I agree that it's an ugly beast and that it's rather impractical for Europe, but that doesn't make it Audi's "biggest mistake". AFAIK the Q7 sold quite well in North America and the Middle East.
Why biggest mistake? Did they lose money on it?
Not a big fan this does look big but you would need to see if it was big enough inside for you to sit comfortably in the spare seats we had same issue when searching for a 7 seater for the same reasons as you. In the end we went with a captiva as when guests are over I like to sit in the back 'boot' seats with on the the kids who is still in a car seat in the other as there is so much room... although obviously you lose the boot with 7 seats up but you can still fit a stroller in. When down it is fantastic for fitting all out shopping in. You can fit the 3 kids in the middle seat as well and it was so comfy on the drive back to the uk... but all relative last time we went back there were all 5 of us in the astra!
Go for a test drive, get the seats out take your buggy assume you have one for the bubba.. make sure it fits. Good luck car hunting it can be a headache im looking at the moment for a run around for me as hubby uses the big one for work!!
This is all a view on image.
If the OP needs an SUV 7 seater - then they will buy a Kia Sorrento - in brown.
If the OP wants to project an image they'll opt for the Q7.
For the price of the Q7 you can get a GOOD 4wd estate that works for 2 adults and 2-children - AND an older, functional 7-seater for when you have visitors - on a wechsel-schild - or even on its own plate if necessary.
not sure if they lost money. Audi is known for innovative design, sporty luxury image...at least for me...to produe an elephant like Q7 in my view was a mistake...it just does not belong in the line-up.
I hired one of those at an airport once. I didn't want it but that's all they had left.
It drove like a ship in the swell. Horrible. It may have been roomy inside but then so is a big cardboard box.
The problem with Audi is, that they all look alike...and in terms of comfort, it is just like any German car, i.e. it feels like a dentist chair on wheels. To the OP, if you're in for some serious comfort, you should look at the Cadillac Escalade, or the Lincoln Navigator or any Lexus truck, leave German cars for the gel hair crowd.
and there goes all your credibility
Care to elaborate on your statement there Mr. "Cool Blue Car".
A guy in our building has a Cadillac Escalade and he practically scrapes the ceiling with it, as well as the car sticking out of the parking spot by about 70 centimetres. Apparently, the people in the spots left and right have complained to the building managers about the car as they can't get out of their cars when it is parked. And it is always parked, except when it is parked in our disabled parking visitor spot - clearly the owner doesn't like manoeuvring the thing in and out of the garage on a daily basis.
And to be honest, that's the sort of car that you can only drive in the US, here people will think you're a bit of a sad poser who wears cowboy boots / hip hop attire when you have one of those "Amischlitten".
..why yes, but the moment you sit in an Escalade, you sort of become oblivious of the outside world and its petty opinions. Well, it is mostly because you cannot actually see the outside world, as you'll be squashing Smarts, mopeds and grannies without even feeling the slightest bump....but the ride itself is smooth as silk I tell ya.
ive got a q7
comfortable, great in snow and you can just throw everythign in the boot no worries.
is a bit big for parking in geneva thoug, otherwise no issues whatsoever
That's the problem with giant SUVs (including the Q7),in general.
As long as you and your own children are cocooned in it, sod those children that have to walk to school.
I once has a conversation with a Swiss SUV driver. He said that they really shouldn't be allowed on the road here, especially to ferry kids around. I retorted that he had one for that purpose. "But that's different", he said, "They're my kids".
American cars are not exactly built to last, or built with the best materials, or finish. well spec'ed I grant you, but they are a consumer throw away product. Nothing comes close to the fit and finish of german cars.
and yes I have had american cars
Twice a day I almost get sideswiped by such Hausfraupanzers whilst riding my bike. Oblivious? Likely.
On a side note: SUVs FEEL safe (cause they are big and heavy) but aren't as safe as a similar sized sedan. (Cause a higher center of gravity turns more weight to the front when braking which means less equally distributed pressure on the four wheeels which translate to a longer way to brake. Or when cornering fast is the stability not as good as a lower vehicle...). So a comparably expensive and equipped A6 station wagon is not only more practical, easier to park but also brakes better and is safer on the road...
Because of the perceived safety do people to drive them comparatively fast.... and a heavy car had much more impact energy in a crash than lighter ones, so SUV accidents look really ugly.
I don't agree with your statement. Generally speaking, American cars last longer than Euro cars...for one, engines are bigger and they're mostly low reving automatics, 2 vital factors in prolonging a car's life. A couple of months ago, I test drove a newer S class...it rode like crap and the interior is very basic. Considering, that it only had a little over 100k kms, I would have been pissed off, if I had purchased the car at full price. Lexus or a Cadillac/Lincoln any day over a German dentist chair on wheels.
Don't have a Q7, but do have a 7-seat Disco.
I also have 3 children + wife.
With only 2, I would get a normal, non-off-road car with or without 4x4. The main reason I have this one is for possibility of 3 full childseats in back row (our children are 18 mo apart so we needed two full-on infant seats + 1 child seat), 7 seat option and 4x4.
For a school-run I'd get something even smaller.
I disagree. There's little difference in driving on the left or right. I do agree that there are differences in the individual laws of driving - whether a lesson is needed or not is open for debate.
I didn't say everyone has to do it but I'd prefer people did it rather than cause an accident by not knowing about the rules of right of way etc. If you want to do it, I don't think it's particularly helpful for others to say you don't need to do it and make you feel silly because you've decided on making the effort.
I totally agree with the SUV drivers are in a bubble comments. The sad thing is that the sheer height of the car makes it hard to spot the small child that has decided to run on the road from between two cars. SUVs are lethal to kids when they meet.
we'll have to agree to differ I've recently bought a german car, and the quality of materials etc is by far the best of any car I've ever owned before, that includes cars from just about every corner of the earth from the USA to Japan. But yes, for what it is is was very expensive, its more or less the same type etc as my little jap car but was over 10k chf more, is it 10k better?? probably not, but its a nice place to sit
I am prepared to be shot down by all the treehuggers here but we have 2 SUVs, a ML Mercedes and Nissan Navara and my advice to you is not to go with the Q7 purely because of the width. Both are 175/180 wide and that is tight in a lot of parking places and impossible in others to get the kids in their seats. On RHD to LHD conversion it will come in time but it feels strange at first, one tip is to use your driver's side rear mirror a lot more to sight the white line, if you are close to that then you are not going to hit any thing on the other side!! Also take the park distance control option, it does make life a lot easier.