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Audi A8
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Comments
Hmm . . .
The new Caddy STS V8 AWD (1SG) appears to be in the $62K range.
A8 (SWB) with cold weather and convenience packages (just to come close to comparable equipment) = approx. $74K. (One could argue equipment levels forever, I suppose.)
Both V8 300+ HP/TQ, AWD – sized similarly? I will have to check. Weight advantage for the (aluminum intense) Audi? I will have to check . . . .
Hmm . . .
- Ray
Just finding this interesting . . .
M
Both V8 300+ HP/TQ, AWD – sized similarly? I will have to check. Weight advantage for the (aluminum intense) Audi? I will have to check . . . .
Don't forget the Laundau roof, gold package, Vogue tires and the requisite walker or RASCAL.
If shopping for a new A8 SWB, check that, A8, because no matter what, its not short, how would you like it equipped?
I just built our first one the other day and would like to know how I did....
w/RS6 motor and RS6 suspension and RS6 'Sound Enhancing Exhaust System' . . .??
- Ray
Realizing that is probably NOT exactly what you had in mind
Though I'm now more inclined toward getting a 2005 A6 4.2V8 eqippd to make it as equivalent eqpt.-wise as a SWB A8, if I were to go for a 2005 A8 SWB, it would be either in night blue pearl or light silver metallic (in either case with a black/amaretto interior).
Definite options for me would be: cold weather package, parktronic and 18" alloys with all season tires (would decide between 5-spoke or 9-spoke wheels after I've see them and get their prices).
Possible additional option is a wood steering with paddle shifters and a wood shift knob but,again, would want to see and drive a car with one and assess its cost vs. benefits.
When you say you "built" one, do you mean hypothetically (which is what I've done), or have you actually ordered one and, if so, did you get
list prices for the options? My understanding is that the U.S. base price will be $66,590.
They said they just 15 A8 demos from the company.
And they have a deal on them for $669, 24 months...$2000 down. Some have 4000 miles on them. They assure me they are not buybacks. It this possible??
I have also heard about problems with brakes, electronics, & and the MMI systems, has anyone been faced with these problems?
While a the dealer I met a couple that test drove a 2004 A8L (my salesperson said that it was a buy-back with only 9K miles) they said the ABS light was on and the dealer told them it already needed new brakes (sounds like a big lie), what's up with the brakes on these cars?
a large, very comfortable and quite luxurious car but, also, very fast and responsive to driver inputs.
I've been considering it, along with the soon to come '05 A6 4.2 V8 (which I haven't been able to test drive yet), as a replacement for my wonderful but aging 740i. My sense is that the new A6 will have a bit less luxury but, perhaps, more of a sporting feel and, not unimportant, cost about $15K less (even when configured to match the SWB A8).
Given that you were probably one of your dealer's early buyers of the new SWB A8, were you able to negotiate any discount from MSRP on the
price and, if so, how much??
The cool thing is that I am the first one at the dealership to order one and I only have a $1,000 deposit on it. Should have it in about 3 months. If you want to know, I'll tell you what options I got.
the 3 dealers I've been talking to (in the Phila. area) about what they'd be willing to do yet, because I waiting to decide which new Audi I really want.
But, when I talked to them about an '04 A8L 6 months ago (in the middle of the model year), initially they seemed willing to take only $500 or maybe $1,000 off MSRP.
And, yes, I would like to know what options you got.
Thanks.
Cold Weather, Convenience, Parktronic, XM Radio, Vent. and Massage seats (treat for me!), 18" 9-Spoke wheels.
Exterior: Oyster Gray Metallic
Interior: Beige
It is going to be nice!
Just don't let the seat massage get you too excited!!
uh I can't...well here it is, I'll have to type:
05 A8
Black/Black-Amaretto
parktronic
XM radio
Sycamore wood steering wheel
cold weather package
19's with ALL SEASONS....(Yay!)
Massage/Ventilated seats
We're very excited we can now offer the 19's with the allseasons. The car looks so much better this way. Well, how did I do?
Don't be afraid to buy one, they'll be certified, with a 6/100k bumper to bumper. You'll retain the free service til 50k, and be eligible for great lease and finance programs through AFS.
I have a few questions on options:
1) Has anyone seen the 9-spoke wheels? Any pictures you can post a link for?
2) Are the tiptronic paddles only available with the wood wheel? I love the paddles, but I agree with the previous post that the leather is more comfortable...
3) What does the Alcantara package get you? Are the seating surfaces different or just the miscellaneous trim pieces? It seems pretty pricey.
4) What do people think about the leather for the door and center armrests?
I believe all the new steering wheels are coming with the triptronic paddles, but not 100% sure.
Alcantara is really an upgrade for the headliner. It is the same material used in the doors. A suade like material. I did not think it was worth the money. The seating is still leather.
When I drove the car, I had it in the automatic setting. On the highway, it felt great. On the twisty roads, it handled well for a big car.
Any reason I should not buy it? Have owed BMW's and would like to own an A8 but the reviews have me nervous concerning reliability out of warranty.
P
Be very, very careful. We bought a 1997 A8 Quattro with 40+K miles on it. It immediately needed a very expensive head casket, control arms, tie rods, and wheel bearings. After that, we had to fix fuel leaks and coolant leaks. The memory seats don't work properly and the automatic-volume-raising-when-speed-increases feature has never worked except to blast the radio whenever it wants. At a little more than 100K, the transmission had to be replaced (at $6K); I called Audi who said they wouldn't do anything. I checked with Junk Yards that told me the '97 transmission was so bad they stopped making it, and the demand for early A8 transmissions is so huge they can't keep any in stock. Dealers told me they won't deal in '97's because of the transmissions. A friend had a '98 Tiptronic that had to have the transmission replaced 3X in the first 2 years. He is a "former" Audi driver. We had an after market extended warranty, but the company went bankrupt. They paid on our car 4X what our premium was. I asked Audi if this was the way they stood behind their $70K, top-of-the-line, engineering marvel, and they replied "Sorry".
The car is comfortable, fast, fun to drive, but be prepared to pay and pay and pay to a company that does nothing more than apologize.
Good luck!
Rodney Hager
So, I'm looking for input from you folks to see if I can go into this knowing what the source is.
Thanks in advance,
IdahoDoug
If it was me, I'd either purchase the Audi or spend a few extra K and buy a brand new Phaeton. If you are thinking of driving the car into the ground it probably doesn't matter, but the Audi is almost certain to retain its value at a much better rate as well.
Also, I don't know if I could ever spend 60k on a used car. For 60k, I want to know EXACTLY how the car has been driven.
As for the quality of each vehicle? I've owned A8's and never a VW, but I've driven around in a Phaeton several times and have to say I was very impressed. Build quality seems excellent, and it is certainly one of the plushest interiors on the market.
740iL, which was, until this car, the best I ever owned. The 8 is amazing..fun fast and better looking than the BMW or MB IMO
John
My wife has a 2002 A6 with quattro. We love the car. We didn't get it for quattro, and in fact if a CVT (without quattro) had been out then, we would have gotten it. It didn't seem logical to me to pay $2k extra for quattrro without driving in snow, but we like the car otherwise and the value still made sense compared to others. I know driving it in heavy rain and wind, it feels much more solid than my 2000 E320. Maybe that answers my own question, but if anyone has any comments on the usefulness of quattro in a warm weather climate, I'd appreciate it.
I am looking for another car, and may consider an A8. I love the new A8, although it may be out of my price range.
Honestly, from my reading, AWD isn't the end-all, beat-all in the North either. Snow tires are. So if you're looking for safety or a stable ride on possibly slippery roads, Quatro is for you. If you're looking for raw power, faster 0-60 times, etc...get a RWD auto. They're lighter and faster.