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The Audi Q8 serves as the flagship Coupe SUV in the German brand’s lineup, to complement the wagon-bodied Q7. It is the brands answer to the growing coupe SUV trend capitalised on by major rivals in the form of the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class coupe. The Q8 also debuted a new, more aggressive design language for the Audi brand when it launched in 2018, and was shortly followed by a performance spin-off the SQ8. The Q8 range kicks off with the 50 TDI Quattro S Line Mhev at $132,269 and reaches to the 55 E-Tron at $165,984.
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Gearbox knocking in my 2014 Audi Q5
You haven’t told me what engine and transmission your car is fitted with, but if it’s one with the seven-speed DSG transmission, then this would not be the first time buyers have experienced problems. While not as troublesome as some dual-clutch gearboxes, the Audi’s DSG can wear over time, with symptoms including jerking on take-off, an inability to select a gear and, as you’ve noted, a selection of noises and clunks during shifts.
A transmission specialist should be able to scan the car electronically to see if the car throws up a fault code, and can also graph the performance of the transmission’s clutch packs to see if they’re behaving smoothly.
But don’t rule out something loose or worn in the front suspension or even a worn driveshaft. Both these things can contribute to clunks at low speed.
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Reliability and known issues with the 2007 Audi TT
Fundamentally, these Audis were well-built cars but there a couple of things to watch out for when shopping for a second-hand one. First, these were very complex cars with lots of standard equipment. So it’s important to make sure every switch, every lever and every button does exactly what it’s supposed to. Check that the air-conditioning blows icy cold and that the cruise-control does, in fact, work. Fixing these problems after the purchase might make the car seem a pretty expensive one.
Mechanically, the biggest thing to watch for is a faulty transmission. The V6 variant of the TT had a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox which is not without some history of problems. So, during the test drive, make sure it shifts promptly and without any hunting issues. It should pick up a gear from Park without hesitation and there should be no noises from the transmission whatsoever. Any jerking during take-off or trouble selecting a gear means you should look for another example without these problems as replacing or rebuilding the transmission will cost a huge percentage of the car’s value.
The Audi TT is one car where the cost of an independent pre-purchase inspection might be a good investment.
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Why doesn't the 2023 Audi Q2 have electric seats?
You've more or less answered your own question: When it comes to prestige makes and models, you'll often find you're paying for the brand image and how a car looks rather than what's in it. It's also very common for luxury brands to make many convenience and tech features part of an additional option pack that costs more for gear you might find standard in some more mainstream makes and models. That's just marketing for you.
A great example was the original Mercedes-Benz C-Class back in the late 1980s. This was Mercedes' first attempt at a cheaper car (to compete with the BMW 3-Series) and while it was nicely built and very solid, it had a small, relatively underpowered engine and a very plain interior. The argument was that you were paying for the core Mercedes engineering.
These days, there's also a compulsion to keep weight out of cars. Electric seats operate with electric motors and are notoriously heavy. By using manual seats, Audi can keep the kerb mass down which helps with handling, fuel economy and makes more of the relatively small engine fitted. Not to mention it gives the buyer the impetus to move up to the more expensive model with electric seats. Again, it's called marketing.
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* Price is based on Glass's Information Services third party pricing data for the lowest priced Audi Q8 variant.
The Price excludes costs such as stamp duty, other government charges and options.Disclaimer: Glass's Information Services (GIS) and CarsGuide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd. (CarsGuide) provide this information based on data from a range of sources including third parties. Whilst all care has been taken to ensure its accuracy and reliability, GIS and CarsGuide do not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.
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