Test drive Audi A8 D3 2003 - 2005 Sedan

Audi A8 /3200 km

Once again, it is necessary to state that there are no limits of perfection. Even for a car worth more than $ 100 thousand.
The general pleasant impression that we had that had prevailed after the first acquaintance with the Audi flagship did not spoil too much over the past month. And something even intensified. Not to mention the optimal combination of comfort and sports of behavior, it is worth recalling many pleasant little things that you get used to almost instantly. Here we will talk about such trifles today. Although not all of them are absolutely perfect.
+ The specifics of using the car with several drivers made it highly appreciated the recognition of the user on the fingerprint: one pressing on the key - and seats, the steering wheel and mirrors are set in the usual position. At the same time, other attitudes are also changing - the language of information messages (there are eight of them; unfortunately, there is no Russian) and the selected frequency of the radio receiver, as well as a number of additional functions. Such recognition can be ordered only in combination with Advanced Key - the car feels the presence of its key in a radius of about one and a half meters. So you do not need to be inserted into the locks, nor even press the door opening buttons, as on a radio key included in the standard configuration. Launch - Start button, stop - respectively, the Stop button. When leaving the car and setting up for the alarm, you only need to press on a small key on any of the four doors. The sensor for reading the fingerprint is built into the Start button, so no additional operations are required.
However, it should be borne in mind that the recognition by fingerprints is focused on increasing comfort, and not at all to protect against theft: if the driver is not identified, but the key is in the car, the engine starts and the car can drive. The memory for settings will simply not work. Standard keys provide similar capabilities, but then the adjustments are tied to one of two keys, but the recognition system is designed for four. At the same time, you can sew the prints of all ten fingers into it - so even the adhesive plaster will not deprive the owner of access to the car.
Interestingly, Advanced Key provides additional functions - for example, if it remains in the trunk, then the cover after closing automatically opens again. However, like any complex system, moreover, a new one is quite new, and this one is not free from glitches: from time to time, the signal from the key not inserted into the ignition lock does not reach the receiver. Most likely, this happens due to the imposition of signals from the phone, while the display on the instrument shield gives the key to the key is not in the car! However, it lasts only a few seconds, until the next communication session. But if the key is actually removed from the car, then nothing special will happen - the engine does not stall and the transmission is not blocked. Just when the ignition is turned off, the car cannot be launched again. From our point of view, this approach is a reasonable means to minimize the risk of damage to the owner’s health when the car is theft: let the bandits calmly go to where they gathered, and there the police or the insurance company will figure it out.
 
 
+ The power drive of the lid of the trunk allows you to avoid touching the key contaminating literally during the day. The presence of a sufficient amount of dirt and dust on Moscow roads is as stable as the laws of aerodynamics. The drive has sensors that stop the closing process if the lid came across an obstacle. The only negative: at first it seems that the lid moves too slowly. But in fact, it fits in 15 seconds.
+/- Some decisions of designers demonstrate obvious advantages of traditional approaches compared to more advanced ones. For example, adjusting the volume of the audio system with a wheel on the right knitting needle of the steering wheel was noticeably more convenient than the now common keys. The overkill of the stations is carried out in the same wheel on the left knitting needle, the confirmation of the choice is indicated by pressing on the same wheel. Convenient and logical.
But the attempt to extend this algorithm to control the phone turned out to be clearly unsuccessful: to set each digit or, when calling the number from memory, the letter must be turned to MMI to the desired division and click on it. Even in the parking lot, this occupation seems to be too complicated an alternative to a regular keyboard. The latter is also available - on the tube lying under the armrest. Use it, without taking it entirely from the nest, is inconvenient either the driver or the passenger. Only the option of choosing a number from memory by means of the same wheel on the right knitting needle of the steering wheel is more or less convenient. But imagine that it is necessary to sort out all 250 cells of the SIM card ... Of course, the phone is not the most important device in the car, in addition, some of the problems are solved when installing such an option as voice control. Nevertheless, in this situation, we are forced to note some imperfection proposed together with the company Motorola.
-/+ The inevitable consequence of the concern for the strength of the body has become quite powerful side racks, which significantly affects visibility. Some drivers of machines of this class believe that they do not have to think about the obstacle to the right. Alas, there will be more excuses for such a style of behavior.
+ But noticeably improves visibility in the dark time of the ADAPTIVE LIGHT, which provides backlight from the side where the machine turns. Unlike long-known turning headlights, a scheme was used here, once distributed on the Americans-only they just had lanterns in the wings, while A8 was built into a block fara. The system operates at the closest light at a speed of up to 70 km/h. And to facilitate parking in reverse, both additional headlights are lit. Very comfortably!
- That's what really surprised was the minimalism of the place for all small things in the cabin. For example, problems arise with sunglasses - a special pocket is not provided for them, and under the armrests some models of personal optics are placed only without a case. Side pockets do not contain, for example, a completely trivial bottle of mineral water. But even the owner of a representative car is not devoid of ordinary human needs.
We also tamed a ski cover built into the hatch behind the armrest of the rear seat for half an hour - more precisely, the lid of this hatch. Even with the most thorough and tightly folding the cover, the attempt to slam the hatch from the side of the cabin led to the discharge of the lid in the trunk and vice versa. In the end, one person had to climb into the trunk and hold the lid while the second closed the hatch from the cabin. A8 trunk is rather big, but twisting to sit in it is a doubt pleasure. The root of the problem is in the weakness of the cover locks. It looks especially strange against the background of the highest quality of materials and interior decoration. If it were not for this, literally struck by the flaw, one could safely call the quality of the finish the best in its class.
- Smoking will be required to the driver A8 with such an elementary operation at the first glance, such as fluid pouring into the tank of the washer and headlights. The fact is that for some reason the designers placed the flood neck exactly next to the hood shock absorber: to climb there with a domestic five-liter or even with an American gallon bottle-you still need to try. Secondly-and this is the most significant minus-the open cover of the tank is not fixed.
Text Valery Chusov, photo Alexey Ilyin
 
Costs (April 21-May)
Mileage city/highway - 2200 km
AI-98 gasoline (385 l) $ 155
Moika $ 20
Total $ 175
 

Source: "Autopilot"