This week is another road test from John Weinthal in
Australia, who gets more cars per week, than motor noters in Thailand get
in a year. Wot! Me jealous? Of course I am. John has been in the testing
business for more years than he would like to remember - in fact I can
still see the pair of us in 1965 testing such “interesting” vehicles
as a Vauxhall Cresta and a Humber Vogue ‘sports’ at the long defunct
Lowood race circuit! We are getting old.
So here it is - Words from Weinthal.
Let’s get the big question out of the way at the
start. This week’s test BMW 740iL costs A$208,000. For most of us,
that’s more than any car can be ‘worth’ - or at least substantially
more than we will ever have to spend on a car, even if we could.
So why did more than 300 Australians choose such a car
last year? I cannot answer for any of them - but I believe after a week in
this superb car that it’s not a straightforward question of value;
simply if you want such a combination of great attributes, this is what it
costs.
Certainly there are various Mercedes and great Jaguars
at not dissimilar prices. But each has its own attractions - its own
heritage - and perceived value. There’s even BMW’s own luxury M5
sports sedan I tested a few weeks back (report published previously in the
Automania column), but all are different - and wouldn’t it be nice to
have to make choices at this level.
The 740iL is the long wheelbase version of BMW’s
decade-old 7 Series. It is very large, and one must be constantly aware of
this, even though there’s a host of anti-skid, traction control, and
other gadgets which do their best to save you from any attempt to defy the
laws of physics.
This is a true owner-driver limo. It has everything one
expects - and quite a lot beyond that. But it doesn’t have a fridge -
like the 1966 Toyota Crown - nor a rear window wiper, like various more
recent Japanese sedans.
But how many cars have double glazing? Sound silly?
Not, when you glide the windows up at road works and, as if by magic, that
jackhammer doesn’t exist.
A phone, satellite navigation, computerised information
centre and TV are all standard. There’s the expected A1 sound system
with tape and inconvenient boot-mounted 6-stack CD player; but it’s
certainly the first car I’ve driven with 10 air bags. These, we did not
test.
The front seats move electrically in all directions,
even the head restraints. The seat memories also cover the mirrors, and
the left side mirror dips to show the curb to avoid damaging the 18 inch
mag wheels when parking. There’s a sonar warning for when you are
closing on an object behind - be it a wall or a parked vehicle.
Adding to the eye-appeal is stunning wood trim with
intricate inlays, and the magnificently comfortable, all-leather,
near-lounge chairs for five, could ease aching bodies just while you look
at them.
Needless to say, rear legroom in the stretched 7 Series
BMW is vast, and the boot should accommodate all your golf bags and Louis
Vuitton suitcases.
This BMW is powered by a silken 4.4 litre, 32 valve,
quad cam, V8. This 210kW powerplant delivers 440Nm of torque. It is
matched to a five-speed auto in one of the most successful drivetrain
matches I know. It may not be a sports car, but this near two-tonne limo
is more than fast enough for something of its size. A week of none too
leisurely motoring, mainly town running, resulted in fuel consumption of
16.8 litres per 100 km/h - according to the car’s own information
system.
The ride is excellent in spite of the low profile tyres
on 18 inch rims, and roadholding is much nearer nimble than such a car
should be.
I’ve barely touched on the appeal of this car. It
represents an exemplary combination of technology, build quality,
equipment levels, comfort, safety and sheer road presence. That’s what
makes it cost $208,000.
There’s so much to this car, that I was glad of the
comprehensive owner’s manual - in my case borrower’s manual only, I
fear - and the introductory video supplied with the test car. I don’t
need anything this big. I certainly can’t afford it. But there are those
who do and who can.
Half their luck; this BMW should be high on their look
list.
Beer bar scuttlebutt is that if you, as a foreigner,
are involved in an accident, then you will always be found to be in the
wrong. Right? Wrong! Mate of mine managed to get rear-ended at Jomtien
last week and I was one of the first on the scene, so this is first-hand.
Mate was driving a Vitara, complete with tow-bar, and
he was neatly attacked from behind by a purple pick-up. Initial
communication with the other driver appeared to indicate that he had
insurance, and so did my mate. No problems.
The local police arrived and spoke to the other driver
then returned to us to say the other party had no insurance, and what did
my mate want to do? With a bit of toing and froing the police came back to
say the other side were prepared to pay for damages if the case could be
dealt with right there and then on the roadside.
When we indicated that we didn’t know how much it
would be, the police took us to a local repair shop to get an estimate.
Some parlaying then went on as to how much the other side should pay, as
there was the situation of mate having to rent a car while repairs took
place, but a fair deal was struck and the police took the other party back
to the purple pick-up to discuss their next move, while we happily left
the scene.
At no time, did the local (city) police try to coerce
or pervert the course of justice and really I was very impressed by the
way they handled the entire situation.
Undoubtedly I am probably leaving myself open to a
barrage of letters to the contrary, but my experience has always been here
that the police do try to administer “justice”.
