July 28, 2009Getting Intimate With the 2007 Audi A8
Despite their willingness and generosity, borrowing my parents’ Audi A8 is always a little harrowing. It’s hard not to feel a little panicked when driving a car that costs about double one’s income (before taxes) and is kept in mint (I mean, mint) condition by one’s dad. Add to the concern about driving the car the difficult driving conditions served up by New York City (potholes, double parked cars, delivery guys on bicycles, double-long buses, and aggressive cab drivers) and the panic is quickly intensified.
That said, it’s hard to remain in an anxious state for too long. Once inside of the vehicle, the A8’s interior cabin quickly envelopes its captain, allaying all (well, most) fears and worries. While the same could probably be said about the interiors of the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes S-Class sedans, the interiors of those cars feel much more corporate to me. The A8 is unusual in that it is really the only oversized luxury sedan that doesn’t scream business. The model I drove is appointed with velvety cognac leather, copious brown suede accents, generous berle wood touches, and carefully place brushed steel.
The car’s tidy instrument cluster is both pretty to gaze at and highly functional. The on-board computer is expertly conceived, with an easily to navigable interface steered by a handy turn/depress knob that is almost foolproof to figure out (this is Audi’s MMI system and it is about the best of the high-end luxury sedan computers). The car’s Bang and Olufsen stereo system is a perfect amalgam of form and function, with neither element getting the shaft in design. Chrome speakers located throughout the cabin contrast exquisitely with (in the case of my parents’ car) cognac leather and the spiffy speakers that emerge from just beneath the car’s windshield are an archiectural wonder. The sound that comes from them isn’t too shabby either. When driving alone, it’s hard to resist cranking the volume up high - what a pleasure to drive in a car whose stereo system can so effortlessly accommodate unreasonably high decibels of sound. The very easy to use steering wheel controls enable my propensity for volume cranking.
Load several friends and their corresponding cargo into the car for a trek to the countryside, and everyone is not only comfortable but has ample room to spread out (the A8 is available in a long wheelbase model which adds 5 inches to an already sizeable interior cabin that, without the extension already offers 37 inches of rear legroom). The words “can you move your seat up just a little bit” are not likely to be uttered unless your friends are 8’0 tall. Further, the trunk space is sufficiently large and can accommodate several suitcases and all of the other junk that four city girls headed for ruralscape might have in tow.
And then there’s the ride. It shouldn’t surprise many readers to read these words: the A8 is a dream to drive. With a ride as smooth as the one offered up by the A8, it is easy to feel like a passenger even when you are a driver. To feel more in tune with the road, the 6-speed Automatic transmission can be effortlessly turned to Tiptronic mode, and, once in Manual, the driver can advance through the gears by tapping wheel-mounted paddle shifters or by toggling the gear stick forward and back. Alternatively, the car performs flawlessly in Sport Mode which is ideal for high speeds and/or curvy roads. The vehicle’s Sport Mode operates about one gear behind traditional Drive, pressing the number of engine revolutions per minute higher and causing the car to hug the road a bit more. Though Sport Mode more readily parches the A8’s engine (thereby depleting the gas tank more rapidly), this is truly the best way to enjoy the car’s 350 horsepower 4.2 Liter V8 powertrain and superior handling (facilitated by adaptive air suspension and the Audi Quattro - four-wheel-drive - system).
I absolutely cannot write a review of the A8 without mentioning the headlights. The 2007 Audi predated the super cool Audi headlamps with the LED perimeter trim that became a phenomenon with the movie Ironman. Nevertheless, I just LOVE LOVE LOVE the A8’s xenon headlights. Not only do they provide superior illumination at night, but the headlights turn as the driver turns the wheel, the ultimate feature on dark country roads. I am also a big fan of the illuminated door panels which make riding at night very pleasant.
Magnificent as it is to drive and ride in, the car is not without it’s shortcomings, but they are pretty numbered. Among them, there are some profound blindspots and checking one’s mirrors is not entirely sufficient for making sure it is safe to change lanes…this, however, is to be expected from a car of the A8L’s size (and, it should be noted, the rearview camera that is automatically activated when the car is put in reverse is very helpful). Further, the 2007 model was issued just before iPod integration had begun to be commonplace. For me, this is a huge setback as there is also no tape deck in the car and, having had little luck with radio-integration iPod devices (they really suck in urban locations), there is really no way to listen to an iPod in the car. This is a bit of a bummer, but is certainly not a dealbreaker.
Finally, the last item on a list of A8 shortcomings is something I consider to be a bit of an asset: the exterior’s understatedness. A casual glance at the A8 and the car could easily be mistaken for an A6 or even an A4. This quality lends a certain humility to the car that I rather like. The A8 is not flashy and it does not immediately reveal its price tag. This feature makes the A8 less of a status symbol and more of a vessel for the ultimate driving experience.
photo via: http://farm3.static.flickr.com (bottom), autos.aol.com (top)
