I have to admit, I was understandably sceptical when I was invited by Audi UK to fly out to Munich for a weekend on a chartered Audi flight, put up in a plush hotel and treated to some exclusive product launches, and as if this wasn't enough, I'd also be one of the first to drive the new A1 before its official worldwide launch. In fact, it wasn't until I reached the Audi check in desks at Birmingham international airport did I really start to believe that this was for real.
So, here began my all expenses paid trip, and I really do mean 'all expenses'. That included everything from my Burger King meal at the airport before the flight to the car parking for my 8. So the gate was announced and off I went to board the flight.
I didn't get the details of the aircraft that would be flying me out there, which is a first for me, as cars come second only to planes for me in my 'things that interest me' list. I can forgive myself though, because what had occupied me the most when boarding was the nice little touches Audi had put in. This included Audi branded rear headrest what I can only describe as bib type things, and Audi menus which I tried to picture without looking 'sad' in front of the other passengers on board.
& off we go
After clearing security at Germany (everyone remarked at the end of the trip how much more efficient the German ground staff were compared to the Brummie ones) we boarded these coaches which would take us to the Audi Forum in Munich for cakes tea/coffee and a briefing from Audi UK's technical director about what we would be doing during the two days.
Few pictures of the Audi forum in Munich below.
& the first A1 one many I would see and drive on the trip.
After the briefing we were split into smaller groups and headed of to a closed part of Munich airport's runway where we would get to drive the A1 head to head against some of its competitors. The BMW Mini and the Alfa Mito. I got the chance to put each model through its paces. The Audi came up top in all the tests, the quality of the Mini and Mito didn't stand a chance against the A1, although I have to say I prefer the way the Mito looks when compared to the Audi and Mini.
Then came the slalom test, the Audi put in the fastest time but then again the A1 had the ultra fast double clutch 7 speed S tronic automatic transmission whereas in the Mini and Mito we had to change gears ourselves. Surley Audi aren't cheating? At the end of the day though, it didn't matter which one of the three could go through a bunch of cones the fastest because who in their right mind would even consider how fast a car can weave in and out of cones as a factor when deciding on which car to buy? Particularly a small slow hatchback like this. I do remember though that the A1 wasn't all that great through the slalom... loads of body roll and not the best steering feel.
Overall though, everyone agreed that the Audi was the one we would go for.
After this we were promptly whisked back to the Audi forum where we first started of in the morning. This would serve as our 'base' during the trip. We were told we would be checked into our hotel shortly so we chatted amongst ourselves whilst staff came around offering refreshments.
Audi had kindly arranged for our luggage to be carried up to our respective rooms earlier in the day so all we had to do was collect our Audi key cards, relax for a bit and then meet in the lobby to be escorted to A1 city for our 'evening entertainment'.
I was worried about the evening entertainment, I was the youngest on the trip and whilst German opera singers and classical music may have seemed like their idea of fun, I'd be bored out of my brains.
I was pleasantly surprised then to hear the distinctive base line of Billie Jean flood A1 city as I made my way to the bar, the music was all great... from classic 80s songs to (then) current chart music.
This turned out to be the best part of the trip, I made loads of friends had a real great laugh/dance/drink(s) and shook these maracas, funny everyone refused to shake them just an hour or so earlier.
The open bar served the best drinks, whilst the chefs prepared some delicious food for all. I had the spicy potato wedges, pasta and a few other things.
What's A1 city I hear you asking? Audi have built a kind of wooden two storey house thing in the middle of these two huge Audi 'airport lookalike' buildings. Its outdoor but has a roof, heating and such a great atmosphere. It's hard to describe, but I am sure the pictures of A1 city below will do a better job then I can.
The party went on into the AM, Audi told us some people may have to provide a breath sample in the morning before they would let us loose in their new baby A1 for our 60 mile drive across autobahns and some of the most beautiful countryside in Germany.
The next day, after helping ourselves to breakfast we went out to meet the Audi staff for day number two, luckily no one was deemed drunk enough to require a breath test. So a quick briefing on some German driving laws and we were told to jump into any of the A1 models they had lined up, all red and white. The engine choices were the 1.4 T FSI 7 speed S Tronic and the 1.6 TDI models with a 6 speed manual. It didn't matter which we chose as we would swap on the return leg, which meant I got to try both engines.
So of we went into the German countryside, armed with instructions so detailed, accurate and well thought out, so very German. You would have to be a real numptey to get lost.
Which most of us did, I have to say. The only reason I turned around was as I saw some of the girls that worked for Audi that had been on this trip before go in the opposite direction. As I started to do a three point turn to follow them, turns out they were doing the exact same thing, to follow me!
We eventually got to our destination though, Piccolo Mondo an Italian restaurant in Landshut.
Some Audi staff had already got there (the ones that had waved us of from the forum) I asked them how they managed to beat us, and they jokingly told me they used BMWs. They weren't kidding either. But the reality was that the hire car company they use only had BMWs available at the time, and they sent us the long route!
Had the restaurant owner not expected us, he would have been quite surprised when he saw all these A1s pull up in the car park.
I was the one that was surprised though, as as we walked down the steps into the garden of Piccolo Mondo, Audi had parked an A1. Nice touch.
The restaurant was fantastic, the views almost as good as the food. We were provided menus from which we were told to order whatever we wanted. The tab would of course be picked up by Audi.
