Month: January 2014

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Wednesday – Stung By Angry Bees

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Cars never used to have the benefit of different driving modes – the Q5 has a discreet button called Drive Select that turns a school run-mobile into a seriously quick motor.

It alters the automatic gearbox shift points, the steering and throttle response and the firmness of the suspension. In the old days you bought a car with an engine and gearbox and that was that!

Comfort, auto or dynamic – the latter has the same affect on the Q5 as being stung on the backside by a swarm of very angry bees. Fantastic.

The Q5 comes alive and races to 60mph in 6.3 seconds. All the vagueness of the steering in ‘comfort’ mode disappears and the Q5 is a different car.

So, it all begs the question, why do we need a Drive Select button in the first place? Personally, I think we’ve all become rather lazy when it comes to how we drive our cars these days…

 

 

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Tuesday – Bare Grilles

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There’s a line from Blackadder, when he threatens to injure Baldrick by making him walk across a very sharp cattle grip wearing a heavy hat.

The modern-day equivalent would be something similar with the front grille of a Q5. The latest Audi look across the range is for a large, deep grille of quite epic proportions.

Front grilles are bigger than ever these days – just take a look at the latest nose of the Mazda6, the next generation Mercedes C-Class, or the Hyundai Santa Fe.

For some reason, it doesn’t work on the Q5. The proportions are all wrong, perhaps because the car is too short, unlike an A6 Avant or Q7, which don’t suffer such problems.

Having a large hooter myself, I can only say I sympathise for the Q5. Maybe the next generation model will get the front end it deserves…

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Monday – Interior As Cool As A Coupe

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Just look at that dashboard layout – it’s so damn Audi. Minimalist, efficient and just oozing quality. And the Q5 is a family car, not some uber cool coupe. Yet it feels every inch as good in the driver’s seat, when you pop the key in the slot and the whole lot springs to life.

There is a raft of very good SUVs out there for a lot less money – think Kia, Hyundai – but you just know that when a customer sits behind the wheel of a Q5, it’s going to set an impressive benchmark.

It’s all about the details. The feel of the squared off steering wheel in your hand, the precision of the automatic gearbox shift and those buttons and dials, all beautifully tactile and positioned.

I can’t think of how a Q5 would fit in my life because I don’t have kids or grandchildren to ferry around. But I know that if I did, this would probably be the only serious competitor to a Land Rover Freelander that I would consider.

 

 

 

 

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Saturday – One Man Went to Mow

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A Q5’s isn’t cheap to buy compared to SUV rivals but as well as Audi quality, you are getting one very big car. I’ve just squeezed a huge lawn mower in the boot and it didn’t eat into rear seat space one bit.

The back seats are massive too. The Q5 really can carry five adults in comfort, with acres of leg space and excellent headroom as well. With or without lawn mower in situ. Lower the back seats and luggage space is almost trebled. You can also spec up the car with a folding front seat.

The cabin itself is a delight. A mix of quality leather and soft plastics which should make any school run a pleasure.

And the high driving position gives excellent, all-round visibility, one reason why people opt for SUVs in the first place. I have to give the sat nav system a mention too – quite possibly the easiest unit I’ve tried in ages. Still can’t my iPhone to synch with the Bluetooth though…

 

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Friday – Bourton-under-the-Water

q1.jpgWell, almost but I couldn’t resist the headline… The cream tea capital of the Cotswolds is now my local town! Imagine that – scones, jam and clotted cream whenever I need them in a hurry.

The river across the green has been on the verge of breaking its banks for the last couple of weeks. I was glad to take delivery of the Q5 because extra ground clearance and four-wheel drive ability is a must around these parts at the moment.

I think I’ve surprised myself by liking the Q5 more than I expected. It doesn’t have the aggressive, sinister look of big brother Q7 (Clarkson said the Q7 was a car you could nail to a church wall to fend off evil spirits…) but it’s a typical Audi alright. Well-built, practical and very capable.

The start mechanism is driving me slightly nuts, especially removing the key when the car is switched off. It refuses to come out and I am constantly restarting the car when actually, I just want to get out!

Still, I think it will be tough to find any major issues with the Q5. It’d no looker but another Audi that does exactly what it says on the tin. And that’s a very expensive tin too…

 

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Thursday – Audi Q5

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I’m not going to lie – I think the Q5 doesn’t look different enough to distinguish it from the rest of the SUVs out there at the moment. That said, I have always had a strong desire to drive one.

It’s just the sort of car you want to deliver your little ones to classes on time – indeed I’ve seen a couple on the school run through my village, where four-wheel drive is advisable and ice roads the norm.

With no ‘little ones’ to ferry about the place, the back seats have been dropped to make way for my mutt and I can actually enjoy the 245bhp TDI engine to the full.

I always try and ‘guess the price’ of the car when it arrives on my driveway. I guessed at £30,000. In fact, the S-line model is over £39,000! Is it worth it? Find out by joining us this week at carcouture….

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Wednesday – Cute & Curvy

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I’ve just spent the evening with my new neighbours – two complete petrol heads who know more about cars than any motoring writer I have ever met. One has a Toyota Supra track car that has an incredible 550bhp under the bonnet!

What was interesting is what they thought of the RCZ. Neither had driven it but both made favourable noises about how well the car looks. They liked the curvy shape, the cool interior and the contrasting roof pillars.

Both would have been even more excited if our test car was the 270bhp model, which should give the Audi TT RS a decent run for its money.

I think the RCZ would have been regarded as a truly great sports car IF Peugeot had launched a high performance model first, when the model first appeared four years ago. Sadly, because it had a range of lesser engines at the start of its life, it has never been regarded that highly.

Can’t wait to try the 270 version later this year…

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Tuesday – A Sophisticated Lion

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No offence to Peugeot but I never thought I would claim a Peugeot could be sophisticated. They’ve built some incredible hot hatchbacks over the years but sophisticated? No.

Before I drove the RCZ for the first time last year, I would have put it in the bling category – plenty of flash but not much substance.

There is, however, a lot more to the RCZ than meets the eye. The devil is in the detail and after sitting in the cabin for ten minutes, it’s quite clear that this is a luxuriously equipped, well built car with all the trimmings.

Does it compete with an Audi TT? I think it does. The original TT was a masterclass in design – the latest model borrows to many parts from across the range. The unique, design-led feel of the first model has gone.

In that respect, the RCZ wins hands down. It’s better on the inside and, some will think, prettier on the outside too. However, the ride and handling aren’t as good as the Audi and the premium brand TT badge alone will be enough to sway most buyers.

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Monday – Navigation

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I’m still baffled as to why so many car manufacturers struggle with the user-friendliness of their sat nav systems. The Peugeot unit appears straightforward enough but it has some frustrating traits that remind me of when BMW first brought out the iDrive system about ten years ago.

Keying in a destination int he RCZ requires true dexterity because the rotating dial used to select numbers and letters is super sensitive. It’s very easy to mess up – especially if the car is moving.

It’s possible to find an address using the postcode alone but again, it’s not blindingly obvious finding this facility when, let’s face it, it should be.

Perhaps the most awkward feature is the control dial, which is on the dashboard. It’s a good arm’s length away and would be better situated down by the handbrake.

Never mind – at least the screen folds down and out of sight with the press of just one button, Jessica’s pet hate is when the screen cannot be turned off easily…

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Sunday – Back To Front

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If I could have found my camera this morning you would have seen a wonderful photo of a frozen Peugeot RCZ. The sweeping curves of the coupe looked nothing short of beautiful when covered in ice.

I’m particularly smitten by the rear of the RCZ. It’s not so much the styling of the bodywork, it’s more the line of the roof and rear screen. The metal and glass have an indention which are unique and rather eye-catching.

Whether it appeals to you will depend on your taste but in the sub £30,000 bracket, I’m not sure I can think of another vehicle that exudes the same flare.

The design of the RCZ is so good that in profile and from a distance, it would be hard to say which is the front and which is the back. Very few cars manage that, although the Porsche Boxster comes close.