TD4 test drive

(27-09-2011 01:57pm)vision*R Wrote:  No doubt the AD will stiffen it up and will probably take away most or all of the diving. But I'm afraid it will also make it a tad harder when you're just cruising, and I thought the standard suspension was absolutely perfect under normal conditions. Don't forget that in our market it's a € 1250 extra (even on a Dynamic) AND I would need to switch to SD4 (+ € 2800 and € 1240 extra taxes). It can't be worth € 5300!

The AD shouldn't really make the suspension harder in normal mode though, all the reports I've read say the ride is very similar to non AD cars and it only stiffens up when it needs to, i.e. such as to stop the diving under braking that you've mentioned. I'm sure Tim or Spiderman will be able to confirm.
Obviously at that cost though, you'd have to really, really want it!

(27-09-2011 01:57pm)vision*R Wrote:  No doubt the AD will stiffen it up and will probably take away most or all of the diving. But I'm afraid it will also make it a tad harder when you're just cruising, and I thought the standard suspension was absolutely perfect under normal conditions. Don't forget that in our market it's a € 1250 extra (even on a Dynamic) AND I would need to switch to SD4 (+ € 2800 and € 1240 extra taxes). It can't be worth € 5300!

AD is not available on TD4 in EU spec.? i thought it was...

Nope.

Forgot to say that my average fuel consumption over those 2 hours was 9.5 l/100km which is 25 mpg.
I thought it was slightly disappointing, 3/4 of the time I drove normally on local roads, the rest on highways with slightly excessive speed.

25MPG!!!! Surely Not, did you reset the Trip Computer??

That doesn't sound right, not compared to the SD4 Auto figures that people have been given!

Wait, I'm not familiar with the mpg calculation. I think that was US mpg. In UK mpg it would be something like 30 mpg.

(27-09-2011 04:10pm)paulus599 Wrote:  

(27-09-2011 01:57pm)vision*R Wrote:  No doubt the AD will stiffen it up and will probably take away most or all of the diving. But I'm afraid it will also make it a tad harder when you're just cruising, and I thought the standard suspension was absolutely perfect under normal conditions. Don't forget that in our market it's a € 1250 extra (even on a Dynamic) AND I would need to switch to SD4 (+ € 2800 and € 1240 extra taxes). It can't be worth € 5300!

The AD shouldn't really make the suspension harder in normal mode though, all the reports I've read say the ride is very similar to non AD cars and it only stiffens up when it needs to, i.e. such as to stop the diving under braking that you've mentioned. I'm sure Tim or Spiderman will be able to confirm.
Obviously at that cost though, you'd have to really, really want it!

The AD is active 24/7 as such it has an instantaneous recovery rate to the dead-flat where the normal suspension will continue to bounce & wallow, it is not firm, just better reacting & so the car feels more planted & glued to the road, irrespective of surface! The ADs Dynamic mode, activated by a press of a terrain settings button remaps the ECU, firms the suspension up for a more focussed or spirited driving style, you will not want to use this setting over anything but relatively smooth roads, but on the right road with this button pressed the Evoque is an unbelievably enjoyable 'sporty' car!

For my money AD is a must have as it provides you with 2 vehicles for the price of 1