BMW 730Ld SE March 8, 2008
Posted by carcritic in Uncategorized.Tags: bmw, cars, england, new cars, posh, TV, uk
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Model tested: BMW 730Ld SE
Price as tested: £54,550
Range price: £51,850-£85,445
Insurance group as tested: 17
Insurance group range: 17-20
Date tested: January 2008
Road tester: Adrian HigginsAuto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 86%
Need to make an impression? Want to be ferried around from power meeting to power meeting in utmost comfort – but still get some fun out of driving?
The BMW 7 Series promises all this and more, wrapped in a seriously attractive package.
Web Editor Adrian Higgins put the flagship luxury saloon through its paces for a week.
1. Looks
Our colleagues have become a little blasé about the dizzying range of vehicles which turn up at the Auto Trader offices. But the BMW 7 Series stopped them in their tracks and prompted some to suggest the delivery might be for them. The BMW Series 7 represents the German saloon in its finest form. It is very recognisably from the BMW saloon family, albeit with the distinctive kidney grille widened. A 2005 makeover, which included the introduction of the long wheelbase model we drove, introduced features such as a slight bulge to the bonnet to emphasize the car’s sporty side in addition to its luxury credentials.
10/10
The speedo and rev counter dominate the information display, but everything else you need to know is simply laid out or accessible by scrolling through information on one of the steering wheel stalks. Another stalk is used for shifting through the automatic gears which soon becomes second nature so although the steering wheel fulfils many functions, it doesn’t feel overloaded. Between the driver and front seat passenger is a generous storage area fronted by the iDrive controller which operates the sat-nav, entertainment, communications and air-con. The set-up is repeated in the rear arm rest. The whole interior carries off the luxury feel well with extremely comfortable electronically controlled leather seats and curves which echo the car’s exterior shape.
9/10
The practical purpose of the long wheelbase car we drove is likely to be ferrying company chairmen and CEOs between engagements. He or she is certainly not going to be disappointed by a rear environment which features loads of legroom, access to the iDrive system, a TV monitor and a footstool as well as very comfortable leather seats. The boot is cavernous and able to accommodate 500 litres of luggage. Inside the car there are four cupholders and some neat storage solutions within the central console. Space within the glove compartment is limited but the storage areas along the car’s central area are generous. There is plenty of headspace too.
8/10
Sitting in the rear is the luxury experience one would hope for while the opportunity for a more engaging drive is provided by awareness but no discomfort from lumps and bumps in the tarmac. We found the car very comfortable as driver or passenger but behind the wheel it has a nimble quality which belies its size although some will consider the electrically-assisted steering a bit vague. The Long Wheelbase version we tested features a “self-levelling rear suspension” which is set to ensure rear seat comfort, especially over speed bumps.
9/10
BMW offer a choice of four petrol engines but most buyers are expected to opt for the 231bhp 3-litre diesel engine we tested. It powers the car from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds through the six-speed automatic gearbox and can achieve a top speed of 149mph. Acceleration was very responsive, the gear changes smooth and power available quickly whenever required. The petrol engines range from the 3-litre 258bhp 730i which adds 5mph to the top speed to the range-topping 6-litre 445bhp 760i which covers the 0-62mph sprint in just 5.5 seconds and boasts a top speed of 155mph.
9/10
The diesel engine makes for the most economical motoring in the range, returning an average of 34.4mph. Pretty good for a luxury car. The petrol engines are thirstier with the 6-litre 760i returning 21.1mpg. CO2 emissions from the 730i are 242g/km, placing it in top car tax band G, along with the other models, which attracts an annual bill of £300, increasing to £400 in April 2008. Insurance for the group falls into Group 17-20. However, buyers of luxury cars are unlikely to expect cheap motoring from a luxury car.
7/10
This is a top quality car constructed from sturdy materials. The attention to detail is to a high standard: subtle lights highlighting the door handles, the elegant flipping of the boot at the click of a button. Each model comes with a three year warranty. The Reliability Index indicates issues with the 7 Series tended to crop up after around six years and would usually concern the axle, suspension and the cooling system. However this relates entirely to the outgoing model which was replaced by the existing model in 2002 before being further revised in 2005.
8/10
The BMW 7 Series comes with ten airbags as well as a host of driving aids to keep you out of trouble in the first place. These include anti-lock brakes and dynamic stability control as well as bumpers which will return to their original shape in impacts of less than 4mph. The car has yet to undergo EuroNCAP testing.
8/10
The petrol-engined 730i and the 730Ld SE diesel model we come with a high level of equipment including the safety features listed above plus park distance control, front fog lights, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels, Xenon headlights, electric seats and CD player. The SE models add 18 inch wheels, voice control, and sat-nav. The 740Li and 750Li adds self-levelling rear suspension and rear windscreen sunblind. The 760 model adds comfort seats, automatic bootlid operation, hand-stitched leather instrument panel and many more features. The sport models add 19-inch alloy wheels, sports seats and suspension package as well as a three-spoke steering wheel.
8/10
There are plenty of X-factors to choose from. But if forced to choose one it would be the design. The BMW 7 Series looks superb.
10/10
Porsche Cayenne January 29, 2008
Posted by carcritic in Uncategorized.Tags: 4x4, car reviews, england, new cars, porsche, uk
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Model tested: Porsche Cayenne
Price as tested: £37,100
Range price: £37,100 – £74,650
Insurance group as tested: 20
Insurance group range: 20
Date tested: January 2008
Road tester: Adrian HigginsAuto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 80%
If you’re looking for a sporty luxury SUV the Porsche Cayenne has got to be on your shortlist.
Named after a hot pepper this performance car comes in four flavours; Cayenne, Cayenne S, GTS and Turbo – or hot, hotter, very hot and hottest.
We test drove the standard model to give you the low-down on arguably Britain’s spiciest SUV dish.
1. Looks
The Porsche Cayenne has not won everyone’s hearts with its beefed-up performance stance. Porsche responded with new headlights, spoilers, mirrors and enlarged air scoops for the second generation model. It doesn’t match the elegant simplicity of the German manufacturer’s traditional sports cars and there are more attractive sporty SUVs. But if aggressive get-me-there-now looks are what you’re after the Porsche Cayenne has them in spades.
The interior pulls off luxury and sporty with a combination of dark roof lining, monochrome dash and Porsche-embossed leather interior, although a beige colour scheme is also available. The information display is bold, simple, stylish and functional while the three spoke steering wheel and two central grab holds indicate you’re in a car which means business off and on road. The dash is immediately identifiable as belonging in a Porsche, and the seats look and feel like quality products.
There is 540 litres of boot space with all seats in place, which can be increased to a maximum 1,770 litres by tipping the rear seats – which fold flat to the floor. There’s plenty of space in the cabin for oddments, and space in the front is excellent, although the rear has less room than we would have liked. Electric seats with lumbar support help ensure a comfortable driving position, especially on longer journeys.
Many SUV manufacturers tell you the experience of driving their vehicle “car-like” – but this one actually is. The drive is sharper than any SUV we have driven and meets the level of expectation set by the big Porsche badge in the middle of the steering wheel. The trade-off comes with a ride which doesn’t feel like a traditional SUV, but it never becomes uncomfortable. Drivers can switch between standard and sports suspension at the push of a button. There are three further chassis settings: sports, normal and comfort for finer adjustment. So you can pick the ride and handling experience to suit your journey. But its difficult to forget the Cayenne’s enormous girth.
Now we’re talking. When Porsche facelifted the Cayenne in 2007, it increased engine performance while improving fuel consumption
The entry-level 3.6-litre V6 Cayenne we drove produces 290bhp, raising performance to produce headline figures of 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds and a top speed of 149mph. We found the glorious-sounding V6 to offer massive overtaking potential and almost hot hatch-rivalling acceleration.
The next model in the range, the sportier 4.8-litre V8-engined Cayenne S sees performance improve further, with a 0-62mph time of just 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 156mph. The GTS packs a modified version of the same engine, increasing power to 405bhp for a 157mph top speed.
Topping the range is the Cayenne Turbo, which offers genuine supercar pace from its 500bhp 4.8-litre V8 engine. 0-62mph takes just 5.1 seconds and top speed is a massive 171mph.
The Cayenne and the Cayenne S models come with a slick six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with a Tiptronic semi-automatic as an option. The semi-auto is standard on the Turbo model. The Tiptronic model we drove responded smoothly and promptly to a variety of situations via the gearstick or the steering wheel-mounted buttons.
Strong demand for the Porsche Cayenne means used prices remain solid. Porsche says its Direct Fuel Injection has improved fuel economy by between eight and 15 per cent. However, motoring still does not come cheap with this level of performance. The Cayenne returns an average of 21.9mpg with the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo both returning 19mpg and the Cayenne GTS 18.7mpg. CO2 emissions for the Cayenne are 310g/km and 358g/km for the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo which lands all three models firmly within the highest car tax band G – meaning an annual bill of £300, rising to £400 from April 2008. Car insurance of Group 20 will also add to the bill.
There are no Reliability Index figures for the Porsche Cayenne. However, the car feels sturdy and built to the quality one would expect.
Each Porsche Cayenne comes with six airbags and a range of passive safety features to reduce the chances of an accident. At the centre of the safety system is Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) which eliminates body roll. Other safety kit includes a traction management system to supply grip where it is most needed on and off-road and a stability management system which works together with anti-lock brakes and brake assist. The Porsche Cayenne has not undergone EuroNCAP crash testing.
All Cayennes come with alloy wheels, leather upholstery, air-conditioning, electric seats, traction control and a 12-speaker CD/radio. The Porsche Cayenne S adds 18-inch alloy wheels and climate control, the GTS adds sports seats, while the Turbo receives cruise control, headlight washers, heated seats and parking sensors. Further options include 19-inch, 20-inch and 21-inch alloy wheels in a variety of designs, panoramic glass roof, Porsche Communication Management (incorporating sat-nav and telephone) 14-speaker Bose system and DVD system. All buyers also receive a Porsche Driving Experience to help exploit the car’s potential.
It isn’t going to impress your environmentally-friendly mates; it’s not won any beauty contests and motoring costs are high. But boy, is this car great to drive and the range of chassis options ensure you can relax in comfort mode every now and then.
10/10
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