2008 Audi Q7 test drive

Audi Q7 is our clear favorite, compared to the utes that share its running gear, the Porsche Cayenne and the Volkswagen Touareg. The Q7’s the only one with a third-row option, for one, and its suave styling trumps the plain look of the Touareg and the dowdy, ungainly Cayenne. And when we road tested it last year, we favored the Q7 over the BMW X5, saying “Despite its beefy stats and tons of equipment, Audi’s first true SUV is a lighter, nimbler piece than its data sheet spells out. Among its colleagues,ews only the Range Rover Sport approaches its sense of style and deft blend of on- and off-road personalities.”

It holds true in the 2008 model year, as the Audi’s luxe interior continues to impress us, and the pals we chum around in it. The Q7 has stunning interior materials for a sport-ute. The carpeting in the cargo area is better than most “custom-built” homes we saw while gawking this month, and they’re bordered in high-quality trim, with bits of chrome even apparent behind the second-row seats. I’m not a big user of third-row seats, but with them folded down the Q7’s cargo hold would easily swallow two weeks’ worth of luggage.

This time around, we found a little less to like about the six-speed Tiptronic automatic. It’s a little quick to dodge around the gears, and the throttle tip-in it set to feel quick–but it can feel jumpy in city-street driving.Another disappointment in any SUV of this size is fuel economy, and in this the Audi’s doesn’t disappoint. City mileage is tagged at 12 mpg — and on the highway it doesn’t get much better, at 17 mpg.

My test vehicle carried a base price of $59,375, with a generous helping of standard gear ladled on, including a navigation system, the third-row seat, Sirius, a rearview camera, and a power tailgate. Options including an air suspension, a panorama sunroof, chrome wheels and voice-activated navigation, pulled the tally to $66,775.

If that tab for the Q7 doesn’t make you blink, the few minor quibbles we have with its transmission should be easy enough to overlook. But Land Rover’s Range Rover Sport is a good alternative in this sky-high price range.

© Source: thecarconnection
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2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Review

What's New for 2008
The racetrack-inspired CLK63 AMG Black Series coupe joins the lineup. It boasts a 500-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 along with a track-ready suspension, upgraded composite brakes, no backseat and seriously supportive front seats. Only 350 are slated for the U.S. market. On the other end of the spectrum, the volume seller CLK350 gains a few new standard features, namely a sport suspension and twin six-spoke 18-inch wheels.

Introduction
Sitting midway between the compact C-Class sedans and the über-expensive CL-Class coupes and SL-Class roadsters, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class offers the best of both worlds. Specifically, the CLK boasts sleek two-door styling, something not available in the C-Class, along with luxury and performance that virtually equals that of the pricier cars.

The CLK is available as a coupe or convertible. Both models lack a B-pillar (the traditional side pillar behind the front doors), and this gives the car a very graceful look. The drop-top, drop-dead gorgeous version of the CLK is thesnew only oercedes convertible that can seat four people, though unlike its siblings and a few of its rivals, it forgoes a retractable metal roof in favor of a traditional well-insulated cloth top. No matter which model you look at, power is plentiful. It ranges from 268 horsepower in the CLK350 on up to 500 hp in the mighty, new-for-2008 CLK63 AMG Black Series coupe (which actually is available in colors other than black). Neatly splitting the difference between these two is the 382-hp CLK550.

Overall, we're quite fond of the CLK, and those who value luxury and performance equally should find the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class more than sweet enough for their cravings. This segment contains many tempting (and potentially less expensive) choices, however. The ultra-responsive and communicative BMW 335i still reigns supreme as the driving enthusiast's choice, while Infiniti's G37 offers potent performance along with a considerably lower price tag. Making your decision process even tougher this year is the new Audi A5 with its sensuous styling and standard all-wheel drive. If you're looking at the V8-powered CLKs (the 550 and AMG versions), you might also consider the BMW M3 and Audi's S4/RS4 and S5. If it's the limited-edition Black Series coupe you're eyeing, bear in mind there are many, many fine cars you might consider at or below its lofty $135,000 price point, not least of which is the Porsche 911 GT3.

© Source: edmunds
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