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MikeMidd
01-27-2008, 07:09 PM
Hey all - newbie here, have long been in love with the A4, have been thinking about a B7 for a bit, maybe try to pick one up when dealers are looking to clear them out.

Regardless, this weekend, at the Washington Auto Show, ran into quite a surprise. In the midst of hordes of clueless car show attendees, kids in strollers, 15 year olds screwing around with stick shifts... was a very sexy bright red B8 A4!

The car is very good looking in person - I was spitting mad I forgot my camera. The roofline/windows carry over the A4 feel that has been there since the first model (and the 90 before that), which I really liked. The car has the same sort of slinky, low-slung look that the A5/S5 does (they had a gorgeous white S5 at the show as well), very aggressive looking. That said, it looks big, just like the S5 - it's not the same super-tight compact feeling A4 as the B7 or 330i, just like the A5/S5 doesn't have that same "fits like a glove" look of a 3 Series coupe. It's like how if you sit in a G35, you perceive that you are in a car with a bit bigger exterior than the B7, even if the interior is basically the same. The B8's hood feels a bit too long for the rest of the car (which has been my response to the G35 as well), but the front end itself is a great evolution of the current design. The tail end mimics the A5/S5, and I think it looks great, a very nice step up from the current car.

The marketing chick knew only that they were expecting a price increase but not sure how much, that the car has only been seen here in DC and in Detroit in the United States, and that it will start with the 6 cyl model in the US, with 4 cyl to follow (which was already public info).

Well, that's all I got. If someone else has already posted on the car being in DC, I'll just remove this. Regardless, after lurking here for a while, good to join in - hope to join the owner's circle sometime soon.

toaster
01-27-2008, 07:32 PM
it's not the same super-tight compact feeling A4 as the B7 or 330i, just like the A5/S5 doesn't have that same "fits like a glove" look of a 3 Series coupe. It's like how if you sit in a G35, you perceive that you are in a car with a bit bigger exterior than the B7, even if the interior is basically the same.

[confused]

you mean looks like ass?

MojaveA4
01-28-2008, 06:51 AM
You mean that in a bad way? [;)]

b6onboost
01-28-2008, 08:07 AM
I was there and saw it as well. It is longer, wider, and lower. It has well defined lines and an aggressive look. It looks nothing like a 3 series in person, even from the rear. The interior is noticably larger and more luxurious.

My fear still remains that it will be significantly less fun to drive simply because of the increased size. I've always loved the A4 for being a sporty little sedan. Well, now its getting less sporty and its not so little.

(My parents have an 08 G35, so I know exactly what you mean when referencing that car. Its slightly larger than my B6 A4, has 306hp 0-60 in 5.X? sec, yet its size simply makes it feel like a boat compared to the A4.)

MikeMidd
01-28-2008, 11:24 AM
I was there and saw it as well. It is longer, wider, and lower. It has well defined lines and an aggressive look. It looks nothing like a 3 series in person, even from the rear. The interior is noticably larger and more luxurious.

My fear still remains that it will be significantly less fun to drive simply because of the increased size. I've always loved the A4 for being a sporty little sedan. Well, now its getting less sporty and its not so little.

(My parents have an 08 G35, so I know exactly what you mean when referencing that car. Its slightly larger than my B6 A4, has 306hp 0-60 in 5.X? sec, yet its size simply makes it feel like a boat compared to the A4.)

I think the thing that amazed me the most was that it was getting NO traffic. Granted, there was an S5 and an R8 nearby, but the A4 was on a huge platform with lights and a video and all that. And I literally stared at it for 10 minutes, walked around, etc., and noticed that next to no one gave the A4 the time of day.

b6onboost
01-28-2008, 11:54 AM
^ yeah I noticed that too. basically a small audi sedan isn't going to grab peoples attention like the new TT, S5, or R8.

I was thoroughly impressed with all the Audi's. The TT and S5 interiors are awesome, infact the TTs was better than the Porsche Cayman and 911. Audi really owns all on interiors.

a4dc89
01-28-2008, 01:38 PM
yeah i also noticed that no one looked at it

raulg_usa
01-28-2008, 05:32 PM
So, the new B8 A4 showed up in Detroit and in Washington?? That means I can see it next month here in Chicago, right???????

If the new A4 doesn't show up I am not going to the AutoShow this year. Nothing new to see for me ..

MikeMidd
01-29-2008, 10:05 AM
So, the new B8 A4 showed up in Detroit and in Washington?? That means I can see it next month here in Chicago, right???????

If the new A4 doesn't show up I am not going to the AutoShow this year. Nothing new to see for me ..

Getting inside the S5 is worth it, if you've not done that before. It's very choice.

audimeister
02-04-2008, 05:24 AM
There was a gray one on the stand at the Houston show this week. I concur with most of the observations. In photos, the car looked so close to the B7 I wondered why they even bothered with the refresh. In person, it looks more like an A5, with the B7 roofline grafted on- which seems odd to me- roof is very round, body has many contours- they don't look like they go together.

I don't personally like the big, square driver's pod on the dash- it works better in a bigger car like the A6. I will own one- I've had one of every small Audi Quattro sedan since my '84 4000CSQ...