`For crying out Loud` you lucky dog...I would be afraid that I might harm the six hundred thousand dollar baby, but sure would enjoy just seeing one....I at first was very hpeful they had put the larger engine in my car, as it was so pepppy, but alas when I looked no such luck..It`s nice to know they gave you a fridge....I`m going to look in the glovebox--maybe something is hidden in there for ME...I`l have a report on my seats next week....Tony
It's the 4 passenger w/ the 2 buckets in the rear.
Found out today that someone else in Connecticut placed a car order identical to mine with the fridge the same week I placed my order, same options and everything. Turns out I got his car and they got mine and that's how I got the fridge for free, oh and the Dupont paint protection. And no, they can't have it back!!!!!!!!
I was thinking about what was said on the luxury sedan board, about what came to mind about an Audi....One thing that does come to mind is that it is not a gimmick..Just a great driving car ...Blkhemi has driven it in the snow, and found it to be true and streight.. Tony
Because your car is taking so long, maybe they are throwing in a toaster-oven and dishwasher along with the fridge(lol.) All jokes aside, I know it's a pain having to wait until after the holiday to get the car. Is it a definete that the car is going to port on the 27th. I say this because my sister got a call from Audi of NA and they told her that her special order S4 Cabriolet ($69K, can you believe she spent that on a A4?) would not port until 1/5/06 and it was supposed to be here on the 19th of Dec.
She says that Audi told her that the it's conflicts between Customs and the rest of the countries because of the holidays. Go Figure. So to tell ya, you're not the only one screaming %&*(*&%&^%$--that's funny. Hang in there buddy.
Your car is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. on 12/12.I twill take approx. 1 week for it to go thru Customs and be shipped to us.I'll let you know as soon as it arrives.
This is an update that I wish wasn't necessary to report to you: your car is now scheduled to arrive at the port on 12/27/05. No reason was given for the delay. Of course I will keep you informed as I receive further info. Sorry.
Wow, that was unprofessional seeing how someone is plopping down a mountain of cash for one of their porducts. That's interesting coming from Audi because their customer service is second only to Infiniti according to the latest reports. That's one of the main reasons I purchased the car. They could've at least gave an answer as to why the car is going to be late arriving. At least they called my sister and told her what the circumstances were, because if not she'd probably cancel the order.
On this front my experience was very very casual...Of course like you I was excited , but didn`t want to appear overly anxious, as no one else seemed to be. They told me the expected time would be about three months ..So I waited and waited...Sent an email after two and a half months, and a few days later the message was returned saying right around Thanksgiving...Went by a few days before the date and lo and behold it was just off the truck...Glad the wait is over, and I feel confident your car will be great `Right Out The Box` T
WHEWWWWW!!!!! I'm glad to hear that. That bit of incorrect info can cause someone to have a heart attack. Glad to hear the wait is almost over for you.
Let the party begin!!! I'm pretty sure we won't be hearing from you for a while because you'll be tinkering with every gadget in the car for at least a week(in my case, I still find something new everyday).
P.S.- Have fun reading the book......er.......manual.
I've been following this board for a few weeks now and don't see any comments on the MMI. Is everyone really happy with this technology? I've read that it is not quite the nightmare that BMW has but is it really that simple and intuitive to use? I really don't want to get out the manual to change the radio or temp setting. Any comments on the MMI??
Billod, coming from both an S65 AMG and a 760iL, the MMI is miles ahead of both of their operating systems. The i-Drive is way to complicated to drive carefully and make adjustments on it. The COMAND system is so dated that Merc should practically have rudimentary buttons instead('07 S550 is said to be better).
The MMI, while not exactly easy to use at first glance, becomes like second nature after little time behind the wheel. Between MMI and Audi's craftsmanship, those are the two man reasons I bought the A8L W-12 instead of the Jaguar Super V8 Portfolio. I won't even began to describe how Ford has really stalled in introducing more technology for the Big Cat. It really lags behind the competition, except for it's aluminum body, oh but wait, hasn't Audi been doing aluminum bodies for almost a decade now?
The MMI grows user-friendly where as i-Drive is a daunting experience to even adjust the volume or fan speed for the a/c. Also, the Audi has seperate controls for things like radio and a/c whereas BMW doesn't.
I've heard possibly late '06 or early '07. SO just start looking for it next fall. Audi is releasing it around the time the new Mercedes S550 releases to keep things fresh. I can't wait.
billod and blkhemi, I've had my SWB A8 for 2 weeks, now, and the MMI works great. It's easy to use, but overly done -- needing 2 or more steps to do anything. The thing that frustrates me is the voice command -- anyone else? You have to say the EXACT prompt, loudly and within a quick time frame. I regularly refer to the cheat sheet list of commands my dealer provided me.
MMI is good, but Audi's Shooting Brake (a glimpse of the next TT?) has a touch screen. Hmm...
It takes some getting use to, but with each days experience it becomes more and more second nature...The i drive in the 530xi is not early as complicated as the i drive in the 7, although they are simlar. In my opinion , and experience, there are alot of features you only use one in a while...For me I had to study the manuel and practice while parked to get started...I found it an enjoyable challenge---particularly when I was successful...I still have a ways to go with new features I haven`t had time to learn about....Tony
Everything went very well. The dealer was not as "fluent" in the working of the car as I would have thought, be we got through the basics in under 2 hours. Now to fun beings! You were right about reading the book a few days before, but ya kinda need the car there to play with for it to sink in.
This is my first full sized luxury car, and I am very happy with all the gizmos. I consider myself a bit of a techo-freak, and I love all the possible settings. All seems great so far, and its just beginning.
An exciting conclusion...How do you like the color combination,as I remember in the beginning you made some changes? My dealer was also not very fluent, but they are certainly nice people...I guess it takes a special salesman to really dig into the car, as they are not motivated enough due to not having to drive it very far...I found this to be true at the bmw dealership also with the i drive..The bmw people are more into cars , it seemes to me, but they don`t like the i drive.. Tony
The green is darker than I remember it's being. It looks absolutetly black in daylight most of the time. The interior is very light and will require a lot of car. Basically I am very very happy with the color choice. I will post pics very soon.
One question: Do you (or anyone)have more info on the background lighting function in MMI setup? It is not mentioned in the regular manual, and not too clear in the MMI manual. (At least to my understanding of it)
As I haven`t really driven the car at night so far, all I did was go into the mmi , and then systems I think...I then checked off the different boxes under inside lighting...Let me know what you further find out....Also if you can find anything out about the smog sensor, which they say to leave on....Hope your are enjoying the drive Tony
One of my HID lights went out today as I was leaving at 4:00 am this morning to drive to Jersey. So that put a damper on my scheduled time to leave until the Audi dealership opened this morning. Come to find out, the left light assembly was installed incorrectly, which prematurely killed the whole assembly. Then to make matters worst, Audi says that the part is on order from Germany and should arrive in the States around the 10th of Jan. AWWWW!!! However, the service manager calmed my nerves and said that they'll give me any of the loaner cars they have on the lot. So now I'll be driving an Audi S4 sedan until the the 10th or 11th of Jan. I've got one question that has to be asked: WHY IN THE #%^& WOULD SOMEONE BUY A BMW M3 OVER THE S4???? This car is hands-down all around the better of the 2. My intial drive was like, ok I'm driving an A4, but Audi really has a sleeper on their hands with this car. Very impressive. Oh, and it gets better mileage than my W-12, so I can save on my skimpy wallet as of late(buying a $112K car will do that to you). And it's a relative bargain @ 48K versus 53K for the 6-cylinder-only M3.
The service manager stated that since Audi made the daytime running lights out of the regular headlights, they have a lot of failures on the A8's lighting system. I sure hope this can cure my problems, because at 1300 bucks a pop for the whole assembly, that's a whole lot of dough. THANK THE HEAVENS ABOVE FOR AUDI's OUTSTANDING WARRANTY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.
However, Audi says on the '05 and up models, the HID lights have the strongest ballasts in the industry, thus giving the lighting system more longevity. I can believe them on that quote because if your car ever gets into an accident and you have to replace the ballast and bulbs, the only ones that'll work is the Audi-specific brand.
So Audi didn't let me down on my first problem on the car, one up for Audi
You have the best attitude....Make a silk purse of of a sows ear...Everything I have read about the s4 says fast, and although I would like the s8 , I do like getting twenty six mpg at eighty for a three hundred mile trip..I`l see what happens tomorrow on the five hundred mile trip...Just think the rs4 is also coming Tony
Also the RS 6, which is said to be best in class already in Europe(yes this means the super-uber M5's and E55's are a step behind the Audi.)
I too want the S8. I was reading today that it's going to be powered by a stroked version of the 5.0L V-10 that powers the Lambo's. It is going to have a 5.2L V-10, and Audi says it should put out "in the neighborhood of 450-500hp". All remains to be seen. HMMMMMM: I can see the astonish look of the new M5 buyers when they get blowed away by the sleeper Audi. Yes I know the Bimmer has a V-10, but what it doesn't have is Quattro with Launch Control!
It seems the general manager was none to happy to see a brand new W-12 in the service bay for something as simple as a headlight. So he went and bought 2(left and right) from Boch Audi in Connecticut and had them "rush" installed on my car. I was shocked to get the message on my phone when I returned from golfing this afternoon to pick-up my car because it is ready!?
When I arrived at the Audi dealership and asked how the part got from Germany in a matter of a day, he implied that Santa Claus new sleigh was powered by 4 W-12 engines this year and it gave him the power to do some extra traveling this year because he managed to get done with his run earlier than expected.
So as I was going over to the car to look it over before I went to the cashier to finish things up, I noticed that the car looks exactly like when I first got it. So clean you could eat right on the hood. I had a coffee stain on the front passenger floor, it had been taken care of. But here's the shocker:
THe service manager and general manager gave me a copy of service performed on the car while in their care. They did the lights, changed out the diff fluids, changed the oil with sythetics(10 quarts of free sythetic), rotated the tires, reflashed the MMI(TSB), wash, waxed, buffed the outside with paint sealer, cleaned and shampooed the interior. ALL FOR MY INCONVIENCE.
I wrote Audi a letter a little while ago and thank them for their exemplary customer service and dedication to their customers.
P.S.- I emjoyed dusting the brakes off these little pimple faced spoil rotten teenagers in my neck of the woods with that nifty S4. All of their soupped-up Civics, Evo's and WRX's couldn't stand a chance. Ahhh, just when I really started to enjoy the little red car that could, mine was finished. Wonder how great the S8 is going to be??????
Well, almost! Less than 12 hours ago I picked up a 2004 A8L near Chicago and drove it back to Detroit. I stopped by Tire Rack and picked up a set of wheels and snow tires as well as bought four new summer tires for the 19" twelve spokes that were on the car. What a great car. It is my 3rd Audi. Previous ones are a '87 5000CS Quattro (I'm donating it as it is on it's last legs with 276,000 miles-original exhaust though!) and an '81 4000 5+5 that served me well with 225,000 before dying.
A question to someone out there with the same car.. What is the recommended motor oil? I did not get an owners manual or maintenance manual so I will order them. In the meantime, I want to use the correct oil. Please let me know what your book says. I believe I read in a brochure that it holds eight quarts.
Thanks in advance. For someone who never used the MMI before and no owners manual, I have figured out at least half of the bells and whistles!
I like the S8 as much as anyone here, but it hasn't a prayer against the M5. The M5 is the fastest thing out there with 4-doors right now, even slightly faster than the torque-laden CLS55 Benz. The now out of production RS6 might have beaten the old M5, but Audi is really going to have to bring it to get with this new M5.
Never fear Merc, the RS 6 is coming back next year as well, and yes it will once again take the crown away from the M5, which is an extraordinary piece of machinery. But it's no Audi. Sure it lives up to Bimmers performance mantra, but it is a techno overload for one reason: SMG. It has once again let down an awesome car just like the M3 and Z4 with it's crippling inability to shift quick enough to stay within the car's powerband. Yes the car has 500hp, but with "only" 384lb-ft of torque, the SMG's wide first and second gears are enough to take seconds off the M5's performance. This is why Chevy gave the Z06 Vette a healthy 500lb-ft of torque to over come this obstacle. Thankfully, BMW will offer a 6-speed manual just in time for the Audi next fall.
And you're right, after reviewing a couple of reviews of the M5's and upcoming S8's weight, the advantage is with the BMW, altho very slightly. The S8 will be more at home with the upcoming AMG S-classes and the new for '07 LS 600h(I hope Lexus gives that Buick.....er...... LS better suspension tuning than the current LS 430 with it's pancake syrup-like suspension)
P.S.- I wouldn't exactly call the M5 the fastest thing out there with 4-doors. The CLS55 and M5 are neck-n-neck in the 0-60 times of 4.2 sec each, however the M5 does spring ahead to the 1/4 mile faster by only 0.3 seconds, so you may say it's faster only on a technicality
The S8 will have 450 hp, so it won't be a match for BMW's 500hp M5. But I'd much rather have the AWD in the S8. And BMW's SMG "bucking bronco" slushbox is inexcusable in a $90,000 car.
The S6 and the S8 should be here in late 2006. But the only "RS" model destined for US shores in 2006 will be the RS4. There is a rumored 550 hp R6, but Audi will have to make do with the 450hp V-10 for next years "S" cars.
I don't think that the 450hp is definete on the S8, altho it won't be too much higher giving the fact that it would be impeding on the Lambo V-10, but this variation of the V-10 will be more torque-laden with over 500lb-ft of it. I talked earlier to my Audi consultant and he informed me that we are indeed getting the RS 6, we're not getting the RS+S 6, with over 600hp. That is a Euro only model(for now)
The S8's hp is a done deal at 450hp, but there is talk of a 500hp version a few years down the road when the standard Gallardo V10 is bumped up to 550hp. Remember this V10 will be shared with the upcoming Audi R8 sports car which is based on the Gallardo, so there can't be too much stepping on Lambo's toes.
The M5 does indeed have the slightest of advantage in speed over the CLS55 AMG, and that advantage could be made up by a good driver I suspect. Especially since the BMW has such a fickle tranny. Now what both cars do to the STS-V is serious, the Caddy doesn't have a chance.
None of this will matter in once the just released S65 AMG touches ground next summer. Mercedes is giving a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 secs, but Mercedes' times are always conservative. The current SL65 and CL65 have been clocked at under 4 secs 0-60 already.
What I like about the S8 is the overall presentation. Audis are just so slick and well constructed and just plain ole pleasing to look at. The S8 is an all around executive express. The Benz and BMW are more one-dimensional and/or focused IMO. The BMW Motorsport cars are track cars and the blown AMG Benzes are heavy, extremely powerful touring/long-distance cars.
Audi's S cars are generally like AMG cars, but without the massive torque and hp, but their RS cars are more like the BMW Motorsport cars so they seem to be trying to take on both concepts.
Well the newness of my car is now gone....On the trip down to Floridi I hit a flying tire tread, that the car in front of me hit...No way to miss it, and the tread broke the right lower light, and the grill that it sets in...Man what luck...There were several trafic tie ups, and therefort the miles per gallon suffered down to twenty five and a half---vs twenty six point one..
Due to my sports suspension and say eight to nine hours driving, I believe the softer suspension in the Lexus would be more overall easier...The seats in the Audi have the Lexus beat hands down, but when I finally got to bed, I sort of surged and slowed down for a long time...Maybe in my mind.. I also probably heard too many songs on the Serios(sp)station.. As a matter of fact that is just too much driving for my tastes, but I wanted to get to the warmth of Miami.....Tomorrow off to see if I can get it fixed...Bummer Tony
Man I have seen the `Mother of Repair Shops` It is probably a big city block in size, and many really exotic cars are there for repair...I must have seen six Ferrari`s many more Porsche, Jag, Mercedes, and two truckloads of Audis were being unloaded...The Audi dealership apparently doesn`t do any repairs of any sort and referred me to this spot....As you can imagine they are very organized, took a quick look at my broken bottom grill and produced a two thousand dollar estimate...As this is my fault I don`t know if Audi would provide a loaner car or not...I did find it strange that Audi didn`t do anything like coordinate the repair...I am sure if I had been home they would have done this...I do believe this will be the best place to get it repaired though, as there were many more exotic cars there...They said it would take three days, painting the grill etc--and I got the impression they would do the work as soon as the parts came in-- which is way better than the tv repair person who couldn`t come until the eighteenth of Jan just to diagnose the tv...I,l be footing the bill as the insurance doesn`t kick in until three thousand Be careful of truck tire treads Tony
Well, at least it is being taken care of at (what appears to be) a very good shop.
When my last car was 35 miles old, a motorcycle read-ended me. I had just left a driveway, and he hit me square in the rear at well over 50 MPH on a city street in NY. The damage to my car was over 5K, and drastically reduced the trade-in value. He was hurt very severely, and his law suit against me for 6.5 million was finally dismissed, but is now under appeal. (The fact that he did not have a motorcycle license or a legal helmet might have contributed to its being dismissed, but there is still that appeal..)
Anyway, my A8 came with 43 psi in all four tires, and 33 in the spare. I called my dealer, and he said that I should re-initialize the pressure system.. they couldn't make a mistake like that. Well, they did! I have now removed some air and have proper pressure ...and sent a nice not to the dealer.
and the W-12 is purring along just nicely. I've noticed the MPG go from 9.3 mpg to 20.7, in a matter of a month, so my intial thought was correct when I thought with more driving the gas mileage will go up. I have to give credit to the Audi service department who said with the Mobil 1 synthetic oil, it'll increase longevity and produce higher gas mileage. I've also noticed that the engine runs extremely quiet now, Lexus-like at idle. It used to have this burble at the exhaust, but now it's merely audible. I thought it was normal because of the 12-cylinder engine like my 760 and S65, which idled like my Vette Z06.
The seats have given in around the cushion area, as this was my major complaint, being too "euro". Their quite comfy now. The brakes aren't as grabby anymore, no more Mercedes AMG-like lurching at stops.
One last note, while driving back from Maine yesterday, I finally hit the top speed, which was exactly 155 mph, which felt like 90 mph because the car is lithe and quiet. I didn't want to try this to early on as the "break-in" period for the W-12 is 1000 miles. It felt very sturdy and stable up there in those speeds, much like the much-hyped 7-Series and my very own $160K supposed uber-sedan, the S65 AMG.
P.S.- Tony P, I hope your baby is out of surgery by now and resting at home. I hope all is well.
I have put the parts deposit down and now wait for the word to take Her in...The damage is the right bottom part of the bumper...They replace the entire bottom bumper and small light down there....Not to complain, but when I inspected this area, it seemed to be a little on the weak side...I know the plastic is tough, but a little more backing would seem in order as the tire tread that delivered the lick really didn`t have that much mass ...It makes me a little concerned in regards to a real blow and the damage that would be done..
I also noticed that as the car broke in during the thousand mile area that it seemed to run even more smoothly and as I reported the mpg are around twenty six whic is god imo....It will be good to get the repair behind me though....Tony
I was down at a shopping mall, and noticed the a8w12 sitting on display under a palm tree...Ambled over to give it a look...It was either black or a dark blue, and had several options like the full leather interior that was a medium tan with the dark pipe roll around the seats...Looked quite spectactular, and was priced at a hundred thirty thousand....I particularly checked out the lower bumper, and it is a little different than the a8, at least to my eye, and I am afraid if any of you have the misfortune to have anything hit it, the small grill part is quite fragile...I noticed most other cars also have this layout, so be careful...Bikhemi You got a good deal on your car.....Emass what has been going on in your world ??? Tony
Comments
Found out today that someone else in Connecticut placed a car order identical to mine with the fridge the same week I placed my order, same options and everything. Turns out I got his car and they got mine and that's how I got the fridge for free, oh and the Dupont paint protection. And no, they can't have it back!!!!!!!!
Does the word %&*(*&%&^%$ mean anything to ya'???
(e)
She says that Audi told her that the it's conflicts between Customs and the rest of the countries because of the holidays. Go Figure. So to tell ya, you're not the only one screaming %&*(*&%&^%$--that's funny. Hang in there buddy.
This is an update that I wish wasn't necessary to report to you: your car is now scheduled to arrive at the port on 12/27/05. No reason was given for the delay. Of course I will keep you informed as I receive further info. Sorry.
(e)
Finally
P.S.- Have fun reading the book......er.......manual.
The MMI, while not exactly easy to use at first glance, becomes like second nature after little time behind the wheel. Between MMI and Audi's craftsmanship, those are the two man reasons I bought the A8L W-12 instead of the Jaguar Super V8 Portfolio. I won't even began to describe how Ford has really stalled in introducing more technology for the Big Cat. It really lags behind the competition, except for it's aluminum body, oh but wait, hasn't Audi been doing aluminum bodies for almost a decade now?
The MMI grows user-friendly where as i-Drive is a daunting experience to even adjust the volume or fan speed for the a/c. Also, the Audi has seperate controls for things like radio and a/c whereas BMW doesn't.
(e)
M
MMI is good, but Audi's Shooting Brake (a glimpse of the next TT?) has a touch screen. Hmm...
This is my first full sized luxury car, and I am very happy with all the gizmos. I consider myself a bit of a techo-freak, and I love all the possible settings. All seems great so far, and its just beginning.
.....
One question: Do you (or anyone)have more info on the background lighting function in MMI setup? It is not mentioned in the regular manual, and not too clear in the MMI manual. (At least to my understanding of it)
(E)
The service manager stated that since Audi made the daytime running lights out of the regular headlights, they have a lot of failures on the A8's lighting system. I sure hope this can cure my problems, because at 1300 bucks a pop for the whole assembly, that's a whole lot of dough. THANK THE HEAVENS ABOVE FOR AUDI's OUTSTANDING WARRANTY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.
However, Audi says on the '05 and up models, the HID lights have the strongest ballasts in the industry, thus giving the lighting system more longevity. I can believe them on that quote because if your car ever gets into an accident and you have to replace the ballast and bulbs, the only ones that'll work is the Audi-specific brand.
So Audi didn't let me down on my first problem on the car, one up for Audi
Please DON'T repeat that in the S4 vs. M3 thread. Very vocal group of owners on both sides.
M
I too want the S8. I was reading today that it's going to be powered by a stroked version of the 5.0L V-10 that powers the Lambo's. It is going to have a 5.2L V-10, and Audi says it should put out "in the neighborhood of 450-500hp". All remains to be seen. HMMMMMM: I can see the astonish look of the new M5 buyers when they get blowed away by the sleeper Audi. Yes I know the Bimmer has a V-10, but what it doesn't have is Quattro with Launch Control!
When I arrived at the Audi dealership and asked how the part got from Germany in a matter of a day, he implied that Santa Claus new sleigh was powered by 4 W-12 engines this year and it gave him the power to do some extra traveling this year because he managed to get done with his run earlier than expected.
So as I was going over to the car to look it over before I went to the cashier to finish things up, I noticed that the car looks exactly like when I first got it. So clean you could eat right on the hood. I had a coffee stain on the front passenger floor, it had been taken care of. But here's the shocker:
THe service manager and general manager gave me a copy of service performed on the car while in their care. They did the lights, changed out the diff fluids, changed the oil with sythetics(10 quarts of free sythetic), rotated the tires, reflashed the MMI(TSB), wash, waxed, buffed the outside with paint sealer, cleaned and shampooed the interior. ALL FOR MY INCONVIENCE.
I wrote Audi a letter a little while ago and thank them for their exemplary customer service and dedication to their customers.
P.S.- I emjoyed dusting the brakes off these little pimple faced spoil rotten teenagers in my neck of the woods with that nifty S4. All of their soupped-up Civics, Evo's and WRX's couldn't stand a chance. Ahhh, just when I really started to enjoy the little red car that could, mine was finished. Wonder how great the S8 is going to be??????
and an '81 4000 5+5 that served me well with 225,000 before dying.
A question to someone out there with the same car.. What is the recommended motor oil? I did not get an owners manual or maintenance manual so I will order them. In the meantime, I want to use the correct oil. Please let me know what your book says. I believe I read in a brochure that it holds eight quarts.
Thanks in advance. For someone who never used the MMI before and no owners manual, I have figured out at least half of the bells and whistles!
M
And you're right, after reviewing a couple of reviews of the M5's and upcoming S8's weight, the advantage is with the BMW, altho very slightly. The S8 will be more at home with the upcoming AMG S-classes and the new for '07 LS 600h(I hope Lexus gives that Buick.....er...... LS better suspension tuning than the current LS 430 with it's pancake syrup-like suspension)
P.S.- I wouldn't exactly call the M5 the fastest thing out there with 4-doors. The CLS55 and M5 are neck-n-neck in the 0-60 times of 4.2 sec each, however the M5 does spring ahead to the 1/4 mile faster by only 0.3 seconds, so you may say it's faster only on a technicality
The S6 and the S8 should be here in late 2006. But the only "RS" model destined for US shores in 2006 will be the RS4. There is a rumored 550 hp R6, but Audi will have to make do with the 450hp V-10 for next years "S" cars.
The M5 does indeed have the slightest of advantage in speed over the CLS55 AMG, and that advantage could be made up by a good driver I suspect. Especially since the BMW has such a fickle tranny. Now what both cars do to the STS-V is serious, the Caddy doesn't have a chance.
None of this will matter in once the just released S65 AMG touches ground next summer. Mercedes is giving a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 secs, but Mercedes' times are always conservative. The current SL65 and CL65 have been clocked at under 4 secs 0-60 already.
What I like about the S8 is the overall presentation. Audis are just so slick and well constructed and just plain ole pleasing to look at. The S8 is an all around executive express. The Benz and BMW are more one-dimensional and/or focused IMO. The BMW Motorsport cars are track cars and the blown AMG Benzes are heavy, extremely powerful touring/long-distance cars.
Audi's S cars are generally like AMG cars, but without the massive torque and hp, but their RS cars are more like the BMW Motorsport cars so they seem to be trying to take on both concepts.
M
Due to my sports suspension and say eight to nine hours driving, I believe the softer suspension in the Lexus would be more overall easier...The seats in the Audi have the Lexus beat hands down, but when I finally got to bed, I sort of surged and slowed down for a long time...Maybe in my mind..
I also probably heard too many songs on the Serios(sp)station.. As a matter of fact that is just too much driving for my tastes, but I wanted to get to the warmth of Miami.....Tomorrow off to see if I can get it fixed...Bummer Tony
When my last car was 35 miles old, a motorcycle read-ended me. I had just left a driveway, and he hit me square in the rear at well over 50 MPH on a city street in NY. The damage to my car was over 5K, and drastically reduced the trade-in value. He was hurt very severely, and his law suit against me for 6.5 million was finally dismissed, but is now under appeal. (The fact that he did not have a motorcycle license or a legal helmet might have contributed to its being dismissed, but there is still that appeal..)
Anyway, my A8 came with 43 psi in all four tires, and 33 in the spare. I called my dealer, and he said that I should re-initialize the pressure system.. they couldn't make a mistake like that. Well, they did! I have now removed some air and have proper pressure ...and sent a nice not to the dealer.
(e)
The seats have given in around the cushion area, as this was my major complaint, being too "euro". Their quite comfy now. The brakes aren't as grabby anymore, no more Mercedes AMG-like lurching at stops.
One last note, while driving back from Maine yesterday, I finally hit the top speed, which was exactly 155 mph, which felt like 90 mph because the car is lithe and quiet. I didn't want to try this to early on as the "break-in" period for the W-12 is 1000 miles. It felt very sturdy and stable up there in those speeds, much like the much-hyped 7-Series and my very own $160K supposed uber-sedan, the S65 AMG.
P.S.- Tony P, I hope your baby is out of surgery by now and resting at home. I hope all is well.
I also noticed that as the car broke in during the thousand mile area that it seemed to run even more smoothly and as I reported the mpg are around twenty six whic is god imo....It will be good to get the repair behind me though....Tony