2019 Audi Q8

MY GORGEOUS NEW AUDI Q8 HAS A DANGEROUS HESITATION ISSUE WHEN ACCELERATION FROM A FULL START WITH AUTO START/STOP ENABLED. THE ISSUE IS DESCRIBED THOROUGHLY IN THE ARTICLE @ HTTPS://TECHCRUNCH.COM/2019/06/10/REVIEW-THE-STUNNING-2019-AUDI-Q8-HAS-A-DEAL-BREAKING-FLAW/. ACCELERATOR RESPONSE IS VERY INCONSISTENT SUCH THAT YOU CAN'T COUNT ON THE CAR ACCELERATING IN A CONSISTENT MANNER. IT EITHER HESITATES OR SURGES FORWARD. TURNING AUTO START/STOP DOES IMPROVE PERFORMANCE, BUT ONE MUST REMEMBER TO TURN IT OFF EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE. I GOT MY Q8 2 MONTHS AGO. I TRIED TO LEARN HOW TO PREDICT ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL, BUT GAVE UP AFTER ALMOST GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT WHILE CHANGING LANES AROUND A CAR AT A RED LIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAYS AUDI HAS NOT ISSUED ANY SERVICE BULLETINS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT HAPPENING AT THE TIME OF THIS TEST DRIVE.

EXCESSIVE AND DANGEROUS DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE DUE TO AUTO START/STOP SYSTEM CAUSING VEHICLE TO COAST WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT A YIELD SIGN OR INTERSECTION ETC BEFORE TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGES. THE VEHICLE IS POWERLESS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS DESPITE APPLICATION OF GAS PEDAL, CAUSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO POTENTIAL COLLIDE WITH "STALLED" Q8. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN DEFECT IN THE AUTO START/STOP SYSTEM AND OCCURS EVERY TIME THE SYSTEM IS ACTIVE.

THE AUTO STOP/START SYSTEM ON THE AUDI Q8 PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN A DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. FREQUENTLY, WHEN I DO THIS (WITH THE AUTO STOP/START ENGAGED - IT'S DEFAULT SETTING) THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-4 SECONDS. WHEN IT DOES ENGAGE, IT FINALLY DOES SO WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS WHEN TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN EITHER ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC OR TAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A ROAD. FOR THE DRIVER, IT'S VERY DISCONCERTING AS (1) YOU DON'T GET THE POWER WHEN YOU WANT OR NEED IT AND (2) WHEN THE POWER FINALLY DOES COME, IT'S EXCESSIVE AND IF YOU MAY NEED TO SLAM THE BRAKES ON TO AVOID TRAFFIC THAT YOU WERE NOT EXPECTING TO BE CLOSE WHEN YOU FIRST BEGAN THE TURN. THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY. IF THE AUTO STOP/START SYSTEM IS DISENGAGED, THEN THIS BEHAVIOR GOES AWAY AND THE CAR OPERATES AS EXPECTED. HOWEVER IT RELIES ON THE DRIVER TO REMEMBER TO DISABLE THE "FEATURE" EACH AND EVERY TIME. FOR SOMEONE LIKE MY WIFE, WHO WILL USE THE CAR A FEW TIMES EACH YEAR (WHEN HER CAR IS UNAVAILABLE), SHE MAY NOT BE AWARE (OR I MAY FORGET TO TELL HER) HOW TO ADJUST THE CAR. SAME WITH ANYONE ELSE WHO MIGHT DRIVE THE CAR.