B7 Dissapointment at Auto Show

[Mr. Ted]

The topic has been discussed alot lately but I didn't feel I had much to contribute until I saw one in the flesh.

Went to the Auto Show in Detroit yesterday. Saw the B7 in the flesh - both an S4 as well as a sedan and wagon. Here are my thoughts.

When the B5 was released, it was a bold, crisp, distinctive design. It had some very special design points, such as the lightly flared rear, the crisp hood outline, the headlight pattern, the rear trunk kick-up...overall it was just a homogeneous, instant-classic design.

The B6, in my opinion, really picked up the theme and knocked it out of the park. My 2004.5 B6 really is a perfect-looking sedan in my opinion. Distinctive, angular yet smooth, sporting yet luxurious, every angle offering eye candy. Don't even get me started on the interior - I think the B6 interior is essentially the perfect sedan interior. I can't think of one modern car(outside the A8) that has a nicer interior. Most car mags will agree.

Now, the B7 fails miserably in my opinion from a styling standpoint. The front grill is nice, and that's about it. There is not one other distinctive or attractive styling elemt to the car. From the side, the rear and front look droopy, non-agressive, too passive. The rear is horribly uninteresting. The interior is a lightly glossed over B6 interior and it looks like AUDI has decided to live or die by that trapeziodal theme. My favourite element of the B6 interior - the thick rimmed, small diameter three spoke sport steering wheel that would not look out of place on the bloody AUDI R8, is gone from the A4.

And so is my interest in upgrading my B6 to the B7. I think in three years I'll look for a lightly used 2005 S4 and call it a day.

I have even heard ghastly rumours that QUATTROs won't be available with a 6 spd manual! It may be robo-automatics only, though I've yet to confirm that.

Mr. Ted

[German Driver]

i wonder as well how long i can hone my interest on my current a4 before i feel the need to purchase a new car...

[HighPSI]

yup, pretty much my thoughts exactly, i held off verbalizing an opinion till i saw it in person, but after seeing it at the Det. Auto Show, i can pretty much unequivocably say its beat...

I thought the A3 looked great with the grill and the a6 is hot too, but it just doesnt work on the new a4, and the headlights are off too, the steering wheel is the possibly the worst part

[RippleChip]

My opinion will come next week, plan to hit up the show on Friday.

How long did you guys spend at the show?

[German Driver]

Originally posted by HighPSI
yup, pretty much my thoughts exactly, i held off verbalizing an opinion till i saw it in person, but after seeing it at the Det. Auto Show, i can pretty much unequivocably say its beat...

I thought the A3 looked great with the grill and the a6 is hot too, but it just doesnt work on the new a4, and the headlights are off too, the steering wheel is the possibly the worst part

yea, i think the a3 looks amazing, depending on feel of s3 if it comes here maybe i will look at that... i can't imagine it will be much more then loaded a4

[HighPSI]

i was there for about 3 hrs last friday for the preview, to be honest, the show was pretty weak this year

[HighPSI]

Originally posted by German Driver
yea, i think the a3 looks amazing, depending on feel of s3 if it comes here maybe i will look at that... i can't imagine it will be much more then loaded a4

yup, so far the s3 is the only hope i have if i want to stick with audi

[A4 - Oh Snap]

ted, I'm with you on the disappointment factor. lets hope the B8 doesnt follow in the same path.

[chuckdawg82]

aaah nooo~ praying quattro will still come in 6speed. I am consideirng picking up a B7 A3 2.0T Quattro.

[Mr. Ted]

When buying a German car, styling does have to play a large part in the buying decision - these cars ain't cheap! One of the reasons (and I have about 150) for buying my '04 is that if I have nothing to do, I go out to the garage, light up a cigar, and stare at my bloody car for half an hour. Then, I warm it up, look at the interior for another 5 minutes, crank up that killer audio system, open the roof, and go driving.

I am not gonna give any company my hard-earned cash (well, semi-hard earned) if I don't even want to look at their products. Audi still has alot of winners on their hands - the TT 3.2 is simply wonderful, looking a little like an early 80's 911, the A6 is nice, and the new A8 W12 in blue/gray with a cream interior is simply the most beautiful, most perfect, most elegantly proportioned 4 door sedan I've ever seen. And I'm a car nut.

But that new A4 just doesn't have the visual dynamics to get me hard. Sounds like it's had the same reaction from most once they see it in the flesh.

In terms of the show, we stayed about 4 hours. The new Mustangs and all the modded ones were beautiful. Great car. The new 911 has been restored to visual beauty. The Lambo Murcielago is essentially sex on wheels. Damn, one day, I will own one. The Tourareg, better looking than the Cayenne.

After the auto show we trekked 15 minutes to Mexican town and feasted on amazing grilled steak fajitas with melted asadero cheese, tangy guacamole, spicy salsas and cold Carta Blanca beer in cans.

Then tuned in to "Hard Attack" on my new Sirius set the whole way back to London and laughed our heads off at all the death metal.

What a great day to be a guy!

Mr. Ted

[doramon1313]

I agree, the B7 does not look all that sweet....

[robots_are_neon]

I have to disagree with you guys...I love the b7. I think the exterior is sweet and leaves a lot of room for tuning companies to come with really hot designs ( look at abt's work for the new a6 and new a3-both with the same grill as the b7). The new interior is also a breathe of fresh air. Finally, we can get navi and a bunch of other cool technoligies like rainsensor and curve sensing head lights. Seeing the design in person just confirmed my like for it. At least we aren't bmw drivers here (well most of us)--look at the new e90 3 series, what a dissapointment. I think that MBZ is slick but who can afford them...well just my .02 cents

[Mr. Ted]

The thing is, I don't look at a car wondering what the aftermarket will bring to the table. I look at an expensive German car and think, "Will this think keep me happy for the four years I'll be paying for it?"

If the B7 will only be realized once someone makes an aftermarket body kit, then Audi missed something, wouldn't you say? Does the S4 need a body kit to look agressive? That makes little sense to me.

Those new technologies are nice - no doubt about it. But at this level, the wrapper is as important as what's underneath.

Speaking of which, if I were a BMW loyalist, I'd be screaming mad at that Bangle prick. It's to the point now where as of 2006, there won't be one good looking BMW to be had. Not one. Just a bunch of overly thought out over designed flame surfaced puke inducing cars where when you say, "I don't like it" the designer gives you a list of reasons why you should like it. "Look at the complex curves, the cut lines, the flame surfacing" Strange that we have to be told that we should like something that is hard to like!

Mr. Ted

[Bronze]

Hmm. I was unsure about the B7 until I also saw it last week at Cobo (I was there on Thursday). I personally thought it looked fine, and better than what I've seen in photos. Do I like it better than my B6? I don't think so, not yet anyhow. I did like the A3 and the A6. I was again disappointed that the cars were not open to sit in and open the hoods (for industry preview day). I was able to sit in a new M5 and look at its engine comparment, but not any Audi. I even was fortunate to go into the Lambo display after talking with the dealer GM at the display.

As for the show in general, I thought there were a lot of interesting things to see, but I look at it not only from a car but point of view but also business, especially when the hoods are open and I can inspect packaging, etc. I loved the Ferrari Superamerica roof feature, and I thought the Z06 looked great. Others looked good too, but this note is long enough already.

[Daft]

I've been lurking around my local dealership and I want to say that the B7 would be my choice but, I agree that the B6 body style (especially the Ultra Sport) is much nicer to look at.

The only things that make the B7 attractive to me are the engines and some of the newer features (rear heated seats, rain sensors etc..).

I just wish I could buy an '05 Ultra Sport with the B7's 2.0FSI engine...[:(]

[GTRchop88]

i hate the b7 looks!

[Spinnetti]

Its bigger, heavier, and kind of slab sided.

Its much better in person that in pictures, but it lost something for me too I had a 2001 B5, and then the 2002 B6, and it looks like it will be my last A4. I actually like the A3 better, but only if we get in in a 3 door version.

I'll hang on a few more years, then get the new TT if it is as cool as the pictures, or a Concept R or maybe Boxster coupe..

A4 is just too big and bulky now.. (I hate the steering wheel too)

[A4Jared]

Originally posted by HighPSI
yup, pretty much my thoughts exactly, i held off verbalizing an opinion till i saw it in person, but after seeing it at the Det. Auto Show, i can pretty much unequivocably say its beat...

I thought the A3 looked great with the grill and the a6 is hot too, but it just doesnt work on the new a4, and the headlights are off too, the steering wheel is the possibly the worst part

I agree, its definitely a little bland looking. Where did you get to see one?

[Mr. Ted]

That would be the solution - the B6 with a 220 hp version of the 2.0FSI with a 6 spd manual and dual intercoolers.

Well, I've said my piece. Most seem to agree. It's a shame, but maybe four years from now they'll once again pull a classic off and I'll upgrade. I'm glad I've got another 5 and a half years of warranty...

Mr. Ted

[needforsleep]

One of the reason's I think the B7 looks so bulky and droopy is because it has a higher hood and deck lid for pedestrian protection. It makes the front grille look even bigger from the side.

[HighPSI]

Originally posted by A4Jared
I agree, its definitely a little bland looking. Where did you get to see one?

detroit autoshow last friday night

[intoblue]

When i first laid eyes on the B7 I too thought that my B6 avant was much sexier and muscular in stance. But now i have a B7 S4 in Imola yellow with the DTM package and i think it is pure sexxxxxxxxxxx. Some things take time for the eyes to adjust to especially when they are subtle.

[traf818]

What the hell are you doing? this post is more than 21 months old.

[seph]

haha talk about dead. check the dates buddy

[intoblue]

the cars aren't!

[1SickS5]

are you kidding me..another one?

[h_curtis]

ha ha ha... too funny. bring up some old azz post and see if people follow along.

[AudiGuy666]

wow

lame

[EuroTrash A4 NY]

for some reason i feel audi is moving away from the "sport luxury" to pure luxury...aside form the monster rs4, what agressive styling cues does the b7 models have?

[robots_are_neon]

http://packy.dardan.com/walky/albums/album11/agb.jpg

[Re5pectThe_Cuz]

wtf this is from 05!

[Monizzle]

ya'll niggaz is crazy

[Rub-ISH]

Fvcking Time warp thread

[1SickS5]

Originally posted by robots_are_neon
http://packy.dardan.com/walky/albums/album11/agb.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6788/untitledyl1.jpg

[8E1POINT8]

HAHAHA. Good time for that little bastard