I'm toying with the notion of buying an Audi A4

[Globalti]

My attitude to cars is heavily influenced by the cult for sporty German saloons, which is very prevalent here in the mill towns. They are usually driven as if the driver has just got off Grand Theft Auto. If you take issue with the driver you'll just get the finger shown you. This is one of the reasons why we can't wait to sell up and move to the emptiness of Scotland.

 

[Dec66]

Plenty of food for thought here...

Incidentally, I remembered that a few years ago, at the bottom of the hill into Lewisham from Greenwich, I had a near miss with a Ferrari.

Namely, Nick Ferrari, LBC person.

Clad in all-black, like a porcine Johnny Cash tribute act, he decided that he was too important to look left or right as he stepped out onto the road in front of me, causing me to swerve around him.

Evidently he was also too important to use the pelican crossing less than 20 yards away from him.

I was on my Mongoose and was travelling at quite a lick, so he would have felt it if I hadn't had swerved.

 

[DCBassman]

I've recently had two German company cars. I've came from Japanese cars most of my life, so I'm slightly underwhelmed by them. Prior to having these I owned a Mitsubishi Colt and a mint 2006 MX5 2.0 litre sport. The biggest disappointment was a 2017 Mercedes Benz E220D AMG Line estate. It was a nice place to be I guess, the seats were fantastic, and that is a main part of a car. But I had the use of 2017 Nissan Navara prior to this and this had fantastic seats also, with superb lumbar support. The Mercedes is a nice looking car, it was huge, too big. Pretty dull to drive, not that quick, it handled pretty well for a big car, but you were totally disconnected from it. It also had a terrible squeak from the rear parcel cover. I rectified this by stuffing a piece of packaging foam between the parcel cover and it's mounting, I had to put it back in every time I removed this. Everybody to their own, I just didn't get it at all. It was like driving around in an armchair all the time. If I was buying this type of car I'd buy a Skoda Superb, I'm sure it would be better, the 2.0 litre VAG CR Diesel engine is superb. The rear run-flat Pirelli tyres were £265 a corner on the E-Class, they lasted 11,000 miles and I didn't drive it hard. I think I was expecting something amazing, more so driving a Mitsubishi Colt. What a huge anti-climax that car was, the badge means nothing at all to me with cars.

My current car is a 2018 VW Golf GTD. It's a lot better car in every respect. It's well built, goes really well for a diesel and handles very well. It's still a slightly vague/disconnected driving experience coming from an MX5, but that's to be expected. The engine is a belter, I don't know how reliable it is and I don't care because it's not mine. It's not as good on fuel as the 9 speed Merc was, but then again it's a way better drivers car, Audi/VW are nice cars, but overpriced. But then again it will retain more if you sell it. The Golf GTD is a Skoda Octavia VRS as far as I can tell, minus the boot, that's what I'd buy if it was my own.

I personally wouldn't buy a Mercedes, I think VAG are better cars. That's just from what I've owned and being a passenger in. I'm sure a 3 Series BMW Tourer would be a better drive than an A4 Avant though. Just depends what you look for in a car. I don't know what's the most reliable. I've read some bad things about German cars. I've never had any issues with Japanese cars.

The closest pass I've ever had on a bike was from a BMW 3 Series, probably coincidence though... I certainly don't think German car drivers are any worse than others..

If you've got the cash buy what you want. I just think it's a total fallacy that German cars are superior to other brands. Ford's impress me these days, as does my mother's Hyundai I10, what a cracking well built, excellent drive that is...

Now, I drive an (old) E Class estate. I was recently a delivery driver for MB. I *like* the idea of a car that transports one well, but is not a driver's car, whatever that is. Same with bikes. Relaxed, comfortable. Remove the concept of the "driver's " car and you've taken the aggression out of of a lot of drivers. To make a point: the recent announcement about speed-controlled cars had people saying they'd buy older, uncontrolled motors to avoid such control. That tells you all you need to know about driving problems.
Like it or not, it's probably time we stopped enjoying our cars quite so much, for everyone's sake.

 

[gbb]

One thing that would concern me (if thats the right word) is it having a 1.4 ltr turbo. It seems such a small engine for a big car.
Based only on two things ive heard/seen.
My MIL has a Clio, 1 ltr turbo i think, very sporty, very nice looking if you like that kind of thing....but she says you can't get up any appreciable hills without dropping gears...it lacks torque i guess she means.
My daughter has a 1.4 turbo Astra GTC...lovely car, she loves it....but her husband who is a garage mechanic and a bit of a petrolhead.....says yes, they do lack a bit of torque when you need it. But equally, i have a non turbo 1.6 Astra SRI, the GTC is so much better.
Very limited input i know, it'd be interesting to see if anyone agrees (or disagrees) based on real life experiences/

 

[Globalti]

I absolutely HATE the car-tuning business and TV programmes and magazines that glamourise speed. Cars are deadly weapons and it's only because everybody has grown up loving cars that they aren't treated in the same way as firearms in the UK, strict controls on purchase and use and very little in the media except for those with a specialist interest.

Civic and legal systems in the UK were founded on trust at a time when most people could still be trusted, on the whole. Over the last 30 years society has had to remove the trust element and replace it with laws, rules and procedures. The increasing reliance on technology in passports is one example. It's time the same levels of technology were applied to driving; you ought not to be allowed to drive your car until you have been identified as the legitimate driver and your insurance and criminal record checked.

 

[keithmac]

List of drivers reported since 21 November.. notably absent make of car ?

21.11.18 Smart Close pass
22.11.18 Vauxhall Frosted up
22.11.18 BMW Bend pass
23.11.18 BMW close pass
23.11.18 Red van Bend pass
03.12.18 Fiat Tailgate
07.12.18 Volvo Tailgate dark wet
17.12.18 VW Close pass
18.12.18 Peugeot Close pass
24.12.18 Renault tanker Close pass
02.01.09 VW slow CP
09.01.19 Van and Kia Close pass
11.01.19 Ford Pickup close pass cutting in
18.01.19 Vauxhall MGIF failed overtake
06.02.19 Citroen van light attack no tax
12.02.19 Nissan Juke mobile phone use
14.02.19 Mercedes mobile phone use
21.02.19 Seat Overtake on blind bend
07.03.19 Jaguar Close pass
12.03.19 HGV Close pass
14.03.19 Mercedes van Close pass
27.03.19 Transit Van Close pass
15.04.19 Honda phone abuse
15.04.19 BMW M3 close pass
17.04.19 BMW overtake on blind bend
17.04.19 Vauxhall Zafira overtake on blind bend
17.04.19 Ford Fiesta overtake into oncoming traffic

Sounds like my cycle to work on a morning..

 

[keithmac]

As its a 1.4 TSI, I assume its a used car, very nice they are too, our next door neighbour has a S line Sport Estate in grey.

But for anybody considering a new VAG 1.5 TSI you should be aware of this.

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/o...-acknowledges-problem-with-15-tsi-evo-engine/

That will just be an ecu update with a new fuel map, running too lean when cold to grab another 1/2 mpg..

 

[DCBassman]

@gbb
My engine has 369 lb/ft of torque. It can climb walls with little effort. Not otherwise a fast car despite its size/power. It just burbles effortlessly and gets me where I need to go.
Having to change down and mash it up hills is what you do on a bike. If you must use a car, and occasionally I must, better to take as much stress as possible out of the whole process. But then I'm a VERY staid driver, it must be said...

 

[DCBassman]

I absolutely HATE the car-tuning business and TV programmes and magazines that glamourise speed. Cars are deadly weapons and it's only because everybody has grown up loving cars that they aren't treated in the same way as firearms in the UK, strict controls on purchase and use and very little in the media except for those with a specialist interest.

Civic and legal systems in the UK were founded on trust at a time when most people could still be trusted, on the whole. Over the last 30 years society has had to remove the trust element and replace it with laws, rules and procedures. The increasing reliance on technology in passports is one example. It's time the same levels of technology were applied to driving; you ought not to be allowed to drive your car until you have been identified as the legitimate driver and your insurance and criminal record checked.

Exactly. They should be a tool, not a toy.

 

[Dave7]

Out of the last ten near misses I've had, which go back to the start of last year, eight have involved Audis.

The other two were a Fiat 500 (which was the closest I've had to being killed out of the ten), and a van.

Bl**dy hell... 10 near misses in one year!!! Remind me never to go cycling with you

 

[keithmac]

I used to have an A4 and it was a cracking car.

I am test driving a Q5 tomorrow- and i’m almost sold on buying it already.

It’s not the car that’s the issue just the tube driving it.

Let me know what you think about the Q5, it's on our radar as next potential tow car!.

 

[Dec66]

Bl**dy hell... 10 near misses in one year!!! Remind me never to go cycling with you

16 months, be fair.

Lots of Audis round here

ETA while I think on; of the ten, four were all at the same spot. South London people will be familiar with the new double roundabout setup at the top of Crystal Palace Park Road. I go up there, or up Westwood Hill, almost every morning, Mon-Fri.

The first roundabout is no issue. The second one, at which I turn right to go down Fountain Drive, is the danger spot. On four occasions since the start of last year, someone has pulled out on me when I've been turning right, with me having priority over them.

All four were Audis (three A3's and an A4).

 

[Markymark]

Plenty of food for thought here...

Incidentally, I remembered that a few years ago, at the bottom of the hill into Lewisham from Greenwich, I had a near miss with a Ferrari.

Namely, Nick Ferrari, LBC person.

Clad in all-black, like a porcine Johnny Cash tribute act, he decided that he was too important to look left or right as he stepped out onto the road in front of me, causing me to swerve around him.

Evidently he was also too important to use the pelican crossing less than 20 yards away from him.

I was on my Mongoose and was travelling at quite a lick, so he would have felt it if I hadn't had swerved.

To be fair to Nick Ferrari the effort required to move his fat head and fat neck is considerable.

 

[Venod]

That will just be an ecu update with a new fuel map, running too lean when cold to grab another 1/2 mpg..

Not that simple, have you read the replies.

also

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/446820-15-sel-first-gear-issue/?page=76

https://www.trocforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=266

Plus no doubt many others.

If it had been a simple remap VAG would have issued an update,its been going on for some time.

 

[keithmac]

Not that simple, have you read the replies.

also

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/446820-15-sel-first-gear-issue/?page=76

https://www.trocforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=266

Plus no doubt many others.

If it had been a simple remap VAG would have issued an update,its been going on for some time.

Will have a look in a bit. The remap will have to pass Euro6 emission criteria etc so not just a knock it up and pass it round reflash.

I bet any tuner worth his salt could have it mapped out in an hour or two, but VAG wouldn't pay for it unfortunately so its down to customer..