8 replies to this topic

[N1CKTDV6]

I have now had the Audi for a little over 2 years and I have to say how impressed I am with the overall performace.  After 3 discoveries (300series, TD5 & D3) we wanted a saloon car.  We looked at lots of options, if Skoda had done the Superb 4x4 with a larger engine that too would have been on the list, however we narrowed it too the VW Phaeton Tdi, BMW 530/535d, Mercedes E270/280&320cdi or an Audi A6 3.0tdi.

When we drove all three the BMW shone out as the car to have, but I was left a little disappointed in the dashboard and iDrive.  The dealer guided me to the 'Bismarck' A8 and I was bowled over by a number of things.  Build quality; how could this feel so much better than an A6, all the gadgets you could ever wish for and in the back of my mind I was nervous moving away from 4wd - and the A8 gave me that too.  Also air suspension and "towing mode".

Test drive complete we picked the car up a week later and had the towbar fitted.  Solo performance was good but as ever I wanted a little more so a remap of the car was done taking it from 233BHP to an impressive 310BHP, more important was the new torque firgure of 680Nm......let towing battle commence !

On the road it behaves perfectly, towing is a pleasure and there is little difference between this and my Disco 3 (also remapped to 650Nm).  If anything the Audi is better on tarmac.  The real test was on a wet, grassy and mudd rally field....where the Quattro system was to show it's pedigree....where an Isuzu Trooper didn't get, I did; and not a wheel spin in sight...a few lights on the dash to tell me it's doing its job was all that happened...so it then had my approval on a wet rally field, which is important to me.

After 2 years and 30,000 miles history tells me that I usually now look for a new car.....but not this time.  I still get a smile from ear to ear when I drive it, it still looks stunning and to be honest I can't see a car that I would say "I'll chop the Audi in for that"....it performs beautifully solo, a real luxury cruiser, comfortable, safe, solid and reliable.  Towing it's a relaxing affair.

[RogerL]

You like it then !

On a mundane note, what tyres do you have on? Many tarmac-orientated 4wd saloon/estates can't hack it on muddy fields, but only due to the tyre choice but as your A8 clearly can, what boots does it have?

[N1CKTDV6]

I really do like it !!

It has Pirelli P-Zero's....275-30-20's...so not what you would call an off road tyre but they all have at least 6mm on them so they cope very well..

[Jbeans]

We had an Audi 100 2.6 V6  and we loved it!  Our lad has the A4 1.9tdi with sports kit, and we love that too! One day we will get another Audi, probably the A6 again!

[andyn]

Can't beat an Audi...best cars on the market by a (country) mile in my book.

On my third now, the "80" was good, the A4 better & the A6 better still.

[ianb]

Nick

Who did the remap?

Ian

[N1CKTDV6]

Ian,

I'll inbox you the contact details.  It's a different guy who did the D3 I owned, if you want your RR doing I can recommend a really thorough firm; Offroad essentials, they are LR specialist and TorqTune dealer...

Nick

[ianb]

Nick

I just wondered if it was MRC as my son owns it.

The RR has got 315bhp and 700Nm of torque as standard so do not really need any more.

My son has offered to reamp it so might give it a go, would be interesting to get it on his rolling road just to see what it is giving.

Ian

[N1CKTDV6]

only just seen this reply....have been speaking to a TDV8 RRS owner who 'claims'  358BHP and 880Nm....I cannot guarantee this though he had no reason to lie to me !  When it's at that level surely it's as economic (including cost of purchase) to go with a supercharged version ???

For now I am very happy with the A8.....though at somepoint if I sell a kidney I could be tempted for a V12 diesel Q7....!!!