Audi A8 Second generation (D3, Typ 4E; 2002–2009)

Audi A8 is undeniably a beautiful car, modern, elegant and stylish. The A8 I owned had a solar powered sunroof, which was a groundbreaking technology to have on a car at that time. Is over technology killing the practicality? Let’s check it out.

Walkaround

Audi A8 is not Pamela Anderson with big boobs by any mean; it is a subtle and graceful car that deserves respect. That doesn’t mean that Pamela Anderson doesn’t deserve respect. What I mean is, you see Pamela Anderson after you see her boobs, isn’t it? If you disagree with me and say, you see her face first then you must be a gay!

Roundish body with very restrained sculpture lines, bright head lights, classy fog lights, black front grill with dominant four Audi circles. It moves like a soundless boat, until you press the accelerator madly. 4.2 litre V-8 engine is essentially a carryover component, but power and torque are both improved by 20 horsepower and 15 pound-feet, and engine now drives through a six-speed automatic transmission. A Tiptronic manumatic is standard.

The A8 continues with its revolutionary aluminum space frame structure, now in its second generation. Rigidity is improved 60 percent with the new space frame vs. the original, and Audi saves 136 Kilograms in car weight by using aluminum vs. a traditional steel frame. Yet the A8 which weighs more than 1900 Kilograms feels solid and secure.

Driving Impression

One of the more important assets in the upgraded A8’s portfolio is an air-suspension system with continuously adaptive damping control. Using a coaxial air struts and shocks at each corner in conjunction with an onboard compressor and elaborate electronic controls, the A8 operates in any of four driver-selected modes. The system can hike ground clearance up to 5.7 inches to negotiate obstacles, or it can lower itself on the freeway to just 3.7 inches from the road.

Furthermore, the driver can select among comfort, dynamic, lift and automatic modes according to his or her whim.

Finger touch start without the key is too advanced at the time the new Audi A8 was introduced back in 2003. What if it scans your finger print too? Marvelous! When the Ignition is ON; the burl walnut wood dash board opens a small door and a screen pops out! There is a joystick similar to the BMW’s iDrive, Audi Call it MMI (Multimedia interface). It’s a display based “infotainment” system that almost all luxury cars are having now. A rotating knob handles selection of on-screen alternatives, and eight permanently assigned buttons arranged around the center knob access the categories themselves. Thus, you might select “Car” and then find yourself looking at the air-suspension settings menu.

The Audi A8 is a technology stuffed full size luxury sedan, solar powered sunroof cannot be operated by solar power like many of you thought. Audi just call it that way, in fact it is a solar panel that helps exhauster fan to work in the car through air vents when the car is off. Automatic rear curtain, side curtains for passengers, telephone, TV, acoustic sensors in the front and rear…mmm too many to list.

Engine feels strong at any speed, but I had overly sensitive throttle action coming away from a stop. Transmission offers Drive and Sport shift positions; downshifts slow in Drive, quicker in sport, but Sport won’t shift into 6^th gear on highway. I checked on Dubai business bay, Emirates Road and even on Sheikh Zayed Road. And no, it’s not the fault of my car, it built in that way.

Ride quality is absorbent, though 19-inch tires generate noticeable impact harshness. Stable at speed, but large bumps can induce unsettling wallow in Comfort and Automatic modes. Sporty Dynamic mode provides impressive control and little lean. Braking is strong, steering is firm, accurate, though little light at lower speeds. Impressively quiet on almost all surfaces, I drove the car to Sharjah Industrial area side where there are rough roads, on comfort and automatic settings the road noise well muted in the cabin. Nearly silent engine emits sophisticated, muted growl in rapid acceleration. Wind mostly a whisper.

Top-notch materials and restrained design give the A8’s interior a classy look that stands out in the segment.

Problems I had

Air condition stopped working in the middle of a summer, where the outside temperature shoots up to 50 degree Celsius; replace the starter, upper control bushings, and mass air flow sensor, all these are very expensive to repair. Unlike BMW or Mercedes; spare parts are very hard to get in this part of the world, to deliver them from Germany or UK through the dealer in Dubai takes almost a month. Very hard to get used spare parts in Sharjah yards too. Aftermarket parts are almost nonexistent.

Overall

A good car to own, but really I won’t recommend this car for a middle class person whose expenses are calculated, you got to have a deep deep pocket like I said for the Porsche Cayenne, very expensive to maintain, and all the garages will not repair Audi, due to its prestigious name, the one which repairs will charge you bomb! Stay away if you are withdrawing salary monthly. This car is for those who got spare cars and a lot of other incomes!

BMW 745i (E65/E66) – Fourth Generation Review

Any BMW is a blast to drive, what if it is their top range 7 series? BMW had a big improvement on technology and design from their 3^rd generation 7 series. There are only few mainstream car makers in the world that have captured the world’s attention to the extent that BMW’s ambitious 7 Series has. In 7 Series line up you get a sedan that is big, smooth, fast and inspiring. It also equipped with latest technology, the leather interior is comfortable but not as cushioned as Audi or Jaguar. Is BMW’s largest car a luxury sedan in truest sense? We will find out…

Walkaround

BMW stirred controversy and debates two years after it were introduced, indeed, the current 7 series look more agile, muscular than the previous-generation models, which are relatively bland. BMW stepped out of the box and produced a revolutionary blueprint for its 7 Series sedan. Like it or not, the design is based on rational objectives. The 7’s styling has not pleased everyone, however.  When it introduced in 2002, car design critics and the automotive media alike hated it, they said it look like two different cars pasted in the center. If you look at it, the front end has aggressive approach with unmistakable BMW DNA, kidney grill and long hood, at the rear side; it looked totally a different car with more urbane touch. BMW claims its buyers love it. Hey BMW heads, we did not love 7 Series at first sight, instead we were warming up to it, or maybe we’re getting used to it. OK, by now it is a beautiful machine no doubt. We are fully warmed up J

Nice rounded head lights with BMW’s trade mark angel eyes are too good to look at even in the day time; did you find this vehicle on your rear view mirror on the highway trying to overtake you by flashing lights? It shouts at you, fuck’n dick head; get out of my way you piece of crap! OK that is the kind of attitude this BMW has, very aggressive and superior! The headlights are trimmed by turn signals above them, looking like eyebrows of a hawk, or an angry animal. Long hood and curves are so aerodynamic you won’t hear even wind noise.  The rear end has been the focus of the controversy. Much of its design can be traced back to an attempt to handle the substantially raised rear deck height. Because the roof was raised dramatically, the rear deck needed to be raised to help the 7 Series achieve its excellent aerodynamics which is crucial in improving fuel efficiency and increasing the top speed. And because the tail needed to be raised so high, a sculptured appearance was used to maintain the lines of the car.

To maintain good proportions, the 7 Series has very fast C-pillar (all of the roof pillars are much thicker for enhanced safety in event of a rollover). Bigger wheels were fitted on all models.  Long hood and swept rear glass provides a sporty, coupe look.

The back end did not only look like previous BMW’s, it doesn’t look like a BMW at all! The L-shaped taillights are a departure, extending across the trunk lid; they are intended to draw the eye across the back, making the car look wider.

Driving Impression

The interior is so classy, high-quality materials and elegant design make the 7 Seires cabin an exceedingly pleasant place to sit and do the business of driving. iDrive system (another controversial element on this car – a mouse like knob) eliminates so many switches and knobs, the dash looks particularly clean and elegant. Fake wood trim is spread tastefully on the dash, center console and elsewhere. The seats in the 475i adjust 20 ways-optional (standard 14 ways), powered curtains all over the car except driver seat and front passenger seat, fridge, telephone, Bluetooth, TV etc.

BMW 745i are powered by a 4.4-liter V8 inline engine capable of producing 325 horsepower, gobs of torque and a six speed automatic transmission. The first thing I noticed about the BMW 745i was its wonderfully smooth drive and acceleration, this car sits right between Jaguar XJs and Porsche cars in terms of riding quality, it is incredibly comfortable, smoothes out bumps and other small obstacles same time I never felt completely isolated from the road. Yes, the ride is not as cushioned as Jaguar’s remarkable CATS system, but it has fantastic grip on the road unlike Jaguar but more like Porsche! So Beamer is bit of two worlds!

Steering the 745i is a delight. Super sharp and precise. This full size luxury sedan is not a small car in any sense, it is a long car that weighs up to 2220 kilograms, but in some respect I felt smaller than it is. I liked the acceleration more and more once when I drove the car to Ras Al Khaima from Dubai, it was a breeze, never lifted my foot off the accelerator, its big V8 grunt like an angry animal every time I press the accelerator. My only concern was speeding tickets; luckily I managed to slow down whenever I spot the radars on road sides.

 

 7 Series drivetrains is absolutely silky when cruising around. The new six speed automatic transmission drops a gear or two without any hesitation, extremely smooth shifting, in fact better transmission than Jaguar or Mercedes Benz, I think comparable or as good as BMW transmission I found in another car is Audi A8.

Problems I had

I never switch on the TV in this car, actually TV is useless, for safety reason I can’t switch it on while driving, it is possible only when the car is stationary, and I never wait for anyone in my car watching TV! But once in my parking lot when warming up the engine, I simply checked the TV, no picture but some local Arabic channel’s sound I heard on and off. I tried another channel, this time the whole screen gone blank then white noise. OK, any way this fuck’n TV is useless to me. I continued driving, all of a sudden the CD player stopped working, and then Bluetooth system shut off! For me music is important while driving, so I have taken the car to one of the reputed BMW specialist on Sheikh Zayed Road. They had extensive check up and told me to change Voice Modular, costs AED 3500. I asked a genuine question to the mechanic, “Voice Modular is related to the hands free Bluetooth system in the car, then why the fuck my CD player won’t work?”

I was at the reception area, hearing my question; their beautiful secretary smiled. She is dark and beautiful. Mini skirt and elegant black top.  Because she was sitting there I acted gently, covered up my animal in me and managed to bring up a smile.

“Its all interconnected, the new models are coming with rectified wire harnesses.”

Spent AED 3500, the problem solved.

I noticed after sometime, the interior colored coverings coming off to reveal a different shiny color underneath. Don’t touch the sill plates with your shoes! Fuel pump replaced after 130,000 kms. Bushings on suspension, all these are regular maintenance you got to do after 100,000 kms. in any car in this class. The real problem however is electrical, excess technology kills. Lights, sensors, modules, etc There is a reason the 7 Series made it to No.1 on Consumer Reports list of most problematic cars!

Overall

BMW 7 Series is an excellent car with power, style and aggression. You rarely find a BMW following a slow car on highways; simply because there are kind of drivers who like BMW and they behave like BMW once put themselves behind the wheels. Like to lead from the front! Beamer lovers!

Like all luxury cars, maintenance is an issue, if you don’t like hefty bills and certainly looking for a Beamer go for less complicated 5 Series. Not as sophisticated as 7 Series, don’t have magic carpet ride quality as 7 Series, still it will tick most of the right boxes you may have.

Unlike other luxury vehicles in this class, you can’t get rid of all the problem with regular maintenance in 7 Series, because of it’s over loaded technology; any time some error message can blink on! If you can develop a rigid heart to ignore all the error lights that comes on the way and still drive peacefully, then go ahead and buy one 7 Series immediately!

If someone asks me is it worth to have all those fuck’n head ache in exchange with those so called ride quality and power, I would say “Yes!” I forget all those head ache and heart ache each and every time I get the car back from the garage!