So here's the new addition after the long wait.

That 2nd sunroof and armrest trim really help achieve the elegant look in the rear. You are, however, a brave man to choose the light interior. Curious to learn of your Manhattan garaging experience. Some 16 years ago when we lived there (54th & 2nd, garage up from Vongs) space was not the issue for the Range Rover, but I learned the hard lesson of inadequate 'end of year holiday tipping' to the crew - I got to know several body shops quite well!

That 2nd sunroof and armrest trim really help achieve the elegant look in the rear. You are, however, a brave man to choose the light interior. Curious to learn of your Manhattan garaging experience. Some 16 years ago when we lived there (54th & 2nd, garage up from Vongs) space was not the issue for the Range Rover, but I learned the hard lesson of inadequate 'end of year holiday tipping' to the crew - I got to know several body shops quite well!

Yeah, the beige interior will be a challenge, but I did OK with the cream interior I had on my '06 A8---so regualr cleaning should keep the leather looking good. Parking garage horror stories still are the norm in NYC. I'm lucky---my garage gives me a hydraulic lift spot, so the car stays up in the air and out of harm's way. Only issue can be marring the rims on the lift's side rails, but it happens very infrequently---and, of course, I tip generously at Christmas time :^)

Beautiful car in a beautiful setting.

Congratulations on the arrival in the family. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much I do mine. 16,000+ miles and going even stronger.

Beautiful car in a beautiful setting.

Congratulations on the arrival in the family. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much I do mine. 16,000+ miles and going even stronger.

Thanks Jet. Coming out of 2 prior D3's, I didn't think this new D4 would put as big a smile on my face as it has---Thought I'd be somewhat jaded/spoiled at this point, but this car is at a whole different level...As you already know :^)

Very elegant.

Which Drive Select settings do you tend to use?

Very elegant.

Which Drive Select settings do you tend to use?

Elegant? My wife and the car, yes; certainly not me however ;^)

For the Drive Select Plus I keep the steering mode in DYNAMIC, with the other modes set to AUTO. The exception is for the air suspension, which I change to DYNAMIC for highway/higher speed driving. I haven't played with the rear differential setting yet, so for now it's in AUTO mode. The new 8-speed tranny is so good that I don't really feel the need to keep it in any setting other than AUTO.

The photos are very nice--elegant car and setting. Drive it in good health!!

The photos are very nice--elegant car and setting. Drive it in good health!!

Many thanks. Good health is most important...followed closely by a fun & relaxing drive through the country!!! :^)

Elegant? My wife and the car, yes; certainly not me however ;^)

For the Drive Select Plus I keep the steering mode in DYNAMIC, with the other modes set to AUTO. The exception is for the air suspension, which I change to DYNAMIC for highway/higher speed driving. I haven't played with the rear differential setting yet, so for now it's in AUTO mode. The new 8-speed tranny is so good that I don't really feel the need to keep it in any setting other than AUTO.

Congrats on the new Audi A8!! just wondering, how does it drive in the "comfort" mode?
Thanks!

Congrats on the new Audi A8!! just wondering, how does it drive in the "comfort" mode?
Thanks!

Haven't had it specifically in COMFORT, however the AUTO mode relicates COMFORT at speeds below 74 mph (I think), so all settings with the exception of steering have essentially been in COMFORT for most of my time behind the wheel. The ride is more cushioned compared to my two previous D3s: more plush and more forgiving on bumps and uneven roads, without giving up any sporting characteristics. To some degree, this improvement is due to the slightly higher tire sidewall profile on the 19" wheels (255x45 vs. 255x40 on the D3 A8s). Those with the 20" wheels with 265x40's may have a somewhat different impression.

For the Drive Select Plus I keep the steering mode in DYNAMIC, with the other modes set to AUTO.

I am leaning toward the Select Plus option. It is possible to understand and even sense how the torque vetoring works, but very difficult to have a sense of the dynamic steering feature. Would appreciate it very much if you would share your actual driving experience.

I am leaning toward the Select Plus option. It is possible to understand and even sense how the torque vetoring works, but very difficult to have a sense of the dynamic steering feature. Would appreciate it very much if you would share your actual driving experience.

The dynamic steering setting provides a tighter/sportier steering feel compared with the comfort mode. It does, however, feel a bit heavy after a while; I kind of felt like I had just finished a workout---which might not be a bad thing. I will say that taking tight corners is a thing of beauty with the combination of the dynamic steering and the rear differential's torque vectoring.

Forget the car, I like your driveway :-).

Derf, Cograts! did you test drive an A8 with the 20" wheels? I'm curious as to the difference between that and your 19" wheels.

WOW! Beautiful car!! It looks like she's ready to bust out of the driveway and hit the road!

Derf, Cograts! did you test drive an A8 with the 20" wheels? I'm curious as to the difference between that and your 19" wheels.

Thanks Big-G. Nope didn't do a test in 20" equipped car. I can say that compared to the 40-profile 19's I had in previous D3s (255x40x19), the D4's 19-inch tires with the 45-profile sidewalls (255x45x19) does a better job of soaking up the bumps---I'm sure the D4's improved suspension plays a significant part also. Since the 20's now have 40-profile sidewalls vs. the previous gen's 35, that alone should negate some of the harshness, along with the wider tire width (265 vs. 255).

I've copied over part of the October 2010 Road & Track review of the D4 that discussed the car's ride with the 20" tires:

2011 Audi A8 - Road Test
Fourth generation's a charm for Audi's aluminum-chassis V-8-powered flagship.
By Douglas Kott October 8, 2010

"...Even at its most aggressive, the ride is not overly firm and there’s ample grip from the 265/40R-20 Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires (a stand-alone option on our test car, along with the striking 20-in. alloys), to the tune of 0.88g. Sure, it’ll push moderately in some situations, but power-on understeer is mitigated by the Quattro system’s 40/60 front/rear torque split and our test car’s optional torque-vectoring rear Sport differential. Steering feel, historically a weak point for Audi, is vastly improved with a new system that, somehow, not only firms up in the sportier setting but better conveys the nuances of the tire/road interaction. Compliant but well-controlled shock valving helps the tires find that elusive last bit of grip on bumpy sections of corners, allowing the awd to put the power down that much better."

WOW! Beautiful car!! It looks like she's ready to bust out of the driveway and hit the road!

Thanks, and yup...that's the plan :^))