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 THE STAT 26Percentage of wireless customers who use their cell phones to take picturesMore Vitals
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SEPTEMBER 4, 2003
Tooling Around in Teutonic Technocars [Page 2 of 2] "YOU ARE HERE." As with the BMW, you can still go into the software and do all sorts of complicated things, from adjusting the subwoofers to putting dozens of stations into the radio's memory. But you move through the menus using buttons, which is far easier than using the BMW's control knob. (BMW has added a second "back" button to the iDrive on its new 5 Series models, which should help.) Once you get the hang of them, both navigation systems are very cool. Each is basically an onboard DVD player, full of maps and information, linked to a global-positioning system that pinpoints the car's location within a few feet. I live at the end of a no-name gravel road on a river bluff, and the systems in both cars nailed my location instantly. You can watch your progress on a map as you drive. Or you can plug in your destination, and let the car give you verbal instructions ("left turn coming 400 yards ahead") as you go. You also can pull up all sorts of useful information, such as the hospitals, hotels, restaurants, and other key locations on your route. SELF-SLOWING. In general, I preferred the BMW's navigation system because it's more detailed. For instance, it included tiny little towns in my area of Pennsylvania -- such as Aldenville and Beach Lake -- that weren't in the Audi's atlas. The BMW's map system also included a lot more information: I learned the names of lakes I didn't even know were there. My test BMW also had Adaptive Cruise Control, an advanced feature that soon will be standard on luxury cars. It's similar to conventional cruise control, except that the car "watches" the traffic ahead via sensors. You not only set your cruising speed but also how far you want to stay behind the cars in front. If you set the speed at, say, 55 mph, and then come up behind a slower car, you get a warning, and the BMW reduces speed itself when you get too close. I tried it out following an aged Jeep Cherokee one day, and it worked great -- except that I rattled the Cherokee's driver by pulling up right behind him again and again, and he eventually pulled off the road and glared at me as I went by. STOPPING POWER. Much of the most impressive technology is hidden away in the cars' guts. Both have electronic stability control (which helps prevent rollovers), traction control, and front, side, knee, and side-curtain airbags, as well as seatbelt pretensioners. The single thing that most astonished me was the smoothness of the BMW's ride on rough country roads. You could still feel the bigger potholes, but the electronic suspension system simply erased the endless bumps and washboards I'm used to feeling jar my kidneys. The Audi smoothed out the bumps, too. But it has quite a stiff ride for a luxury car and didn't do quite as well. I discovered another new safety feature of the latest luxury cars when I slammed on the Audi's brakes. With no skidding, fuss, or fade, the car stopped so fast that my little dog, Elsa, who was perched on a blanket in the passenger seat, went rocketing paws first into the dashboard like a character in a Saturday morning cartoon. Studies show that most people don't brake hard enough in emergencies. So, in addition to having an antilock brake system (ABS) that prevents skidding, the A8 has electronic-braking assist. When sensors indicated that I might be trying to avert an accident, the car took over and braked far harder than I would have done. I might never have suspected something unusual had happened if poor Elsa hadn't been riding shotgun. BUTT MASSAGER. For big powerful sedans, both cars are fairly fuel-efficient. That's partly because of highly sophisticated engine technology such as BMW's new, advanced form of variable valve timing that cuts gas consumption. And the A8 boasts light yet strong all-aluminum (body and chassis) construction. Both cars also have pressure monitors that alert the driver if the tires aren't properly inflated. The U.S. Environmental Agency rates the BMW at 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. The Audi, which is slightly bigger and has all-wheel drive, is EPA-rated at 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Some of these cars' luxury features seemed silly. Does anyone really need a butt massager to keep their nether regions from falling asleep during long drives? The BMW's made me feeling like I was uncomfortably perched on several rolling logs. How about just stopping for a stretch every hour or two instead? And I couldn't tell if the ventilated seat backs (designed to reduce perspiration) worked or not, since the air conditioning on both models was so effective. TOUGH CHOICE. On the other hand, as someone who is always backing into things, I really enjoyed the "parking aid" each model sports. It beeps when you get too close to the cars in front and behind you. I also liked being able to electronically set the Audi's road clearance at 5.7 inches (for snow and rough roads), 4.7 inches (everyday driving) or 3.7 inches. It really hugs the highway on the low setting. Which car did I like best? The Audi's curvier, aerodynamic look gets the nod for styling. The A8 is also much easier to figure out. That said, I can't help feeling a furtive admiration for BMW's audacity. You might have to hire a technogeek teen to help you. But once you master BMW's iDrive system, it's a wonderful car with more features than any other on the road.
 By Thane Peterson somewhere near Waymart, Pa.
BW MALL
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