Audi Q7... or something else?
Discussion
My daily is currently a 15 plate BMW 520d F11 Touring M Sport, by far the best (boring) car I've ever owned. I'm doing about 12k a year, average about 45mpg (50ish on a long run), and the only reason it needs to go is the mileage is up at 120k now. I tend to keep my dailies for many years.
So it's replacement needs to have a load bed no smaller than the BMW, be reasonably premium, and it has to be comfy. I just want to waft along, any spirited antics can be done in a sports car.
I've had soooo many BMWs now I just fancy a change, and whilst I'd love a Range Rover I'm just not brave enough (my wife's Velar was a disaster). I really fancy an Audi Q7, say around 2019 vintage, air suspension, V6 Tdi. I think it's a great looking, understated thing (with the right trim levels and spec) but I worry about the running costs. What am I likely to get out of one, real world MPG? It it really low 30s if I'm getting nearly 50 out of my 520?
So I guess the other option is an X5, but the styling leaves me cold, it's trying too hard, and it's just too complicated/messy But is it much cheaper to run than a Q7 and the more reliable car?
Any thoughts gratefully appreciated!
So it's replacement needs to have a load bed no smaller than the BMW, be reasonably premium, and it has to be comfy. I just want to waft along, any spirited antics can be done in a sports car.
I've had soooo many BMWs now I just fancy a change, and whilst I'd love a Range Rover I'm just not brave enough (my wife's Velar was a disaster). I really fancy an Audi Q7, say around 2019 vintage, air suspension, V6 Tdi. I think it's a great looking, understated thing (with the right trim levels and spec) but I worry about the running costs. What am I likely to get out of one, real world MPG? It it really low 30s if I'm getting nearly 50 out of my 520?
So I guess the other option is an X5, but the styling leaves me cold, it's trying too hard, and it's just too complicated/messy But is it much cheaper to run than a Q7 and the more reliable car?
Any thoughts gratefully appreciated!
Rob 131 Sport said:
If you’ve had a 520d (great cars) I’d be very concerned about going down the SUV route having had to endure a few (premium) ones over the years.
I’d be looking at a 3.0 Diesel A6, 5 Series or E Class. You literally can have it all with the estate version.
Interesting...why do you say that?I’d be looking at a 3.0 Diesel A6, 5 Series or E Class. You literally can have it all with the estate version.
We have a 2018 Q7 and had the previous version before this one, black edition with pan roof, virtual cockpit and 21’s so a decent spec. It’s on roughly 65k miles now and nothing has gone wrong, just servicing, tyres and that’s it. MPG is easy low 30’s and mid to high 30s when on a motorway run. We’re probably going to be changing for a newer one again soon, great cars imo.
Hard-Drive said:
Rob 131 Sport said:
If you’ve had a 520d (great cars) I’d be very concerned about going down the SUV route having had to endure a few (premium) ones over the years.
I’d be looking at a 3.0 Diesel A6, 5 Series or E Class. You literally can have it all with the estate version.
Interesting...why do you say that?I’d be looking at a 3.0 Diesel A6, 5 Series or E Class. You literally can have it all with the estate version.
Then have a drive in any of my suggestions. I’d be very autos you opt for the SUV.
Thanks for the thoughts all. I had a look at some cars over the weekend.
Probably worth adding at this point that alongside my current 520d Touring F11, my wife has a 320d Touring G21 M Sport. It's a lovely car, fully loaded with M Sport +, Tech pack, Comfort, Pano roof, X drive etc, although compared to my F11 I find the ride much too harsh and the seats uncomfortable (and do bear in mind I have a Caterham R400 as the fun car!)
So first stop was BMW, and I drove a G31 520d, and although this wasn't going to be "the one" due to colour, it was a good barometer for the model. It was like my F11 and her G21 rolled into one, with none of the harshness of her 3, but with some decent improvements over the F11, apart from that terrible plastic gear knob. It was just an almost unfairly competent, quiet, swift, economical, comfy drive...my only complaint was that it was "yet another BMW" (I've had so many now) that it just seemed a bit...dull.
Next was an X5. Even with air suspension the ride was hugely inferior to the 5 Touring, it felt like a Velar with that nervous roll/wobble on a perfectly straight road, and seemed to pitch a lot over bumps. With a load bed shorter than the 5, it just seemed like it was nothing more than a tall version of the estate, and I just could not see what the point was and the X5 is off the list.
I then drove a Q7 with air, and it was a revelation by comparison to the X5, even though it was a 2019 car it was a much nicer cabin, the ride was lovely, and it was massive in the back. But, the satnav voice was awful (it literally sounds like she is eating a sandwich and where the bloody hell is "Destination Street"...the 2015 system in my F11 is much better). The V6 sounds creamy and lovely, but again is somehow louder and more intrusive than the 4 pot in my F11...and I don't know if it would serve as a constant reminder of just how much diesel it's consuming by comparison.
Unfortunately even though it was a non-Audi, main dealer car taken as a PX, it was covered in parking dinks with dog hair in the back so was not for me.
So I either need to find the right Q7, and I think I might have to compromise on the air suspension to do that, or get a new 520d Touring. Clearly my money gets a lot more 520 than it does Q7, and the infotainment etc feels a generation on in the 5.
Questions for Q7 owners...does a 2019 Q7 have the ability to work wirelessly with CarPlay, and for those running standard coil springs, is the ride still good or is air really a "must have"?
Thanks
Probably worth adding at this point that alongside my current 520d Touring F11, my wife has a 320d Touring G21 M Sport. It's a lovely car, fully loaded with M Sport +, Tech pack, Comfort, Pano roof, X drive etc, although compared to my F11 I find the ride much too harsh and the seats uncomfortable (and do bear in mind I have a Caterham R400 as the fun car!)
So first stop was BMW, and I drove a G31 520d, and although this wasn't going to be "the one" due to colour, it was a good barometer for the model. It was like my F11 and her G21 rolled into one, with none of the harshness of her 3, but with some decent improvements over the F11, apart from that terrible plastic gear knob. It was just an almost unfairly competent, quiet, swift, economical, comfy drive...my only complaint was that it was "yet another BMW" (I've had so many now) that it just seemed a bit...dull.
Next was an X5. Even with air suspension the ride was hugely inferior to the 5 Touring, it felt like a Velar with that nervous roll/wobble on a perfectly straight road, and seemed to pitch a lot over bumps. With a load bed shorter than the 5, it just seemed like it was nothing more than a tall version of the estate, and I just could not see what the point was and the X5 is off the list.
I then drove a Q7 with air, and it was a revelation by comparison to the X5, even though it was a 2019 car it was a much nicer cabin, the ride was lovely, and it was massive in the back. But, the satnav voice was awful (it literally sounds like she is eating a sandwich and where the bloody hell is "Destination Street"...the 2015 system in my F11 is much better). The V6 sounds creamy and lovely, but again is somehow louder and more intrusive than the 4 pot in my F11...and I don't know if it would serve as a constant reminder of just how much diesel it's consuming by comparison.
Unfortunately even though it was a non-Audi, main dealer car taken as a PX, it was covered in parking dinks with dog hair in the back so was not for me.
So I either need to find the right Q7, and I think I might have to compromise on the air suspension to do that, or get a new 520d Touring. Clearly my money gets a lot more 520 than it does Q7, and the infotainment etc feels a generation on in the 5.
Questions for Q7 owners...does a 2019 Q7 have the ability to work wirelessly with CarPlay, and for those running standard coil springs, is the ride still good or is air really a "must have"?
Thanks
Hard-Drive said:
Thanks for the thoughts all. I had a look at some cars over the weekend.
Probably worth adding at this point that alongside my current 520d Touring F11, my wife has a 320d Touring G21 M Sport. It's a lovely car, fully loaded with M Sport +, Tech pack, Comfort, Pano roof, X drive etc, although compared to my F11 I find the ride much too harsh and the seats uncomfortable (and do bear in mind I have a Caterham R400 as the fun car!)
So first stop was BMW, and I drove a G31 520d, and although this wasn't going to be "the one" due to colour, it was a good barometer for the model. It was like my F11 and her G21 rolled into one, with none of the harshness of her 3, but with some decent improvements over the F11, apart from that terrible plastic gear knob. It was just an almost unfairly competent, quiet, swift, economical, comfy drive...my only complaint was that it was "yet another BMW" (I've had so many now) that it just seemed a bit...dull.
Next was an X5. Even with air suspension the ride was hugely inferior to the 5 Touring, it felt like a Velar with that nervous roll/wobble on a perfectly straight road, and seemed to pitch a lot over bumps. With a load bed shorter than the 5, it just seemed like it was nothing more than a tall version of the estate, and I just could not see what the point was and the X5 is off the list.
I then drove a Q7 with air, and it was a revelation by comparison to the X5, even though it was a 2019 car it was a much nicer cabin, the ride was lovely, and it was massive in the back. But, the satnav voice was awful (it literally sounds like she is eating a sandwich and where the bloody hell is "Destination Street"...the 2015 system in my F11 is much better). The V6 sounds creamy and lovely, but again is somehow louder and more intrusive than the 4 pot in my F11...and I don't know if it would serve as a constant reminder of just how much diesel it's consuming by comparison.
Unfortunately even though it was a non-Audi, main dealer car taken as a PX, it was covered in parking dinks with dog hair in the back so was not for me.
So I either need to find the right Q7, and I think I might have to compromise on the air suspension to do that, or get a new 520d Touring. Clearly my money gets a lot more 520 than it does Q7, and the infotainment etc feels a generation on in the 5.
Questions for Q7 owners...does a 2019 Q7 have the ability to work wirelessly with CarPlay, and for those running standard coil springs, is the ride still good or is air really a "must have"?
Thanks
You really can’t go wrong with a G31 520d. I would also try some of my other previous suggestions. I don’t think YouTube disappointed. Probably worth adding at this point that alongside my current 520d Touring F11, my wife has a 320d Touring G21 M Sport. It's a lovely car, fully loaded with M Sport +, Tech pack, Comfort, Pano roof, X drive etc, although compared to my F11 I find the ride much too harsh and the seats uncomfortable (and do bear in mind I have a Caterham R400 as the fun car!)
So first stop was BMW, and I drove a G31 520d, and although this wasn't going to be "the one" due to colour, it was a good barometer for the model. It was like my F11 and her G21 rolled into one, with none of the harshness of her 3, but with some decent improvements over the F11, apart from that terrible plastic gear knob. It was just an almost unfairly competent, quiet, swift, economical, comfy drive...my only complaint was that it was "yet another BMW" (I've had so many now) that it just seemed a bit...dull.
Next was an X5. Even with air suspension the ride was hugely inferior to the 5 Touring, it felt like a Velar with that nervous roll/wobble on a perfectly straight road, and seemed to pitch a lot over bumps. With a load bed shorter than the 5, it just seemed like it was nothing more than a tall version of the estate, and I just could not see what the point was and the X5 is off the list.
I then drove a Q7 with air, and it was a revelation by comparison to the X5, even though it was a 2019 car it was a much nicer cabin, the ride was lovely, and it was massive in the back. But, the satnav voice was awful (it literally sounds like she is eating a sandwich and where the bloody hell is "Destination Street"...the 2015 system in my F11 is much better). The V6 sounds creamy and lovely, but again is somehow louder and more intrusive than the 4 pot in my F11...and I don't know if it would serve as a constant reminder of just how much diesel it's consuming by comparison.
Unfortunately even though it was a non-Audi, main dealer car taken as a PX, it was covered in parking dinks with dog hair in the back so was not for me.
So I either need to find the right Q7, and I think I might have to compromise on the air suspension to do that, or get a new 520d Touring. Clearly my money gets a lot more 520 than it does Q7, and the infotainment etc feels a generation on in the 5.
Questions for Q7 owners...does a 2019 Q7 have the ability to work wirelessly with CarPlay, and for those running standard coil springs, is the ride still good or is air really a "must have"?
Thanks
Rob 131 Sport said:
You really can’t go wrong with a G31 520d. I would also try some of my other previous suggestions. I don’t think YouTube disappointed.
A6 Allroad, looks great, very few about and mega money (or miles) compared to a similar 520.A6, I had one a a courtesy car, I'd have to have Quattro as I don't do FWD, also the decision by Audi to make the auto start/stop restart when you press the throttle rather than release the brake is soooooo annoying
Merc E, I just don't really like Mercs TBH, although you are right, I should look at one.
Which leaves me the 5 Touring or if I could find a really excpetional one, a Q7, but there's always something missing from the spec...lots have Alcantara which is dissapointing...
Take a look at the GV80 if you have a dealer near you.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504221...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504221...
ZX10R NIN said:
Take a look at the GV80 if you have a dealer near you.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504221...
Was going to suggest the Genesis GV70 but ZX10R NIN has beat me to the Genesis recommendation. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504221...
GV70 was great, very practical and decent performance with the 2.5L petrol even if it could be a bit loud in the cabin on full acceleration.
Hard-Drive said:
Rob 131 Sport said:
You really can’t go wrong with a G31 520d. I would also try some of my other previous suggestions. I don’t think YouTube disappointed.
A6 Allroad, looks great, very few about and mega money (or miles) compared to a similar 520.A6, I had one a a courtesy car, I'd have to have Quattro as I don't do FWD, also the decision by Audi to make the auto start/stop restart when you press the throttle rather than release the brake is soooooo annoying
Merc E, I just don't really like Mercs TBH, although you are right, I should look at one.
Which leaves me the 5 Touring or if I could find a really excpetional one, a Q7, but there's always something missing from the spec...lots have Alcantara which is dissapointing...
skyebear said:
I had the same car as you albeit on a 13 plate and it was great. The only thing I felt it lacked was a bit of power. Would a 530d or 540i be an option for you?
Honestly, for a family barge on today's roads the 520d is fine for me. I've got a Caterham R400 in the garage that's ironically too much power for the road (rarely get to properly open it up) and when I'm chugging around in a big air-sprung diesel estate trying to get decent economy the 2.0 diesel is perfectly adequate. If I was going for something a bit more focused that was also a one-car blat wagon then yes I'd be looking for more power.ZX10R NIN said:
Take a look at the GV80 if you have a dealer near you.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504221...
Hmmm, it's certainly quite a lot of car for the money, but I'm afraid the styling leaves me a bit cold, and that steering wheel is hideous. Thanks for the suggestion but not for me.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504221...
macron said:
Was the Velar the 2.0 diesel where most seem to leave at best a trail of smoke before the big bang? Or a different engine and it's the car that's crap?
Yes, D240 Ingenium. Utter pile of crap. Occasionally you'd pull away from a junction and it would give you 10mph maximum for about 50 yards before getting going (no exaggeration), obviously both bloody dangerous and highly embarrassing. Turns out the ECU was arguing with the engine that was significantly down on compression on one cylinder. New engine under warranty from Land Rover. Who returned it without connecting the turbo pipework and told me it has been "extensively road tested" even though it managed five miles before going into limp mode. To top it all, the courtesy Velar we had whilst the engine was being replaced also broke down with a complete electrical failure (dark screens, engine stops, coast to a stop up a verge).Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff