My New Car

[MrH]

Thanks, man. Confirms my initial impressions. FWIW it's easy to unplug the soundaktor if you're interested - see YouTube bids - something I'd probably do.

I'll wait till the new S4 hits the lots but initial reviews say it's good but not great (esp. that no M/T is offered). I read one review that said that it didn't have much on the A4. Faster, sure, but the A4's DSG was preferred.

What about the new A4 with a manual?  Is that too slow?

[12,000 RPM]

What about the new A4 with a manual?  Is that too slow?

I can't see how; auto version is every bit as fast as the G. A 13 second sedan that "only" makes 252 HP and gets 31 MPG on the highway

I feel like the Golf R would be way more fun to drive though.

[BimmerM3]

Thanks, man. Confirms my initial impressions. FWIW it's easy to unplug the soundaktor if you're interested - see YouTube bids - something I'd probably do.

I'll wait till the new S4 hits the lots but initial reviews say it's good but not great (esp. that no M/T is offered). I read one review that said that it didn't have much on the A4. Faster, sure, but the A4's DSG was preferred.

My dad just got a brand new A4. The DCT is amazing. I didn't think downshifts that quick and smooth were possible.

That said, the S4's transmission has been pretty well reviewed from what I've seen, despite being a traditional torque converter style.

[MrH]

My dad just got a brand new A4. The DCT is amazing. I didn't think downshifts that quick and smooth were possible.

That said, the S4's transmission has been pretty well reviewed from what I've seen, despite being a traditional torque converter style.

How does he like the whole virtual cockpit?  That's the biggest reason to get an Audi these days.  The LCD gauges and interior are awesome.

[GoCougs]

The new A4 is not offered with a manual that I can see from Audi's build website.

The new A4 punches above its weight because of the DSG, particularly launch control. In every day driving such as from a roll or not using LC the G or the rest of the V6 poser class will walk it.

The best of what I see about the B9 S4 slushie is "almost can't tell it's a slushie." Thing is with the new S4 Audi seems to have made it a A4+ and why reviews have been sorta lackluster. The B8 S4 offered a significant experience differentiation over the B8 A4.

[MrH]

The new A4 is not offered with a manual that I can see from Audi's build website.

The new A4 punches above its weight because of the DSG, particularly launch control. In every day driving such as from a roll or not using LC the G or the rest of the V6 poser class will walk it.

The best of what I see about the B9 S4 slushie is "almost can't tell it's a slushie." Thing is with the new S4 Audi seems to have made it a A4+ and why reviews have been sorta lackluster. The B8 S4 offered a significant experience differentiation over the B8 A4.

It's not on the build page yet, but it's coming.  They have a press release out there talking about it.

[GoCougs]

Oh, interesting, that is notable.

[12,000 RPM]

I'm a bit surprised you are going with a turbo motor.... why the change? Also what about the Q50 3.0T?

[FoMoJo]

I'm a bit surprised you are going with a turbo motor.... why the change? Also what about the Q50 3.0T?

Surprising pleased with the 2.0T (EcoBoost) motor in the Discovery Sport.  Excellent throttle response and delightful surge at 25k and beyond.  It's coupled with a 9 speed ZF transmission which complements it quite nicely.

[SJ_GTI]

IMHO I would take a 3-series or ATS over an A4.

That being said if you are accepting an automatic I would take an S3 over all the above.

[SJ_GTI]

Would Gougs consider the new Alfa Romeo? Also automatic only unfortunately, but available with AWD and supposedly the chassis is very good.

[GoCougs]

The Q50 is not a very good car and its slushie AT is awful, and these days pretty much all motors that aren't ancient (Lexus 3.5L) are forced induction.

[GoCougs]

At present the only automaker I'll seriously consider that isn't Japanese is VWAG.

[SJ_GTI]

At present the only automaker I'll seriously consider that isn't Japanese is VWAG.

I think I just heard Char's head explode.

[BimmerM3]

Thing is with the new S4 Audi seems to have made it a A4+ and why reviews have been sorta lackluster. The B8 S4 offered a significant experience differentiation over the B8 A4.

Part of that might be that they offer two versions of the 2.0T on the A4 now. So there'd be more of a difference between the base A4 (190HP) and the S4 than the old version, but less of a difference between the upgraded A4 (252HP) and the S4.

[MX793]

Surprising pleased with the 2.0T (EcoBoost) motor in the Discovery Sport.  Excellent throttle response and delightful surge at 25k and beyond.  It's coupled with a 9 speed ZF transmission which complements it quite nicely.

Unless your Disco is used, it's got the Ingenium engine.  They stopped using Ford motors after the 2015MY.

[BimmerM3]

How does he like the whole virtual cockpit?  That's the biggest reason to get an Audi these days.  The LCD gauges and interior are awesome.

Last time I talked to him he hadn't quite figured out how to configure it the way he wants to. In general, he thinks it's kinda cool, but certainly didn't buy the car just for that reason.

[12,000 RPM]

Would Gougs consider the new Alfa Romeo? Also automatic only unfortunately, but available with AWD and supposedly the chassis is very good.

That is a high risk proposition

[GoCougs]

IMHO I would take a 3-series or ATS over an A4.

That being said if you are accepting an automatic I would take an S3 over all the above.

3-series and ATS are out - reliability for both and and poor drive train for the latter (esp. slushie transmission).

I love the S3 too but the G is the absolute minimum for interior space for me, and on the stats the S3 is about its match, but it's some ~12" shorter than the G. I'll have to spend more time in it.

[68_427]

How does he like the whole virtual cockpit?  That's the biggest reason to get an Audi these days.  The LCD gauges and interior are awesome.

Audi has a red light timer as well.  It's a countdown showing how long until it turns green

[SVT_Power]

Audi has a red light timer as well.  It's a countdown showing how long until it turns green

I thought you were trolling, then I googled

[Raza]

Unless your Disco is used, it's got the Ingenium engine.  They stopped using Ford motors after the 2015MY.

I'm not sure they've switched over to the Ingenium line yet in the US. None of the specs changed on the car.

[12,000 RPM]

Audi has a red light timer as well.  It's a countdown showing how long until it turns green

How Sway???

[68_427]

How Sway???

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-audi-red-light-countdown-20160815-snap-story.html

[AutobahnSHO]

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-audi-red-light-countdown-20160815-snap-story.html

Dope. But full of problems. It's rare in (civilized) Europe that someone gets killed by a red light runner, even though the light adds yellow to red to tell you it's about to go green. Just like a dragstrip.  You can get moving right as it turns green.

Here that will mean an uptick in accidents as people start to go as soon as its green, as the idiots are still running reds.

[giant_mtb]

Pretty much all the lights I interact with already have visible timers...

[12,000 RPM]

Yea, timed lights have been in play for a long time now.

Plus you don't have to have a timed light to be able to time your launch. You can just watch the light for the crossing road.

[CJ]

IMHO I would take a 3-series or ATS over an A4.

That being said if you are accepting an automatic I would take an S3 over all the above.

Not sure you've ever been in an ATS, but it's terrible. Poor quality materials and atrocious build quality. Reliability is also pathetic. Let's take my CTS as an example. The interior driver door handle fell off at 9,000 miles. That's the second front door panel to have been replaced for poor build. The leather was delaminating from the passenger front door  around 7,000 miles. It's pathetic and quite a shame since it's a delight to drive.

[SJ_GTI]

Not sure you've ever been in an ATS, but it's terrible. Poor quality materials and atrocious build quality. Reliability is also pathetic. Let's take my CTS as an example. The interior driver door handle fell off at 9,000 miles. That's the second front door panel to have been replaced for poor build. The leather was delaminating from the passenger front door  around 7,000 miles. It's pathetic and quite a shame since it's a delight to drive.

Had an ATS as a rental a few years ago. I thought the interior was fine for the most part. Main complaint was the capacitive touch controls. Backseat was a bit smaller than the S4 I owned at the time, but the ATS was able to accommodate 4 of us and our luggage.

[AutobahnSHO]

Pretty much all the lights I interact with already have visible timers...

How do you know if the left-arrow won't come on??

The German system is foolproof, except for red-light runners.