It’s nice to know someone reads TTAC. I started this website with zero readers. As in none. On Monday, our new site design was vindicated by a huge jump in traffic: 39,791 unique visitors and 164,285 page views. Of course, we’re still small fry in the Autoblog scheme of things. But we’re on our way. Meanwhile, I like to soothe myself to sleep by dwelling on the entirely subjective idea that this website’s more about quality than quantity. And I’m proud to include Sam Abuelsamid amongst our Best and Brightest. I mean, how else could you explain Sam’s last entry in his high-mileage Audi Q7 TDI junket chronicle, which dwells on, and concludes with, a “don’t try this at home” mea culpa? Regular readers will know that TTAC took him to task on his boastful hypermiling. Specifically, drafting eighteen wheelers. It looks like Audi had a word with our boy. “Audi officials specifically warned us at the start that this event was not about hyper-miling, but when you put several dozen journalists in cars and ask them to see who can get the best mileage … well let’s just say they are a competitive bunch.” Testosterone, eh? And then the backpedaling really begins…
“One of the most controversial techniques associated with hyper-miling is drafting. Getting in behind a large truck letting it take care of moving the air out of the way, can certainly help reduce the loads on the powertrain, especially for a vehicle as large as the Q7. Unfortunately getting very close behind a truck is also dangerous. First there is the issue of visibility or lack thereof. If anything happens up ahead you can’t see it until it’s too late. You are also far more susceptible to damage from rocks thrown up or separating re-tread tires. Following this closely also requires extreme vigilance on the part of the driver. Doing this for any length of time is mentally draining, leading to fatigue and further safety concerns.”
And then Sam backpedals on the backpedaling. “With the Q7 we found another method that actually works almost as well and is far safer. The Q7 TDI is equipped with adaptive cruise control. This system uses a radar sensor behind the grille that monitors the distance from the vehicle ahead… The following distance is adjustable and it turns out that lowering the distance to the minimum still maintains a safe [ED: unspecified] space to the vehicle ahead.” And in conclusion… “The most important aspect however is safety. If you don’t get where you are going in one piece, it really doesn’t matter how little fuel you used.” Awww. Hey Sam, thanks for listening!
Many good folks here where wondering why you Mr. Farago have brought this crap to your reader’s (us) attention. But now I see (or saw) the funny side, and I say saw, because drafting behind an 18 wheeler is not funny anymore, and if anything it’s stupid and irresponsible. Further more I see your point Sir, and thank you for sharing with us, and keeping track of this garbage for us. It was amusing me (especially when they where getting 28MPG highway with a Turbo Diesel), how ever, ever since the story regarding hypermiling trough drafting things went from funny to sour. Who would buy anyway a vehicle as expensive as the Audi Q7 and then worry about fuel mileage? Let alone buying that vehicle with a large Turbo Diesel, which only gives it marginal efficiency over a gasoline engine. People who are frugal and concerned about fuel mileage, environment, and all that either buy a Prius or a VW TDI in the US, both of which cost new $23K~$25K. How ever it will take for ever and allot of driving to make up the difference over buying a less expensive, uhm, say a Hyundai Sonata for ~$16K new. But people who spend over $50K on a new car, they are not concerned about fuel mileage. Bottom line is that people who buy a Q7, they buy it for the image, and in this day and age who ever buys a Q7 is not right in the head. For more than half the money you can probably buy a better cross over (lets face it, the Q7 is not a real SUV). And I know all the claims and marketing about it’s sporting character, how ever a Q7 doesn’t have more of a sporting character than my 2009 Mazda 6i. No one in their right mind would call a 2 and 1/2 ton cross over a sports car, or anything close to it. Again, thank you Robert for bringing us the story about this, and may I say again: what a load of shit this Audi Q7 TDI blog was.
Competitive bunch? I would have attempted to gain the dubious honor of “lowest gas mileage” instead.
Another good-mileage technique is to maintain a steady-state 50 MPH through town (with 25 MPH posted limits). That might sound difficult with all the traffic lights and stop signs, but high-mileage dictates blowing through those impediments as well!
You guys sound like a jealous, petty little brother. I don’t find this informative or useful at all.
This whole Audi mileage blog was an abortion from the get go. Good riddance.
In my view, this aspect of Audi achieving higher MPGs is contradictory to the Audi philosophy of nice looking designs but with poorly engineered vehicles that require frequent and expensive maintenance. Is VW dragging Audi down or is Audi doing this all to itself: timing belts, oil sludge, instrument electronics, low gas mileage, poor reliability, etc is more than ample evidence. Add worse than mediocre customer support and you may have all the info you need to stay away from Audi products unless you want to get to know Audi’s technicians by their first names. Not worth the money and not wise to buy expensive cars that do not work. My Audi experience has been largely negative even though my car is an eye catcher and I would gladly post my receipts but there not enough room for all that paper work.