Test Drove 2014 Audi A8, WOW!

[Our03z4]

All I can say is wow! Unbelievable car, between the massaging / climate controlled seats, amazingly smooth ride, crazy power, and all the other options, I'm in love! My wife normally could care less about cars but she even loves this thing. Made my z4 coupe feel miserable the rest of the day, I know totally different beasts but still. I think as I'm getting older I'm valuing comfort more and more. This experience has me seriously considering shedding my car for it. 40k miles, 2014 A8, loaded, $35k with tax.

Any one have any experience with this model? Also have to say the dealer experience was much better than BMW as well.

[chassis]

I have read positive reviews on the S8. No experience with it, myself.

I do have experience with VW, BMW and M-B dealers. BMW is the least enjoyable experience, by far. VW is surprisingly good. Benz is as you would expect, very good.

[Our03z4]

Crap, I meant A8L not S8. Take one for a spin, excellent car. Didn't know they had a TDI version, now my wife really wants one.

[Housekeeping]

Had a S8, incredible car indeed! Interiors, the room inside, the sound... oh my!

[brad850csi]

BMW make a car called the 7

[RM7]

Originally Posted by brad850csi

BMW make a car called the 7

That's still 1 less.

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

That's still 1 less.

Bahaha! I have 2 BMW's, don't need or want a 3rd. I like the look of the Audi better, and like I said, the dealer experience was night and day. Top notch!

[clee1982]

I suppose you should also test 7 and S

[BigHunk]

In that class Mercedes S class was always number 1

[P1]

Agree, very nice vehicles. And quite affordable also. Been looking at the last of the previous generation A8s, as they have that front bumper that looks like the S8.

[Red Bread]

Don't forget that the A8 has aluminum body panels, so repairs take forever, cost more and insurance rates tend to be higher too. Get an S. Nothing to see with the 7.

[XutvJet]

A friend of mine has a CPO 2015 A7 he picked up in early 2017. He's had a lot of electrical issues with headlights and other electrical components. Out of warranty costs would be around $6K to date. His prior 2002 A6 4.2 V8 had $30K in repairs (not maintenance) between 2006 and 2014. He still loves Audis. LOL.

Pop the hood on one of these cars and you'll see why they are so damn hard to work on. They definitely have some of the most crammed engine bays in the business. Just like I would not be caught dead owning any BMW a 2 series, a wouldn't touch an out of factory warranty Audi (any year) with a 10 foot pole. I have many friends and acquaintances that have owned them and they have had to put large sums of money in them for repairs.

They are generally dead sexy cars and Audi has some of the best designers in the business, but long-term reliability (5 year+) is terrible and generally worse than most BMWs.

[Our03z4]

Gezzzz, thanks a lot guys, now I'm going to have to try out an S8. Didn't realize the monsters they are until I read the specs and watched a few videos. I've got car buying fever again...

[chassis]

Have you considered a 2014 Mercedes E63s? 5.5L twin turbo V8 with 577hp. Comparable price range, good reliability for a performance vehicle and a three pointed star.