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!

Porsche Cayenne S - First Generation (2002 – 2006) Review

Walkaround

From the beginning I had this feeling; Porsche Cayenne evolved from Porsche’s sports car line up. Look at it, Porsche Boxter, 911, Carrera, … then something happened to the world, a comet hit the planet at midnight, world was silent for thousands of years, gradually Carrera advanced as a SUV.

I did not like the shape of this car when I saw it first time, I thought someone pulled up and stretched Carrera from the top and made this vehicle. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the first cross over vehicle that every tom dick and harry is following now. If you look closely you will appreciate the design and artistry of this vehicle. Similar to how I have been addicted to this amazing machine.

Everything is round in this vehicle; there is not even single sharp corner. Flawless but aggressive front end, typical Porsche grill, fog lights look like facing the ground but actually it is notJ, look at the indicator lights; it is mounted on the bumper, nice aluminum finished door pillars and side mountings, huge tail lights, twin double exhaust. This is really a beauty.

Driving Impression

When I drove Porsche Cayenne first time, I was expecting a supple drive like Lexus LS 470 or Cadillac Escalade. I guessed it wrong. This SUV is with sports car DNA in it. It behaved like a Porsche sports car. Every man hole and pot hole I felt through my spine, even zebra lines are evident inside the car when I go across them. Here there is a theory that is implemented on Porsche Cayenne, if you want soft drive then no road grip, if you want to feel the road then no soft drive. Porsche opted for the second one wisely. Because the think-tank in German head office knows their potential customers will be sports car lovers!

When Porsche came out to launch a SUV in the market everybody including me thought “Those are fuck’n nuts bastards, who in their right mind will do this? Till 2002 Porsche produced cars that has only two doors, leave alone SUV!”

It proved to be we all were wrong! Consider that Porsche sold 1,193 vehicles in Canada in 2002 before the Cayenne went on sale. In 2003, that number jumped to 1,612 and 741 of those vehicles were Cayennes – Cayenne S and Turbo, as the V6 Cayenne wasn’t yet available. That’s right. Without the Cayenne, Porsche sales would have dropped 27% in 2003. Instead, thanks to the Cayenne, sales grew 35%.

I knew I am driving something different the moment I pressed the accelerator, it brought a huge smile on my face. It roared like a sports car, moved like a sports car and when I jammed the brake it stopped like a sports car! All Porsche Cayennes come as standard with Porsche Traction Management (PTM) significantly improving dynamic performance and handling in every respect. This four-wheel-drive system transmits 62 per cent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels and 38 per cent to the front.  A multiple-plate clutch operated by an electric motor and controlled electronically, depending on the driving situations and the driver’s requirements, to feed up to 100 per cent the engine’s power either to the front or to the rear. As one of my friends who just bought a Porsche Cayenne asked me why car behave strangely some times. I recommend him to drive the car for a week, car has to get used to your driving style for the reason that this Porsche Cayenne is an Artificial Intelligent. He came back to me and agreed I was right, he was happy ever after.

Cayenne S is powered by a 4.5-litr aluminum block V8 with 32 valves. Porsche’s VarioCam technology adjusts the intake camshafts as much as 25 degrees to ensure optimum torque and fuel efficiency.

In naturally aspirated mode, as found in the Cayenne S, this engine will develop 340 horsepower and 369 ft.lbf (500 N-m) of torque. Acceleration from 0-60 mph is 7.1 seconds and the top speed is 240 Kms. per hour.

Both engines are connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission that allows manual shifting. Cargo area is relatively small though it is bigger than Range Rover’s.

The Cayenne S is a strong accelerator from almost any speed except stopped. Get the S rolling, step on the gas and it will rocket with a hearty sports car growl and smooth shifts well beyond any rationale speed if you are paying attention. A merge line is an invitation to 160 km/h freeway entry speeds unless one exercises restraint.

On Dubai business bay; driving Porsche Cayenne may dig up a lot of speeding tickets, I won’t blame you for that; nevertheless tickets are issued by RTA (Road and Transport Authority) not me. Acceleration is so addictive in Porsche, especially when you see a clean, less traffic road like a carpet in front of you!

The steering is quick and precise, handling is remarkably sharp for a tall sport utility vehicle and the ride is quick, quick and quick.

A moderate step-in height and large outside door handles allow fairly easy entry to the quiet, roomy, upscale interior, which has a sports car feel. Thick roof posts partially obstructed my rear visibility.

Problems I had

I had an urgent meeting at client’s premises in the morning, dressed up in black suit, gain some poise and up for the challenge.

An unusual chime followed by a warning light on the information display the moment I switched on the ignition!

Coolant low!

Temperature is OK, but the light remains on.

Still I drove the car to nearest petrol station, opened the hood and carefully checked the boiling coolant level. I found a strange content in coolant. Dipped my index finger and rubbed it.

Oil! How the fuck oil mixed with the coolant?

I ignored the all important meeting, called the client and informed them I will be late. I have taken the car to the dealer, to begin with they had an extensive check up, it took 45 minutes, I was waiting in their luxurious waiting area with a cup of coffee. The mechanic who checked my car (a senior person) came to me and said it seems to be a big problem, I got to leave the car for 2 weeks.

I had this fear coming from nowhere and conquered me in seconds.

“Can you explain to me what kind of problem is that?” I asked him like whispering.

“This happens sometime with Porsche Cayenne, it has an internal oil leak, oil entered the broken coolant pump, now coolant will thicken up with oil and it will damage the engine…” Mechanic explained to me without any expression on his face.

“How much will it cost to repair?”

“Until we inspect it thoroughly I won’t able to tell you. If the problem is major then we have to bring down the whole engine, it is 14 hours labor work. It will cost you around AED 18,000 to AED 20,000.” Still no expression on his face.

I felt giddy, 18,000 to 20,000 bucks!

“Let me get back to you… give me some time.” Somehow I managed to tell him that much.

I sat in their waiting area for few more minutes, hundreds of thoughts gone across my brain, I called my friend and told her what had happened. Instead of receiving some encouragement she poured more petrol in to my already burning mind. I had another coffee.

I took the car to a small work shop nearby called Jas Motors. One of my friends had recommended this garage; they are specialist for only Porsche vehicles. The bald owner was very sweet, and welcoming. You can’t believe the relief I had after seeing him. He inspected the car and said he will get back to me in the evening. The guy even dropped me nearby Metro Station in his car.

Evening he called me up, undoubtedly there are oil contents in coolant, but strangely there is no oil leak. They are going to clean the whole pipe line and gonna change the coolant tank along with the sensors. Sensors got sticky and stopped working because of the oil. Parts cost AED 350. I agreed immediately.

Next day he called me up again, they had cleaned all pipe lines with soap, changed the coolant container with sensors, car is up and ready to leave the garage! All fine now!

How the hell oil gone into the coolant?

He didn’t have an answer either.

I paid the bill around AED 700 for all and took the car back.

No problems till now. I felt like escaped from a cliff! Instead of AED 20,000 I paid only AED 700!

Before I leave the garage the mechanic made me even happier by making a flattering remark on the car, he said this is an extra clean car, even small stickers on chassis is intact!

Overall

This SUV is awesome. When it launched there were no other vehicle quite like this, it created the whole new segment called COV (Crossover Vehicle). If you are planning to buy a Cayenne go for V8 power not underpowered Volkswagen V6 Engine. There is a huge difference. Ride is bit stiff, if you like soft Cadillac sort of ride then don’t even think about Porsche. Though I had small problem (a mystery problem, till now I don’t know how the fuck that oil reached the coolant container) the reliability is a big concern for these vehicles.

Problem porn area for Porsche Cayenne S –

Driveshaft flex joint, A/C blower, plastic cooling tubes (now metal for the new ones), water pump, brake switch (vehicle can start without having to apply the brake), warning buzz for lights, heated seat module, rust under rubber on door window frame, seat belt springs can weaken due to age

Minor Problems - tail gate won’t close sometimes, Sun Glass box will not close due to the broken plastic clip.

Porsche Cayenne is an excellent driving machine, people who just need transportation and are not concerned with driving enjoyment will not probably buy a Cayenne, show off good looking, expensive brand name, this vehicle always demands respect. But for that you got to have an extra deep pocket! It is not practical in terms of maintenance cost compared to other SUVs out there.

Still I am puzzled; how the fuck the oil mixed with the coolant?

Jaguar XJ6 (X350) an unbiased review

Walkaround

Retro styled exterior with leaping Jaguar ornament on the hood, adaptive cruise control, and interior is uncharacteristic mix of current technology and heritage design. No British car is a British car if there is no Burl walnut wood trim! Chrome and supple leather are generously speckled about, providing a relaxed environment that feels like a luxury hotel room in Jemeira Beach side.

XJ6 comes with a 3.0 ltr V6 that produces impressive 240bhp. Thanks to Jaguar’s all new aluminum chassis that is significantly stiffer and more precise road feel, while the reduced heft makes for a quicker, more nimble feeling car. XJ6 third generation won lot of awards during its prime time as best full size luxury car.

The Jaguar XJ6 is not your run-of-the-mill luxury car. It’s not as obvious as Mercedes Benz, it’s not as common-place as a BMW and it’s certainly not as flashy as some of the European or Japanese sports cars.

But it does have class.

You just drive in front of a luxury hotel; the roof lights and spot lights of the hotel will be reflecting and moving over the shiny XJ6’s body, xenon head light and parking light all over the car will give you this top class luxury feeling to it. Yes, arrive like a king! Unlike Merc or Beamer, no Mafia don will come out of the XJ!

In terms of features, this would have to be the most automatic car I’ve driven. Jaguar’s controversial “J” shaped automatic transmission, auto wipers, auto lights with warning that the master switch isn’t on, auto door locks, auto memory for the driver seat, auto mirror and steering column, auto park brake release when you shift gear from parking, auto tilting mirrors when car is on reverse, auto adaptive cruise control, it seems that the driver just needs to get in and steer. Of course, GPS navigation screen can be converted to Alpine stereo by the same touch-sensitive screen – easy and impressive.

Driving Impression

This Jaguar got to be the most comfortable car I had ever driven, and that is the highlight of Jaguar XJ 3^rd generation. Smooth is not enough to describe it, as my friend said floating feeling? It is so smooth you won’t even feel that the car is moving. CATS (Computer Active Technology Suspension) is standard across the new XJ range. I was fortunate to get out of a 1998 model Ford Explorer (which has leaf suspension – bumpy ride) and straight in to Jag. Chalk and Cheese! The Jag is far ahead of most things on the road in terms of ride quality.

I recently test driven my friend’s 2012 BMW 525i (I will write about it soon), Mercedes Benz S600, BMW 745Li, Audi A8L and Lincoln Town Car Executive L (supposed to be the most comfortable car), let me make it clear, there is nothing quite like Jaguar XJ as far as comfort is concerned. The CATS systems stiffen up during sporty driving to maximize the car’s handling traits. It will also lower the ride height by 15mm over 160km/h to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve fuel economy; it is able to adjust the springing rate, ride height and damper control to suit the conditions.

My favorite roads are Sheikh Zayed Road after the Dubai boarder where the speed limits are slightly better to accelerate without fearing the hefty speeding fines, and Ras Al Khor Road. Never felt tired of driving XJ.

Problems I had

One fine day just before get into the car I found a puddle of oil underneath the car, my greatest fear came alive, I heard about problems of this car; there is a saying among the mechanics “if Jaguar doesn’t leak the oil it means it is running out of oil!” and It wasn’t a mere drop of oil; as if something broken apart!

Reluctantly I drove the car to near service station (I know towing is the best option), the mechanic confirmed there is a transmission oil leak; next day I left the car at the dealer. There was a small other problem with the car, few times the Parking Brake fault lit up. So I had explained the service manager what all the problems should be solved.

Next day morning I got a call from the dealer,

“ Sir, we had checked your car, transmission oil sealant is broken, suspension bushes, engine mounting bushes need to be changed, as far the park brake trouble is concerned the problem is with weak battery, and some relay, so you need to change all that too sir”

“What is the cost for all these?” I heard my own heart beats, so loud!

I heard him hitting some freaky calculator.

“16000 Aed!”

“ WTF!” I stunned and left speechless.Went straightaway to the service center.

Service Manager was pretending as if he is confused (he is a bad actor); he reduced few bucks after calculating and recalculating. I wanted to fuck him upside down to his mouth if he tells me one more time “this discount is only for you because you are our special customer!”

I paid the advance and left the stealers service center with big disappointment. Got a call after few days. Good news, car is ready, work is carried, successful!

Oil leak is solved, but the park brake fault is still there, I had a jolt on my spine! Now it is “ON” all the time, when I started the car that grotesque chiming sound comes with the message!

I went as the crow flies to the service manager’s cabin.

“The real problem was park brake motor, so you got to change the park brake motor!” this was the irresponsible answer I got from that thug. I was throwing so many questions at him; why the fuck did you change the battery then? He was busy attending some phone calls and smiling at some ladies those breezes in through the main door.

When I rose up my voice to his decibel capacity he answered like Walt Disney’s Goofy, “First thing to check your car’s problem is to replace the battery”

“Just to diagnose the problem you changed the fuck’n battery?! Is this shit place doesn’t have a simple battery to identify a problem, leave alone the computer program!”

My questions went unanswered.

Apparently they don’t have the part in stock, and another bill for that is about AED5000. So I spent around AED 8000 for some shit relay, cables and battery. After all these head ache and heart ache my problem not only persists, but worsen. Before the error message was coming ON sometimes, now those fuckers made it permanent! Good, now I can see Christmas lights on my odometer all the time!

I cursed and left the stealers service station for ever. I don’t think I will ever go there other than punching that fucker’s balls. OK, I don’t think even he has one!

Fortunately I found a good mechanic outside. He got it fixed for AED 1400. He said the oil leak problem is so common in Jaguar vehicles and he would have fixed it for just AED 1500!

5 differences between stealers and him is

•  He is not wearing tie and suite
•  He doesn’t have a secretary to attend me
• He don’t have an office with black leather sofas
• He don’t lie
• He knows what he is doing

Touch wood, my Jag is running strong now.

Morale of the story – Don’t take your Jaguar to stealers until and unless you have a full comprehensive bumper to bumper warranty!

Overall

If you want a luxury car that doesn't scream out; a luxury car that oozes class but isn't pretentious; a luxury car that you can sit in all day and enjoy the ambiance, well this could be it. Overall, I loved Jaguar. It's a classy, understated suggestion that yes, you've made it - and you don't need to scream about it.

Smooth. Unbelievably smooth. It's the one word that best describes everything about the new XJ. Slide into the leather seats and move off, silky engine delivers its power smoothly and without fuss. The car's ride is smooth and unruffled, even over the rougher roads -- however the smaller 18-inch tire package seems to produce more road noise than the bigger 19s.

The big cat handles extremely well, with just the right amount of feedback through the wheel and the pedals. It's low, sleek body barely rolls in corners, the air suspension working imperceptibly to keep the chassis calmly balanced.

It's amazing how Jaguar managed to build a car that's more than 200kg lighter, and yet give it the solidity and strength of a much heavier car. It rides the road beautifully, holding direction without getting flustered over bumps or in sharp corners. And yet it's in those same corners where the weight drop is most noticeable as the big cat responds to steering input with a sharpness the previous model could only dream of.

Build quality also seems to have taken a big leap forward. I especially liked the feel of the J-gate which, when shifted manually, clicks into gears more noticeably. 

If you are planning to buy a used Jaguar XJ, here is my free advice,

• Check the car thoroughly, top to bottom, and check if there is any oil leak.
• Drive the car on humps and uneven road, scroll down the window and listen if you hear any noise from shock absorbers
• Open the hood when engine is on, listen to the engine sound, if you hear any “tick” noise just avoid the car like plague. It gonnabe very expensive to fix!
• When you test drive the car, don’t listen to the owner saying please drive slowly, as you should know if the gears are shifting properly without any jerks.
• Make sure there are No error messages or yellow light on the odometer. Switch off the car and switch on again, see if anything comes up.
• Buy a Jaguar if it is really clean, check if there is any Jaguar specialist available in your area, and don’t ever take your car to the dealer, unless you have a deep pocket. (Give the car strictly only to the dealer If you have warranty)

These points are applicable for any used cars, but there are some cars that need special checking on certain area where they are porn to break. If you are planning to buy a used car let me know, I will be happy to give you guidance. All I learned from my own expensive experiences, so you gain from my loss!

Adios, catch you next time with another car review.