Month: May 2014

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Maserati Ghibli – Gulping Ghibli

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I had to put some diesel in the gulping Ghibli today – it may be a diesel but achieving anything over 30mpg in everyday driving is darn near impossible. You can get into the high 30s on the motorway but the ‘official’ 40+ mpg must have been done downhill with wind assistance.

It’s a rare treat to find an independent garage in 2014. You know the sort – with a mechanic in oily overalls and receipts written on paper. I worked in one as a teenager, until the manager decided to burn it down with a discarded cigarette.

Anyway, there were three mechanics working on a Citroen Xsara inside and I could see they were all staring at the Maserati. It was only when I went inside to pay, that one of them asked if it was a Jaguar.

When I told then it was the new Ghibli there was genuine excitement. They were crawling all over the car and keen to know how it performed. And I guess that is the Maserati’s number one selling point – it’s different from the rest and it is an Italian thoroughbred. You won’t get that in a Mercedes, BMW or Jag…

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Maserati Ghibli – Tough At The Top

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It’s tough at the top, especially when you are trying to steal customers away from the likes of BMW, Mercedes and a revitalised Jaguar. Is there a better executive saloon that the BMW 5 Series diesel? As an all-rounder, probably not.

So, with Maserati launching their first diesel executive car, you could forgive them for falling short with the Ghibli. In fact, the 3.0 version is a very good drivers car, loaded with equipment, supremely powerful and eye-catchingly different. The question is, is that enough?

I’d really like to think so, except the Ghibli has some niggly issues which you probably wouldn’t find in the competition. While I love the interior, the roof is low for tall drivers and the black lining makes the cabin feel claustrophobic.

The navigation screen is angled upwards and reflects the sun badly. With sunglasses on, it’s impossible to read. The single stalk that operates the wipers and indicators is located behind the gear paddles and is hard to reach.

Finally, the automatic gearbox is super sensitive to select the correct mode. I’m light of touch but I’m constantly missing the correct mode, then cursing as I have to go back through the options again.

All minor faults but at the top, the competition is tough…

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Maserati Ghibli – Maserati Does Diesel

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Now, where’s the manual? Things didn’t get off to a good start with the Ghibli. For some reason, both interior lights won’t switch off and I’m scratching my head to find out why.

In the end, a nice chap in their technical department informed me this was a common issue. The interior light switch mechanism can be overridden via a dial on the dashboard. The dial is perfectly position to connect with your knee when you climb in the driver’s seat!

That sorted, I’m already madly in love with the shape of the car. It’s so beautifully different to key rivals, like the BMW 535d, or the ugloid Mercedes CLS.

The proof of the pudding will be in the driving, of course. If it performs anywhere near as good as it looks, it’s going to be a fun week…

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Audi TT Roadster 1.8 TFSI – Fun In The Sun

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How much you like the TT Roadster may well depend on how you value the badge on the boot. I can’t say the Roadster is that much better than a Mazda- MX-5 but Audi is premium brand – and that means a great deal to many people when making their buying choice.

The TT is fighting its corner against stiff opposition, from the likes of the BMW Z4 and more expensive Porsche Boxster too. Personally, I prefer the look of the BMW and Porsche, simply because the TT is starting to look a little dated these days.

Otherwise, the Audi is a fine handling car that brings the joy of open top motoring down to a reasonably affordable level. The cabin is well screwed together and easy on the eye – apart from the grey leather in our test car! – and the boot is a decent size too.

Z4 owners would say it doesn’t have the added security of a tin folding roof, Porsche drivers would point out the TT is nowhere near as pretty. Truth is, it will come down to personal taste because all three cars, plus the cheaper MX-5, are great fun and a joy to have on the driveway.

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Audi TT Roadster 1.8 TFSI – Give Me More Power

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I’ve come to the conclusion that 158bhp just isn’t enough in the Audi TT Roadster. The strong fuel economy in the entry-level model will be a sound trade off for some people but this 1.8 car just needs some extra grunt to set my pulse racing.

There are several larger engined models to go for, of course, including a TDI. The 208bhp 2.0 petrol would be tempting but the 270bhp TTS top choice. There’s a 335bhp TT RS too but that almost sounds too much!

All versions have a standard six-speed gearbox  and most have the option of the brilliant S tronic automatic as well.

The Roadster certainly needs more power than 158bhp if I’m going to start making comparisons with a Porsche Boxster, rather than a Mazda MX-5…

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Audi TT 1.8 TFSI – Grey, Like David Brent’s Underpants

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A convertible should inspire you to want to drive it. It’s Bank Holiday Monday and I’ve been sat in the garden, considering the TT Cabriolet from a variety of angles.

The simple fact is this – it doesn’t have the same visual appeal as the cheaper Mazda MX-5. The Audi isn’t an ugly car but comparisons with the streamlined and eye-catching Mazda are obvious.

Not only that but the TT does not feel like a ‘natural’ sports car when you drive it. The gearstick doesn’t fall to hand as easily, you don’t feel inspired to throw it around a corner and even with the rear wind deflector up, there’s a bit too much wind intrusion in the cockpit.

Unfortunately, our TT test car also features a rather dull cabin colour. The carpet and leather trim are light, limp grey. It’s like sitting in a pair of David Brent’s over-washed underpants. Opt for black and it won’t need cleaning so often either….

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Audi TT 1.8 TFSI Cabriolet – Eeny, Meeny…

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Wasn’t there a time when Top Gear was all about cars? I seem to remember it was quite good, post Noel Edmunds that is, before the BBC turned it into light comedy cash cow.

Sour grapes? No. I worked on TV with Hammond for a while and he was a true pro. James May is a good foil for Clarkson, while big JC himself writes cracking copy in the Sunday Times.

I just think Top Gear is way past its sell by date and needs a total revamp. Perhaps a spot of dumbing up is in order – and a very large gag for JC’s gob. No wonder he is frowned upon around here in the Cotswolds.

And the Audi TT Cabriolet? This is what Clarkson said…

“Then there’s the biggest problem of them all – the problem of being in an Audi TT when you are not called Angela. I do not know why it can be driven by only people named Angela, but that’s a fact and there’s nothing we can do about it. If you have a TT and you aren’t called Angela, you have the wrong car.”

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Audi TT 1.8 TFSI Cabriolet – Geoff Capes Need Not Apply…

AU_078_sI’m not sure why God created the Midlands. He obviously wasn’t a petrol head because the roads are terrible – especially if you are travelling across country, rather than to the north, or south.

The whole A-road network around Birmingham seems to consist of A-roads choked up with heavy goods vehicles, chugging along at 50mph, or oversize tractors which seem to have become the new caravan. Awful.

I’m just returned from a six hour slog to interview Geoff Capes, a former Commonwealth gold medallist and the World’s Strongest Man, twice. Geoff is now 27-stone and breeds budgies (it’s true) but he once appeared in a Volkswagen Polo commercial, lifting the supermini off the ground. He split ten pairs of trousers in the process.

Geoff now drives a Discovery and there’s no doubt he would have tossed the Audi TT to one side if I had blocked him in on the driveway. The TT isn’t a Geoff Capes sort of car but it’s roomy enough for a pipsqueak like me. Plus the folding soft top means the roof mechanism doesn’t eat into the boot space.

Size isn’t everything and the TT’s small cabin is perfect in every other way. Large blokes need not apply.

 

 

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Audi TT Roadster – Budget Open Top

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You can buy a diesel TT Roadster and pay more for a litre of fuel – or enjoy a few mpg less in this 1.8 TFSI petrol version. There was a time when it was a straight choice between fuel economy or performance – cars like this blur the lines and make the choice a tough one.

The current Audi TT was launched way back in 2007. A new version is due soon but it’s a testament to the style of design of the car that both the Roadster and Coupe still look exceptionally smart cars.

New on the driveway today, the 1.8 Roadster is eye-catching indeed. And as I’m off on a long journey to Lincolnshire later, I’m excited at the prospect of 120 miles of A-road to enjoy it on.

This may be the slowest car in the TT range but a quick drive to the station this morning has really whet my appetite. More tomorrow when I will have nudged the fuel gauge significantly…