Audi Q7 SUV International Debut - Tenerife, Feb

Post by **HarryMann** » 11 Feb 2006, 14:59

The great amount of Audi Q7 does not happen unnoticed in the island.

Here some are parked up at the Parador at the 7,000' base of Mt. Teide (12,900')

We met them all over the island, but were a bit surprised to see groups of 30 to 40 streaming down the mountain. A rep said there were 300 Q7s there, for a month. Anyone know any Audi dealers who had an invite?
Staying at hotel near us, they were like ants swarming over the superb National Park roads, many of them the 4.2, 350 HP jobs.

Told they are roughly the same floorpan design as the Touareg and Cayenne, but an inch or two longer wheelbase (and of course, being an Audi rep, much better than either!)

Translated report from Canario.com

Yes we did a bit of off-roading, in a Hyundai Getz! Don't think we holed the gearbox or sump, but it must have been a pretty close run thing, will have to check our credit card statements carefully for the next month or two

Car hire insurance never seems to cover underbody damage, the best we had was a Toyota Starlet in Cyrpus, now that took some stick off-road for hours on end, and not a whimper.

So, how does this sound for a 25th Syncro Anniversary venue? Down to Spain, 48 hour ferry, a week there, camping, touring, enjoying the many treats this island offers and back via somewhere equally exotic.

Post by **HarryMann** » 11 Feb 2006, 19:29

Q7 Release Website

Find the Africa prototype trials video:

lots of dust giving a good aerodynamic preview and some direction change maneouvres look impressive

Post by **Flibbertigibbet** » 11 Feb 2006, 20:11

let me know if you go again as I have places to stay in Tenerife

Post by **HarryMann** » 11 Feb 2006, 22:31

Thanks Julie, we tend to go at least once a year and out of season, and then fortunately costs us nothing much other than the flight. But yes, we'd like to see the place, any place in Tenerife to stay is worth knowing. Pmail us with details?

Post by **Diamond Hell** » 15 Feb 2006, 08:26

Horrible, hateful, wasteful, overweight, useless vehicles, designed for fat Americans and school-run mums.

It doesn't even have a crawler gear, or low range gearbox, unlike the VW Toerag, so it really is a useless piece of crud.

Scenery looks nice, mind.

Post by **HarryMann** » 15 Feb 2006, 11:35

They certainly are big, but looked to handle those switchback climbs up to the Parque Nationale Teide quite adroitly.
Yes, the scenery is pretty rare and dramatic up there, for an easy 4-hour flight away. Went through some pumice blizzards and a lot of fallen rock this time, they constantly resurface the roads as the summer heat and winter frost really takes it toll - suppose we pay for that through the EU somehow, so might as well enjoy, it, which we do most days we're there. May is a good time to see it... very interesting flora and fauna up there as the main crater is about 6,500' up. Another good reason is the chicken and chips in Adeche, almost worth the flight in itself! Whale watching - the channel between Tenerife and Gomera is only 20 miles wide, but nearly 8,000' deep, so Sperm whales occasionally add to the permanent population of Pilot whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. There's also a large International Observatory (Izana) that does 'open nights' in season; being above 7,000' in the middle of nowhere, something we intend to take advantage of....

The 2WD off-roading we did was on 'Pistes', forest tracks, some very steep, but not too demanding, some made specially for downhill biking. Many locals have 4WD crew cabs, the island's swarming with them, which they seem to use for rabbit hunting up in the Corona Forestal, steep Pine forests, not sure if they're allowed to do this in the Parque itself, but there are quite a few tracks up there you are allowed to drive, and a lot you're not - on penalty of death almost - it's a highly protected area. Imagine pumice and lava are quite destructive of tyres, their parque patrol vehicles are often seen with nearly bald tyres, but that might just be a Spanish thing

Post by **Diamond Hell** » 15 Feb 2006, 15:54

You ever tried 'culture', Clive?

Post by **HarryMann** » 15 Feb 2006, 16:50

Like a string quartet, a violin recital you mean, a classical concert or a jazz gig, that sort of thing like the one we went to Sunday night ?

If you want culture you might visit their new Opera House in Santa Cruz.. Tenerife Opera House
worth a visit, when you're there next... enjoying the Canarian Culture.

Post by **amulet** » 15 Feb 2006, 17:03

have you ever tried to be constructive, rather than de-constructive Thomas?

Post by **Diamond Hell** » 15 Feb 2006, 18:18

Sorry, but

Another good reason is the chicken and chips in Adeche

REALLY asked for it

And yes, from time to time I do construct..... just not very often...

Post by **HarryMann** » 15 Feb 2006, 21:04

Aha Thomas,

... although we like our cultural pursuits, I think Jenny would agree this time, that our visit to the Oasis in Adeje, for the only food they serve there, chicken and chips, eating inside for the first time, was possibly the cultural high-spot of the week.

To be sitting with 30 or 40 Tenerfinos, from ages 5 to 500 (it would seem) all enjoying their 'treat' meal of the week out, and to then have the whole place crack up in hysterics as first one and then half a dozen get up and start chasing a phantom object around under the tables with large brooms - was at first bemusing. When a couple of the younger ones, cute as could be, stood up on their chairs and joined in pointing here there and everywhere between ear-splitting screams, we knew this was a rare and special 'event'... the place took a good five minutes to calm down from wicked fits of laughter and the odd cackle before everyone resumed their composure and normal animated Spanish mealtime chatter - in the meantime, someone had leant across and politely informed us that the cause of the kerfuffle was a RAT

I call that a cultural event - certainly reflecting on the behaviour had it occurred over here would be of cultural interest. Especially as we could have eaten our meal off the tiled floor in there, so spotless was it.

So, whether eating outside in summer (and being cooked yourself) or inside with the locals on a warm winter's evening, find the Oasis up in the hills at Adeje before you leave Tenerife, then you'll know what chicken and chips should really taste like! And how they enjoy a good crack when it presents itself. When in Rome... don't do as the English do, lie by the pool day and night (times 7 or 14), do as the Germans do, get out and see the place - another cultural observation

though not particularly PC I suppose.

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 16 Feb 2006, 13:03

then you'll know what chicken and chips should really taste like!

sure it wasn't rat and chips!

Post by **HarryMann** » 16 Feb 2006, 13:13

Wasn't it Churchill who said...

Some chicken... Some Neck!

What that's got to do with rats I don't know

, but their chickens are not that easy to dupe!

They normally run down the street nearby someone said, but this one decided to pop in for a wee morsel I think. Nice street though, never noticed them hovering outside by the tables... maybe some building works has upset their normal run.

Post by **Cate** » 16 Feb 2006, 13:23

Wonder what they taste like? rats I mean, probably tastes just like chicken.