Comments on: MOTORING: AUDI A7 SPORTBACK

By: James

James — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The A7 is of course a “good car”. but what Brent Ellis doesn’t really concede sufficiently is that it is stylistically and conceptually in the shadow of the Merc CLS, and that the A 7 really only exists as Audi’s attempt to address this ‘gap” in its range. The CLS, as with so many other cars in Merc’s history, was groundbreaking. Audi now follows on.
I’m not sure if Ellis has indeed driven the new CLS which he says is “quite a machine.” but if any of u might be thinking of a 4 seater sports saloon, then the CLS is really the far better car, in every department, to the A7. Or you can wait a bit, and stump up vastly more than around R900,000, and get the Ferrari FF…the bench mark for this kind of car.

By: Brent

Brent — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hi James,

Thank you very much for your comments! Like I mentioned early on in the article, the A7 is conveniently positioned to fill a gap between numbers 6 and 8. No doubt that the CLS was indeed ground-breaking and yes it may have started the 4-door coupe trend but, and especially with the new one, it looks like a sedan where the A7 is visually set a part thanks to the "sportback".

Unfortunately I haven't yet driven the new CLS but having worked extensively for Mercedes-Benz I know what the cars are like. What I know also from my time with Mercedes is that brand loyalties play huge roles in buying decisions at this level of the market. An Audi man will always be an Audi man and the same goes for BMW and Merc.
I will bring my review of the new CLS to Mamba fairly soon, so keep tabs on the site for it.

Thanks again for your comments, I really appreciate them!

Regards,
Brent
motoring@mambaonline.com

By: James

James — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks for that feedback. yes, I am sure that brand loyalties feature powerfully in this segment of the market. but it’s also possible, not tobe “objective,” but to still recognise the emrits of what is not, necessarily, one’s fave brand. The A7 escapes, slightly, the rather dogged and bland feel you get in so many Audis these days, a “flateness” that applies esepcially to the steering. On the “sportback” effect, well, we will disagree.. I acknowledge that the A7 is a very well-sculpted car, especially with that line running along the side from front to rear, a kind of “ledge,” rather more subtle than the volvo S series…but I am not sure that the car does not still look like a sedan, and certainly, a plagiarised “version” of the CLS…In this “segment” of the market, I’m sure (or suspect) you will find, when you drive the merc, that it is far and away superior in terms of ride, handling, drive train. but we will see…

On loyalities, eg, NO-ONE in his right mind will be able to say that Merc has anything quite LIKE the BMW 1 M at the moment….But then again, the Merc C63 remains the true legatee of the 190E 16 valve “cosworth” cars, though of course it does not have the racing pedigree which makes those earlier cars so special. I suspect, though, that affordability being no object, a CAR person, though a merc loyalist, whould not turn down a 1 M, though in SA one is not likely to be able to get one, at the moment, anyway, nor would a BMW loyalist turn down a C63, if s/he had any nous!!! *smiley*

By: james

james — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Oh, and btw, anyone in the region of 180 in height, or taller, and actually rather shorter, cannot SIT in the rear seats of this car.. and that is a design flaw, of a most silly kind!!! LOL