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Last post on Jul 23, 2010 at 11:27 AM
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Audi A8 Forum.
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Audi A8, Sedan
#1037 of 1483 Re: HELM'S [anthonyp]
by ayyate
Apr 10, 2006 (7:29 pm)
You did not say where you live. A Mercedes here in LA often means nothing more than "I want people to think I have made it and I want one, too." Or to put it more bluntly, "Too many Benz owners don't know much about cars, but want desparately to impress others - - who don't know much about cars either." In my part of town, Mercedes is as common as a Ford in Omaha. (I am sure I have antagonized several people out there by now.) To me, this is a terrific reason NOT to buy MBZ. It is such a "me-too" car.
I purchased my first Audi, a 1999 A8, because at that time it was the only luxury car with standard four wheel drive, an all aluminum frame and body, Tiptronic, and a square jawed handsome body that seemed not to age. And I liked the reverse snobbism that comes with knowing I will not see many of them. I never regretted my decision. What a wonderful driver. It was a kick just driving down the boulevard to my office.
I am now the proud owner of a new A8 and fully expect to enjoy it just as much. As reliable as Lexus? No. But that's why God invented warranties. Driving the Lexus is like driving a Barcalounger, but don't get me started on Lexus.
#1038 of 1483 Re: HELM'S [ayyate]
by anthonyp
Apr 11, 2006 (1:28 pm)
I live on the East cosast, Carolinas and Miami Fl, and it is probably just about like where you live..Just as conjested in Miami and not so much in the Carolinas...I went from G. M to Lexus in the beginning, and the experience was so nice in comparison, that I have had many Lexus cars....Truly due to the persistance(sp) of Merc and his passion for German cars(particularly Mercedes) I decided to try first a Mercedes which was fine, and now a BMW for my wife, which also is fine...For me I ended up with an Audi 8, and this also has been just as trouble free as my lexuses. In fact I had one major problem with all of them except the first one, and I haven`t had any problem with the Audi so far...I wish you the same luck, as I do my fellow comrades Eric and Blkhemi...Tony
#1039 of 1483 Well said....
by emauss
Apr 11, 2006 (1:42 pm)
#1040 of 1483 Re: HELM'S [anthonyp]
by ayyate
Apr 11, 2006 (1:48 pm)
Unless a person thinks of a car as just an appliance to serve a functional purpose (I often wish I could - life might be simpler.), then a car should have a personality and have a fun factor. I enjoy just driving my A8 around town. It is truly a Jekyll and Hyde car. If you want to be pampered, it will accomodate very well. If you want to drive a little foolishly, it will take you to another level of excitement.
The Lexus so isolates the driver from all external inputs that there is no soul to it. Wonderful appliance, does its job as well as any car out there, but with no spirit. Give me options.
#1041 of 1483 Re: HELM'S [ayyate]
by blkhemi
Apr 11, 2006 (4:13 pm)
Lexus, a Barcalounger? Now that's funny. I often wish more people saw it that way and not praise the Lexus as the Second Coming.
I've had them, and altho wholly terrific to own due to it's known reliablity, it's absolutely lifeless. I found that in my last Lexus ('98 LS400), the car's immpecable finish and craftsmanship at the time was second to none. But way too isolated, and the current gen no better in offering more of an engaging drive. Too diluted shall we say.
On the other hand, my W-12 splits the difference, regardless as to what some may have a person believe. It floats down the road like a true luxo-barge. But when things gets twisty, the German-engineering shows up big time. The car is so planted and rides so good, despite the 20" wheels and ultra low 35 series tires. The build quality and interior finish is unparalled. And mine too has been absolutely trouble-free(DRL's notwithstanding). And I can't wait for the wife's S8 to come later this year.
#1042 of 1483 Re: HELM'S [blkhemi]
by ayyate
Apr 11, 2006 (4:26 pm)
I'm envious. I have driven the W-12 and found it exhilarating when it could be allowed to run. But the S-8 seems like a whole different animal. I have only seen it twice standing still and is quite a stunner. And your wife gets it. Wow.
Next time I am in my garage, I will kick the tire of my lowly A8.
Good for you. Good for your wife.
#1043 of 1483 Re: Bluetooth in 2005 A8 W12 [thuinker]
by ayyate
Apr 11, 2006 (5:08 pm)
I have an early Motorola RAZR (When they still cost up to $550.) on the Cingular system. I had no problem connecting it to my 2005 A8. However, to end a call, I often must do it on the phone itself. Since you are on Verizon, I don't know how relevant my story is. I suggest you continue working with the phone. In my case, the car was always ready to pair up. It was the phone that required certain settings to be made first.
Good Luck
#1044 of 1483 Re: Bluetooth in 2005 A8 W12 [ayyate]
by thuinker
Apr 11, 2006 (8:50 pm)
My RAZR talks to the car via bluetooth too; however, my address book, missed calls list, and last number called list are not showing up on the car's MMI screen. And I have had to occasionally end a call via my cell phone as opposed to doing so via the auto itself.
A couple weeks ago I went to Verizon store with the Audi compatibility list (http://www.audiusa.com/common/images/bluetooth.pdf)in hand and showed it to the rep. I told him my RAZR phone, which was only 8 weeks old at the time, needed the firmware checked to see if it had version G_0E.40.57R installed as per the compatibility list. He checked and sure enough it didn't. He called somebody in Verizon technical services who told him the new software would be ready in about 4 or 5 weeks. So Verizon rep gave me his cell number and asked me to call him in about 4 weeks so he could check on the software's release. Everything sounds good to this point until I called him yesterday and the cell number I got was wrong so I'll have to go back into store when the time comes.
By the way, my Verizon RAZR is the V3c model as opposed to the V3 model shown on the Audi A8 compatibility list. I don't know if that makes any difference or not. I did speak with an Audi A8 Advocate at AudiUSA a month ago and was told Audi has not checked out every phone out there and likely never would because there are just too many new models coming on market all the time. She told me to ask a rep in the wireless store to please accompany me to the car to see if any of their bluetooth models worked. I decided to post my question on this forum consequently because I was hoping some owner out there might have the answer through experience. Thanks for your response.
#1045 of 1483 Re: Bluetooth in 2005 A8 W12 [thuinker]
by ayyate
Apr 11, 2006 (9:01 pm)
It sounds like you are doing all the right things. I was unable to find a Cingular person willing to get involved. Cingular was blaming Audi and vice versa.
I will watch for any responses or updates on this subject. I would like to be able to end my calls at the MMI rather than fishing in my pocket for the phone as I drive.
Thanks
#1046 of 1483 Re: Bluetooth in 2005 A8 W12 [ayyate]
by thuinker
Apr 12, 2006 (12:17 am)
I'll post whatever I find out. I just hope the guy at Verizon wasn't misleading me. Makes me wonder about the "wrong" number I recently dialed.