Your interpretation of their road test is a little misleading. According to their road test they think on the value front the Mondeo is better - which is fine, you'd expect to get more for your money with a Mondeo than an Audi. They then go on to say that it's cheaper than the BMW, Mercedes and Lexus equivalents which are the more closely linked rivals than the Mondeo, especially in the larger engined versions.
The closing comments about the pedals and handling not being as good as the Mondeo are also not unexpected. Its situation normal for any road test in this class. "...blah blah blah doesn't handle as well as a 3 Series...", "...blah blah the Mondeo is a better driving better value car". It doesn't matter which magazine you read, the same comments come round again and again. What Car this month said it didn't handle as well as the 3-Series too. Their comments on the quality are different though, they think the carpets are thinner and the lower cabin quality not so good as the B7.
I'm not sure how much stock I place in magazine road test now, the comments are all the same in just about every magazine, especially considering the obvious errors in the Autocar test - Transverse engine installation, yes I can see that working really well on the MLP platform. Multitronic on the 3.0 TDI errr no, the torque would destroy the belts and it doesn't physically fit with Quattro anyway. Just like all the "spy shot" reports that claim the 3.0 TDI will make it into a TT or something - they show no indication of understanding vehicles beyond getting in and starting the car.
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Their comments on the quality are different though, they think the carpets are thinner and the lower cabin quality not so good as the B7.
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I've had a B6 and B7 Audi A4, and I think that Audi are reducing their quality by stealth. I had an A6 as a courtesy car and I think the interior of the A5+A6 is not as well made as the B6 or B7 A4's.
VW's also seem to be skimping on interior quality too from what I've seen.
The Mondeo is a formidable car for a Ford, and although I'm a real badge snob, I would have no problem driving a new Mondeo.
I hope VaG will learn to kick out the 'bean-counters' before its too late !
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Could it be due to the 3 series and Mondeo being better drivers cars?
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MichaelR maybe they were testing a new RS4 in Frankfurt though? Although I thought the Audi philosophy is only one RS model at a time and it's the RS6 at the moment.
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MichaelR maybe they were testing a new RS4 in Frankfurt though? Although I thought >> the Audi philosophy is only one RS model at a time and it's the RS6 at the moment.
They were not for the very reason you state.
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I promise you it was the new shape. RS4 badges all over it.
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Big issue apparently with the pedals out of alignment with the driving position.
That's like going back to driving a Vauxhall Nova of 1983.
Shocking if true.
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I promise you it was the new shape. RS4 badges all over it.
It really wasn't. Do you know what the new shape looks like? It's only just come out here so you could be forigven for not knowing.
The last RS4 they made was based on the 2005-2008 shape A4.
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Someone pass me a big slice of humble pie....
Having checked the photos of the A4 it was a (brand-new) old shape one. Apologies all-round.
Made a lovely sound all the same.
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From a quick 'fag packet' calculation I reckon the A4 was similarly specced to a top spec XF which is £37,500 OTR, but also has an auto box as standard.
Add an autobox and the A4 may cost you £10,000 more than an XF! That is a big difference.
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It's a shame a new shape S4 (let alone an RS4) is not out in the wild yet. Compared to an M3 or an AMG Merc I would love an RS4 ;-) Previous model of course but I bet the next one based on the new platform will be even better.
Edited by rtj70 on 25/02/2008 at 20:08
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