A great President of the modern era once said, "Fool me once: Shame on you. Fool me twice: We won't get fooled again." And so it is with the Audi A4 wagon: I was fooled the first time (or three), but won't be fooled again. You see, when I first attempted to enter the A4, I saw the door handle with the smart key switch shown in the photo. All of these systems are similar, but with some you have to press the switch to unlock (with the key conveniently in your pocket); others you just pull the handle to open. I tried it both ways with the A4. Fool!!
Upon closer inspection, I saw that there is no button on the handle -- it's a switch blank. There is no smart key. These switch blanks are common inside many vehicles as placeholders for optional equipment that's not on that specific vehicle, but I've never seen such a thing on the door handle or anywhere on the exterior of a vehicle. Apparently, our A4 wagon shares its door handles with a fancier A4 or a high end Audi model. But for $44K, couldn't this vehicle have its own door handles without the switch blank? Audi rubs it in by putting these switch blanks on all four door handles.
Hopefully Audi will address this issue instead of ducking metaphorical shoes thrown by this crazed journalist.
Albert Austria, Sr Vehicle Evaluation Engineer @ 4034 mi
prndlol says:
07:38 PM, 12/18/08
I wouldn't be too enthused either if i had to look at a switchblank each time i reached to open the door to my car. Blanks remind me of three things: the 80's, Japanese, and entry level, all of which a 44k Audi is not.
tmanz says:
07:50 PM, 12/18/08
just be glad you didn't get one with the sunroof blank :)
billt9 says:
08:12 PM, 12/18/08
You have the mid-trim "Premium Plus"... one level short of the entry ticket to "Advance Key", the "Prestige" trim.
Sorry, you middle class person.
petrolhead85 says:
12:41 AM, 12/19/08
"But for $44K, couldn't this vehicle have its own door handles without the switch blank?"
Even better, couldn't the A4 just come standard with a smart key? It's not exactly a super prestige option anymore now that it's available in so many mainstream (ie. cheaper) cars.
justin says:
06:48 AM, 12/19/08
I would have never even noticed that little thing. Its a what now? A space where a properly equipped A4 would have a sensor or something?
I think I kinda like not having automatic door opener thingys. The Lexus has them and when I get near the car with my key not only does the drivers door unlock but the passenger door does too. Could let carjackers in!
A regular remote is better. One click for driver, two for the rest of the doors.
kurtamaxxxguy says:
09:24 AM, 12/19/08
Audi's already being hammered by exchange rates, and the blanks are one way they save money. They could eliminate them, and let you pay more for the Audi cachet. A good deal?
bimmerjay says:
12:43 PM, 12/19/08
"I think I kinda like not having automatic door opener thingys. The Lexus has them and when I get near the car with my key not only does the drivers door unlock but the passenger door does too. Could let carjackers in!"
I don't of any factory system (other than GM's active system that was on the Corvette) that unlocks the doors by proxy. It sounds like you have an aftermarket system.
On virtually every car the keyless systems do NOT unlock any door unless you physically touch the door handle. And there are almost always programmable preferences that let you unlock just the driver's door or all doors. So a regular remote is no different from a security perspective.
s197gt says:
01:17 PM, 12/19/08
i wouldn't know about switchblanks on door handles. my wife's $16k versa has an intelligent key!
lime679 says:
01:52 PM, 12/19/08
This is why I option my cars up. I don't want any blanks or the crappy base radio. NAV please!
MS3lvr92 says:
02:59 PM, 12/19/08
Haha... I like the shoe metaphor. I agree with s197gt. Why can't a 44 thousand dollar car have an intelligent key system when nearly the whole line of Nissans have it.
carfreak8394 says:
06:15 PM, 12/19/08
Once again, this would drive me crazy. And I agree with s197gt, a $16k Versa has it! That's sad. Shame on Audi.
billt9 says:
07:11 PM, 12/21/08
Oh. Oohhh. So, if Nissan jumps off the cliff, Audi should jump off the cliff too huuuuh?
Oohhhhhhhh.
Do you see Toyota jumping off the cliff too?
Did Honda?
Oohhhhh.
Personally I think more panel lines gives nice character. A very robotic look. Like the Lexus GX before it got a smoothing facelift that took away the character panel lines. Now the GX just looks like a tall disproportioned 4Runner.
justin says:
07:58 AM, 12/22/08
BimmerJay
You are right, I do have to touch, however lightly, the door handle. But then all doors unlock. Are you saying I can kill that feature and just use the remote as a remote? The "key" has an unlock and lock button on it, but the "unlock" button is pointless because whenever I touch the car, its unlocked. I'd rather make the choice to unlock whatever door I want.
receptionfades says:
03:23 PM, 01/ 1/09
If this is the same car that Chris Walton is driving them it is equipped with the advanced key.
http://www.truthinengineering.com/experience/technology/
The intelligent / advanced key video will give you a heads up on how to properly operate your test car.