Consumer Reports’ list of 2008’s worst cars.  Mostly domestics, of course.

Some of you know the only substantial complaint I have about my Audi S4 its its terrible navigation system. Aside from Boston being the worst city in the US to navigate (it’s about as friendly from a civil engineering perspective as it is socially), it’s also been under heavy construction since the 1970s. (”We’ll be finished next year, really.”)

I’m fascinated by this recent bit about VW and Google Maps teaming up.. and wondering to myself if this will show up in an RS4 or S6 in the near future? Dreaming, I know. But a setup like this would be awesome.

I was driving quickly but safely up Memorial Drive last night and overtook a woman in a gold-colored Mercury because she was driving quite slowly. I then came to a stop at the Brattle Street light, and she stopped next to me, on my side, slightly ahead. She was middle-aged, maybe on the older side of it. She lowered both of her passenger side windows and it went like this:

MIDDLE AGED WOMAN (GRUMPY, SHOUTING SLIGHTLY): “You were driving very fast.”

ME: “I didn’t buy this car to drive like you.”

MIDDLE AGED WOMAN (EXASPERATED): “Excuse me?”

ME (EXAGGERATED, SLOWER): “I didn’t buy this car to drive like you.”

MIDDLE AGED WOMAN: “Well, it’s verry dangerous.”

ME: “Driving’s very dangerous.”

Then she rolled her windows up. And the light turned green so I didn’t get a chance to pull her out of the car.

Hrmmm.. well it’s a bit hard to describe.. it’s, like, a thump-thump kinda sound, right under the dashboard on the passenger side…

[Nick Knight photographing Angela Lindvall for Christian Dior]

I am in the middle of a dispute with the service department of Herb Chambers Infiniti in Boston. This is for some work they did on my i30, which I recently retired for my new S4.

After doing some online research, I found that customer complaints against Herb Chambers’ service department are quite common. Before I get into too many details, I am giving their service manager, Paul Dineen, a few more days to propose a way to make things right. Thus far they have been mostly ignoring me. Those of you who know me know how much I love that.

I suppose the best way to summarize things for the moment is that they sold me several thousand dollars worth of duct tape, and tried to blame it on me. “Wow, that’s a lot of duct tape!” you might say. But actually it really wasn’t a lot - just a couple feet of it. So, I guess it’s just really nice duct tape. *sigh*

Update here: Herb Chambers update.

I went out just now and took my car for a drive. You know why? Because it was there.

Now that the break-in period for the engine is over, I can drive it with fewer boundaries. It’s great fun and I am starting to feel like I am getting used to it. The harder I push it, the more comfortable I feel in it. I was a bit disappointed not to be able to take it up to my PopTech meeting in Maine this weekend, but the loaner Corolla from Clair delivered a solid second-place performance. Hell, at least I saved a few bucks on gas.

Made my flight and hotel reservations for my New Year’s trip to SC and also received a tentative schedule for the event. I am very much looking forward to the whole thing - seeing some old friends and making new ones. If it’s half as good as Monterey was, I’ll be thrilled.

An extensive R&T review of two great sedans has the C55 winning by one point but the S4 kicking butt on the “subjective ratings”.

Something I can vouch for from the first night I drove mine:

“To the driver, wheeling the S4 is all the more satisfying, thanks to remarkably linear and reassuringly firm steering. It’s unflappable from corner entrance all the way through big power applications on corner exit, so the sensation is one of simply dialing in steering lock as required. This is uncanny when charging, as it feels the S4 will never run out of grip because the steering effort remains unchanged. Of course, the S4’s tires eventually approach their limits, as announced by a distinct notch of understeer magically appearing with Bela Lugosi flair at the stroke of cornering midnight. It’s as if the S4 gives free rein, then flips on the understeer switch just before any unpleasantness unfolds.”

Now, granted, if I’d really loved the S60R the way I loved the S4, this issue might not have stopped me from purchasing one, even from dealers who were as numb as knobs. However, per my earlier post about the fact that e-mailing Volvo seemed to be a black hole, I thought that in fairness to Volvo, apparently they do indeed have at least one person who can use a computer. Unfortunately he appears to be powerless, clueless, and with no desire to repair any reputational damage.

Granted, my initial note is a bit snotty, but I started off pissed and didn’t bother to share in the feedback form that I’d actually gone into Boston Volvo and left my name, e-mail address, and that I wanted to drive a 2005 S60R and still didn’t hear back.

The thread between “Volvo Bob” and I can be found in the extended entry. Bottom-to-top, o’course.
Read the rest of this entry »

To the untrained eye, it’s just a dark blue Audi (edit: Audi calls it a “deliberately restrained appearance”). To the trained eye, it’s something special. For the second time in the three weeks I’ve had the car (in what I hope is the start of an ongoing pattern) I found a note on it -

“NICE RIDE! Enjoy!”

Those are better to find than parking tickets.

Boys and girls: you can now officially cool your jets - I added some interior shots of the car, as promised … taken today. See “new blue beast” in the “cars” section in my gallery:

http://gallery.citrano.com

Hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoy sitting in there and driving it. Oh, wait, I don’t think that’s possible…

Ok folks - I figure before I total it and kill myself, you might want to see some “before” pictures of my new car, which I just brought home last night. I’ve already put about 60 miles on it. These were “quick and dirties” I did this morning - don’t get your hopes up for any works of art .. just a lovely car .. look for “new blue beast” in the “car” section of the gallery:

[Edited to include the main gallery link]:
http://gallery.citrano.com

Enjoy - and for those of you who whined and complained tonight because there are no interior pix, give me a couple of days…

holy gear-chirping, batman. this thing kicks ass. photos to follow

This year’s Halloween costume.

Is it Halloween yet?

How ’bout now?

Today drove an Audi RS6 and a Volvo S60R. The RS6 is a totally amazing automobile (drawback that it’s an automatic but dear GOD trust me when I say it doesn’t matter, especially with the tiptronic paddles). This is a true supercar… and at $80k++ it ought to be.

The Volvo is very nice, but the S4 is superior in almost every way. There was a touch more headroom in the front of the Volvo, but the rear of each felt equally tight. Basically, with the front seat in my ideal driving position, there was precious little legroom in the back of either car. This is, for all intents and purposes, a very minor issue since no one is going to be back there 99.9% of the time, and I can move my seat forward and live with the pinch when there is. At least there are four doors. Read the rest of this entry »

Took an Audi S4 out for a nice long drive tonight. Wow. Like a little blue pill, except not so little. How long until I’m supposed to call the doctor? Four hours? Or six? More later.

Car hunt update.

The current short list:

• Audi S4
  
• Audi RS6 (if found within rea$on, but my recent research indicates that is unlikely)
  
• BMW 545i 6-speed (would prefer AWD, though - but am going to drive one anyway - a truly great sedan)
  
• BMW M5 (again, if found within rea$on, but I don’t like the electronics in the older ones [02-03] and the new ones are not out yet and way more than I want to spend)
  
• Volvo S60R (would love to test drive one if just one of the dealers I’ve contacted (Dalzell, 128 Volvo, and Boston Volvo) would respond to my multiple e-mails)
  
• Mercedes E500 - while a great, powerful sedan, it only comes in an auto and I fear it is too middle-agey in character. Although they look younger in person…

But I am definitely accelerating the hunt. I had set a target date of February or March but I don’t think I’m going to make it… my instinct says the moment is nearing. I can practically smell the seat leather (don’t tell the dealers this). Accordingly, I will be test driving a 2005 Audi S4 tomorrow. My main worry about the S4 is reliability - I remain a little concerned as to whether Audi have pulled themselves out of their late-90s quality funk. The last few years of reliability numbers indicate that they have done so, and well. The S4 is an aggressive racer and all-around rocket ship - yet has the maturity of a stable, 4-door sedan. I like its look, its power, its stance. Originally I thought they might be too small, but sat in one a few months ago and was very impressed - seemed every bit as roomy as my i30. So, the size issue is off the table. Now, to drive one. To really drive one. I pity the sales rep, should they choose to accompany me.

Advice welcome.