I love this car. It is my wife's, but when I drive it I love "almost" everything about it, except the fact that the transmission does not seem to communicate with the engine very well. So that is essentially my only complaint.

Ok, I do have other nits, but they don't count. It could also use more power (I have a 4.2), but all cars could use more power. I also hate the grey two tone pait at the bottom, but that is my fault as I should have waited for an S-line and not let my wife demand to have one right away.

Of course I did test drive the GL450 Mercedes at the same time as I bougtht the Q7 for my wife, and its transmission communicates well with the engine. But we still picked the Q7 because we liked it better. We still like it better.

Incidentally do all you 3.6 owners also experience the same communication issue?

what specific types of problems are you experiencing? It is adaptive, so you driving style could be different from that of your wife and it is used to her driving.

Mine were very different. I wonder if its just a software thing. My current one is great, no complaints.
Biggest complaint is probably having to turn IGN back on to fold mirrors.
Second thoughts...its not being able to get electric hitch on S-Line.

I did not know it was adaptive. There is a delay when you hit the accelerator. It is different than the delay you see with Mercedes. I used to have an ML320 and no such delay.

Also, all upshifts are jerkey. When it changes gears it does so abruptly. In "S" mode it is worse and downshifts are very rough and jerky.

they have to give you some incentive to go to the 4.2 besides the engine.

Although I can't say I find the Tiptronic perfect -- not only there IS a delay downshifting when you hit the gas, I find the D mode tends to go too conservative and the S mode too aggressive (no good compromise), even when I try to "educate" it, so I end up using the paddles on my S-line 90% of the time -- shifts are smooth as can be, both up and down. Downshifting from 6th to 3rd gear is particularly beautiful -- smooth and the engine braking of the Audi V8 produces one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard.

So the delay is normal -- the jerkeyness isn't.

The adaptability of the transmission concerns the point at which it shifts, not how smooth it is.

Of course, the dual-clutch manumatic aka S-tronic is even smoother, but what you describing on your Q7 sounds like a transmission problem. Have it checked.

the VW T-Reg had a lot of those items like the power steering column adjustment, the power seat belt adjustment included on the V8 version (don't know about the V6 T-Reg). I love my Q7, but you would think that those type of items would come on an Audi; especially, if they come on a VW. These are the small things that Audi seems to miss. If the wife didn't have to have the third row, I might have gone ahead with the T-reg instead.

which is available across all models: V6, V8 and V10.

At least for the 07s and earlier. VW changed everything for the 08s.

Other than I really don't have any complaints with it.

BMW have much better rain sensor mode.

You have to push the button(set 1 or 2) until the seat has reached right position. I think it is safety function.

Based on my experience with a few Audi V8s and 1 Touareg V8 all with 6 Speeds, the engine in the Q7 and the transmission are defenintly on a first name basis, that is to say communications is excellent. When I keep my hands off the paddles it seems to be in the right gear at all times no matter what driving mood I am in.

I actually had to think about it for a few minutes, that is to come up with what i would complain about.

I have ordered the ceremic tint and hope to have it installed next week.

Best Audi we have owned to date.

I would think an S-Line would have more texture to it kind of like you would see in a MB AMG, I have been tempted to take to a leather shop to have do a bit of suede, perfed leather, double stitching, and maybe some ribbing.

I would also like a 3rd row floor mat, and 1000 lbs of less weight would be nice ;-)

Also my AC seems like it not as cold but most likely its the big root that doesn't allow the vehicle to get ICE cold. I find that I never have to take it off from "Lo"

More leg room would be nice in the 3rd row maybe make an L Version.

I didn't like that my S-Line didn't come with nicer exhaust tips, I am getting some new tips put on.

A child enterainment kit would be nice especially if it integrates with Dolby surround sound.

The navigation doesn't allow for putting in phoen number to find a location, no Point of Interest searches. More nav developement.

While this may seem like a big list I have an FX35 (fully loaded tech sport, and etc) and I like my Q7 better.

I agree with you, Goldmember.
Like to hear when you have the ceramic tint on.

This is the first Audi for me. I have previously owned Lexus RX300 and Lexus GX470.I think Q7 is a fine engineering marvel. However, it has a few shortcomings. I hope that Audi will continue to address those.

Also sets mirrors (foward and reverse), steering wheel, climate control, gearbox and radio. Depends on how many features in your package.

Navigation is not very intuitive. Too many actions needs to be performed to do the work. Cannot be compared with touch screen in Lexus.

Now i am supporting all expenses as the local Angolan dealer says it wont cover the repairs of the engine due to a oil pump failure

I have a 3.0 diesel and must say it hangs on to a high gear too long at very low revs sometimes, calling for a very long dab on the gas pedal for it to kick down. I can always use the sport mode of course.

By far the worse aspect is tyre wear. It is unacceptable and I am unsure whether this is down to the common problem of poor setting at the factory or the Conti tyres that are to blame or a combination of both.
I have been looking for replacement tyres and apart from the Conti there is only a Pirelli available here. There are Michelins advertised but not yet available in the UK it seems.

A basic design problem for a seven seater is that access to and room for passengers in the rear is very limited. They could have done far better if they tried. It has to be said that I seldom use the rear seats but when I do need them someone has to draw the short straw. Its foot room that is the problem. Yes I know that they give a practical maximum person size for the rear but small children and midgets rather limits their sales potential and the practicality of the car. If seven seats were not needed then the VW Touareg would be the obvious choice for all except badge snobs.

was thinkin of getting hanooks for tyres next time