Picking up tomorrow, new owner

[Zonacat]

Hi all,

Tomorrow, I am picking up a 2008 A4 Avant 2.0T 6MT, Ibis White, S-line, titanium, nav/ipod, convenience, bluetooth, sirius sat... basically loaded minus rear side air bags, cold weather pkg, sunshades. Wish I had the rear side air bags, but seemed to be an order only item with Audi.

Looking forward to doing some fun things with the car.

I am coming out of a 2007 M5 (sitting in garage) that I will "hopefully" be able to sell for a decent price in this economy...

The car took me a week to find, as I was pretty specific what options and colors I wanted, etc... Had to literally play games with local dealers to find the state the car was in, then call dealers in that state to locate the exact dealer. Dealers here were hesistant to do much outside of California.

So tomorrow I fly out to go get her and drive her home.

Immediate plans will be chip, air filter (looking at BMC over K&N) and tint to get started. Will go from there as I learn.

Never owned an Audi, but looking forward to it and the gas mileage. M5 averaged about 9 mpg around town...

Any tips I should know about before I pick her up?

Thanks in advance!

[Auditude2.0T]

You probably know but let the car idle when you first start the car to warm up the turbo and then let it cool down and idle when you want to shut it off.

These would be the mods i would do right after you sell the M5.
AWE Full Exhaust WWW.AWETUNING.COM
Eurocode Test Pipe WWW.Eurocode.COM
APR 93 Octane Chip WWW.GOAPR.COM
APR HP FSI Pump
AWE Front Mount Intercooler
Hypershift Short Shift Kit WWW.STRATMOSPHERE.COM
BMC Panel Filter (Like you mentioned)
H&R Spring and Billstein Shock Combo WWW.ECSTUNING.COM

That should put you right between the S4 and RS4 in terms of performance

[likwid8]

Thats the same exact car I'm looking for. Where did you find it?

[akasch]

man I don't know how you can go from an M5 to an A4 lol I love my car but an M5 can just walk all over it haha

[AvantNoir]

Sweet sounding ride. Congrats. Avants are very rare. Audi only imports 4000 A4 Avants a year! You're going to love the Audi, especially once you chip it.
Good luck with the Bimmer sale.

[Zonacat]

Thanks for the tips.

[Zonacat]

You probably know but let the car idle when you first start the car to warm up the turbo and then let it cool down and idle when you want to shut it off.

These would be the mods i would do right after you sell the M5.
AWE Full Exhaust WWW.AWETUNING.COM
Eurocode Test Pipe WWW.Eurocode.COM
APR 93 Octane Chip WWW.GOAPR.COM
APR HP FSI Pump
AWE Front Mount Intercooler
Hypershift Short Shift Kit WWW.STRATMOSPHERE.COM
BMC Panel Filter (Like you mentioned)
H&R Spring and Billstein Shock Combo WWW.ECSTUNING.COM

That should put you right between the S4 and RS4 in terms of performance

Thanks for the tips and info. Not familiar with anything Audi, so it will be a quick and steep learning curve. Also, you mention the warm up and cool down for the turbos. How long on the cool down?

[Zonacat]

Thats the same exact car I'm looking for. Where did you find it?

I'll tell you after I pick it up. I don't want you sneaking in and buying it out from under me....

Not Calif. Although I know somewhere in Calif., there is a black one, not sure where.

[Zonacat]

man I don't know how you can go from an M5 to an A4 lol I love my car but an M5 can just walk all over it haha

I'm sure there will be some pain involved, however, where I live, you can't get the M anywhere near it's capabilities unless you head out to the mountains (which I do every now and then). I am ALWAYS frustrated driving it around town because you never get out of first gear.

My blood pressure always jumps through the roof when behind people on one lane city streets. Not healthy.

I think I may really enjoy the A4 because I will be able to reach it's limits frequently, and to me, that is fun in any car, even my truck.

[Zonacat]

Sweet sounding ride. Congrats. Avants are very rare. Audi only imports 4000 A4 Avants a year! You're going to love the Audi, especially once you chip it.
Good luck with the Bimmer sale.

Thank you. I chose Avant because I wanted a car that could "do it all". Thule racks will be going on shortly for my bike and ski habits.

[4RingRook]

Sweet car man! Welcome to the club and post some pics when you pick it up.

The answers have your mod questions have already been answered!

[Sharkfin]

Congrats, post some pics when you get it. I second the mods suggested by Auditude and that really sucks that you only got 9mpg around town with the M5. Were you happy with it otherwise? Why no m3?

[Auditude2.0T]

Offer this guy your M5 and 10k. This is my Dream Car, you don't even know what i would do to get that car. I wish i had that money. :( If you get it i'll buy it off you in 3 years:)

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e=&cardist=637

[AudiWxGuy]

Don't get a short shifter. It's bad for the transmission. A lot of people on this forum have them develop problems with their synchros.

[rayiish]

Offer this guy your M5 and 10k. This is my Dream Car, you don't even know what i would do to get that car. I wish i had that money. :( If you get it i'll buy it off you in 3 years:)

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e=&cardist=637

youre gonna buy it off of him and drive it from cali to li? lols bro.. good luck

[Zonacat]

Congrats, post some pics when you get it. I second the mods suggested by Auditude and that really sucks that you only got 9mpg around town with the M5. Were you happy with it otherwise? Why no m3?

2 kids. Yes, loved the M5. It is a technogical marvel. The motor is simply amazing. You can get in trouble real fast in it. All around a great, great car but...gosh, now I am missing it and it's still In my garage.

[IceMole]

Thanks for the tips and info. Not familiar with anything Audi, so it will be a quick and steep learning curve. Also, you mention the warm up and cool down for the turbos. How long on the cool down?

Don't worry about it, it's an old practice for turbos that were oil cooled only. Your turbo is oil/water cooled, only time I would let it sit a minute is if you just got done with a spirited drive and are shutting it off right away. Taking it easy the last few miles home is enough time after something like that.

As for the warming up, you don't have to let it sit and idle, infact that's bad practice. As soon as the RPMs drop it's in closed loop and you can drive away. Audi built these cars for all, including soccer moms.

[minameismud]

You probably know but let the car idle when you first start the car to warm up the turbo and then let it cool down and idle when you want to shut it off.

These would be the mods i would do right after you sell the M5.
AWE Full Exhaust WWW.AWETUNING.COM
Eurocode Test Pipe WWW.Eurocode.COM
APR 93 Octane Chip WWW.GOAPR.COM
APR HP FSI Pump
AWE Front Mount Intercooler
Hypershift Short Shift Kit WWW.STRATMOSPHERE.COM
BMC Panel Filter (Like you mentioned)
H&R Spring and Billstein Shock Combo WWW.ECSTUNING.COM

That should put you right between the S4 and RS4 in terms of performance

you forgot the sway bar!

[Phrost]

Also, you mention the warm up and cool down for the turbos. How long on the cool down?

You can start driving your car as soon as you start it and it idles down, just don't get on it at all until it is up to normal operating temperatures.

As far as cooling down, I always drive the last 5 minutes with low engine rpm. There is no need to buy a turbo timer or sit there to idle down your car, unless you drive hard and spool up the turbo very soon before arriving at your destination. Just take her easy for the last mile of driving and you'll be perfectly fine.

Don't get a short shifter. It's bad for the transmission. A lot of people on this forum have them develop problems with their synchros.

Coming from sportier cars, the throw in the A4's shift linkage is kind of long but it is not unbearable. Quattro cars do not like to be shifted quickly all the time, save that for when you're racing or something. It can handle a very hard/fast shift, but for daily use I highly discourage the practice. The stock settings are fine, you'll get used to it and you can shift it plenty fast if you really want to.

[Zonacat]

I'll tell you after I pick it up. I don't want you sneaking in and buying it out from under me....

Not Calif. Although I know somewhere in Calif., there is a black one, not sure where.

Alright, got the car. I found it at DFW Audi in Dallas. I asked my sales guy if he had another one. He said only in automatic. Sorry.

Good luck on your search and pix to come soon.

Thanks.

[Auditude2.0T]

post some pics!!

[greene08]

Congrats on the purchase. What a stellar pick in color and options!

[greene08]

Mind if I ask what you paid for the car?