Hello

My name is Darren Williamson, and I’m a 59-year-old proprietor of a chauffeur and wedding car business.

I’ve been an Audi enthusiast ever since my mother sent me to a car auction as a teenager to buy a Fiesta XR2, and I returned with an Audi Coupé Quattro instead—which she still insists is the best car she’s ever owned.

During my ownership of the A8L, I also bought my wife an Audi TTS, and she absolutely adored it.

My Story

I qualified as an avionics and aeronautical engineer in my late teens. From the age of 20 to 30, I successfully ran my own limited company, working as a contracted aircraft engineer across Europe. My primary speciality was private jets, particularly during my time with Jet Aviation in Basel, Switzerland. Additionally, I gained extensive experience working with renowned organisations such as KLM and Fokker in Amsterdam, as well as Lufthansa in Munich and Frankfurt, among others.

Between contracts abroad, I began taking on chauffeuring jobs from the age of 25. By the time I turned 30, I decided to settle in the UK, where I primarily worked for Wirral Chauffeurs. Eventually, I had the opportunity to purchase the business, marking a significant step in my career. A few years ago, I also established Exec One Chauffeurs to better serve my corporate clients, expanding my services to meet their specific needs.

Around two decades ago, I purchased my first Audi A8, which already had over 80,000 miles on the clock. It turned out to be an exceptional vehicle, covering more than 330,000 miles without consuming a drop of oil or water, and still looking nearly brand new when I eventually sold it. That experience made me a devoted advocate of the Audi A8.

Since then, I’ve exclusively driven Audi A8s, despite what I consider to be the worst warranty offered by any manufacturer worldwide. As a professional chauffeur, I could undoubtedly earn more by driving a Mercedes S-Class, but with my engineering background—and a fair dose of stubbornness—I’ve refused to compromise by opting for what I believe is an inferior car just to increase my earnings. At the end of the day, I’m the one who has to live with the vehicle and drive it every day, and the A8 had remained my clear preference until this vehicle.

In 2018, I made the significant decision to order a brand-new Audi A8, custom-built to my exact specifications, with the hope that it would serve me reliably for years to come. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made.

Some of our clients