I'm in the midst of researching for my first car and I have greatly enjoyed reading the contents of this forum. I'm looking at a '00 A4 2.8Q with a manual transmission. I realize that this is a very nice car, but I have read many reports (early production models) on a very long clutch take-up and average to below-average brakes. Has AoA done anything to remedy these 'quirks', or are automotive journalists just biased toward pure-performance oriented machines. Any realworld experience with the braking and clutch/gearbox system (or the A4 2.8 in general) would be greatly appreciated. Email or message responses would be great.

thank you,
Dan

well.... I'm not sure what you mean about "long take up". If you mean long travel IMHO all clutches are different, you get used to it as you would anything unique to different cars. If you're worried about the "feel" of it, thats also better than any other car I've owned (not driven). I've had a hodgepodge of Japanese cars and a wad of VWs, the last being a GTI VR6, whitch was a blast to drive but the clutch was hokey. The only car I have experienced with a superior clutch is a bimmer, its a different animal. Try driving the car. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Test drove a 99 2.8 manual and thought the reports were right on - clutch engaged seemed to be almost at the end of the pedal's travel My 99.5 2.8 feels "normal" - much different than I remember the demo.

RPF
99.5 2.8 Avant QMS

I am sure I am one of the people on this forum who contributed to the brake bashing. However, note that if you drive like a normal person, the brakes are more than adequate. Stock Audi brakes saved my butt more than once, often pulling 240-0 km/h stops without a sign of fade ('86 A100, '98 A6). The only grief people seem to have is the wet braking problem, which indeed seems to be not so good.

I personally fried two sets of pads on my 98.5 30v because I take it to the track and as you can imagine the brakes get quite some abuse there. However, for the first 12k miles with stock brakes I had no problems, even in rain.

ANY clutch is "different" from any other. If you speak of a long grab, try a SAAB clutch, then you'll understand what that means. All cars are different, even one 2.8 to another... You'll get used to it very quickly.

- Stan
98.5 30vqmsx AMS

big enough. Rotor diameter and mass are key to fade resistance and you can only fit a certain size within a 15" package. My only gripe is the initial response is a little sensitive, but I have grown accustomed to it. The clutch on the other hand is just about perfect. My '93 Audi 90S had a heavy short throw clutch. Hill starts are easy and smoothness of engagement is wonderful. Best clutch I have ever driven, and that includes Hondas and a Mazda Miata.

I am biased, but the whole package is unbeatable.

Mark 99.5 1.8tqms Santorin Blue

a shorter heavier clutch, but have gotten used to this one and am quite happy with it (it's VERY easy to drive). As for the brakes, they're not as good as BMW's, but they're better than most. I demand a lot more from my brakes than the average driver and have no plans to upgrad these until I wear them out. They're good enough that in most emergency stopping situations you will have to worry more about getting rearended by someone with less stopping power than about stopping in time.

Regards,
Rodney

'99 A4 1.8tqms