Setting off from lovely downtown Dallas, I notice things are not quite normal. People are driving around the town in convertible Jeep Wranglers screaming, flags are flailing and there are an abundance of specific colors.
It is the big event of the week: football. You know, I have been to a few football games in my day and I have tailgated for certain events; however, nothing could prepare you for Dallas style football. Essentially, the whole city is transformed into a gigantic tailgate party and everyone adorns the garb of the team they are rooting for. I have never seen anything like it.
Something more important, at least in my world, comes up. Starting on day four, I now have the opportunity to drive the new Audi Q5 3.0 TDI. This is a big deal because the Q5 will not be released in North America until spring 2009, according to Audi executives.
Source: rpWhere does the Q5 place in Audi line-up? The Q5 is Audi’s answer to smaller sport utility vehicles, such as BMW’s X3 and Infiniti’s EX. So, you can presume pricing will slot in higher than Volkswagen’s Tiguan and hopefully lower than BMW’s X3 – in an effort to remain competitive.
Give or take a $35,000 base price.
It is a rather interesting juxtaposition of exterior design. I see a Volkswagen Tiguan which has mated with a Q7, really.
The interior is what you come to expect from Audi. Top grade materials positioned in an appealing A4-like set-up. I have yet to see a firm with the ability to trounce Audi’s interior design and usage of quality materials.
Source: rpMotoring on through northern Texas, the flat land continues on.
One of my fellow journalists remarked “If Christopher Columbus sailed and landed here, he would have certainly thought the world was flat.”
Passing through small towns with populations smaller than an apartment complex was rather humbling. Population 566, population 1,600, population 2,455. Tornado Alley is a peculiar mix of homes, people and shops.
I suggest that everyone take this trip at least once. Not only is it an awe-inspiring experience but you get to see what the real Texas Chainsaw Massacre looks like!
No, but seriously, the stopover in Wichita Falls was interesting. The grilled chicken and baked potato dish I received was tremendously good. Perhaps, I should fly down there and steal their recipe.
Source: rpAfter arriving and settling in at rainy, windy Amarillo, the event headed over to something classified as only Texas – a rodeo. Needless to say, these people must be out of their mind. 15 year-old boys hopping on bulls and mustangs in order to see how long they can hold on for? It is wild!
Oh yeah, and our Q5 obtained over 32 miles-per-gallon.
The cars are managing to impress all of the journalists. As the daily reports come in at breakfast, joined by gasps, the results continue to draw much attention. Strategies are still varied; however, it seems many have begun to enjoy the landscape and vehicles more and more as Wave 2 progresses.
Stay tuned for day five, which takes the trip from Amarillo to the mile-high city, Denver.
rp
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