So I moved from the UK to the California Bay Area back in July, and took
advantage of the dollar-pound exchange rate and bought a:

A4 2.0T 6AT Phantom Black, Premium, Convenience, Heated seats

Just to say this is a great forum, which is a testament to its users, rather
than the site itself.

First thoughts on the car:

Always driven manual before, not sure if I'm that enamoured with AT, (was
having difficulty sourcing a MT quickly enough). The tip is useful, it's just
not fun, and often I'm left wondering what gear I'm in.

What is the deal with the 2.0T vs 3.2 packages, I don't get heated rear seats,
and I don't get the seat/mirror memory. Hopefully that's a possible mod.

Build quality of the car is excellent, though there are some odd reverb noise
from the area around the interior light when the volume is up.

My only major disappointment is the lack of a good iPod intergration solution.
I contacted Audi HQ back in Germany about this (throwing in some German), and
they essentially said that there would never be a good solution for the B7 A4.

Seems odd, my radio can talk to an iPod and it can play CDs that are full of
MP3s; displaying the ID3tags, I really hope it's a hardware issue, and not
just a bit of missing software.

Anyway, I have an old mk1 dension ice-link, I just need to get the right
cables for it plus the radio removal keys.

Minor annoyances:

1. Argh, that fricking seat-belt chime! (have to find a vag-com)

2. Already got a quarter stuck behind the ashtray lid (another reason for the
radio removal tools).

3. Differences to UK spec:
- amber indicators always on at front (really want clear-corner mod)
- no amber at rear - (vag parts)
- inane warning stickers on sun visors (vag parts)
(they *should* have put a no-quarters sticker on the ashtray)

Just had the first 5k service back in Dec, and today I note that the oil does
seem darker than I'm used to (I'll try the paper test I saw on the forum).

I'm also a bit aghast to notice that the anti-freeze is below the min line. I
wonder if it's worth complaining?

Anyway, here's the obligatory money shot, plus one of the big reasons for
getting a Audi with quattro :

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/143219/img_8410.jpg">

(Shortly after I took this photo I got to feel the ABS going, and see the
traction light flickering like mad, perhaps I should have put the chains
on. (Front wheels only from what I deduced after contacting Audi USA)).

Alun.

 

Took me a while to get used to AudiWorld. Now I get annoyed reading all other forums. I've found this to be a quick way of keeping tabs on a lot of threads very quickly and efficiently.

I feel ya on those gripes. Hope you enjoy the car though - I find I have much more to love than hate about my B7. Especially in the snow

 

welcome to the forum and the States! Nice ride

 

Nice car, welcome!

 

Need to get snow tires if you are going to the mts

 

I have the same issues with the tip, so I often drive with it in manual mode. The way I look at it, it has 2 more auto modes than the MT

Having experienced the bay area traffic (bridge) and the hills on numerous occasions, I wonder how long a clutch (and your left leg) would last out there?

Btw, my 05.5 2.0t has the rear heated seats and the seat/mirror memory (and reverse mirror tilt) so maybe the package offerings changed on later models?

Cheers!

 

Head over to the Nor Cal Forum from time to time for some local advice on dealers, parts, repair shops, and GTG's. You will probably even find someone who can help you with your VAG-COM issues!

 

As an ex-pat myself, welcome to the sunshine state! Those warning labels everywhere are very un-British aren't they? You can't remove the buggers without screwing the finish on them either..

Nice car...I bought an 06 Avant S-Line 6spd..all the trimmings (except Nav)...still loving it.

Are you planning on 'chipping' it? I.e. choosing a flavor of doritos ;-)..really brings the 2.0T to life..

Have fun.

Nick

 

Cold Weather Package....
Heated Rear Seats
Ski Sack

Technology Package....
Bi-Xenon Headlights
Adaptive Front Lighting
Memory for Driver's Seat Adjustment and Exterior Mirror Positions
Color Trip Computer<ul><li><a href="https://www.audiworld.com/model/">Model Guide-Packages</a></li></ul>

 

I couldn't get the Cold Weather pkg in time either, so I've forgone the ski sack &amp; headlight washers.

Not that it matters to much, hard to use the ski sack with three in the back...

Hmm, I did get bi-xenon / adaptive, but no colour trip computer.

The heated rear and memory are only for the 3.2...

I think I have the '08 version.

A.