MikeeB Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 After more than 3 years with my A3 3.2Q Sline, I've decided to get a *slightly* more family friendly car in the form of a A8 4.2 Q SE. (FSI on a 56) I was umm'ing and arrrr'ing for a fair while as to if to hold out for a sport model, but the deal on the table was good for the SE, so I've taken the plunge. Pick it up a week on Saturday. One of the really good things is that when I took it for a test drive I stuck the cruise on at my normal motorway speed and it was pretty much doing the same mpg as my A3. I guess this is down to the older engine and lack of FSi on the A3? Anyway, really looking forward to picking it, and just wondered if anyone had any pointers or thing to try/play with to make things even better? Cheers - Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figure11 Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Mike, Welcome to the forum. You car's far newer than mine so no advice from me. Just a warm welcome. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlot Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Is that the one from Lincoln Audi? Great value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlot Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Oh, and the FSI engine is better as its chain driven so no £1500 bill at five years old for a belts change. Also I found the sports seats to be pretty hard so don't be put off getting an SE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerXTP Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Mike, I've only been on this site for 2 weeks and everyone's been great. Stick around. Oh - I'm looking forward to the days when I can afford an 18 month old 4.2!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeeB Posted January 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 It is from Lincoln Audi. They had/have a good selection in and Chris who put the deal together was 2nd to none. Can't fault a sales man who throws you the keys to an A8 and says, 'take it for a drive' when he's never met you before. I did look at a 4.0TDi they had in, in fact, that's the car I drove to Lincoln to look at originally, but it didn't look right; we never even bothered getting the keys for it. So then the Mrs wonders off around the car park and finds the petrol one. I don't do enough miles to warrant paying a ~£5k premium for an oil burner so not an issue. I now need to look at fitting a towbar at some point. If such a thing exists, I want a detachable one that is hidden when not in use. (well the mount point and electrics). If I can't find such a thing, then I won't bother. RM120 - who said anything about being able to afford it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botang Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Hi Mike , the first thing to do is check that theres not one in the tool kit already, they are detachable you wouldnt even notice it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebw Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Chris Doughty at Lincoln Audi is a good egg. Gave me a great deal on a 4.2 tdi earlier this year and was very on the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fudge Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 I had a towbar/electrics fitted to my D3 4.0 TDi about 12 months ago. I was going to use an independent towbar specialist but after 2 hours work on the car they decided it was too difficult because of all the black boxes which needed to be disconnected the reconnected and the recoding the car would need. They did not try to charge me and I then went to my favourite dealer - Swindon Audi. As I recall the total cost for the factory towbar/electrics including labour was just over £1100 (ouch). If you opt for the continental electrics socket (as fitted at the factory) nothing can be seen from behind the car. I had the UK pattern twin sockets option which means that you can still just see one of the sockets when the hitch ball is removed and the twin socket mount is folded through 90 degrees. The continental pattern is not a problem because you can get an adapter cable from any good caravan dealer. Had I known I would probably have chosen that. However, the twin socket setup is hardly noticeable when folded. Out of interest, this was the first D3 towbar Swindon Audi had fitted and they told me they had made a loss on the job - it took them about twice as long as the factory recommended time. The 4.0 TDi makes a fearsome towcar all that torque and a six speed auto makes for effortless progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICKPSU Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 [ QUOTE ] Chris Doughty at Lincoln Audi is a good egg. Gave me a great deal on a 4.2 tdi earlier this year and was very on the ball. [/ QUOTE ] I 2nd that. Chris Doughty was great and sourced a W12 for me at an excellent price. I phoned around loads of dealers trading in my previous A8 against a W12 - He was the only sales guy that put some real effort into sourcing me one from Audi owned stock (Milton Keynes) to the specification I wanted. If anyone is looking to buy an A8, give him a call. I have had the W12 for 12 months now and just cant get enough of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alera Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Cool another w12 owner have you got any pics up on here mick ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeeB Posted January 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 I don't think you have enough things to play with on your car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibble1990 Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 Good move to the A8. However, I have several problems with my 1999 A3 1.6, the latest being that when I switch to main beam, the engine management system shuts the engine off for a split second, then resets itself. It also resets the clock and tripometer. Also, the hazard lights keep coming on, so I have to press the switch in and it goes off for a second, then comes back on, so I took the fuse out, which is not a good option, the passenger airbag light flashes too. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizbit Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 Wow, now that's what I call a thread revival / highjack! Welcome to TSN by the way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizbit Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 And probably best to post that in the A3 forum as not many people with A3's in here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsYcHe Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 Definitely worth posting in A3 forum, though sounds like a bad earth to me (or a fried ECU). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger.hooper7 Posted February 10, 2010 Report Share Posted February 10, 2010 Re: Moving from A3 to A8 just remember there a lot of boot when you reverse!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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