2009 Audi A4

Replying to: art234 (Apr 22, 2009 4:27 pm)

First, a disclaimer:
 
Those who do not have ADS will, almost to a person, tell you "you don't need it."
 
Those who do have ADS will, almost to a person, tell you - "don't leave home without it."
 
Having said this, I have the following configuration:
 
2009 A4 2.0T Prestige level/quattro
 
o Ibis (white)
o Cardamom (beige)
o Almond Wood inlays
 
o Tiptronic
o 19" Sport package (S Line "light")
o Navigation/Camera package
o Power op rear sunshade/manual rear side shades
o Audi Drive Select
o Audi pre-paid maintenance
 
I replaced the factory summer only tires with Yoko's Advan S4 UHP all-seasons.
 
The sticker on the car was ~$49,650.
 
I have about 8,000 miles on the car (picked it up in October.)
 
Have had the first service interval and other than the tire swap, nuttin'. . . .
 
I traded in a nearly all optioned 2005 A6 3.2.
 
I have had 28 or 29 Audis since 1977. Pretty much, you name it, I have had it (or if not me, my wife.)
 
Whattya wanna know about ADS and ADS with a configuration such as the one outlined above?
 
My thoughts: "everyone would get ADS if it were $1,000 less."
 
Again, whattya wanna know?
 
I set my individual preference (which is one of the four settings) to:
 
Dynamic steering
Dynamic engine and transmission
Auto suspension
 
Every option can be: Comfort, Auto, or Dynamic in Individual Mode.
 
The three set parms are: Comfort for everything, Auto for everything or Dynamic for everything.
 
I rarely use Dynamic -- although when I do, I must say it is an absolute BLAST!
 
I typically use Individual and when I hit the Interstate for a long jaunt, I set it to Comfort and set the cruise control to "prevailing conditions and speeds."
 
The character of the car is different in each mode and will improve either the comfort or the "compliance" of the car based on how it is set and how you drive.
 
With the 19" x 255 x 35 tires, the availability of Comfort mode pretty much eliminates the bone jarring effects of such a low profile set of shoes.
 
Then when I want to "play" the car can be "a snake in a rat hole" in the twisties.
 
Now, at 8,000 miles the car has just reached its third break in and this thing seems to have even more torque than it did at 5,000 miles (which is to say it feels, at times, "limitless.")
 
ADS is expensive -- it may be too expensive, but now that I have it, I would not want to go without.
 
I love the look of the 19" wheels but I am NOT a fan of Summer Only shoes and that, more than anything else, ticked me off -- I should be able to get what I want from the factory rather than having to rebuy tires on a new car.
 
Again, to not go on about something you are not interested in, "whattya wanna know?"
 
Drive it like you live.

Replies to this message:
• barryend (Apr 23, 2009 7:49 pm)
  • markcincinnati (Apr 24, 2009 4:58 am)
    • salexand (Apr 30, 2009 12:03 pm) and 2 more...
• hdtvdsl (May 26, 2009 4:29 pm)
  • markcincinnati (Jun 03, 2009 1:25 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Apr 23, 2009 1:02 pm)

Replies to this message:
• markcincinnati (Apr 24, 2009 4:58 am)
  • salexand (Apr 30, 2009 12:03 pm)
    • fglamser (Apr 30, 2009 12:21 pm)
    • markcincinnati (Apr 30, 2009 4:13 pm)

Replying to: tdg1 (Mar 06, 2009 6:11 pm)

Replying to: barryend (Apr 23, 2009 7:49 pm)

I donated the tires to the Audi dealer's pile of tires.
 
Nothing is wrong with the summer only tires -- in summer.
 
During temps that drop below 45, the summer tires are not "Ultra High Performance." Moreover, they have a lifespan of under 20K miles and I simply do not want to swap out the tires twice a year.
 
The UHP A/S's are a compromise (but not THAT much) -- but I do not track the car. I also like tires to wear at least 25,000 mile before replacement.
 
The 19" option seriously reduces your choices of tires -- perhaps the 18" option is (or would have been) more prudent.
 
In any case, I am offering up answers regarding ADS if someone has a question or wants a bit of a discussion on its merits.
 
 

Replies to this message:
• salexand (Apr 30, 2009 12:03 pm)
  • fglamser (Apr 30, 2009 12:21 pm)
  • markcincinnati (Apr 30, 2009 4:13 pm)

I took delivery of an A4 B8 2009 model in February 2009. When I went to check the oil level via the MMI the other day, I received a message stating that the information was not available for display at this time.
 
Can anyone suggest how to have the MMI display the oil level like it used to?

Replies to this message:
• markcincinnati (Apr 25, 2009 7:33 am)
  • dougfromaus (Apr 25, 2009 3:22 pm)

Replying to: dougfromaus (Apr 25, 2009 2:51 am)

Replies to this message:
• dougfromaus (Apr 25, 2009 3:22 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Apr 25, 2009 7:33 am)

Thanks,
 
I forgot to mention that I had been driving the car for around 45 minutes before trying to read the oil level so the engine had been warmed up.
 
I have followed the instructions given in the user manual regarding warming the engine, parking on a level surface, turning off the engine for approx 2 minutes etc. but all to no avail.
 
What is particularly frustrating is that the car doesn't even come with a manual dipstick to allow you to check the oil level, so I am at a loss to know what to do other than contact the dealer. I just thought there might be an easy fix.

Replies to this message:
• barryend (Apr 26, 2009 9:13 am)
• newcarbuyer12 (Apr 26, 2009 10:01 am)
• carnaught (Apr 26, 2009 10:05 am)