RE: Audi SQ8 | Driven
Discussion
Honeywell said:
Err, the 530 Touring plus seven seat Disco is £100k of car - I’m not quibbling on the budget. I’ve got three cars, a motorbike and a lorry so am comfortably into £200k of motoring equipment. I could buy an SQ7 tomorrow my point is I’d feel daft because it’s such a compromised car. For the same money I could have two uncompromised cars covering a wider base and offering the flexibility of two cars.
Each to their own.
Oh and an Elise was out because I need two back seats for the school run and 911 or Evora were simply treble the money for more grip and more performance than was optimum to have fun. The Amp that goes to 11 is not always the best...
I am now finding it hard to take seriously the opinion of someone who is overly vocal about other folks choices of cars, and their intended use for them, and then freely admits that their own choice of a sports car had to take into account an ability to use it for the school run of all things, even though he already has two vehicles perfectly capable of covering that base. Each to their own.
Oh and an Elise was out because I need two back seats for the school run and 911 or Evora were simply treble the money for more grip and more performance than was optimum to have fun. The Amp that goes to 11 is not always the best...
PhilboSE said:
gigglebug said:
And we have already got to the point in the thread where Andy insults the buyers, and their chosen means to purchase, and puts forward his own, narrow experience as a sweeping generalisation of everything!
I know rich folks that do buy new cars, regularly and without the need of any finance. Just like your observation it proves nothing in the wider scheme.
And what about all of the SUV's that do go off-road?
And what about all of the folks who have tried both and found the SUV equivalent to the estate more practical for their needs, regardless of any off-road ability?
And what about all of many folks who buy bigger, heavier and less efficient estates just on the justification that they might use its carrying capacity once in blue moon?
Explain to me the purpose of a big, heavy and fast estate car when the last thing you want to be doing is bombing around when you have anything valuable in the back, deeming extra power irrelevant, and the last thing it can be is a proper sports car when you aren't? Do folks buy them just on the tired, well trodden trope that 'fast estates are cool'?
I am obviously being facetious to make a point and have nothing against powerful estates, I fully understand why they are the perfect choice for many, but I do find it funny when they are used as the counter argument to other vehicles showing similar compromises.
I think we have the measure of Andy from his posting history. Basically, whatever car he is driving right now is the only possible "correct" choice, and everyone else is an idiot.I know rich folks that do buy new cars, regularly and without the need of any finance. Just like your observation it proves nothing in the wider scheme.
And what about all of the SUV's that do go off-road?
And what about all of the folks who have tried both and found the SUV equivalent to the estate more practical for their needs, regardless of any off-road ability?
And what about all of many folks who buy bigger, heavier and less efficient estates just on the justification that they might use its carrying capacity once in blue moon?
Explain to me the purpose of a big, heavy and fast estate car when the last thing you want to be doing is bombing around when you have anything valuable in the back, deeming extra power irrelevant, and the last thing it can be is a proper sports car when you aren't? Do folks buy them just on the tired, well trodden trope that 'fast estates are cool'?
I am obviously being facetious to make a point and have nothing against powerful estates, I fully understand why they are the perfect choice for many, but I do find it funny when they are used as the counter argument to other vehicles showing similar compromises.
In 2011 Fiat was good, Audi was bad.
Andy20vt said:
Knowing friends who own Audi's and BMW's I can vouch for the fact that they seem to spend far more time in the garage than my aging FIAT.
In 2014, the RS6 was bad and the RS4 was the right choiceAndy20vt said:
Hanker after one of these but the Auto only, fuel economy and shocking running costs put me off. It's also too big for what I needed.
In 2011, automatics were bad and you are supposed to use them for left foot braking!Andy20vt said:
It's the first automatic I've ever driven. So thought left foot braking was the way to go. Things going fine until approaching a busy 4 lane intersection. Lights on red, preparing to stop, left foot on brake - gradually does it, then as coming to a halt whoaaaa, a screeching emergency stop, face towards windscreen, followed by 'crunch' as the old couple in the honda behind pile into my rear bumper.
(this incident was followed by a bit of insurance fraud, by his own admission).Next time he changes his car you can expect another sudden change of opinion with a bunch of revisionist history to justify it.
It's quite a unique mix of anger, bitterness, irrationality, hypocrisy and projection.
Roma101 said:
neil1jnr said:
Honeywell said:
What is the actual point of these things?
A BMW 530d is just as practical and better in every other regard at half the price.
That thing would be awful off-road and on those wide summer tyres likely to get stuck on mildly sloped wet grass. I think I’d be embarrassed to own one. Sorry, lease one.
Really can't see why you would be embarrassed to have one, personally I think it looks great.A BMW 530d is just as practical and better in every other regard at half the price.
That thing would be awful off-road and on those wide summer tyres likely to get stuck on mildly sloped wet grass. I think I’d be embarrassed to own one. Sorry, lease one.
SQ8 vs 530d
Other than being cheaper I am really struggling to think of any aspect of a 530d that I would see as better than the SQ8... possibly fuel economy?
But then I am not an Audi fan, so my opinion probably doesn't count for much.
Handling/Ride/Feel - Unless myself or you have driven both then you can't say what would be better, I'd wager the Audi would be the better rifing car thanks to the active air suspension and it may even posibly handle as good as a 530d with the trick anti-roll systems. Going by modern BMW's and modern cars in general, I don't think either would score high on steering feel.
Ability to park in smaller spaces - What are the dimesnsions of both to compare, neither would be bought on their parking abilities.
Range - 31mpg is adequate for range and impressive for a heavy powerful car.
Infotainement - I have no idea, both probably as good as one another.
Price of consumables - Neither will be cheap, but if you can afford the SQ8 then I don't think it will matter.
I think the SQ8 looks better than a modern 5 series.
Most importantly, why would you want to drive a single turbo 6 cylinder diel when you could have a twin turbo V8 diesel? I'd take the Audi on the engine alone. In fact the given the massive power and torque advantage, if the engines were switched, I'd then take the BMW based on the engine alone, despite all the negative aspects to me in comparison to the Audi.
I am just being realistic, it's genunely a good looking car and find the generally negativity to any quick 'SUV' is getting a bit boring.
After all said in done, the comparison with a 530d is a bit ridiculous anyway, but interseting to think about non the less.
neil1jnr said:
Handling/Ride/Feel - Unless myself or you have driven both then you can't say what would be better, I'd wager the Audi would be the better rifing car thanks to the active air suspension and it may even posibly handle as good as a 530d with the trick anti-roll systems. Going by modern BMW's and modern cars in general, I don't think either would score high on steering feel.
The SQ7 came with an option for dynamic sports suspension (including rear wheel steer) which makes it handle dramatically better than anything else in the sector. It's unclear whether this option is now standard on the SQ7/SQ8, but with it installed, it handles pretty well for what it is.neil1jnr said:
Ability to park in smaller spaces - What are the dimesnsions of both to compare, neither would be bought on their parking abilities.
SQ8 = 4986mm. 530 Touring = 4942mm. So just 44mm in it...neil1jnr said:
Range - 31mpg is adequate for range and impressive for a heavy powerful car.
My SQ7 is averaging 33mpg, and I can see 40mpg on a motorway run even fully loaded. I think that's astonishing.neil1jnr said:
Infotainement - I have no idea, both probably as good as one another.
The SQ8 has the very latest Audi system, the old one wasn't lacking anything so I'd agree that parity is likely or possibly in the Audi's favour.neil1jnr said:
Price of consumables - Neither will be cheap, but if you can afford the SQ8 then I don't think it will matter.
I doubt there is a significant difference unless you go for crazy 23" alloys. The OEM Continental tyres on the SQ7 are about £230 a corner. Can't comment on brakes yet as I still have plenty left after 20,000 miles.neil1jnr said:
I think the SQ8 looks better than a modern 5 series.
Subjective, but BMWs don't float my particular boat. FWIW I don't think the SQ7 is a looker either. The SQ8 is better, but at a cost in terms of practicality.neil1jnr said:
Most importantly, why would you want to drive a single turbo 6 cylinder diel when you could have a twin turbo V8 diesel? I'd take the Audi on the engine alone. In fact the given the massive power and torque advantage, if the engines were switched, I'd then take the BMW based on the engine alone, despite all the negative aspects to me in comparison to the Audi.
Agreed. The engine & suspension in the SQ7/SQ8 are state of the art and a major reason why I went this route rather than a Range Rover - the V8 diesel in that is archaic by comparison.nickfrog said:
Looks like he's scampering around revising his history as much as possible.Andy, if you agree to stop trolling all the SUV reviews with ridiculous statements and stereotypes I will delete my posts where I quoted you, as you seem to be embarrassed by them.
Honeywell said:
bigblock said:
That's why for me they make sense.
Today in my big fat planet killing Porsche Cayenne I picked up four colleagues and drove to a business meeting. Later in the day on one of my favourite roads I put it in sport mode and had some fun on my way home from work. I then put the dogs in the back and drove to the beach for a walk and in the evening hitched up the trailer and dropped off two tons of firewood for a friend at the end of a farm track. That's quite a versatile car and apparently it can also do the school run !
See that to my mind would be far better done in a 530d for the business trip getting 43mpg in whisper quiet comfort then on the back roads you’ve got a centre of gravity a foot lower, less tramline prone tyres and really rather good steering. For the smelly wet dogs, sand and towing duties what could beat a Discovery on winter tyres and without the smells of wet dog tomorrow morning on your way to work? Today in my big fat planet killing Porsche Cayenne I picked up four colleagues and drove to a business meeting. Later in the day on one of my favourite roads I put it in sport mode and had some fun on my way home from work. I then put the dogs in the back and drove to the beach for a walk and in the evening hitched up the trailer and dropped off two tons of firewood for a friend at the end of a farm track. That's quite a versatile car and apparently it can also do the school run !
Plus you’ve got a spare car to leave down the pub, lend a friend or backup your other one malfunctioning or being in an accident etc.
£100k+ on a do everything car seems v odd to me unless you really do have only one parking space.
Life would be pretty dull if we all drove around in Bmw tourings !!!
gigglebug said:
I am now finding it hard to take seriously the opinion of someone who is overly vocal about other folks choices of cars, and their intended use for them, and then freely admits that their own choice of a sports car had to take into account an ability to use it for the school run of all things, even though he already has two vehicles perfectly capable of covering that base.
I’m not overly vocal. I’m merely saying for that budget for one car you could have two that are objectively better at covering the competence map that the Audi is trying to. My school run is a magnificent ten mile blast across a sinuous B Road. I very much enjoy doing it in my rather raucous GT86. It’s a nice little blast of petrolheadness. If I had a Cayman I’d be doing the school run in 5 series or RR and the sportscar would be in the garage. I like a fix of petrol several times a week so and I’m not much in the habit of going out in the evenings on made up drives in the car just for the heck of it - I grew out of that when I was about 21!
I don’t get why people get defensive. If the car works for you then great I’m happy for you but I just don’t see why sinking such a big budget in one car when you could get two that cover a wider talent spectrum makes sense. Perhaps I don’t get the image/status factor that goes with these things. Once you own aeroplanes you stop measuring status by cars.
Honeywell said:
I’m not overly vocal. I’m merely saying for that budget for one car you could have two that are objectively better at covering the competence map that the Audi is trying to.
My school run is a magnificent ten mile blast across a sinuous B Road. I very much enjoy doing it in my rather raucous GT86. It’s a nice little blast of petrolheadness. If I had a Cayman I’d be doing the school run in 5 series or RR and the sportscar would be in the garage. I like a fix of petrol several times a week so and I’m not much in the habit of going out in the evenings on made up drives in the car just for the heck of it - I grew out of that when I was about 21!
I don’t get why people get defensive. If the car works for you then great I’m happy for you but I just don’t see why sinking such a big budget in one car when you could get two that cover a wider talent spectrum makes sense. Perhaps I don’t get the image/status factor that goes with these things. Once you own aeroplanes you stop measuring status by cars.
I think everyone is over-thinking it a bit.My school run is a magnificent ten mile blast across a sinuous B Road. I very much enjoy doing it in my rather raucous GT86. It’s a nice little blast of petrolheadness. If I had a Cayman I’d be doing the school run in 5 series or RR and the sportscar would be in the garage. I like a fix of petrol several times a week so and I’m not much in the habit of going out in the evenings on made up drives in the car just for the heck of it - I grew out of that when I was about 21!
I don’t get why people get defensive. If the car works for you then great I’m happy for you but I just don’t see why sinking such a big budget in one car when you could get two that cover a wider talent spectrum makes sense. Perhaps I don’t get the image/status factor that goes with these things. Once you own aeroplanes you stop measuring status by cars.
There are some that recognise brands as being ‘nice’ that don’t know much about cars but can afford to have these expensive cars. They ‘know’ that an Audi or BMW or Merc is a ‘good car company’ so they buy the one that suits what they want according to what the dealer tells me I ‘need’.
A similar example, I want a watch. I know nothing about watches, but I can afford a Rolex and I’ve heard they’re ‘the best watch’ so I’ll buy it. I don’t care if there are better diving watches, I don’t care if there are some that tell the time better, because I don’t care enough to research because I’m too busy doing my job to dedicate the time. Some people really do base their car decisions like this- just read some of the car buying threads.
(To edit, I’m an accountant so I’d never ever buy a watch without proper spreadsheet analysis but you get my drift)
Honeywell said:
I’m not overly vocal. I’m merely saying for that budget for one car you could have two that are objectively better at covering the competence map that the Audi is trying to.
My school run is a magnificent ten mile blast across a sinuous B Road. I very much enjoy doing it in my rather raucous GT86. It’s a nice little blast of petrolheadness. If I had a Cayman I’d be doing the school run in 5 series or RR and the sportscar would be in the garage. I like a fix of petrol several times a week so and I’m not much in the habit of going out in the evenings on made up drives in the car just for the heck of it - I grew out of that when I was about 21!
I don’t get why people get defensive. If the car works for you then great I’m happy for you but I just don’t see why sinking such a big budget in one car when you could get two that cover a wider talent spectrum makes sense. Perhaps I don’t get the image/status factor that goes with these things. Once you own aeroplanes you stop measuring status by cars.
Firstly; see the post above where you completely discredit someone’s choice of car, even though they are more than happy with it and explain why, and then proceed to give a number of reasons, a lot of them that are frankly ridiculous, for why your personal choices would be better. You then come out with the contradiction that is “If the car works for you then great I’m happy for you” when that really doesn’t appear to be the case. My school run is a magnificent ten mile blast across a sinuous B Road. I very much enjoy doing it in my rather raucous GT86. It’s a nice little blast of petrolheadness. If I had a Cayman I’d be doing the school run in 5 series or RR and the sportscar would be in the garage. I like a fix of petrol several times a week so and I’m not much in the habit of going out in the evenings on made up drives in the car just for the heck of it - I grew out of that when I was about 21!
I don’t get why people get defensive. If the car works for you then great I’m happy for you but I just don’t see why sinking such a big budget in one car when you could get two that cover a wider talent spectrum makes sense. Perhaps I don’t get the image/status factor that goes with these things. Once you own aeroplanes you stop measuring status by cars.
Secondly; I’m sorry that you can only justify going out in your sports car if it involves fulfilling a basic daily task at the same time. I’m also sorry that you grew out of going for drives ‘just for the heck of it’ at such an early age. Maybe if you had chosen cars better suited for the enjoyment of driving (and not made compromises for the sake of mundane chores) you would still enjoy the pleasure that going for impromptu drives can bring and thus guarantee any car wouldn’t be in the garage for long. That isn’t something that anyone should grow out of!
Lastly; I don’t think that anyone is getting overly defensive to be honest. Certainly no more than you yourself over your continued need to assert the notion that you are right and there is no reason why anyone else should think differently.
If you don’t get this car, it is because you probably don’t need to get this car. Quite why you think it should stop anyone else getting it is what is being questioned.
Nothing against your choice of cars by the way, the GT86’s are top motors especially. Yes, I was being facetious above. Realistically I couldn’t give two figs about your justifications for having them, if they suit your purposes then it’s nobody else’s business other than your own.
Edited by gigglebug on Friday 11th October 18:11
Thinking about it I do actually know two people with Q7’s both work in the City for EY and despite mega wages live in disappointingly small houses with limited parking. So I can see the market - but how big is it for this sort of range topper? So they actually sell in any meaningful volume or is purely a halo car/brand statement exercise?
GranCab said:
easytiger123 said:
£104k!!! f
k me.
Yep ... you could buy a s/h McLaren 570S for that sort of money k me. 
You’d need to be on the watch out for rust, but otherwise excellent cars.
Honeywell said:
Thinking about it I do actually know two people with Q7’s both work in the City for EY and despite mega wages live in disappointingly small houses with limited parking. So I can see the market - but how big is it for this sort of range topper? So they actually sell in any meaningful volume or is purely a halo car/brand statement exercise?
Maybe they’ve just bought a house to suit their needs rather than to try and show off?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff