hAudi Folks!

Motor trend has a follow up to their previous ultra luxury sedan comparison test from a few months back in their July 2001 issue. The contestants this time include new models like the Infiniti Q45, Lexus LS430, as well as the Jaguar VP supercharged, Cadillac STS, MB S430 and the Audi A8 L.

The S430 was judged the overall winner despite being the most expensive and the slowest car of the bunch. The S430 was picked by 4 MT staff memebers as the car they would buy with their own money. The A8 L fared very well, getting 2 votes, and the LS430 got the other vote. Not bad at all for an aging design. The A8 L received a great review. The only criticisms were aimed at the mapless navigation system and slightly high road noise for the optional 18" tires. The A8 L was judged to have the most elegant interior, second roomiest cabin and the largest trunk. The performance numbers were slightly better than Audi claims: 0-60 in 6.57 seconds, 1/4 mile in ~14.8 seconds.

M5 ETR

So, it was an interesting decision for me as a die-hard Infiniti fan when I bought the S8....

As a 2 time owner of early nineties Q45's - (the only real Q45 till now) - and a 5 time purchaser of the brand - I had conflicted feelings about switching to Audi, so close to the launch of the long-awaited NEW-NEW Q. Getting out of my Nitrous-blown machine was particularly hard, but it was time...

Switching to Audi, sort of being an oxymoron here, as Audi is - and always has been - such a huge brand with a loyal following for us in South Africa.... But still, I was switching and what I wasn't comfortable with was the extra 30K AND THAT BEFORE I WOULD EVEN DRIVE A NEW Q!!!!

Any way, I am real happy with the decision now. I have now driven a new Q and I was a little disappointed because while the new Q has 333 lb/ft torque vs. the S8's 317, it didn't feel like more... In fact, it was real disappointing (or it would have been if I had purchased a Q) to read in this week's R&T that the LS430 was actually .10 second faster 0-60 than the Q!!!

I think it is all in the gearing for both the S8 and the LS430...

I was reading earlier this week on the forum here about S8 gearing issues, etc. My penny's worth is that I feel that the S8 really benefits from the short early box ratios. I do very much agree that 4th should have been brought down closer to 3 and that 5th could have stayed where it was, or 5th could even have gone out further a little. 6th would have been sweet.

I see that the new 7 series will be a self-shifter 6 speed...

I have my name down for an RS8/new S8 in the 2003/2004 range (just in the event that we do get it) and it better have 4 closely spaced gears and 2 tall finals....

ryoung

Make that 5 closely spaced gears and one tall final

hAudi Folks!

They tested a second car and still couldn't get the sub 6-second 0-60 time that Infiniti claims for the new Q45. It might be another Miata/Mustang Cobra type sgas where the manufacturer is claiming more hp than what the car is producing because of U.S. emissions.

I think Motor Trend clocked the Q45 at 6.53 seconds in 0-60 time.

The other disappointing aspect of the looks of the Q45 is that the 18" wheels are only 7.5" wide and they are set inwards. The car would look more aggressive with a set of 8" or 8.5" wide rims with a lower offset on those 245 tires. It must be a Japanese thing because the Lexus LS430 17" wheels are only 7" wide. Perhaps they are trying to go for the quietest ride.

M5 ETR

Personal preference... If you were ever going to run on the track (depending again on the track) you may never get out of 4th....

It is nice to have the closely spaced selections for the slower corners and for coming out of the turns. The right 4th on this car should be good for 140mph - very few tracks alow that speed for this car given the lenght of a "typical" straight and where you would have to start throwing out the anchors (again on a car this heavy....)

5th/6th can then be far out for when you need it on the street/highway.