New BiTDI Three weeks in

[BiTDI]

Well after three weeks of ownership and a few hundred miles, my impressions of my SE BiTDI on 18 inch alloys vs my old C6 A6 3.0 TDI Quattro on 18 inch alloys are:

Better:
Amazing engine, acceleration and exhaust sound
Better technology - phone, navi, media, stop-start, etc
Better standard headlights (the C6's were quite poor)
Far superior ride
Looks far better (old car was rather bland)
More legroom for rear passengers
Doesn't make rear passengers feel sick
Lower road tax (old car was 251g CO2!)

About the same:
Fuel economy (about 40 mpg real world driving for both)

Worse:
Cabin build quality, especially around the centre console, is not as good. The old car was truly superb.
Throttle / gearbox lag on most engine settings is quite annoying. The old car didn't do this
Standard air conditioning is far cruder than the standard air conditioning on the C6
Standard suspension on the SE with 18 inch wheels is too soft and feels floaty through bends. The old car was more of a driver's car. I might have been better getting an S Line, with hindsight (Standard suspension on my old C6 SE on 18 inch alloys was just on the firm side of just right, IMHO)

Overall, I'm pleased with it, but not ecstatic, which is a bit of a shame. It's a very sophisticated executive limo-type car, very fast in a straight line, which doesn't really like corners and doesn't engage the driver at all, which is not really what I wanted. I'd be interested to hear other folks' views.

[jbanfie]

My BiTDi is also 3 weeks old - although an S-Line A7 with air suspension - which might make a handling difference.

I love it for the absolute most part, although I agree on the throttle lag, it's not what I was expecting - I've taken to pushing the gear leaver over to Manual (to keep it in manual), and using the paddles to give me a lower gear and get the revs up a bit and then timing the overtake - the kick down is just not good enough. I'm hoping the throttle response will sharpen as the engine runs in and the ECU adjusts it's program???

To be honest that's the only real issue I have, although the economy has taken a hit with the cold mornings!
I can't fault the build quality, my dealer reckoned they have been improving since launch and I think he might be right.

[robbyg]

I thinks there's only us 3 on here.

5000 miles now. Agree with your comments, though am just back from 2000 miles around france. Managed to do some high speed runs. Unbelievable how fast it got from 100 to 145mph. Even up hill! Didnt manage to hit the limiter though, as the sweeping gentle bends feel somewhat tighter at that speed and steering feels abit floaty. Effortless 100mpg cruise though.

The car was very quiet, when i commented "christ 140 already" my mrs said "kilomterers?". "Miles" i replied. Mild telling off then followed.

Fuel economy was very impressive, all in comfort or dynamic modes:
100 miles at 70mph i got 56mpg! Twice out and back so can be gradient of wind related.
300 miles aiming for 80mph i got 44.5mpg
200 miles aiming for 85mph i got 42mpg
100 miles cruising at 100mph (with 3 blasts asking for an unpleasant experience with the gendarmes) i got 34mpg.
All verified as within 2 or 3 mpg by measuring from fill ups. Computer is showing 41mpg long term since new now. I am very pleased with that.

Good points:
All of the above posts plus
Speed limit display was accurate and useful esp in a foreign country
75L tank keeps my out of the garages.
Impressive seat comfort
Leather wipes clean easily despite an unpleasant poo based incident with my 6 month old
It doesn't shout out look at me to other motorists though it did turn some heads i the french villages, headlight DRLs i guess.
Best sat nav i have ever used. Excellent traffic report updates and re-routing. Good local details, despite the SIM not being connected.

Down sides for me:
Tyre noise
I wish the dynamic suspension setting was abit harder.
1st 2nd and 3rd are abit slushy sometimes in D mode around town.
LED headlights were a waste of money i think
Brakes don't inspire confidence but are fine

[Timothy Nathan]

I become more convinced that in this car, the more powerful the engine, the better the fuel economy.

[MAVAV]

I thinks there's only us 3 on here

Nope, I've got one too , had mine since June, 4,000 miles on the clock, plenty of vroom and excellent fuel economy. Couldn't be happier with it.

[amack71]

I'm just here to say I'm so jealous! 41mg? My 2010 model a6 170bhp struggles to get that on a slow motorway run! Enjoy your bi-turbos!

[fernar]

I am interested in your comments regarding the LED Headlights - this is one of the options I looked at very carefully - I resisted in the end and used the same money for other options.... why do you think the LED Headlights were a waste of money?

I think the LED technology will appear more and more as an option in cars - so the next revision of the A4 for example... so very interested in your comments

[Chris_www]

I have the LED headlights on my A6 Avant and I don't think they are really worth the money. They appear to be no brighter than the xenon lights, they just produce a light that is closer to daylight in colour temperature.

One advantage is that they look cool (not the reason I bought them - I was seduced by the technology). It's your decision wether this is worth the considerable cost.

[Timothy Nathan]

Is another advantage that they never fail, or don't we know that yet?

[Chris_www]

4 months in and they haven't failed yet Saying that, I've never had a xenon bulb fail on my previous cars, only the standard tail light bulbs, so I don't think it is much of an issue when compared with xenons.

The other advantage is lower power consumption (around half that of xenon) which may have a tiny impact on fuel consumption. I am amazed by the fuel consumption figures owners are getting for the new BiTDi. I can't match those in my 3.0 TDi quattro despite the promise of the dual clutch gearbox and the official consumption figures showing a 4 MPG advantage.

When I said they look cool I mean people actually stare at them trying to figure out what they are. There are so few cars with LED headlights I guess they look kind of futuristic.