Review of the Audi Q3

Posted by on December 22, 2011 No comments

When it comes to the choice of engines the Audi Q3 offers the option of three, all of which are direct-injection, turbocharged models. Firstly there is the 2.0-litre 168bhp petrol engine, which provides a fast, flexible and easy ride, although the gearshift – a six-speed manual one – is a bit frustrating, as the changes are less smooth. In terms of petrol engines, the next step up is the 2.0-litre 208bhp model, which is available only in S tronic form. This is likely to be the most popular engine choice for most purchasers, but seven-speed S tronic gearbox makes it considerably more expensive than the 168bhp model. Finally the diesel 175bhp engine, again only available as an S tronic engine, is again muted by the problems with the gearbox. The diesel fuel is also considerably noisier than the petrol.

In terms of overall refinement, the Audi Q3 is excellent, with the vehicle isolating distracting external noise from the wind and the road surfaces very effectively and a quiet suspension system. The suspension is firm, but not to the extent that driving on rougher road surfaces becomes uncomfortable, and this firmness means that the car handles corners in a very controlled manner. The Audi Q3 also benefits from very good traction on road surfaces, and is extremely agile. The only real downside is the steering, which tends towards being too light.

Inside the car, the Q3 doesn’t really offer any more internal space than similar models by rivals – such as the Golf by Volkswagen – and can also be an issue for taller passengers thanks to the limited headroom in the back. The back area of the car is also somewhat narrow, making it impossible to comfortably carry more than two passengers in the back. The boot space is also a little disappointing, apparently offering considerable space, with a volume of 460 litres, but it is shallow and the lip makes it awkward for loading luggage or shopping. However the car is well built and the internal fittings are of excellent quality. Furthermore it is equipped with good features – including Bluetooth, automatic wipers and lights and climate control.

Review of the Audi S6

Posted by on December 14, 2011 No comments

The S6 range manufactured by Audi has proven to be an enduring favourite amongst performance minded drivers, thanks to the sheer power that the engines utilised in these models can give you. One of the remarkable things about the S6 is that it does not look as if it would give you the astonishing level of performance power that it actually does, with the surprise factor contributing to the overall appeal of the car.

The engine in the 2011 version of the Audi S6 is a V-10 5.2 litre one which is capable of truly ferocious levels of power. The engine is similar in design to the V-10 5.0 litre model used in the Gallardo, which lends the somewhat staid looking S6 a little of that car’s exoticism. The power from the engine is channelled through the six-speed automatic transmission, which can have the effect of blunting some of the edge off that power, but overall the transmission unit is an extremely competent and well made on which has no negative effect on the sound produced by the V-10 engine.

The benefits of the new Audi S6 don’t only lie in the engine power, however, with the vehicle also offering tremendously sensitive, accurate and well weighted steering – coupled with powerful sharp braking. The car also offers a suspension system that mutes boy movements to ensure that you are not rattling around the car while driving on bumpy road surfaces. Furthermore the inside of the car is also of a very high standard with an attractive design and good quality finishing. The actual controls for the car can tend to be a little confusing at first, but once you have had a chance to adjust to them, they actually follow a logical system.

Overall these qualities combined make the Audi S6 a top quality sports sedan car – something that is reflected in the price, as this is not a cheap car to buy. Furthermore, if you are driving this or any other vehicle you have to think about securing the appropriate insurance. However, www.endsleigh.co.uk policies are available from the major insurance providers.

Review: Audi A7 Sportback

Posted by on December 2, 2011 No comments

Make no mistake; the Audi A7 Sportback is a beautiful car. Essentially it is a sports version of the Audi A6 but it is also so much more than that.

There are three flavours of engine to choose from. At the bottom one of these sits a 2.8 litre petrol engine which delivers a relatively modest 201 bhp. Next there is the 3 litre supercharged petrol engine which delivers a more desirable 296 bhp and thirdly there is the diesel version, which is a 3 litre TDI is producing 201 or 240 bhp depending on the configuration of the car.

Not surprisingly you will enjoy the best performance from the 3 litre version which will accelerate you from rest to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds, which is very fast for this class of car and faster than much of the competition. The top speed of this, and all the other versions, is 155 mph (electronically limited).

All cars come in two or four wheel drive configurations and for the two wheel drive models you can You can opt for a seven speed or eight speed semi-automatic gearbox though for the four wheel drive models you are restricted to the seven speed. There is paddle shift and double clutch for close to instantaneous gear change.

As you might anticipate handling is excellent and the car grips the road well; the traction control hardly needs to do anything even when you are burning it round tight bends which it will do very smoothly. The reason for this is the so-called torque vectoring traction control system that applies very gentle braking to individual wheels at the first sign of slip.

An exciting feature of this car is the drive select system. This can be set to auto, comfort, dynamic and personal. If you want to enjoy what this car can do on bendy roads, then select the dynamic, but if you really want to set up the car to your own driving style, then you will love the personal.

Altogether the Audi A7 Sportback is a gorgeous looking car that delivers real performance for a not too unreasonable price.

Difference between the Audi A7 and A8

Posted by on June 22, 2011 No comments

The Audi brand only recently launched their impressive Audi A7 sports coupe earlier this year and it is certainly one of their most sought after models to date. The V6 3 litre engine delivers a massive 245bhp and a peak torque of 500Nm. In the standard options this vehicle is available to purchase in the Quattro and Tronic styles.

One impressive feature of this vehicle that must be noted is the V8 4.2 litre engine that this car houses, it is in fact the upgraded version of the V8 engine that powers the Audi R8, giving this particular model an acceleration rate of 0-100 kph in just 4.6 seconds, with a 280 kph of top speed.

The newly launched model comes in the shape of a chic five-door sports coupe, which offers a sportback design. Those that purchase this particular model have the opportunity to opt for the LED lights and an acceleration speed of 0-100 in just 6.3 seconds.

Optional features are in abundance on this model, these include the likes of extra ventilation on the front seats, a head up display unit, LED lights and even massage features. All of these may sound tempting, however they are often the extras that will cause your insurance to rise.

The Audi A8 is similar to that of the A7, however it is the bigger model and is therefore a little more in cost. The A7 however appears to have taken on a more luxurious approach and is a little more superior when regarding functionality.

When thinking about insuring either of these cars a good option is to look online, various websites will offer different quotes, Endsleigh car insurance is one great provider to check out as they offer an assortment of different policies.

Audi RS5 Review

Posted by on June 1, 2011 No comments

Audi unveiled the new 2011 Audi RS5 sports coupe at the 2010 Geneva motor show, letting the world get a glimpse of this amazing car. The car is a powerhouse, with a monster of a v-8 that puts out about 450 horsepower at around 8300 rpm, throwing down around 320 foot pounds of torque in the range of four thousand to six thousand rpm.

The Audi quattro all wheel drive system comes standard with the 2011 RS5, however 60 to 85 percent of the power can be transferred to the rear wheels for maximum acceleration. The standard transmission is a speed dual clutch, and as of now there is no talk of a manual variant. The exterior appearance of the R5 is somewhat similar to that of the S5, however the car appears to be more sporty and aggressive than the S5. Currently the wheels are 19-inch aluminum, but those looking for optimal performance can upgrade to the 20-inch stock instead. The power of the R5 brings it to 63 mph in a quick 4.6 seconds, with a top speed of about 155 mph (however Audi has been talking about boosting the top speed to 173 mph if the demand is high enough).

Currently the R5 is scheduled for release in Europe, and there is no American variant expected as of yet. Nonetheless, Audi has done a fine job of expanding their line of attractive sports coupes with the new 2011 Audi R5.

Review: Audi R8 Spyder

Posted by on May 25, 2011 No comments

The Audi R8 Spyder convertible will set you back a large pile of cash, but for a real supercar this might be considered a bargain. There is little doubt that if you drive one of these you will receive plenty of attention.

Underneath the bonnet you will find a V10 engine which will deliver an impressive 518 bhp and the car will happily reach 62 mph in 4.1 seconds and take you to 194 mph with ease.

It is the same power unit as is used in the Lamborghini Gallardo which is well known for the way it delivers high torque at relatively low revs. Peak torque occurs at 6,300 rpm to 8000 rpm, and if you keep your foot on the boards you can watch the rev counter rise all the way to the red line which just shy of 9,000 rpm.

So if driving in an open top sports car with a 5 litre V10 engine spinning at close to 9,000 revs minute appeals to you, then the good news is you can buy this car for less than the average house price.

The standard gear box is six-speed manual with a gated shift, though for a little more money you can upgrade to a semi- automatic paddle shift (R Tronic) box which also comes with a standard sequential change gear lever. Yes – you should go for it. You only live once after all and you know you are worth it.

There is however a problem with all high powered convertible Motors that relates to the laws of physics. Without a roof it is very difficult to achieve sufficient stiffness to prevent the car flexing when powering round corners. At the top end of the spectrum this can be overcome by replacing the standard chassis with a carbon fibre monocot as in Formula One cars, and for lesser cars by adding extra stiffening metal members to the chassis, which add to the weight. Compared to other cars of this class, the Spyder designers have achieved a good balance and the high speed cornering capabilities are no less than superb.

Overall the Audi R8 Spyder is a rare beauty and has everything you might desire in a luxury supercar.

Audi S5 Quattro Cabriolet Review

Posted by on April 21, 2011 No comments

The 2010 Audi S5 quattro Cabriolet is changing the way drivers view V-6 engines. The 3-liter supercharged V-6 is derailing the reputation of V-8 engines by offering better performance than its seemingly more capable counterpart. At 333 horsepower and about 325 foot pounds of torque the engine is only twenty horses short of the 4.2 liter V-8, which is quite impressive for a V-6 powered vehicle.

The 2010 Audi S5 quattro Cabriolet goes from 0-60 mph about as quickly as its competitors, being only a half a second behind the Mercedes SLK55 and its sibling the S5 coupe, both of which are V-8 powered. It also fairs well in the quarter mile when placed against the aforementioned vehicles. The 2010 Audi S5 quattro gets about 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, which is better than the two cars mentioned above. Audi appears to be setting a trend by downsizing their motor to a V-6, as BMW is now expected to do the same with some of their upcoming releases.

The 3.0 TFSI gas direct injection with a supercharger pushes power to the pavement, living up the to Audi legacy. Although the 2010 Audi S5 quattro is a V-6 powered vehicle Audi has tuned it to sound like a V-8 monster that really shows its pride when you accelerate quickly. Aside from performance improvements, the Cabriolet rag top offers a convertible variation of the car that is changing the way drivers everywhere see V-6 engines – the Audi S5 quattro.

Audi TT Review

Posted by on March 21, 2011 No comments

The Audi TTS has been outshining the Audi TT since it came on the scene with more power, greater handling capabilities and a flashy appearance that could rival any sports coupe. However, Audi has made a considerable amount of improvements for the 2011 Audi TT, and it is expected to be just as attractive and powerful as its TTS sibling.

The new 2011 Audi TT is expected to be released in the 1st quarter of 2011. The new engine is expected to be much more powerful than its predecessor’s, with a new 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged utilizing a revolutionary Audi Valve Shift system that optimizes exhaust flow in the turbocharger. This new engine boasts an additional 10 horsepower and a substantial gain of about 50 foot pounds of torque, bringing the grand total to about 210 horsepower and approximately 260 foot pounds of torque.

The Audi S tronic dual clutch 6-speed auto pushes power to the pavement like a beast, where it is utilized by the impressive quattro all wheel drive system. These improvements combined by the lightweight nature of the vehicle lets it hit 62 mph in about 5 and a half seconds. The gas mileage is also quite impressive, getting about 35 miles per gallon.

Perhaps most appealing is the fact that the 2011 Audi TT is projected to be faster than both the Mercedes SLK300 and the BMW Z4. The 2011 Audi TT offers about 40 more foot pounds of torque than the two aforementioned vehicles, and even more interesting is that it costs a few thousand less than its competitors!

Audi S4 Review

Posted by on February 11, 2011 No comments

The 2010 Audi S4 is conveniently priced in the midway mark between the BMW M3 and the BMW 335i, while offering performance and appearance that can easily rival both of the aforementioned vehicles. Released in the fall of 2009 the new Audi S4 has been accepted with open arms by Audi fans around the world.

This sport sedan is powered by a V-6 motor that is equipped with a supercharger that has a maximum boost psi of 11.6! The TFSI adds power to an already seductive sport sedan that is putting all of its competitors to shame. The patented Audi blower pushes power into the direct injected 3-liter V-6, causing it to push out about 330 horsepower at 5500 rpm and about 325 foot pounds of torque at 2900 rpm. Luckily for those that want a smooth luxury ride, all of this power comes without the usual noise associated with other superchargers. In fact, the vehicle doesn’t make a sound until it is pushed to the max, at which point a faint humming sound can be heard form within the cabin as the sedan glides smoothly on the open road.

The 2010 Audi S4 hits 62 mph in 5 seconds flat, which is almost identical to the speed of the 2009 Audi S4. However, most consumers will be happy to note that aside from the looks and performance, the fuel economy of of the car has also been improved. The new Audi 2010 S4 provides a gas mileage of 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Benefits of History Check

Posted by on January 5, 2011 No comments

There are a very large number of benefits to getting a history check on used cars before handing over money in exchange for it. A complete history check should be one of the very first things that the buyer asks to see before they think of looking into the deal further. This kind of check will tell the customer everything that they need to know about the vehicle and its history, and will determine whether it is in a good enough state to be bought by them.

One of the main benefits of a history check is that buyers will know where their vehicle has come from, and this could possibly save them a great deal of stress and problems in the future. A local motors history check will tell the customer if the car has been imported into the country, or whether it has previously been sold for scrap and then repaired. If this is the case it is unlikely that the customer will want to proceed further with the sale, because there will be the possibility that the car will not be roadworthy for a sustained amount of time afterwards.

Another thing that will be very important for the buyer is that the car has not been stolen and sold on. The reasons for this are numerous, but buyers might not be aware of the fact that they could end up in trouble if they are found to be driving a stolen car without knowing about it. Clearly, buyers will not want to pay money for a stolen car and then find themselves in trouble with the law because they are in possession of it.

All the points that are in the history check are of massive importance to the buyer, and this is why it is so essential that customers get one as a priority when they are looking into buying a new vehicle.