Has anyone here had hands-on experience with current-gen Audi A8/S8? A buddy of mine has a S-Class coming off lease in a few months and is considering a move over to Audi.

Not a '13 A8 gasser - but that would be sensational!

I loved the A6, but then again it was on its home turf.

This was taken in Kientzheim (French wine country below Strasbourg)






These are "hot" cars in europe and they are all over the place in car-loving Germany and so at home in the USA.

In the USA I think it might depend on where you live when considering purchasing one - new or used.

In a large City you would be fine, as the VW/Audi dealer network, and likely good German independent shops are there for repair and like problems.

But if you live in remote rural areas it would be a poor choice because of the likely LACK of such facilities...

Very luxurious and comfortable interior but, as with the COMAND system in Mercedes, the MMI ("MultiMedia Interface" ) is counterintuitive, and not easy to master for average folks.

But once you figure it out, it's fine. I went all over W. Europe in the Audi and the MMI was faithful and accurate. Never needed a map. There was no tour guide either.






trip notes, June/July 2012:

The Audi A6 though was comfortable, plush and MADE for Autobahn speeds. As were ALL the "big 3" of German cars (Mercedes, BMW and Audi) - that were seen by me all over the German Autobahn, and in Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria and Franceas well.

There was a sticker on the dashboard of the A6 that said not to exceed 240 kph. It had a twin turbo diesel along with the common rail/direct injection.

Very thrifty with a little 2.0 diesel engine, but amazingly quick - I guessed 0-60 mph in abut 8.3 seconds, not bad at all.

~~~~

So since this was SPECIFICALLY an AUTOBAHN driving holiday vacation, I really hammered that car.

It did not have a mph speedometer, so it was KPH only. (Unlike my cars here, which all have both).


I only exceeded 240 kph a few times, but mostly I did, running fast, except when traffic backed up, now and then, or through a town it passed through, or when the lane narrowed for well marked road construction - ample tie to anticipate such obstructions .

I was surprised then, to learn (when I got here to California) that in Europe I mostly drove about 135-160 mph EVERY DAY on the Autobahn -- quietly, safely and legally!!!

This ALONE made the trip totally worthwhile, and the ability to drive safely and super fast and legally on a wonderful road where everyone obeys the "LEFT LANE FOR PASSING ONLY" made it even MORE wonderful.

I drove in the left lane almost ALL the time because I was passing every single vehicle on the road.

I only had to flash ONE person off the road the whole time (2 weeks).


And I was only overtaken ONCE!

I saw a pair of lt BMW angel eyes coming up fast behind me, and I myself was doing about 240 in the fast lane.

So I signaled and moved to the right.

He must have been going at least 170-180 mph when he flew by me, I got barely a glimpse and he was MILES ahead, then gone - all in about an eye blink.

It was a brand new BMW, I think an M5 but a 5er for sure. (Almost all cars are "debdaged" by their owners) The car was completely black, it looked like it was dipped in a bucket of black paint, and had limo tint on ALL windows.

Very sinister looking, BUT a capable driver who knows, like I do also, that big luxury cars from Germany like BMW Audi and Mecedes are actually factory ENGINEERED to go their top speed, ALL DAY LONG, on the Autobahn.

~~~~

For this reason I feel that the American roads, and the American drivers, that do not signal lane changes, eat and drink, and talk and text while on hand held cell phones, all represent a MORONIC and IDIOTIC driving zeitgeist that I really want no part of.

I loved the Autobahn and would love to do it some more, after my experiences.





Quote:
Are the fuel costs feel different to what you are used to?

Oh yes!

In California gasoline ("Benzin") costs about $4.00 per gallon -- and that is for "Premium" that the big Mercedes V8 engines both my cars require. It is about $3.80 per gallon for my Subaru Outback, that has a 4 cylnder engine that uses regular gasoline.


In Europe, unlike in USA, diesel fuel always costs less than gasoline.

(This photo was done in Germany and it is a favorite of mine)



THE PRICE FOR FUEL IN EUROPE IS ROUGHLY DOUBLE THE PRICE FOR FUEL IN USA.

The cheapest diesel fuel price (for the Audi diesel's engine, was 1.35 euros per litre (which is around a quart or 1/4th a US gallon.) In the isolated ski resort areas, in Austria (Lech) and Verbier (Switzerland) I visited, it cost about 1.85 per liter for diesel.

It was VERY expensive for fuel.

Despite this, I drove almost 4,000 kilometres. The rental had 19,000+ kms when I checked it out of the Frankfurt airport, and 23,000+ on the clock when I turned it in at the international airport outside of Munich near Nurnberg.
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Last edited by Jim B.; 07-15-2012 at 11:29 AM.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

For work I was given an A6 for a day, I know it's not an A8; after the first 5 miles I realized it was the most boring car I had ever driven.

Why not wait for the new S class, it must be something really special.

__________________
1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Because the local MB dealer is also something really special.

My $.02 - Lexus LS.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

He's not feeling the Lexus brand.

All depends where you live, Mercedes Bens of Beverly Hills is something else.

__________________
1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Yup. Love me some Lexus.

Audi/VW are the default button when ppl are priced-out of the Mercedes-Benz & BMW market.


OP:
Have you 'felt' around on the Audi forums? Or would that not make sense?

Nothing like rolling out that welcome mat, huh?

You should compare the MSRP of a S8 with the current S550 before you cast aspersions about the financial status of others.

That's quite unfortunate. The LS is the best of the big-luxo barges.

My $.02 on the Audi A8 4.0 - fantastic car, very well balanced.

I'm not much for comfort, but here is my analysis for the stuff I care about.

First and foremost - the driving position was excellent, and while the seat was comfortable, it had a sporty touch to it. The steering was a bit too light for my taste, but communicated well what the tires were doing. The nose tended to get out of line more than the rear when pushing it through corners, but it is to be expected on a big, heavy car. Overall grip in corners was excellent until you started pushing for the limit. The brakes were average - seemed to heat up and fade quickly. Transmission felt "average" - smooth and fast. Engine - felt plenty powerful. Not quite the same endless power you get from an AMG/M/Audi S, but not lacking power.

Overall, it is a good car, but not great. The S8 might be great - but haven't yet experienced one from the drivers seat.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Makes no sense. Apples and oranges...

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Meh. "Joe" felt the need to take some sort of oblique swipe at me. I cried my eyes out until I ran out of tears. Then I yawned.

He's been down this road before (looking at the A8) but always swerved at the last second to MB. The difference this time is that he's PO'ed with the MB dealer, and the alternate MB dealer is about 100 miles away. He has had some seat time in earlier generations of the LS, and was not into the car. I think that the determining factor will be how the 8 handles rough pavement. If the S8 is too brittle, that will be a problem.

Drove the new S7 hatchback and the A8 long wheelbase for a few days in Toronto last September.



Verdict.... Couldn't wait to get back into the '13 550S with the AMG appearance package.

__________________

OLD & RETIRED
_.... Don't mess with old farts - - age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill! Bulls**t and brilliance only come with age and experience!____________
'96 E320
'79 450 SEL
'78 300 CD

^^^Ok, why?