Audi

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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 – A Car For All Season

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Jeremy  The last day in the Sportback – will we miss it? The answer is a resounding ‘yes’. While the styling of this latest A3 five-door is only slightly sharper than the last model, everything else about this exceptionally sensible car is good. Very good indeed.

The A3 is a mass seller for Audi and this is without doubt, the best incarnation of the ubiquitous hatchback to date. Everything revolves around a 2.0 TDI engine that churns out enough power to make the car engaging to drive and will amaze you at the fuel pump too (we’ve average over 50mpg all week).

You can cruise along the motorway while it purrs quietly, or slip down through the six-speed gearbox on an A-road and enjoy  sharp steering that doesn’t throw up any nasty surprises.

Inside, the Audi is very smart, with a classy dashboard and buttons in all the right places. The seats are super comfy but supportive enough for enthusiastic driving. Masses of space both front and rear too.

So the conventional styling and the expensive price tag are really the only questionable attributes of the Sportback. And as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, for some people it will be the perfect buy.

 

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Tuesday – Reg Who?

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Jeremy – I’m just back from Roehampton Club where I spent some of the day playing croquet with Reg Bamford, the double world champion. I’m writing a feature for the FT and Reg very kindly agreed to give me a masterclass.

Never heard of Reg? Well, that’s the nature of sport. While soccer players get paid £200,000 a week, Reg can’t even land a sponsorship deal on his trainers!

Now I’m not suggesting Audi should loan him a courtesy vehicle but walking back to the car park, I couldn’t help noticing that the Audi symbol is four circles – just like the four balls that are used in croquet.

Now, surely that should have Audi clammering to sign him up? Not only is Reg a double world champion, he lives in London and is one of the nicest world sportsmen I have ever met. A true gentleman in every respect – apart from on the court, where he takes no prisoners! The four ring logo represents the four companies that joined together to form Audi in 1932.

It’s the last day with the brilliant A3 tomorrow. A perfect car in just about every respect, apart from the lifeless styling which still frustrates the hell out of me.

 

 

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Monday – My Daily Commute

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Jeremy – The great part of being a freelance journalist is that you get to work from home. I left my last full-time post in 1997 and never miss the daily commute in and out of Bristol – no matter what test car I was driving back then.

The bad part of the job is that sometimes you do have to be somewhere early, joining the millions of other drivers making their daily drive to the office. This morning I had a two-hour drive to Gloucester, which was 76 miles of hell on A and B-roads.

You learn a lot about a car in that situation. Minor niggles become major gripes and you can fall out of love with even the most alluring supercar. Today’s 150 miles in the A3 were pretty sweet all things considered. I felt as fresh getting out of the car at my destination as I did when I first stepped in.

The Audi has excellent, supportive seats that seem to fit every type of driving. They grip you firmly in place on a tight bend and meet your back in all the right places on the motorway.

I found the driving position first class, with height adjustable steering column and telescopic adjustment too. No electric seats though, which seems like an oversight in a car cost this much. There is a neat fold down centre armrest that can be adjusted forwards and back as well.

It’s the same in the rear. I’m 5ft 10ins and had masses of knee room in all three seats. There are plenty of cubbyholes and spaces for driving paraphenalia, with a large boot included.

I’ve no desire to do a daily commute ever again but if I did, the Sportback would be on my list of options.

 

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Sunday – It’s Worth It

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Jessica I have only had very short exposure to this car, however the time I have spent en route to the gym was a pleasure.  From the outside, it’s a sensible looking mode of transport, once inside there are signs that you are in for a treat.

The console is fantastically simple and my favourite feature is the disappearing info screen, select your music or radio station and you can tuck the screen out of the way until you need to surf for new tunes or use the sat nav.

This definitely appeals to my minimalistic tendancies.  The dials are descreet and speak design consideration – the controls are intuitive and easy to operate, even when you have failed to check where everything is before you set out.

The Audi A3 Sportback drives well, it has power, sensitive steering, good road holding and is pure class.

If you need to have a family-style car but still want the fun with a good design aesthetic, this is the car for you.

You are ,of course, paying for the privilege but in my view, if you are able to find the extra cash, it is worth it. If it’s any consolation, on the second hand market this Audi will hold its value too.