Discussion
Depends on how much you have to spend. I've been looking at getting one - 1997/98 models are going for around £8,000 - £11,000. I believe the A8 was facelifted in 2000, when Navigation+ became standard (instead of the basic navigation system), and the S8 got a power increase from 340 BHP to 360 BHP. There's also a "final edition", most of which are 52-reg and will run you between £20,000 and £25,000. These come with 20" wheels, extended custom leather colours and a Playstation for the rear passengers.
Good ones (ones that have been looked after) should be in top notch condition. So far, I've seen two; both have been at the low end of the price range, and both were pretty tatty. You get what you pay for I suppose. Be prepared for a long hard search for the right car!
Performance is in-bloody-credible. Gut-churning torque propels you along in a seemingly unstopable surge. The gearbox should shift smoothly and seamlessly, giving the impression that you'll just carry on going faster and faster! Tiptronic mode is great!
There's no disguising the size of the car (5 metres long!), particularly when parking or manouvering in tight places. But when you're making progress, it feels much smaller than it is, and it attacks corners brilliantly (for a luxo-barge anyway!)
There are a few things to watch out for, detailed on www.audipages.com - in particular, make sure the cambelt has been done (or knock £900-£1500 off), watch for torn CV joint boots, check the diffs for leaking oil, and pay attention to the gearbox - a rebuild can cost well over £2000, but many common problems can be sorted by a fluid-and-filter change.
There's also lots of good information at www.tyresmoke.net - their A8/S8 forum is pretty busy and full of good information.
If you have any more questions, let me know or hop over to the Tyresmoke forums.
Good ones (ones that have been looked after) should be in top notch condition. So far, I've seen two; both have been at the low end of the price range, and both were pretty tatty. You get what you pay for I suppose. Be prepared for a long hard search for the right car!
Performance is in-bloody-credible. Gut-churning torque propels you along in a seemingly unstopable surge. The gearbox should shift smoothly and seamlessly, giving the impression that you'll just carry on going faster and faster! Tiptronic mode is great!
There's no disguising the size of the car (5 metres long!), particularly when parking or manouvering in tight places. But when you're making progress, it feels much smaller than it is, and it attacks corners brilliantly (for a luxo-barge anyway!)
There are a few things to watch out for, detailed on www.audipages.com - in particular, make sure the cambelt has been done (or knock £900-£1500 off), watch for torn CV joint boots, check the diffs for leaking oil, and pay attention to the gearbox - a rebuild can cost well over £2000, but many common problems can be sorted by a fluid-and-filter change.
There's also lots of good information at www.tyresmoke.net - their A8/S8 forum is pretty busy and full of good information.
If you have any more questions, let me know or hop over to the Tyresmoke forums.
Witchfinder said:
The gearbox should shift smoothly and seamlessly, giving the impression that you'll just carry on going faster and faster! Tiptronic mode is great!
good quote , but that really is how it feels my 03 A8 is great so i can only imagine another 30 horses will be better , the big Audi is a much overlooked car in this class .pwig
Just be careful, A8/S8's are great cars when everything works ok, but the bills can be horrendous.
They are quite a slippery shape (and light) for such a big car and are surprisingly economical on the motorway, I used to regularly get over 30mpg with an A8 3.7 V8.
The handling is quite nimble expecially considering the bulk of the car.
But please go into it with your eyes very wide open, they are complicated cars and when they do go wrong they can cost big time.
davidy
Just be careful, A8/S8's are great cars when everything works ok, but the bills can be horrendous.
They are quite a slippery shape (and light) for such a big car and are surprisingly economical on the motorway, I used to regularly get over 30mpg with an A8 3.7 V8.
The handling is quite nimble expecially considering the bulk of the car.
But please go into it with your eyes very wide open, they are complicated cars and when they do go wrong they can cost big time.
davidy
to be honest i have no clue Pwig , but i would second Davidys comments they are good cars very very capable and suprisingly ecomomical for such a huge bit of kit
These are great cars, but as said in earlier posts, they are complicated and expensive to maintain and repair.
I have an A6 4.2 Sport Quattro which I love - main dealers - well that's another story...... I'd suggest that you find a good local specialist.
I've no experience of Jags, but I find Audis more expensive to run than an equivalent BMW, and BMW parts are more readily available.
Of course it depends on mileage that you do, and the quality and condition of the car that you buy, but based on 20,000 miles/year I would expect to budget £2000 per year on maintenance/repairs/servicing - if that amount puts you off, you may want to steer clear.
...of course any big luxury car with a V8 thats >3 years old is likely to be expensive to maintain.
Good-luck -I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I have an A6 4.2 Sport Quattro which I love - main dealers - well that's another story...... I'd suggest that you find a good local specialist.
I've no experience of Jags, but I find Audis more expensive to run than an equivalent BMW, and BMW parts are more readily available.
Of course it depends on mileage that you do, and the quality and condition of the car that you buy, but based on 20,000 miles/year I would expect to budget £2000 per year on maintenance/repairs/servicing - if that amount puts you off, you may want to steer clear.
...of course any big luxury car with a V8 thats >3 years old is likely to be expensive to maintain.
Good-luck -I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I was after one of these initially (after watching Ronin again on DVD) but Mrs. K wasn't Keen. Said that I had to wait another 10 years 
They are fantastic value for money. Admittedly they aren't the cheapest of vehicles to run but hey, you only live once.
>> Edited by Krusty on Saturday 15th October 21:45
They are fantastic value for money. Admittedly they aren't the cheapest of vehicles to run but hey, you only live once.
>> Edited by Krusty on Saturday 15th October 21:45
Incidentally, Admiral/Elephant seem to do (comparatively) very cheap insurance on high-end Audis. I got quoted £730 for an S8 with 5 years no claims - and that's protected! Put into perspective, Direct Line were screwing me for £950 with no NCB protection for a chipped Octavia vRS.
If you're looking to save a few hundred pounds a year on insurance, then that can help balance higher maintenance costs.
If you're looking to save a few hundred pounds a year on insurance, then that can help balance higher maintenance costs.
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff