Went to Geneva yesterday to see the cars... got back today... Just want to say there was only 2 cars I would consider to buy for myself (that I can actually afford that is... dreaming of an Aston Martin AMV8 is another thing). And they are the Audi A2 and the new smart roadster... they had a beautiful Avus-silver A2 on the stand - a dark silver that is not completely charcoal - gorgeous in S-line trim with Open Sky and half leather black seats with lighter fabric central panels... this car still ticks all the boxes I want ticked and there is NOTHING else like it!!!!
The smart roadster is something I'm thinking of as a toy for weekends... but I'll see how much they cost when they land in the UK...
...so no more fears of me deserting to the Megane Sport Hatch brigade!!! Took a DCI 1,9 for a spin on Sunday and though faster than the 1,5 DCi it was just sooooo soulless... duff handling, vague steering... nope A2 is best for me: got the distinctive looks, the handling, the steering , the sound and above all the quality. I climbed in and out of nearly every car in Geneva, played with nearly every cupholder, door opener and electric window button... and nothing compares to an Audi... I may be baised as I have one... but still, next to each other, few things match an Audi for interior tactileness...
Did anyone read the article in the quarterly Audi magazine (Touch Sensitive Spring/Summer 2002) where they spoke to the engineers re how buttons should feel and SOUND? They basically said that the moment you notice a button it means it is in the wrong place... that if they work perfectly and are where you expect, they as engineers have done their job... so my point: small thing, but Audi buttons "click" when you press them... noticed it? It is so you know it was actually pressed... how many other cars I found that did that? Only one and it was the Alfa 156... the 147 was silent... and I could not get into the new Rolls Royce so can't comment!
Also how many of you can find the buttons "blind" in your A2? Ever tried it? On cars with climatronic there are 2 little pointy bits on each side between the buttons... same on the radio. They are not there for show... To adjust the temparature I reach there without looking, find the 2 pointy bits and then I know that the temp button is to the right of them... easy... and very clever and not in your face... just one of the lots of small reasons why I can't see myself geting anything else than another Audi after the A2...
Speaking of which: the new A3 was launched at Geneva... hmmm... nice if bland, strong "face", slighly fat rear, Ok interior but not so nice and very hard, shiny dash material... much like the hard shiny stuff in the Alfa 147... pity... now a 3,2 A3 with DSG gearbox sounds just nice to me... but I'd wait for the A3 5 door allroad with a 2,0 136bhp diesel and DSG auto... yum... and then some MUD!!!
_____________________________________________________________________________
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony, DIS and HALF a winterpack!
and iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve
The smart roadster is something I'm thinking of as a toy for weekends... but I'll see how much they cost when they land in the UK...
...so no more fears of me deserting to the Megane Sport Hatch brigade!!! Took a DCI 1,9 for a spin on Sunday and though faster than the 1,5 DCi it was just sooooo soulless... duff handling, vague steering... nope A2 is best for me: got the distinctive looks, the handling, the steering , the sound and above all the quality. I climbed in and out of nearly every car in Geneva, played with nearly every cupholder, door opener and electric window button... and nothing compares to an Audi... I may be baised as I have one... but still, next to each other, few things match an Audi for interior tactileness...
Did anyone read the article in the quarterly Audi magazine (Touch Sensitive Spring/Summer 2002) where they spoke to the engineers re how buttons should feel and SOUND? They basically said that the moment you notice a button it means it is in the wrong place... that if they work perfectly and are where you expect, they as engineers have done their job... so my point: small thing, but Audi buttons "click" when you press them... noticed it? It is so you know it was actually pressed... how many other cars I found that did that? Only one and it was the Alfa 156... the 147 was silent... and I could not get into the new Rolls Royce so can't comment!
Also how many of you can find the buttons "blind" in your A2? Ever tried it? On cars with climatronic there are 2 little pointy bits on each side between the buttons... same on the radio. They are not there for show... To adjust the temparature I reach there without looking, find the 2 pointy bits and then I know that the temp button is to the right of them... easy... and very clever and not in your face... just one of the lots of small reasons why I can't see myself geting anything else than another Audi after the A2...
Speaking of which: the new A3 was launched at Geneva... hmmm... nice if bland, strong "face", slighly fat rear, Ok interior but not so nice and very hard, shiny dash material... much like the hard shiny stuff in the Alfa 147... pity... now a 3,2 A3 with DSG gearbox sounds just nice to me... but I'd wait for the A3 5 door allroad with a 2,0 136bhp diesel and DSG auto... yum... and then some MUD!!!
_____________________________________________________________________________
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony, DIS and HALF a winterpack!
and iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve
