fiveeighty
30-07-2008, 02:51 PM
We haven't really had a thread on the drive of the car for a while, especially from an owner so maybe I could start one.
I'm in one for the next week, I got it last night, an Auto on 19" OEM rims in white with black interior, and last night I wasn't really blown away but I am fast coming around to it.
The engine is good, doesn't have the heavy top end of the RS4, nor the sound, doesn't have the force of the V10 in the S8 either but it gets along really well and like most Audi's sports models it seems to do it's best work in second gear which is for some reason almost slingshot like. It's good.
This one has drive select and the dynamic setting should just be called hard. The Automatic setting I think is pretty good - at least on the drive to and from work through South Tokyo - and I'm happy to leave it in that but the Dynamic setting is really something for a good hard drive on a windy road or a track. Which is cool.
That is something nice about the Drive select system. It gives you options on transmission, suspension and steering where "comfort" is like an old mole on all 3, "automatic" is normal mode for transmission fast steering reaction and a pretty good suspension setting which isn't too soft but not jarring, and Dynamic which is basically what is usually "S" mode for the transmission (the transmission only has A and the "+/-") lightning response for steering and the suspension seems to turn into 4 steel rods connecting the body and the wheels.
Nice thing is the Individual mode where you can set a combination of those things through the MMI: So I kept all except the Suspension in Dynamic and put that to Auto. Then it's really good.
The transmission is alright for me: but that's in contrast to the S8 which in great in A mode and violent in S mode (like the S6 it has a ridiculously aggressive downshift pattern almost like the R8 ): S mode in S5 is perfect, A mode is perhaps more of a city mode. I kind of miss the kick down to S also on the stick as the Drive select Button isn't as easy but it does have the paddles though so it might just mean using them: I've not used paddles recently as the S8 doesn't need them. maybe here I'm noticing the torque difference more.
Have tried the manual before and loved that: would be interesting to see the new S-tronic once that hits the streets coming soon.
Thing which is most impressive though is the steering: it's absolutely brilliant, it really has that go kart feel in the dynamic mode and even in Auto mode it's great. I'd almost say it's as good or better than the R8. Really amazing. To the point where I'd almst say the car is at another level even to RS4: so dominant is the impression it creates. Extremely precise and very fast.
In Japan they are only offering the Automatic at the moment so there was no choice in it, but the sales of the car in Japan are off the hook as the car is apparently sold out this year and dealers can't get more production, can already also see them around on the roads.
And I can understand why, compared to the RS4 I had some months back it's not quite as full on: but it's a completely more relaxed feeling to drive without being slow, and of course it is probably the best looking car on the market at the moment. A lot of magazines were quick to bag it when compared to the RS4 but I think they underestimated how important comfort is when people use these cars as daily drivers. As good as the RS4 is it's not going to compete with this as a daily driver especially in a city like Tokyo where you do get stuck in horrible traffic jams from time to time.
Definite winner from me but can't wait for that steering to make it's way through the rest of the range - it's absolutely stunning.
I'm in one for the next week, I got it last night, an Auto on 19" OEM rims in white with black interior, and last night I wasn't really blown away but I am fast coming around to it.
The engine is good, doesn't have the heavy top end of the RS4, nor the sound, doesn't have the force of the V10 in the S8 either but it gets along really well and like most Audi's sports models it seems to do it's best work in second gear which is for some reason almost slingshot like. It's good.
This one has drive select and the dynamic setting should just be called hard. The Automatic setting I think is pretty good - at least on the drive to and from work through South Tokyo - and I'm happy to leave it in that but the Dynamic setting is really something for a good hard drive on a windy road or a track. Which is cool.
That is something nice about the Drive select system. It gives you options on transmission, suspension and steering where "comfort" is like an old mole on all 3, "automatic" is normal mode for transmission fast steering reaction and a pretty good suspension setting which isn't too soft but not jarring, and Dynamic which is basically what is usually "S" mode for the transmission (the transmission only has A and the "+/-") lightning response for steering and the suspension seems to turn into 4 steel rods connecting the body and the wheels.
Nice thing is the Individual mode where you can set a combination of those things through the MMI: So I kept all except the Suspension in Dynamic and put that to Auto. Then it's really good.
The transmission is alright for me: but that's in contrast to the S8 which in great in A mode and violent in S mode (like the S6 it has a ridiculously aggressive downshift pattern almost like the R8 ): S mode in S5 is perfect, A mode is perhaps more of a city mode. I kind of miss the kick down to S also on the stick as the Drive select Button isn't as easy but it does have the paddles though so it might just mean using them: I've not used paddles recently as the S8 doesn't need them. maybe here I'm noticing the torque difference more.
Have tried the manual before and loved that: would be interesting to see the new S-tronic once that hits the streets coming soon.
Thing which is most impressive though is the steering: it's absolutely brilliant, it really has that go kart feel in the dynamic mode and even in Auto mode it's great. I'd almost say it's as good or better than the R8. Really amazing. To the point where I'd almst say the car is at another level even to RS4: so dominant is the impression it creates. Extremely precise and very fast.
In Japan they are only offering the Automatic at the moment so there was no choice in it, but the sales of the car in Japan are off the hook as the car is apparently sold out this year and dealers can't get more production, can already also see them around on the roads.
And I can understand why, compared to the RS4 I had some months back it's not quite as full on: but it's a completely more relaxed feeling to drive without being slow, and of course it is probably the best looking car on the market at the moment. A lot of magazines were quick to bag it when compared to the RS4 but I think they underestimated how important comfort is when people use these cars as daily drivers. As good as the RS4 is it's not going to compete with this as a daily driver especially in a city like Tokyo where you do get stuck in horrible traffic jams from time to time.
Definite winner from me but can't wait for that steering to make it's way through the rest of the range - it's absolutely stunning.