krazzz

I can't for the life of me understand why an $80k+ flagship car doesn't come standard with a remote start or at least have it as a factory option. It has so many ridiculous and silly options but is lacking one important one? I can think of a dozen options that I would trade to add a remote starter. My sister's $18k Kia has a factory remote starter. What gives?? I know it gets cold in Germany too. It's in the single digits here with 40mph winds which puts it well into the negative windchill. I love my A8 but on mornings like this my wife's minivan with the remote starter looks better and better all the time.

I've done a pretty exhaustive search but is it safe to say that nobody does a "plug an play" remote starter for this car? I've learned my lesson before and I am not interested in splicing into this wiring system to install a universal one. I'd love to hear what some of you have done in this situation. I can't wait until my kids are older so I can go make them start it up. Hahaha.

krazzz

Ok, I had to rant a little. I'm still trying to thaw out from this morning. But seriously, if my Audi didn't have such HOT heated seats and the heated steering wheel, the minivan would have won this morning.

Bangerla

Because in Germany they have remote start Aux Heaters, or programmable ones... Why run the engine when you just want to warm the car up?? That is why they have the Aux heater which warms everything up. Unfortunately this is not an option in the US. You could but the parts from Germany and retrofit them.

1Wasserwerks

I usually just send my driver, James, out to start the car while I enjoy some coffee and the morning newspaper.

mishar

Well, order of things should go like this: before buying an $80K car one should already have a garage. They usually come with all kind of heaters. Or Webasto from Europe.

P.S. Chauffeur is an excellent idea too.

MP4.2+6.0

Audi's have never had such a feature. A variety of things like this I think are also considered safety issues they probably don't want to get involved with--CO poisoning, kids throwing car in gear, theft, etc. That's aside from the emissions and fuel economy they probably also don't want to deal with in this day and age.

Net, just not an Audi design thing. Zero issue w/ me in 35 + years of driving 'em, including in the cold. For that matter, wasn't ever a factory option on any other car I have owned either in the U.S. market--Mini, Smart, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, Ford.

snapdragon

Here in Europe, it is illegal to leave a car idling when parked, even on private land which is publicly accessible - so that is probably why. (environmental law rather than safety or security)

krazzz

Can you send him over my way after he starts your car?

I do have a garage however my Mercedes CLK430 gets to sleep in there for the winter. The rest of it is full of motorcycles and boats.

I may look into the engine block heater though. That's not a bad idea, I've had them on a few cars in the past. It's a requirement on anything that's a diesel up here. The diesel will actually turn to gel because it gets so cold.

krazzz

I'm not trying to complain but dang, this kind of cold takes your breath away.

viper04

Krazzz
I'm with you on this one. We are at a high of 16 today and this morning was 2 with a windchill. My wife 2014 mini van as remote start heated steering wheel, heated seat ect. Drove my truck this morning just because of the remote start.