SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Motivation: 2019 Audi Q8 55 TFSI quattro

Pics by Motorpress
Posted: August 4, 2019

From: AbiC Agribrokers KZN
To: Bond, Cash and Leger Inc, Chartered Accountants

Hi Jeremy,

Here’s the heads-up you requested, so you could have time to prepare, should I ever want to withdraw more than 1.5-million in a single transaction from the mobility account.

It’s time to trade the old Q7 because it’s about to breach the 100 000 km, or two years, threshold we agreed upon. The past 24 months have been busy with many profitable trips logged <smile>.

I chose the Q8 because it’s much the same size as Q7; just slightly shorter but marginally wider and lower, so interior space is similar. Extra power from the 3.0-litre engine, vs. my Q7’s 2.0 mill, is magnificent; gives new meaning to the phrase “effortless overtaking.” It’s big, quick, powerful and has almost everything one could need in its standard package. A bloke could almost live in one if he had to - music, connectivity, space – it’s all there. Just don’t tell Melanie that because she already mutters that I treat the Q7 like a surrogate mistress <blush>.

There’s another thing I like about Audi SUVs; they seem to bolster clients’ confidence in me and command respect without being in-your-face aggressive or old-worldly. And, like those others, I can add just the options and accessories I need (or simply want).

Here’s what I selected:
 
•    Adaptive air suspension at R33 925 for farm road comfort and the occasional trek into the hills for site inspections. It raises and lowers suspension automatically by as much as   90 mm, to 254 mm, if needed,

•    The R16 260 towing hitch for when I need to couple up a trailer,

•    Adaptive cruise control at R19 500 to take some of the tedium out of driving at the end of a long day,

•    Phone box and LTE support at R6 204 because I never remember to plug my phone into an old-fashioned USB point to recharge while driving,

•    Lane change assist with pre-sense rear (R8 940) because, as a safety measure, it’s ridiculously inexpensive,

•    Night vision assistant at R34 873. This provides thermal imaging of people and animals that I might otherwise miss after dark. Did I tell you about the time, approaching Nottingham Road at around 4:00 a.m., that I almost centre punched a trailer full of cattle? I saw the truck’s headlights facing in my direction, in the opposite lane, but an angel on my shoulder made me hit the brakes anyway – the truck’s articulated trailer was right across my lane. Thirty-five grand could save a lot of grief, so the option stays.

•    Some appearance items totalling R55 660 because I live with the car for more than        4 000 km per month and I want it to look good.  That brings the bill for additions to              R175 362.

Apart from the comprehensive safety kit built-in to every Audi, it has all the room, cargo space, electronic gadgets and interfaces that a modern couple with almost grown twins could need. Melissa is now 1.81m tall and Julia, older by 30 minutes, lords it over her at a stately 1.82m. Yes, they do need lots of kneeroom and yes, they do play Netball. High school and Provincial.

The main cargo area holds 605 litres of groceries, holiday luggage or sports gear and can expand, with seatbacks folded, to an amazing 1755 litres. Then, of course, each section of the back seat can slide back and forth within a range of 100 mm. Pushed back, there’s enough knee space to accommodate a bride in full finery. Please, not just yet!

So, Jeremy, I’ll order this car from my usual dealership in the next couple of days and have their accountant contact you to arrange funding when it's ready.

Thanks and regards,
Abi

Test unit from Audi SA press fleet

The numbers
Base price: R1 388 000
Reviewed additions: R175 362
Review total: R 1 563 362
Engine: 2995 cc, V6 with twin-scroll turbocharger
Power: 250 kW between 5200 and 6400 rpm
Torque: 500 Nm between 1370 and 4500 rpm
Gearbox: 8-speed Tiptronic
Zero to 100 km/h: 5.9 seconds
Maximum speed (governed): 250 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 11.4 l/100 km
Tank: 85 litres
Luggage: 605 – 1755 litres
Ground clearance: 164 – 254 mm with optional air suspension
Turning circle: 13.3 metres
Towing capacity (braked): 3500 kg
Standard tyre size: 275/50R20
Spare: Inflatable spacesaver with on-board pump
Warranty and maintenance: 5 years / 100 000 km

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

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