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489 – Brighton Beach

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30 August 2010

I’VE felt my Audi has been sadly neglected recently. A combination of a series of road test cars – and my wife taking the Audi away to visit friends in various far-flung places – means I’ve seen little of it.

Time for a change, then.

Saturday was tlc day I decided, so there was a full valet by yours truly. And very satisfying it was, as well, even though I have to admit at being rubbish at alloys. I really like alloy wheels. I think they make a car. But cleaning them is another thing: they are invariably fiddly and I miss a bit. Always. If anybody knows a sure-fire easy way to clean alloys then please let me know.

Anyway, as you can see in my rather fuzzy picture left, taken in the late evening light, the A6 looks all gleaming in its black paintwork. Ready in fact for a trip to Brighton Beach the next day.

We thought we’d take a trip down there picking up my daughter’s friend on the way. The forecast was pretty good, and with the big boot loaded up for every eventuality – and that is such an advantage of this car, the space to carry everything from beach chairs and cool box to a bag full of wetsuits – we set off.

The Audi A6 TDIe eats up miles with real ease. Fast, efficient, refined – even if there is possibly a touch too much tyre noise entering the cabin – the Audi is an excellent executive method of travel.

If you’re thinking of getting an Audi A6 business car then don’t be tempted by the 170PS diesel model, seduced by the engine’s greater power output. The beauty of my Audi – the more efficient Ie model – is the huge amount of engine torque it has; that low-rev pulling power that makes for a such a relaxed drive.

Ignore those power figures a second – 170PS (standard 2.0 TDI) vs 136 PS (2.0 TDIe) – and check out the torque figures: 350Nm (standard 2.0 TDI) vs 320Nm (2.0 TDIe). That gives you a much better idea of how accessible the power is, and there’s little noticeable difference in that 30Nm torque gap. You’ll also pay less in company car tax for the TDIe model too – it’s 19% this year (the standard car is 21%) – and there’s better fuel economy. I saw 49mpg average for the Brighton trip.

Brighton itself was a touch bracing it must be said. The Lanes were charming, even if Brighton around the edges was looking rather careworn.

The beach was filled with plenty of day trippers like us trying to enjoy the beach but battling a fairly stiff westerly and impending rain. Ah,well, it is the British summer after all…

I was hoping for a swim but the red flags were out, so that put the kybosh on that. Still, it was lovely to walk down Madeira Drive, with all the mods and their brilliantly adorned scooters buzzing up and down the historic seaside drive. It is also the venue for the Brighton Speed Trials in September.

It’s an event I’ve always meant to attend, but somehow early September seems to be distracting for a variety of reasons and I always miss it: a bit like the Goodwood Revival meeting.

Anyway, I’m sure it’s worth attending the Brighton Speed Trials. You can find the event details here: Brighton Speed Trials. The website also contains some classic film coverage of the event from 1932 when world speed record holder Sir Malcolm Campbell attended the event. Have a look – it’s a great trip down memory lane – click on the link Brooklands by Sea. The essential charm of Madeira Drive remains to this day.

Even if today’s cars are more modern – and rather more fuel-efficient.

Business Car Manager: Editor’s Blog

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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