The new Audi RS etron GT - lucky test drive v2
Discussion
Reposting this because the last post was quickly removed as I was naughty. Apparently you're not allowed to watch / link YT videos.... didn't realise. So new post without the link as I genuinely wanted to start a conversation about this!
Yep, it's been on my mind that much!
So - last Sunday a friend of mine who's just ordered a new Audi RS e-tron GT was given a demo car by Audi Guildford. He had the car for a few hours and was kind enough to let me come along and experience it for a bit - I'm very glad he did.
I've owned a McLaren 570s now for the last 2 years, which I love. I'm an absolutely self confessed petrol head and have only ever owned petrol / diesel ICE cars. This EV experience was my first chance to drive an EV - it's not something I've ever pursued as I've tended to just default to ICE. I know these things are the future, but I have to admit, I went into this expecting it to be dull and soulless. How wrong I was. Yes the car is heavy at just under 2.5 tons (thank you lithium) but it really doesn't feel like it at all! The sound is weird / almost sci fi thanks to that external speaker, but my word this thing goes. If you stamp on the fun pedal the initial torque kick is kidney bustlingly intense. It's instant like you've never known, no turbos to spool up or power bands to get to. Instant. Bang.
It's so smooth too... just relentless. Range anxiety was a minor factor as we got the car half charged but it seemed to last the duration. The build quality was something else too. Never thought I'd hear myself say this but EV, for a petrol head like me, is becoming a highly plausible possibility! I think Tesla are going to face a lot of very stiff competition, from established manufacturers who are already far better setup to, well, manufacture!
Some pics below.
Yep, it's been on my mind that much!
So - last Sunday a friend of mine who's just ordered a new Audi RS e-tron GT was given a demo car by Audi Guildford. He had the car for a few hours and was kind enough to let me come along and experience it for a bit - I'm very glad he did.
I've owned a McLaren 570s now for the last 2 years, which I love. I'm an absolutely self confessed petrol head and have only ever owned petrol / diesel ICE cars. This EV experience was my first chance to drive an EV - it's not something I've ever pursued as I've tended to just default to ICE. I know these things are the future, but I have to admit, I went into this expecting it to be dull and soulless. How wrong I was. Yes the car is heavy at just under 2.5 tons (thank you lithium) but it really doesn't feel like it at all! The sound is weird / almost sci fi thanks to that external speaker, but my word this thing goes. If you stamp on the fun pedal the initial torque kick is kidney bustlingly intense. It's instant like you've never known, no turbos to spool up or power bands to get to. Instant. Bang.
It's so smooth too... just relentless. Range anxiety was a minor factor as we got the car half charged but it seemed to last the duration. The build quality was something else too. Never thought I'd hear myself say this but EV, for a petrol head like me, is becoming a highly plausible possibility! I think Tesla are going to face a lot of very stiff competition, from established manufacturers who are already far better setup to, well, manufacture!
Some pics below.
For me this and the Taycan (same platform) are the ones really piquing my interest.
Have been doing a chunk of man maths over the last few days on getting into a Taycan. If I get chance over the summer I'll try and get a test drive in the Porsche. It could be a good option to replace a couple of cars...
Have been doing a chunk of man maths over the last few days on getting into a Taycan. If I get chance over the summer I'll try and get a test drive in the Porsche. It could be a good option to replace a couple of cars...
Murph7355 said:
For me this and the Taycan (same platform) are the ones really piquing my interest.
Have been doing a chunk of man maths over the last few days on getting into a Taycan. If I get chance over the summer I'll try and get a test drive in the Porsche. It could be a good option to replace a couple of cars...
Agree on this, it's a fab platform. I think the other thing here is VAG already knew how to make a great car. Did Tesla? That said I think the roadster is really going to shake things up if it does live up to expectations. Only thing stacked against that taycan / etron platform is range I guess....?Have been doing a chunk of man maths over the last few days on getting into a Taycan. If I get chance over the summer I'll try and get a test drive in the Porsche. It could be a good option to replace a couple of cars...
TABoncars said:
Murph7355 said:
For me this and the Taycan (same platform) are the ones really piquing my interest.
Have been doing a chunk of man maths over the last few days on getting into a Taycan. If I get chance over the summer I'll try and get a test drive in the Porsche. It could be a good option to replace a couple of cars...
Agree on this, it's a fab platform. I think the other thing here is VAG already knew how to make a great car. Did Tesla? That said I think the roadster is really going to shake things up if it does live up to expectations. Only thing stacked against that taycan / etron platform is range I guess....?Have been doing a chunk of man maths over the last few days on getting into a Taycan. If I get chance over the summer I'll try and get a test drive in the Porsche. It could be a good option to replace a couple of cars...
They're still the only EV's I'd jump to though.
TABoncars said:
Agree on this, it's a fab platform. I think the other thing here is VAG already knew how to make a great car. Did Tesla? That said I think the roadster is really going to shake things up if it does live up to expectations. Only thing stacked against that taycan / etron platform is range I guess....?
With the bigger battery I believe quoted range is nigh on 300 miles...so 250 real world?tbh, even a definite 200 miles would be fine for me.
TABoncars said:
It's so smooth too... just relentless. Range anxiety was a minor factor as we got the car half charged but it seemed to last the duration. The build quality was something else too. Never thought I'd hear myself say this but EV, for a petrol head like me, is becoming a highly plausible possibility! I think Tesla are going to face a lot of very stiff competition, from established manufacturers who are already far better setup to, well, manufacture!
Well, I learned from another thread that the prices in the UK are a lot closer than they are on the old continent.But over here, a like for like Taycan to a Tesla Model S is easily 50% more expensive.
On top of that, the TMS is a big family hatch that happens to be fast, the Taycan (don't know about the EGT, but imagine it to be the same) is a superfast car that happens to seat 4.
It's like comparing an E63 AMG to a Ferrari FF.
If you can afford it and it's practical enough for you, then go for it I'd say, but the EGT and Taycan make the "super expensive" Tesla look like a bargain.
SWoll said:
Public charging and reverse Tardis levels of practicality for a 5m long car do also go against them.
They're still the only EV's I'd jump to though.
It was surprisingly compact and racy inside, and the back seats only good for child sized people really... But the quality was great, a lovely cabin.They're still the only EV's I'd jump to though.
Murph7355 said:
With the bigger battery I believe quoted range is nigh on 300 miles...so 250 real world?
tbh, even a definite 200 miles would be fine for me.
For the short time I had the car I was projecting about 200 miles, or so-ish of range. Problem is, very hard to drive without enjoying the acceleration. It's so accessible...!tbh, even a definite 200 miles would be fine for me.
ZesPak said:
Well, I learned from another thread that the prices in the UK are a lot closer than they are on the old continent.
But over here, a like for like Taycan to a Tesla Model S is easily 50% more expensive.
On top of that, the TMS is a big family hatch that happens to be fast, the Taycan (don't know about the EGT, but imagine it to be the same) is a superfast car that happens to seat 4.
It's like comparing an E63 AMG to a Ferrari FF.
If you can afford it and it's practical enough for you, then go for it I'd say, but the EGT and Taycan make the "super expensive" Tesla look like a bargain.
Indeed, fully appreciate there's other angles on this, but I was really looking at this from the point of view of how it compared to a petrol 570s for fun. I think you'd struggle to seat 4 in the GT too, was very cosy. You can see the size of the back seats in this in the video if you wanted a look.But over here, a like for like Taycan to a Tesla Model S is easily 50% more expensive.
On top of that, the TMS is a big family hatch that happens to be fast, the Taycan (don't know about the EGT, but imagine it to be the same) is a superfast car that happens to seat 4.
It's like comparing an E63 AMG to a Ferrari FF.
If you can afford it and it's practical enough for you, then go for it I'd say, but the EGT and Taycan make the "super expensive" Tesla look like a bargain.
TABoncars said:
It was surprisingly compact and racy inside, and the back seats only good for child sized people really... But the quality was great, a lovely cabin.
Yeah, I'm all for a nice GT that sacrifices rear space and practicality for looks/performance.But at 5m long and 2m wide I'd expect better.
ZesPak said:
TABoncars said:
It was surprisingly compact and racy inside, and the back seats only good for child sized people really... But the quality was great, a lovely cabin.
Yeah, I'm all for a nice GT that sacrifices rear space and practicality for looks/performance.But at 5m long and 2m wide I'd expect better.
Needs a lighter interior colour and the panoramic roof though as very dark in there.
ZesPak said:
SWoll said:
Needs a lighter interior colour and the panoramic roof though as very dark in there.
One poster on here has ordered his "water melon" colour scheme, which I love 
This is one of the downsides of the ETron in comparison. £4k+ for an interesting exterior colour and if you want the interior in any colour other than black it's £10k due to having to pay for the comfort and sound + pack etc.
£15k for the watermelon look on the ETron GT. £3.5k on the Taycan 4S.
ZesPak said:
Make that 145 EUR or 125k GBP
Well, as we discussed before it's a long way from Germany to Belgium so understandable prices are higher than for a US made car, it's not like they share a border..TABoncars said:
Is that the matchbox version, or just an incredibly large spotlight?
A definite "Honey, I shrunk the Audi" vibe in that shot I agree. Edited by SWoll on Tuesday 1st June 15:24
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