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Audi A8

1483 messages,  Last post on Jul 23, 2010 at 11:27 AM

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What is this discussion about? Audi A8, Sedan

Messages Page 8 of 150

#62 of 1483 re post 58 by billmillsva

Dec 31, 1999 (4:02 am)

So this is a drawing of the phone and you say the drawing has the Audi rings stamped on the phone. Sorry, you have to work with me here since I have not seen the 2000 manual (I have a '97) but I am not sure how a drawing of a phone indicates that such a thing really exits even if it has the Audi rings drawn on it. Does the manual indicate this cordless phone is an option or is it like the picture on the box of, oh say, a frozen dinner i.e. a "serving suggestion"? (sorry to compare the Audi 2000 manual to a frozen dinner box but it was the first thing that came to mind) I have read a few post by A4 owners who have installed Nokia cordless phones in their vehicles using the Nokia manufactured car kit which includes a cradle. These installs were done using the existing corded phone prewire that comes with the car but required some modification/custom parts to make it work. When properly done, the Nokia had all the functions of the wired phone including the muting of the stereo system on incoming calls. How that resolves the issue mentioned with the arm rest in an A8 I am not sure.
Although I can understand your frustration with what you have seen in the manual, keep in mind, Audi is a car manufacturer not a cell phone service provider. The reason the A8 is a $60K+ car is mainly because the quantity of Aluminum used on the car and the cost of the R&D that went into developing that technology and not because you can get it with a custom fit cordless cell phone.

#63 of 1483 Incentives and a "value A8" by mcurtin

Jan 01, 2000 (5:15 am)

Does anyone have any firm facts on dealer incentives or credits that would help them move remaining 1999 A8s off the lot. I have a dealer whose first offer is to sell 1999 A8 at invoice but I feel that there is most likely more room to move here (of course feelings don't count...it's the facts that count and I'm looking for any help here as I arm myself with information). Since I'm looking for a close-out special here, I'm not being helped (versus a '00 A8) that the base price in 1999 was 57,445!! I recently saw an ad for a 1999 A8 with 4k miles for $56000 at a dealer north of Chicago, presumably a "demo". Does anyone have any other info on recently sold 1999 A8s? Thanks in advance.

#64 of 1483 audiaudiaudiA8 by monterrey

Jan 03, 2000 (1:23 am)

Thanks for your insights. I still haven't made a decision -- feel that my convenience-oriented issues with the A8 might start to bug the s--- out of me on a daily basis. Still, I like the car. Asked the salesman when Audi was going to update the phone. He checked into it and it sounds like July-ish. (Anyone know more about this???) Also hearing that EPS, while supposedly an option, is not yet available, something that I insist on. So, I may decide to wait and see what Audi does. I believe they are only going to offer the long wheel base (due out in Feb.) so it may change how the car handles slightly. By the way, the E-430 *does* have great power and kick. The main difference I notice is that the Audi responds more quickly when you step on it whereas the Mercedes has a slightly longer hesitation before it kicks in (eliminated with the manual mode).

#65 of 1483 re post 65 by billmillsva

Jan 03, 2000 (3:18 am)

I do not know what may or may not be going on with this. It probably varies by dealer depending on their volume. However I can tell you that I had a few email conversations with a non Audi dealer who told me he picks up '99 A8's at auction (Audi factor exec. loaners so he said) that always had less than 10K miles and would pay $49,000 for them and sell them for $54,000. Picking one up under this situation or the one you sighted in Chicago, I think, would help you avoid the luxury tax, although I also think that could be dependent on if the car had been previously titled or not.

#66 of 1483 billmillsva by rjfiss

Jan 04, 2000 (3:41 am)

The drawing in the owners manual also includes a page of text referring to the use of the cordless phone option, so this is not just a "cereal box". While my comments on dissatisfaction with the folks at Audi on their lack of knowledge on this phone may seem to be nitpicking, I find that this is an irritant that should not exist on a new car purchase in this price category. It just doesn't put Audi in a good light when compared to the knowledge and service provided on a new car purchase from most MB or Lexus dealers, and it sure as heck is not right that they have the phone in the manual and didn't bother to explain it to their dealers in the US. Nonetheless, thanks for your comment on the aftermarket possibility. I'll check it out to see if a phone with cradle exists that can fit the armrest carriage.

#67 of 1483 rjfiss by rollie

Jan 04, 2000 (5:44 am)

Regarding post #68:


rjfiss, I certainly understand your frustration but ironically if you check the MB and Lexus posts you will find the exact same phone misinformation problem is occurring there as well (and at least in the case of MB I think it is the same Motorola phone setup).


-rdo
russell.ollieerols.com

#68 of 1483 re post 68 by billmillsva

Jan 05, 2000 (6:15 am)

Yes I know what you mean when know one from Audi knows about a part featured in the manual and it does sound like a screw up on Audi's part as far as publishing an image of the phone and a description of it's use if it's actually not available. And from what I understand, Audi has never been really big on accessories so this maybe a mind set issue. (ever seen a Volvo accessory catalog. Talk about options.) Having said that, digital cell phone formats seem to be part of the problem. The corded Audi phone uses analog technology which was the standard for years but, as we all know, that is changing. I don't think any new service areas being added these days are analog and most of the big providers of cell service who were analog are either adding digital service in areas currently covered by analog or converting to digital in the old analog coverage areas. So the quagmire of the technology change creates a problem as well. Then there is this to consider, the corded phone system currently/previously available was made specifically for this car when there was basically only one standard for cell phones and little competition. The cordless Nokia you are referring to is a mass market product (I know it has the Audi rings on it but I suspect you can draw a parallel to the Sprint insignia on my Nokia in that it is a product not designed specifically for use in a car, in this case an Audi) which you can buy through any retailer who sells Nokia products. These mass market products are usually discontinued every 1 to 2 years. So Audi is faced with a couple of dilemmas here. A) Do they bother to sell a product that their customers can get just about any where else for less and B) if this product is going to be obsolete in a couple of years, what do they do then? Most of these cell phone equipment manufacturers do not maintain connectivity standards on these mass market products when they drop a model and introduce a new one.


If you want to find the info I am referring to on the Nokia in an A4, and by the way I think this guy put it where the cup holder normally resides, You can go to the following URL:


http://www.mindspring.com/~edward.palisoc/a4-nokia.htm


I was referred to this URL by some folks who post on the A8/S8 forum at Audiworld.org (formerly A4.org).


Hope this helps

#69 of 1483 it must be late by billmillsva

Jan 05, 2000 (6:22 am)

You know it's late when you use "know one" when you mean "no one."

#70 of 1483 Hard Starting by alloyman

Jan 05, 2000 (6:22 pm)

I have a 99 A-8 with 13,000 miles. In general it's a great car. Does anyone have an erratic problem with starting. Most days a turn of the key starts it immediately. At other times you can keep cranking and nothing, until you try again. On the second try it usually starts immediately.
In addition has anyone had a problem with the following: Windshield Wiper chatter. After a full year of aggrivation the dealer finally found out the correct angle and repaired. The drivers side still chatters a little at the bottom. Switching to a Bosch 22" Microedge Excel helped futher, but not perfectly.
Does anyone get a electronic whining sound when first driving when cold ?
Does anyone have a radio head unit that displays incomplete LCD information ? This seems to happen regularly in the cold weather, especially when the car doesn't start immediately.
 

#71 of 1483 Re post #70 & 72 by rjfiss

Jan 06, 2000 (10:47 pm)

I can't seem to bring up the suggested URL. I keep getting a message that the URL is not at Mindspring. Is it typed correctly?
Re: noises in winter - I do get a "thump" coming from the dashboard. It thumps about every 15 secs when the car is at idle. Don't know what it is, but assume it is some mechanical part doing something normal.

Messages Page 8 of 150

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