With Audi recently announcing that it will soon be launching a new TDI diesel version of its highly acclaimed crossover vehicle, I thought it was high time that I actually drove a Q7.
You see, one of the perks of being an automotive journalist is that we mostly get to choose the vehicles we review. Occasionally we are assigned to a particular model, or requested to attend the launch of a new product, but for the majority of the time, if we have an interest in a certain vehicle, we simply ask for one.
This usually works well, but it can also lead to the odd goof, which is exactly what happened to me with the Q7
You see, when I first clapped eyes on the vehicle at its auto show launch, I was quite drawn to the exterior styling. However, being in the confines of an show stand, up close, I began to feel that it was a tad big and possibly cumbersome for my own personal taste.
That said, and being rather busy at the time, I had a quick seat behind the wheel, which only further expanded my initial impression of a rather large SUV come oversized Station Wagon.
To be fair, in hindsight, that was possibly due to some well-intentioned salesperson lowering the seat and placing it at the extent of its travel to demonstrate the roominess of the driver's cockpit.
However, it was enough for me to decide then and there that the Q7 wasn't really my kind of vehicle, and therefore I've never actually gone in search of one to drive.
Zip forward now to a few weeks ago, and there I was, patiently waiting in line for my turn in the new Audi R8, or as I call it, the "R gr8t"!
Being such a popular vehicle, especially after winning so many AJAC awards, the world and his friend were after one, including just about every automotive show from here to Hearts-Desire Newfoundland, or so it seemed. This meant that my bookings were changed several times to accommodate this.
You see, one of the perks of being an automotive journalist is that we mostly get to choose the vehicles we review. Occasionally we are assigned to a particular model, or requested to attend the launch of a new product, but for the majority of the time, if we have an interest in a certain vehicle, we simply ask for one.
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| When I first clapped eyes on the vehicle, I was quite drawn to the exterior styling. |
This usually works well, but it can also lead to the odd goof, which is exactly what happened to me with the Q7
You see, when I first clapped eyes on the vehicle at its auto show launch, I was quite drawn to the exterior styling. However, being in the confines of an show stand, up close, I began to feel that it was a tad big and possibly cumbersome for my own personal taste.
That said, and being rather busy at the time, I had a quick seat behind the wheel, which only further expanded my initial impression of a rather large SUV come oversized Station Wagon.
To be fair, in hindsight, that was possibly due to some well-intentioned salesperson lowering the seat and placing it at the extent of its travel to demonstrate the roominess of the driver's cockpit.
However, it was enough for me to decide then and there that the Q7 wasn't really my kind of vehicle, and therefore I've never actually gone in search of one to drive.
Zip forward now to a few weeks ago, and there I was, patiently waiting in line for my turn in the new Audi R8, or as I call it, the "R gr8t"!
Being such a popular vehicle, especially after winning so many AJAC awards, the world and his friend were after one, including just about every automotive show from here to Hearts-Desire Newfoundland, or so it seemed. This meant that my bookings were changed several times to accommodate this.
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| Having just experienced a major snow storm, the Q7 made as much, if not more sense than the R8, so I gladly accepted. |