New Q7 Silverstone Test Drive

**Q7newbie** · 10-07-2015,12:41 PM

I was just wondering if anyone else on here has been invited to Silverstone next week for a few hours in the upcoming Q7?
I've spent some time in one in South Africa earlier in the year, but that was a pre-production model and was a generic run, not specifically set up for UK specification.
I'll be interested to hear others initial opinions and points of view.
I get to bring a plus-one, but it's become a war with my Mrs and my brother-in-law (also my best friend) both vying to come!

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**M1tchy** · 15-07-2015,06:07 PM

Just been invited to this weekends test drive. Got a presentation, on road drive, off road drive then refreshments. Im going with my dad and hopefully it will be a good day.

**Q7newbie** · 15-07-2015,06:09 PM

Are you slated for Saturday? I'm now going on Friday because the Mrs decided we have "commitments" I HAVE to attend with her on Saturday morning (read: shopping). Lol

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**M1tchy** · 15-07-2015,06:10 PM

Yes I'm going saturday at 0900. Its that or a wedding with the wife! cars, wife, cars, wife - easy decision really!

**Q7newbie** · 15-07-2015,07:21 PM

😂 😂 😂 well I hope you aren't meant to be the groom at the wedding she's attending?!

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**M1tchy** · 15-07-2015,07:43 PM

na, made that mistake years ago!

**Q7newbie** · 15-07-2015,07:59 PM

Are you getting the private drive thing where you'll get to drive the car on your own too?
I wonder if we'll be allowed to take pix?

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**M1tchy** · 15-07-2015,08:01 PM

Not sure, I hope so. Fingers crossed we will be allowed a few photos too, its been released so can't see why not.

**M1tchy** · 18-07-2015,06:10 PM

Well, back from my days test drive and was thoroughly surprised. Ive only ever driven military vehicles off road and obviously on the road too, they are wobbly, have loads of body roll and thought that was the same throughout all high sided 4x4 type vehicles. Turns out I'm wrong (for the first time ever

)

So, started with a spot of breakfast and a coffee and then up for a "product briefing", this was a 15-20 min chat about the car, technologies and other highlights. As i love my gadgets and tech I knew most of it already but was interesting anyway. It certainly widened my dads eyes as to what is available compared to his prius!

After that we went outside and had 5 mins to play with the tech and gadgets and just get ourselves comfy in the seats before heading off for a short drive to an airfield where we swapped drivers (we were all in groups of two so me and my dad swapped). We then headed back to Silverstone. The drive was fairly uneventful, plenty of poke from the 272 PS engine which i was surprised about given the size of the car. The gadgets are all fairly intuitive (after owning an A7 for nearly 2 years) and the air suspension in comfort mode was incredibly comfy. Someone on another thread mentioned the gearstick and odd layout of the gears, but its just different and was fairly easy to get used to. I did like how the parking brake is on the gearstick and you can press it while in D and it and it takes it out of gear and parks it which is nice. The other gadgets are all standardly good.

Then we stopped at the off road circuit and got into the SE models (road drive was S-Line) and went for the off road circuit. They all had standard optional 20" alloys and standard road tyres so wasn't expecting much (didn't have air suspension either), but they were outstandingly good. They had Hill descent control so on steep hills you take your feet off everything and it takes control for you and slowly lowers you which is odd initially but also very impressive. We had them balanced on just two wheels and rocked the cars back and forth, and had some great angles up, down and side to side.

Then back for lunch and a goodie bag. Very impressed with it and sadly I now want one! Great car and great day out.