BMWBig6
12-09-2008, 01:33 PM
<u><b>Exterior:</b></u>
<b>Likes:</b>
- How the whole back end tapers like a cigar
- Aggressive rear haunches or "shoulders" (when viewed from behind, which is my favorite side of the car)
- Taillight illumination pattern/design (the smooth lenses themselves are kind of boring, and I actually prefer the standard lamps to LED dot-dot-dot-dot-dot pattern)
- Satin silver window trim and roof rails
- Gloss black B-pillar trim
- How the stock wheels fill out the wheel wells (width-wise)
- How low the sports suspension is (perfect for me)
- Door handles are larger than my TT's, and offer more finger clearance (less chance for fingernail scratches)
- "Unfinished" slash-cut exhaust tips (I know I'm in the minority here, but to me they look more serious and business-like than luxo-chrome tips with rolled lips; I'm not a fan of chrome in general)
- How Audi uses the same (or proportional) radius for every curve
- Thoughtful resting place for gas cap
<b>Disikes:</b>
- Side sills look good, but sure collect a lot of gunk
- Faux brake vents are a little goofy
- Faux rear diffuser vent, sign of the times I guess
- Being picky now, but some factory overspray is visible on undercarriage beneath rear diffuser
- Wheels are a PITA to clean (getting in between the mini-spokes)
<b>Undecided:</b>
- I'm amazed at how low/short the car is--parked side by side next to the TT, it appears to be only an inch taller, which I did not expect. Getting in and out is almost as difficult though. Didn't expect this either, but my seating and steering wheel positions probably exacerbate this.
<b>Other comments:</b>
I'm very pleased with the overall design of the car. The body is like a well-tailored suit over an athletic, muscular body. The slight rake in the front/rear stance looks purposeful too. The front is already looking a little too familiar to me, but the Avant's rear end is really the most distinctive and interesting part of the car to me. The silhouette and side profile of the car don't disappoint either, though from some angles the rounded nose almost looks to have too <i>little</i> overhang (if that's possible) as the grill and headlights recede and disappear around the front corner of the car.
<u><b>Interior:</b></u>
<b>Likes:</b>
- New car smell, though passengers have noted that it doesn't smell like they expected (perhaps due to Alcantara and less use of dead livestock? The smell is definitely different than the TT)
- S-line seats are beautiful and feel as good as they look
- Color DIS display between gauges with navigation prompts and selectable song list
- Contrary to other opinions expressed on here, I actually like the speedometer arrangement. The needle generally points at 9 o'clock or else I'm probably in trouble with the law. I'm used to using the digital speedo on the TT, but find I don't need it as much on this car.
- Backseat legroom seems acceptable, for how often I plan to use them; the rear seats are thankfully about as large as I expected
- B&O stereo sounds great, after a little fine tuning (though I would have appreciated a mid-range adjustment in addition to bass/treble, as I still feel like some frequencies are being under-represented or de-emphasized). Still need to optimize settings for DSP modes other than "Driver"
<b>Disikes:</b>
- Cabin is cozy, but perhaps a little narrower than I expected
- Mix-and-match incandescent cabin lights with LED footwell lights
- Not enough lateral support for upper body (side bolsters on seatback are too far apart, and should be adjustable like BMW's; seat bottoms offer enough support though)
- Factory floormats are a little underwhelming--replaced with all-weather mats and Premium woven floormats
- Sunglass storage compartment is a little snug and would probably not accommodate some frame designs
- More of a niggle, but the speaker bezel ring on the B&O reflects in the windshield in certain lighting conditions, kind of distracting
<b>Undecided:</b>
- Silver trim around gauges look alright to me, but maybe that's because they match the other silver trim better.
- Have no idea how the CD player sounds or functions, as I have not tried it yet (but it's probably similar to my TT's changer)
- Ceiling is a little low in the luggage compartment area due to gently sloping roof; don't know if it's going to be a problem yet, but it's just lower than I expected and I've already hit my head on the corner of the liftgate once, probably a reason NOT to get lowered sports suspension!
<b>Other comments:</b>
A handsome cabin and a happy place to be on extended drives. Dark color does show more dust though. Good execution that blends luxury, technology, and sportiness in balanced amounts.
<u><b>MMI:</b></u>
<b>Likes:</b>
- Rearview camera kicks ass!
- Control knob location by shifter falls right to hand
- Most functions are intuitively located (I said most, as I find the "SETUP" button confusing since it changes function based on your selected mode)
<b>Disikes:</b>
- Several second delay while waiting for AMI to power up and recognize USB devices
- Navigation is slow to scan nearby POI because it searches for everything within a 15 mile radius; by the time the list appears, you have already passed the exit for the closest match on your list
- Navigation categories for POI ("Special Destinations") could be broken down further. For example, "Shopping centers" should have further 2nd degree divisions, and "Restaurants" needs divisions by type/nationality
- Wish the onboard MMI Directory would automatically import contact addresses too (and not just phone numbers, and not put first and last name together in the Last Name field!)
- Wish the navigation voice volume had GALA too (so it gets louder as car vehicle speed increases).
- Wish the B&O remembered separate bass/treble settings between different DSP modes ("Driver," "All," "Front," "Rear,")
- Wish the MMI displayed more characters of song artist and title (in list view too, not just the popup detail data view), but in the end it plays the music I enjoy so that's not a big deal at all, but adjustable font size for all MMI menu screens would be a welcome addition
<b>Undecided:</b>
- Have not programmed any voice commands yet (nor have I done so in the TT either, haha)
<b>Other comments:</b>
The system does what I need it to do. It's a little clunky at times, but I'm sure my feelings will change as the controls become 2nd nature to me. I notice passengers and my wife are able to learn the system relatively quickly. Try that with BMW iDrive!
<u><b>Motoring:</b></u>
<b>Likes:</b>
- Tiptronic is very smooth, yet reacts immediately upon input
- Sport suspension in Auto mode is perfectly acceptable, and has better damping than TT which beats me up on bad roads
- Low-end thrust is delicious, and the motor has impeccable manners in around-town driving
- Very quiet inside the cabin
- Blind spot radar warnings are cool, but notice a couple falses from signs on roadside.
<b>Disikes:</b>
- The steering effort could be increased a tad more even in Dynamic mode, as I really like the heavy direct feel of the BMW 3-series without dynamic steering.
- Excessive brake dust: one stop and there is already a film on the wheels!
<b>Undecided:</b>
- MPG, too soon to tell
- Handling limits, haven't pushed very hard yet
- Engine responsiveness at higher RPM (still in the break-in period, ya know!)
- Almost too quiet?
<b>Other comments:</b>
Coming from a 12-second, 500-horsepower monster, I expected to be underwhelmed by the 2.0T's performance, but it has (so far) totally satisfied me zipping around town. I have not pushed it very hard yet, but plan to explore its capabilities and limits further over the next few thousand miles. I haven't even engaged Dynamic mode for more than a couple minutes at a time, so I'm eager to play around more with Drive Select too. For 95% of my driving, I think the B8 A4 will serve me just fine. It's the other 5% (spirited driving) that I'm withholding judgment on until I have more data. The 4-banger is definitely a smooth creature at idle. And friendly at the pump. And has been fun the few times I've let its hair down. I don't ever notice the transmission, which is how I like it. The paddle shifters work great, but the Tiptronic is obviously a little more numb than the TT's DSG. That's not to say that it's a slouch, you just don't feel much of what's going on, and if you don't pay attention to the RPM needle you might not even notice you've shifted (it's that smooth!).
Anyway, I hope this provides a fair and balanced perspective for those still on the fence. It's probably not evident from reading this review, but this <i>may</i> be the best car I've ever owned, I'm <i>that</i> happy with my purchase. I really enjoyed my BMWs too, so we'll see if the novelty wears off after the honeymoon is over. I'm still somewhat skeptical even though the car has pleased me well so far!
<b>Likes:</b>
- How the whole back end tapers like a cigar
- Aggressive rear haunches or "shoulders" (when viewed from behind, which is my favorite side of the car)
- Taillight illumination pattern/design (the smooth lenses themselves are kind of boring, and I actually prefer the standard lamps to LED dot-dot-dot-dot-dot pattern)
- Satin silver window trim and roof rails
- Gloss black B-pillar trim
- How the stock wheels fill out the wheel wells (width-wise)
- How low the sports suspension is (perfect for me)
- Door handles are larger than my TT's, and offer more finger clearance (less chance for fingernail scratches)
- "Unfinished" slash-cut exhaust tips (I know I'm in the minority here, but to me they look more serious and business-like than luxo-chrome tips with rolled lips; I'm not a fan of chrome in general)
- How Audi uses the same (or proportional) radius for every curve
- Thoughtful resting place for gas cap
<b>Disikes:</b>
- Side sills look good, but sure collect a lot of gunk
- Faux brake vents are a little goofy
- Faux rear diffuser vent, sign of the times I guess
- Being picky now, but some factory overspray is visible on undercarriage beneath rear diffuser
- Wheels are a PITA to clean (getting in between the mini-spokes)
<b>Undecided:</b>
- I'm amazed at how low/short the car is--parked side by side next to the TT, it appears to be only an inch taller, which I did not expect. Getting in and out is almost as difficult though. Didn't expect this either, but my seating and steering wheel positions probably exacerbate this.
<b>Other comments:</b>
I'm very pleased with the overall design of the car. The body is like a well-tailored suit over an athletic, muscular body. The slight rake in the front/rear stance looks purposeful too. The front is already looking a little too familiar to me, but the Avant's rear end is really the most distinctive and interesting part of the car to me. The silhouette and side profile of the car don't disappoint either, though from some angles the rounded nose almost looks to have too <i>little</i> overhang (if that's possible) as the grill and headlights recede and disappear around the front corner of the car.
<u><b>Interior:</b></u>
<b>Likes:</b>
- New car smell, though passengers have noted that it doesn't smell like they expected (perhaps due to Alcantara and less use of dead livestock? The smell is definitely different than the TT)
- S-line seats are beautiful and feel as good as they look
- Color DIS display between gauges with navigation prompts and selectable song list
- Contrary to other opinions expressed on here, I actually like the speedometer arrangement. The needle generally points at 9 o'clock or else I'm probably in trouble with the law. I'm used to using the digital speedo on the TT, but find I don't need it as much on this car.
- Backseat legroom seems acceptable, for how often I plan to use them; the rear seats are thankfully about as large as I expected
- B&O stereo sounds great, after a little fine tuning (though I would have appreciated a mid-range adjustment in addition to bass/treble, as I still feel like some frequencies are being under-represented or de-emphasized). Still need to optimize settings for DSP modes other than "Driver"
<b>Disikes:</b>
- Cabin is cozy, but perhaps a little narrower than I expected
- Mix-and-match incandescent cabin lights with LED footwell lights
- Not enough lateral support for upper body (side bolsters on seatback are too far apart, and should be adjustable like BMW's; seat bottoms offer enough support though)
- Factory floormats are a little underwhelming--replaced with all-weather mats and Premium woven floormats
- Sunglass storage compartment is a little snug and would probably not accommodate some frame designs
- More of a niggle, but the speaker bezel ring on the B&O reflects in the windshield in certain lighting conditions, kind of distracting
<b>Undecided:</b>
- Silver trim around gauges look alright to me, but maybe that's because they match the other silver trim better.
- Have no idea how the CD player sounds or functions, as I have not tried it yet (but it's probably similar to my TT's changer)
- Ceiling is a little low in the luggage compartment area due to gently sloping roof; don't know if it's going to be a problem yet, but it's just lower than I expected and I've already hit my head on the corner of the liftgate once, probably a reason NOT to get lowered sports suspension!
<b>Other comments:</b>
A handsome cabin and a happy place to be on extended drives. Dark color does show more dust though. Good execution that blends luxury, technology, and sportiness in balanced amounts.
<u><b>MMI:</b></u>
<b>Likes:</b>
- Rearview camera kicks ass!
- Control knob location by shifter falls right to hand
- Most functions are intuitively located (I said most, as I find the "SETUP" button confusing since it changes function based on your selected mode)
<b>Disikes:</b>
- Several second delay while waiting for AMI to power up and recognize USB devices
- Navigation is slow to scan nearby POI because it searches for everything within a 15 mile radius; by the time the list appears, you have already passed the exit for the closest match on your list
- Navigation categories for POI ("Special Destinations") could be broken down further. For example, "Shopping centers" should have further 2nd degree divisions, and "Restaurants" needs divisions by type/nationality
- Wish the onboard MMI Directory would automatically import contact addresses too (and not just phone numbers, and not put first and last name together in the Last Name field!)
- Wish the navigation voice volume had GALA too (so it gets louder as car vehicle speed increases).
- Wish the B&O remembered separate bass/treble settings between different DSP modes ("Driver," "All," "Front," "Rear,")
- Wish the MMI displayed more characters of song artist and title (in list view too, not just the popup detail data view), but in the end it plays the music I enjoy so that's not a big deal at all, but adjustable font size for all MMI menu screens would be a welcome addition
<b>Undecided:</b>
- Have not programmed any voice commands yet (nor have I done so in the TT either, haha)
<b>Other comments:</b>
The system does what I need it to do. It's a little clunky at times, but I'm sure my feelings will change as the controls become 2nd nature to me. I notice passengers and my wife are able to learn the system relatively quickly. Try that with BMW iDrive!
<u><b>Motoring:</b></u>
<b>Likes:</b>
- Tiptronic is very smooth, yet reacts immediately upon input
- Sport suspension in Auto mode is perfectly acceptable, and has better damping than TT which beats me up on bad roads
- Low-end thrust is delicious, and the motor has impeccable manners in around-town driving
- Very quiet inside the cabin
- Blind spot radar warnings are cool, but notice a couple falses from signs on roadside.
<b>Disikes:</b>
- The steering effort could be increased a tad more even in Dynamic mode, as I really like the heavy direct feel of the BMW 3-series without dynamic steering.
- Excessive brake dust: one stop and there is already a film on the wheels!
<b>Undecided:</b>
- MPG, too soon to tell
- Handling limits, haven't pushed very hard yet
- Engine responsiveness at higher RPM (still in the break-in period, ya know!)
- Almost too quiet?
<b>Other comments:</b>
Coming from a 12-second, 500-horsepower monster, I expected to be underwhelmed by the 2.0T's performance, but it has (so far) totally satisfied me zipping around town. I have not pushed it very hard yet, but plan to explore its capabilities and limits further over the next few thousand miles. I haven't even engaged Dynamic mode for more than a couple minutes at a time, so I'm eager to play around more with Drive Select too. For 95% of my driving, I think the B8 A4 will serve me just fine. It's the other 5% (spirited driving) that I'm withholding judgment on until I have more data. The 4-banger is definitely a smooth creature at idle. And friendly at the pump. And has been fun the few times I've let its hair down. I don't ever notice the transmission, which is how I like it. The paddle shifters work great, but the Tiptronic is obviously a little more numb than the TT's DSG. That's not to say that it's a slouch, you just don't feel much of what's going on, and if you don't pay attention to the RPM needle you might not even notice you've shifted (it's that smooth!).
Anyway, I hope this provides a fair and balanced perspective for those still on the fence. It's probably not evident from reading this review, but this <i>may</i> be the best car I've ever owned, I'm <i>that</i> happy with my purchase. I really enjoyed my BMWs too, so we'll see if the novelty wears off after the honeymoon is over. I'm still somewhat skeptical even though the car has pleased me well so far!