Audi 1.8T now the one to beat

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Not since the old Ford-Chevrolet argument way back when Moses was a little boy, has there been a more debated motoring topic.

Up until few years back it was very much a two-horse race between Merc and Be-Em, with Audi not even making the starting grid.

But then Audi suddenly got better, bigger and faster with a succession of models which helped to shed its ugly ducking image almost overnight.

And for the five years or so the three Teutonic uber-wagens have been slugging it out for market share in this country, with each new model aimed at out-smarting and out-pacing the opposition.

It seems like madness if you look at the number of models the three have on the South African market - Audi:62, Mercedes-Benz: 84 and BMW a whopping 115, but then this is the lucrative end of the market where the competition is at its fiercest.

When you break it down into model ranges probably the most blood is spilt in the fight between the A4 Audi's, the C-Class Mercs and the 3-Series BMW's, especially so in the R300,000 price bracket.

Since the local introduction of the new C-Class last year, Merc has dominated this segment, but now in strides the new Audi A4 and if any car can boot the C-Class of its throne it's this one, particularly the 1.8T FSI manual version whose company I enjoyed recently for a week.

What an impressive car! A great looker, quick off the mark, spacious, comfortable and extremely user-friendly it certainly gets my vote for the top podium position.

In an era where high-tech rules our lives and dictates our driving pleasure, the 1.8-litre turbo is refreshingly easy to drive, with no rocket science degrees required to change a radio station, check the fuel consumption or turn up the air conditioning.

The first thing that strikes you about the new A4 is the sexy way it crouches low down on the road with its huge front grille and gaping air intakes, flared wheel-arches, evil, slit-eyed headlamps and long sloping bonnet inviting you to slide in behind the wheel and put foot.

When it comes to classy finishing, cabin furniture and decorations Audi beats the other two hands down.

Finding a comfortable driving position is a walk in the park.

All the buttons and switches are red high-lighted and the main gauges are striking in their simplicity - white figures against a black background with red pointers.

Compared to the Mercs and Beemers in this class, the Audi feels a lot more airy and spacious.

A rather unique feature of the 1.8-litre is its invisible “Welcome” mat. I immediately felt at home behind the wheel and its much more than just comfort and class; this is such an easy, friendly car to drive, with no thumps or bumps, intruding wind, engine or exhaust noises… it just sort of glides along happily.

Not that it is at all sleepy. Bang down on the accelerator and it will gallop from zero to 100km/h in less than nine seconds and on to a top speed of 218km/h without fuss.

The manual shift is quick and smooth, the brakes are sharp and the car feels solid on the road. (There is also a more expensive automatic option available).

Although it is a big saloon it doesn't feel at all heavy, thanks mainly to re-arranging the positions of the steering unit, differential and front axle. And now, for the first time in the A4, the steering speaks to you… still not quite as sharp as BMW, but miles better than it has been for a long time.

The wider tracks, longer wheelbase and aluminium suspension all contribute to the poise with which it now handles the corners. To unsettle it you will have to drive it really hard, much harder than any average Audi owner is ever likely to.

Our test car was loaded to the brim with optional extras, so much that it would push the price of the car up from R286,400 to R401,380. This included a Sports Package (front sports seat, 17-inch alloys, sport suspension) for R18,900, a navigation system with colour screen for R19,900, Adaptive Damping Control for R11,500, Park Distance Control for R12,800, a glass sunroof for R8,500 and Xenon Plus headlights for R7,200, plus lots more.

Of course it's nice to give a vehicle your own personality and to know that with the add-ons you have chosen, it's quite unique, but it is an expensive route to travel.

Not that the expensive optional extras shopping basket is unique to Audi - the other two also have equally long lists of baubles and bangles to choose from.

Give me this Audi absolutely bog standard and I will be happy to live with airbags, climate control, central locking, electric windows and mirrors, leather upholstery, fog lamps, steering audio controls, cruise control and all the rest of the kit included in the purchase price.

Factor in its huge boot and its frugal sipping of Chateau Shell and total up classy good looks, superior build quality, dynamic driving, comfort and its price tag of R286,400 (which includes a one-year unlimited mileage warranty and a five-year/100 000 km service plan) and I reckon the 1.8 T is at least a sloping bonnet ahead of Merc, BMW, Lexus, Jaguar, Volvo and just about anything else in this league.

Footnote: Audi is making a habit of winning the Auto BILD Design Award conferred by readers of Auto BILD: After voting the Audi TT the winner in 2006 and the Audi R8 the victor one year later, the readers of the German automotive magazine this year chose the Audi A4 as the “most beautiful car of the year.”

In addition, the A4 also took a clear first place in the sedan and station wagon category, finishing well ahead of its competitors.

Approximately 42,000 readers of Auto BILD took part in the voting on vehicle design, choosing from among more than 100 cars in seven categories.