Test drive BMW 7 E65 E66 2001 - 2005 sedan

Nodding acquaintance

At the wheel of the Audi A8 is the chief instructor of the Moscow Driving School of BMW. The BMW 745i car is the head of the Moscow school Audi Quattro. By the power of emotions - almost an exchange of wives. Only this is auto -vsingeretism.
Autopilot wrote about both cars, and more than once. Specifically, it was this eight that is on our long -term test, almost the same BMW, only 14 cm longer, that is, with the LI index, in July left us after a six -month test. It would seem that you can add?
It is known that in the automobile world there are two respected firms - BMW and Audi, which very closely monitor the successes and lesions of each other. It is understandable. They fight for the same client. Both of them tell customers about the latest technologies that concerns use to create their cars. And they tell the truth. The top of Audi is the A8 limousine. At the time we did this test, the most powerful eight was a car with a 4.2 -liter engine, in the only accessible body - short. BMW rolled out the seventh series a year earlier and had already managed to get a long version and six liters under the hood. But, observing parity, we took the BMW to match Audi - a short sedan with a 4.4 -liter engine. It was not possible to achieve complete equivalence: the eight is produced only with all -wheel drive, and on the seven it does not exist in nature.
They say that the technique in the hands of the savage is a pile of metal. About a car that has come to a bad driver, this also applies. And literally. Manufacturers do not get tired of repeating that they have learned to do safe cars. And the weakest link is a man.
 
 
Strengthen these links in driving schools. The two most expensive and famous Moscow schools are Audi and BMW. Audi is headed by the athlete - in spirit and regular participation in events - Gennady Broslavsky, the BMW school - former Gonovets Boris Sevostyanov, who was trusted to carry the Kremlin rulers and prepare new drivers for them.
The essence of our idea is this. We met on the Khodynsky field, where, by the way, both schools, seven with Broslav, and the eight with Sevostyanov are engaged. This, of course, is a provocation. Pure water - biased and subjective material should be obtained. And we want it. Each superizer spent three hours with a car of a competing company. We came up with a number of standard tasks, and after that we carefully listened to the impressions of the parties. It turned out sharply. This is automobile journalists who are crumbling before making their assessment: maybe they think, this is our hands grow out of the wrong place? Or is it not very bad - what if the advertiser will be offended? .. And the professionals are confident in themselves and chopped from the shoulder.
FIRST IMPRESSION.
Broslavsky: I will not lie, I was already sitting behind the wheel of a new seven. I remember, I thought when I saw it for the first time: what a heavy car is designed! When I studied at Madi, I myself painted sketches. And I do not understand such an accumulation of opposite lines and forms. The seven looks nothing in Long, when the heavy in front and heavy ass is spaced in space. And in a short version, the car looks too bulky.
 
 
Sevostyanov: It would seem, A8 is a new car, but I compare it with the previous eight, on which I have traveled enough, and I see almost nothing new. Of course, continuity in style is good, but you need to somehow develop. Here BMW is a revolution in design, but any revolution cannot like everyone. The new Audi was too conservative.
Get up according to all the rules in the driver's place.
Broslavsky: How to get her?! It turns out that you need to click on the brake. It seems that I am dealing with an apparatus that you can’t use without reading the instructions. Protection from the child, say? Weak protection. My son in four and a half years includes a computer, not knowing how to read. He saw and remembered the order of action.
So, further. Seats. The location of the buttons is unusual, but they are in view. That's just why one of the adjustment key cannot be assigned two functions at once? First you need to activate a certain sector, and the adjustment is done with a joystick?! I did not immediately understand the algorithm of his work, here we need to turn on the brains. Side support is very good. I adjusted it, and sat in sports. But why so high? I am not Gulliver, but I won’t sit in the hat. I would like to have a better steering wheel, he does not have enough departure. The bagel itself is uncomfortable. And the feeling that it is not covered with very expensive skin. There should not be such a steering wheel in a car of more than a hundred thousand dollars. And the shape of the steering wheel? On the old BMW, it was pleasant to pick him up. Now, if I put my fingers on the Tibronik control buttons, how can I keep the steering wheel?
The climate managed to configure quickly, there are good old drums, but thinner settings are laid in the computer. I don't like Idrive. It is very difficult. Terrible comparison: one needs a mobile phone to call it using a notebook. Others go on the Internet through it, take pictures, keep a diary in it. Idrive - for those who like to keep a diary. For me, the car is its engine, its brakes, its controllability ... The rest is secondary. And seventy percent of the additional functions of seven, drivers of my type do not need. I opened the instructions to find how to disable the stabilization system, and immediately closed. I realized that I would not find the answer right away. Better I call Boris to help.
Sevostyanov: The car is very thoughtful. All adjustments are present. And there is a lumbar roller, and a pillow under the knees rolled in an original way. Although I am a shorty, but sat well. Everything is great. The steering wheel is good, although the car class does not emphasize. On the six is \u200b\u200balmost the same. Yeah, stepbronics a la sport-with petals once-once. Interesting. There seems to be no ventilation of seats. It can be seen that this is an option, I see it on the menu. Everything is clear without instructions. I took the book once to find side support adjustment. Yes, apparently there is no. Immediately from the comments: I don't like the step, a ledge in the floor, under the gas pedal. Why is there so little space for the right leg? What, Audi corporate tunnel? And the seven review, it seems to me, is better.
 
Snake. A sharp change in the series is a rearrangement.
Broslavsky: During rebuilding, we must pay tribute, the seven is less than Audi, and at the same time the machine does not become stiff, stool. This is especially noticeable on the snake. When stopping with the stabilization system turned off, there is a small skid of the rear axle, which, perhaps, every driver will cope with. I don’t think that all -wheel drive on dry coating would require other equipment or would give a clear advantage. With an increase in speed, it is felt when electronics helps the car, and when it is turned off. The steering wheel, although I do not like its shape, I understood one hundred percent. True, the armrest prevented the steering wheel, which cannot be removed. And one more thing: the brakes on the BMW seem to be not as effective as on Audi.
Sevostyanov: When we talk about the brakes, we must remember that even the difference in weight of 50 kilograms affects, although it does not seem to me that the Audi is superior to BMW brakes. Now about the controllability of the eight. On the rearrangement, electronics strangled the drift, and a person does not need to strain - just set the direction of movement with the steering wheel. When the system is turned off, a certain technical skill will be required from the driver: I, in order to extinguish the skid, pulled the driving on a half -turn.
Manual mode of control of the gearbox.
Broslavsky: Using small buttons is inconvenient. But this regime is simply not needed here. Neither the driver nor the owner who boiled behind the wheel will use it. Yes, and what kind of manual mode this is in which electronics constantly fasten! I now need a reduced gear, and not after a second second!
Sevostyanov: This is not one hundred percent option. Most do not use it: they will play and forget. It can come in handy on the descent if you have time to use it: you need skills. And the mass of the car is too great for this mode to seriously affect it.
Drive in a circle. Imitation of the winter road.
Broslavsky: With the electronics on we have a small demolition of the front axle and a whistle of rubber. No stabilizing efforts are required of me. The engine suffocation system - what is it called on BMW? - He will not let the gas too much open. But without electronics ... I started in sports on the rear drive, on GAZ-2410. I know the rear -wheel drive. But here I stabilize the car, and the wheels continue to rotate from excess traction. With such a powerful motor in winter - only with electronics!
Sevostyanov: All stylization systems work, but on Audi they are included later than on BMW, the trajectory of the machine is less controlled, and the car further removes from the circle, which is also associated with traction on the front axle and, as a result, its demolition. Managing Audi without ESP on an ice coating will be completely difficult.
Result.
Broslavsky: I like BMW, like old three -three, like new, all -wheel drive. I am very close to the rear -wheel drive. But I did not understand this car. Engine, transmission - super, just a plague! Otherwise, my wife had an old 325th, in the winter there were no problems on summer tires. And here I did not have a desire to turn off the electronics, go on, travel sideways: as soon as there is a need to turn the steering wheel a lot per unit of time, problems begin. The seven is Pentium-7 on wheels. It is convenient to move in space in it. And read the newspaper.
Sevostyanov: Audi - a good, maneuverable car, a typical representative of his class. True, according to my sensations, in the BMW finish better and richer.
About the rest. It seemed to me too light a steering wheel, a kind of soft toy, but I admit that in a machine of this class it is not entirely logical to put sports management. I do not agree that Audi is a more driver. And one cannot unequivocally say that all -wheel drive is better than the rear: it is just different. For example, the demolition characteristic of all -wheel drive is psychologically harder than a skid on the classics: not everyone can turn towards the obstacle. The rear -wheel drive is intuitively more understandable to the driver, the classic is a classic, but here the driver needs more management skills. Even when electronics helps him.
Gennady Broslavsky. 30 years. Height - 192 cm. Weight - 86 kg. General Director of the Moscow School Audi Quattro. Graduate Madi. In 2002, he was a participant in the highway-ring races (Lada Cup, Formula Rus). This season takes part in the Russian Championship in Rally, the Russian Cup in Rally, the Latvian championship in rally. At school, it has recently been teaching only athletes - beginner pilots.
 
Boris Sevostyanov. 46 years. Height - 168 cm. Weight - 70 kg. Chef instructor of the Moscow Driving School of Driving BMW. Lieutenant Colonel of the FSB reserves. He graduated from Zile's insert, in his student years he was engaged in rally, performed in the Moskvich-2140 car. Since 1982 he served in a special purpose garage, the Kremlin stable. He began a mechanic, left Gon in 2002 as deputy head of the drivers' training department. Classes at the BMW school are usually conducted by himself.
Test and photo Sergey Sherestnikov
 
Model, modification Audi A8 4.2 Quattro BMW 745i
ENGINE
Type/number/location of gasoline cylinders/8/V-shaped gasoline/8/V-shaped
Working volume (cubic meter) 4172 4398
Power (kW (L.S.) at about min.) 246 (335) at 6500 245 (333) at 6100
Moment (nm at about./Min.) 430 at 3500 450 at 3600
TRANSMISSION
The drive is constant full rear
Automatic gearbox 6-speed sequential type Automatic 6-speed-amplane type
Brakes
Front/rear disc ventilated circular ventilated
DYNAMICS
Maximum speed (km/h) 250 (limited by electronics) 250 (limited by electronics)
Acceleration to 100 km h (sec.) 6.3 6.3
Dimensions/mass
Length/width/height (mm) 5051/1894/1444 5029/1902/1492
Wheel base (mm) 2944 2990
Mar is equipped/complete (kg) 1780/2380 1945/2450
Price in Moscow $ 120,000 $ 129,000

 

Source: "Autopilot"