the Volvo XC70 didn't handle water very well, so when the rains came this weekend I was pretty nervous. We went out in the Ford Focus first and managed to avoid most of the water, until we were confronted with a flooded A road.. queue of traffic either side of the flood as the cars went through one by one. Eventually plucked up courage to drive through the flood - I was holding my breath and kept the engine revving..slipping the clutch.
Given the amount of water on the road yesterday, I decided to play safe with Audi this morning - but was then stunned by the amount of mud on the roads from the previous days floods, I continued to drive around the flood roads. I do not want to put this Audi at risk.
Given the amount of water on the road yesterday, I decided to play safe with Audi this morning - but was then stunned by the amount of mud on the roads from the previous days floods, I continued to drive around the flood roads. I do not want to put this Audi at risk.
Saturday 8 November 2008
Audi A4 - Dashboard Again
I was fiddling around the dashboard switches on the Audi A4 Avant, and realised there was some other options for the multi functional digital display which fits between the rev counter and the speedo. It usually has a clock at the centre and then some other data which can be scrolled through. I have since found a setting which provides the speed as a large central digital display, with then the trip computer in smaller digits below. Given how the analgoue speedo isn't so helpful in giving details at urban speeds - I think this setting is much better. It also reminds me a little bit of my S2000 which only had a digital speedo.
Monday 3 November 2008
New Audi A4 Avant - Revs to next gear
The car suggests you change up early for fuel economy - however from 2nd to 3rd this really knocks the performance as you end up at a too low rev in the next gear. For more performance you need to hold the revs to at least 3200rpm to catch the torque / boost in the next gear.
The engine apparently will rev to 5000.. which I dare not do. I used to regularly rev my BMW 320D to it's rev limit.. and it was OK, but it did break a turbo at 30,000miles.. maybe it wasn't as robust as I thought it was.
The engine apparently will rev to 5000.. which I dare not do. I used to regularly rev my BMW 320D to it's rev limit.. and it was OK, but it did break a turbo at 30,000miles.. maybe it wasn't as robust as I thought it was.
Tramlining in Audi A4
On one of my local roads, the Audi has a strange feeling that runs through the chassis.. well I thought it was the chassis.. then I thought it was the seat.. it is sort of a wandering / sloppy feel. However when talking to my father in law, he asked me how the car felt with the 245/45 tyres, as his Saab tramlined with low profile tyres. Then it connected, the sensation I was getting on this road was tramlining - there is some road works and the car basically wants to follow these road imperfections like a map.. the only other car I had that did this was my Honda S2000 which would tramline a bit under braking with grooved roads near stop signs.
Monday 27 October 2008
New Audi A4 - First Long Run... good mpg
Today I had to make a run upto West Yorkshire, approx 250mile round trip. Car was perfect and comfortable over this distance.. fuel consumption was 53mpg on the way up and 51mpg on the way back.. very impressive. Obviously still running in the car and time wasn't a factor today so didn't push things.. but keeping up with traffic. On a similar run, the Volvo couldn't hit 40mpg.. the Ford Mondeo estate 2.0Tdi might have been high 40's along with the Jaguar X Type 2.2
The service interval data is now starting to kick in.. with the oil change and service time now seems to correspond at the same mileage point.. about 18500 miles from now.
The service interval data is now starting to kick in.. with the oil change and service time now seems to correspond at the same mileage point.. about 18500 miles from now.
Saturday 18 October 2008
Wednesday 15 October 2008
Admirer
Stranger things have happened... but somebody driving in the other direction flashed their lights and gave me the thumbs up at the car. I guess it must look good. Nobody ever did this with the Volvo XC70 :)
Other people have said it is an A5 (from front view). Looking at the A5, the A4 is actually a touch more aggresive in it's look and stance. The bonnet wraps over the lights in a more aggressive way and the bottom spoiler is also more pronounced.
Other people have said it is an A5 (from front view). Looking at the A5, the A4 is actually a touch more aggresive in it's look and stance. The bonnet wraps over the lights in a more aggressive way and the bottom spoiler is also more pronounced.
Sunday 12 October 2008
New Audi A4 - Nice Interior Details
I am sure there are many little details I will gradually discover, but the first two are the following. Sunglasses holder built into the roof line is actually standard.. £30-40 Volvo option and it wasn't in a very helpful place being to the right of the drivers head. The audi is central so it can be accessed by the passenger also.
The next neat feature is the 12v socket in the central armrest. This means that you can drop your phone in the central armrest - (connected via bluetooth) and get recharged. Avoids have the cable around the front and also prevents being distracted by the phone when texts arrive. Simple detail, but makes a massive difference. I think there are 4 power sockets around the car, two at the front - one for rear passenger and then on in the boot.
The next neat feature is the 12v socket in the central armrest. This means that you can drop your phone in the central armrest - (connected via bluetooth) and get recharged. Avoids have the cable around the front and also prevents being distracted by the phone when texts arrive. Simple detail, but makes a massive difference. I think there are 4 power sockets around the car, two at the front - one for rear passenger and then on in the boot.
What is the procedure to remove the key ??
Pretty confusing system - the audi key.
With the Volvo XC70 you placed the key into the slot and it pulled it in.. and you then pressed the starter button. The engine would then start and stop with this button, to remove the key you just pressed it.
With the Audi key, pushing the key into the slot actually starts the engine if you have your foot on the clutch. To stop the engine, press the key again. However often the key can't be removed?? it is just stuck in there. If you press again without the clutch depressed it puts the car in ignition mode, if you press again with the clutch in - the car starts again. You continue this cycle until eventually the car releases the key.
I may be forced to read the manual !
With the Volvo XC70 you placed the key into the slot and it pulled it in.. and you then pressed the starter button. The engine would then start and stop with this button, to remove the key you just pressed it.
With the Audi key, pushing the key into the slot actually starts the engine if you have your foot on the clutch. To stop the engine, press the key again. However often the key can't be removed?? it is just stuck in there. If you press again without the clutch depressed it puts the car in ignition mode, if you press again with the clutch in - the car starts again. You continue this cycle until eventually the car releases the key.
I may be forced to read the manual !
Saturday 11 October 2008
A4 Common Rail TDI Engine
Before I ordered the car I hadn't realised that Audi/VW were putting out some new engines into the market. I had already assumed that some form of common rail technology was used.
I have had several generations of Audi Tdi's.
My first was a 1996 A4 1.9 Tdi with a whopping 90hp. However it was a really decent motor and pulled very well, even on the autobahn it was pretty quick. I loved that car apart from the aircon never working. The engine noise was typically very dieselly.. with almost a hammering or nailing sound.
The next time with an Audi engine was a 2004 A3 with again the 1.9Tdi engine, but this time in a 105hp version. Very different sort of sound - more sporty and certainly an improvement. However still very much a diesel sound, particularly at low speed. Didn't match the smoothness of the 5 and 6 cylinder diesel engines.
Then in 2007 I had one of the A4's with the newer 2.0Tdi. This had something like 136hp (for tax reasons). It was decent, if a bit heavy on fuel initially and had these sudden situations of running out of oil. It's the only car I have had to drive with a bottle of oil tucked in the boot - since it would happen almost instantly.
Now the new A4 comes with this 2.0Tdi engine set at 143hp utilising a common rail. The engine is stunningly refined. You simply don't hear it. In fact what you tend to hear is the faint turbo whistle - as you remember from some of the first turbo cars.
What I find strange is to select the gears because you don't really know where the engine is in terms of performance. In some respects it feels a bit flat in torque and power low down in the rev range - yet when you start to accelerate from that point, the car is suggesting you select an even higher gear (for economy) and you don't think the car will be able to pull - but it does. The gearing is certainly better than my previous A4 which had a very short first gear and there was then a hole to 2nd gear. Now the first gear feels a bit longer and to a certain extent gives you a bit of a fright when pulling away from a junction - as if the car will bog down even in first.
Anyway, so far, loving it.
I have had several generations of Audi Tdi's.
My first was a 1996 A4 1.9 Tdi with a whopping 90hp. However it was a really decent motor and pulled very well, even on the autobahn it was pretty quick. I loved that car apart from the aircon never working. The engine noise was typically very dieselly.. with almost a hammering or nailing sound.
The next time with an Audi engine was a 2004 A3 with again the 1.9Tdi engine, but this time in a 105hp version. Very different sort of sound - more sporty and certainly an improvement. However still very much a diesel sound, particularly at low speed. Didn't match the smoothness of the 5 and 6 cylinder diesel engines.
Then in 2007 I had one of the A4's with the newer 2.0Tdi. This had something like 136hp (for tax reasons). It was decent, if a bit heavy on fuel initially and had these sudden situations of running out of oil. It's the only car I have had to drive with a bottle of oil tucked in the boot - since it would happen almost instantly.
Now the new A4 comes with this 2.0Tdi engine set at 143hp utilising a common rail. The engine is stunningly refined. You simply don't hear it. In fact what you tend to hear is the faint turbo whistle - as you remember from some of the first turbo cars.
What I find strange is to select the gears because you don't really know where the engine is in terms of performance. In some respects it feels a bit flat in torque and power low down in the rev range - yet when you start to accelerate from that point, the car is suggesting you select an even higher gear (for economy) and you don't think the car will be able to pull - but it does. The gearing is certainly better than my previous A4 which had a very short first gear and there was then a hole to 2nd gear. Now the first gear feels a bit longer and to a certain extent gives you a bit of a fright when pulling away from a junction - as if the car will bog down even in first.
Anyway, so far, loving it.
Friday 10 October 2008
New Audi A4 Avant has arrived.
As expected, the Audi was delivered to my home.
Initial first impressions are good, certainly looks smart with it's meteor grey coat of paint. Also feels and looks a lot bigger than my previous A4 Avant.. though considerably smaller than the XC70. It is certainly a much prettier car than the Volvo. The front and nose clearly are inspired from the A5 and possibly the R8.
The car came with a half tank of fuel, and my first run out was to take the delivery driver to the station a few miles away. I was surprised that the average fuel consumption was 30mpg, since I was very gentle with the car.
The steering feels a lot heavier than the Volvo and Jaguar X type I am using at the moment. I guess this is just something to get used to. It reminds me more of the BMW I had in the past. The wheel is not as chunky as I thought it would be, in fact it is quite a large steering wheel. I suspect this is part of the dash layout. However coming to the dash, I have never realised how the speedo would be calibrated. Incredibly only the initial 1/3rd of the dash covers the legal speed limit in the UK.. the next 1/3rd covers the illegal speed that probably the car can reach.. and then the last 3rd represents both the illegal and unobtainable speed. I used to be impressed when a car said it could do 120mph when it's top speed was 105mph, but this is ridiculous. Also it's in increments of 20mph, so 30mph - a key speed figure for UK driving is hardly noticeable at 7pm on the speedo clock.
The bluetooth hooked up well, didn't need the manual for that. The delivery guy told me the code of 1234. However the iPod.. again Audi, the iPod. How can you continue to cock this up.
My previous A4 was bought with iPod as an optional extra system. However despite being able to directly plug the iPod into the cars music system, the functionality was next to useless - since no information could be displayed on the cars screen. This time, despite ordering the £200 RRP option of iPod interface - you need to go back to Audi and buy a connecting lead !!! How can it be the previous car connected, when I ordered the exactly same option with Volvo they manage to include a cable.. but Audi, well they just seem to enjoy pulling your pants down at the dealer. So trip back to the dealer (what was the point of having the car delivered) to buy the £30 lead. Yes £30 for a lead that costs at best £5?? At least I had the entertainment of listening to the service manage quote somebody for fixing a bumper that was scratched. He suggested a full respray would be needed, at a cost of...
wait for it...
£6000 !!
There was some quite colourful language from the customer at that point.
Not yet read the manual. Almost don't want to read it, to know about all of the options I didn't order with the car.
Initial first impressions are good, certainly looks smart with it's meteor grey coat of paint. Also feels and looks a lot bigger than my previous A4 Avant.. though considerably smaller than the XC70. It is certainly a much prettier car than the Volvo. The front and nose clearly are inspired from the A5 and possibly the R8.
The car came with a half tank of fuel, and my first run out was to take the delivery driver to the station a few miles away. I was surprised that the average fuel consumption was 30mpg, since I was very gentle with the car.
The steering feels a lot heavier than the Volvo and Jaguar X type I am using at the moment. I guess this is just something to get used to. It reminds me more of the BMW I had in the past. The wheel is not as chunky as I thought it would be, in fact it is quite a large steering wheel. I suspect this is part of the dash layout. However coming to the dash, I have never realised how the speedo would be calibrated. Incredibly only the initial 1/3rd of the dash covers the legal speed limit in the UK.. the next 1/3rd covers the illegal speed that probably the car can reach.. and then the last 3rd represents both the illegal and unobtainable speed. I used to be impressed when a car said it could do 120mph when it's top speed was 105mph, but this is ridiculous. Also it's in increments of 20mph, so 30mph - a key speed figure for UK driving is hardly noticeable at 7pm on the speedo clock.
The bluetooth hooked up well, didn't need the manual for that. The delivery guy told me the code of 1234. However the iPod.. again Audi, the iPod. How can you continue to cock this up.
My previous A4 was bought with iPod as an optional extra system. However despite being able to directly plug the iPod into the cars music system, the functionality was next to useless - since no information could be displayed on the cars screen. This time, despite ordering the £200 RRP option of iPod interface - you need to go back to Audi and buy a connecting lead !!! How can it be the previous car connected, when I ordered the exactly same option with Volvo they manage to include a cable.. but Audi, well they just seem to enjoy pulling your pants down at the dealer. So trip back to the dealer (what was the point of having the car delivered) to buy the £30 lead. Yes £30 for a lead that costs at best £5?? At least I had the entertainment of listening to the service manage quote somebody for fixing a bumper that was scratched. He suggested a full respray would be needed, at a cost of...
wait for it...
£6000 !!
There was some quite colourful language from the customer at that point.
Not yet read the manual. Almost don't want to read it, to know about all of the options I didn't order with the car.
Thursday 9 October 2008
Car Expected Tomorrow Morning
Normally I would be pretty excited about getting a new car, however I am a bit ambivalent to this one. Yes it's a nice car, but is it really going to be something I will admire and enjoy to own. Not sure. To be fair I didn't even test drive it. Interesting point, nobody from Audi have ever called me back on this topic. I called Audi (Derby) for a test drive, thought I had arranged something - only to find when arriving at the dealership a sort of apathy and dis-interest in selling cars and offering test drives. I asked for a price, they just offered the catalogue price and even though I was in a position to place an order if I wanted to.. they were not prepared to give their lowest price unless I committed to place an order. This isn't the way I work. I didn't call them back and obviously they are far too busy to call me back. It's not the first time Audi dealerships have left me a bit cold. I was looking for an A3 last year for my wife, and almost the same story. They felt they had enough business to not particularly chase the sale.
The dealerships don't even have the cars in the showroom you are looking to buy. Audi Derby had 2 R8's, an RS6, A3 Cab, , A4 quattro etc. What happened to a simple A3 or A4 or A6?
So the car was finally sourced via a friend from Audi (Leeds). With a very significant discount that was supported by the dealer. The only point was that the car was already built and I couldn't choose any further options. There was a choice of colour and I went for the Meteor Pearl.
The dealer called today and talked me through the delivery process since it is coming to my house. It should have a half tank of diesel, so let's see.
The dealerships don't even have the cars in the showroom you are looking to buy. Audi Derby had 2 R8's, an RS6, A3 Cab, , A4 quattro etc. What happened to a simple A3 or A4 or A6?
So the car was finally sourced via a friend from Audi (Leeds). With a very significant discount that was supported by the dealer. The only point was that the car was already built and I couldn't choose any further options. There was a choice of colour and I went for the Meteor Pearl.
The dealer called today and talked me through the delivery process since it is coming to my house. It should have a half tank of diesel, so let's see.
Sunday 5 October 2008
Audi A4 Avant 2.0 Tdi
My last car was a Volvo, it was the new XC70.
Full details of that car can be found here.
http://volvoxc70review.blogspot.com/
and also here
www.carfun.org
unfortunately the car didn't really live up to expectations, and after significant damage in flooding it was sent to salvage.
I had to find a quick replacement, and since my previous car was an Audi A4 Avant (last model) I went back to something I was both familiar with and also very satisfied with.
Full details of that car can be found here.
http://volvoxc70review.blogspot.com/
and also here
www.carfun.org
unfortunately the car didn't really live up to expectations, and after significant damage in flooding it was sent to salvage.
I had to find a quick replacement, and since my previous car was an Audi A4 Avant (last model) I went back to something I was both familiar with and also very satisfied with.
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