I face a massive dilemma!

Want to change my car and it's gotta be an A8. Everything is fine great about the S8 apart from how much fuel it drinks. Insurance doesn't even vary much between all models including the S8. And parts are hardly going to be dearer on an S8 are they!

But bear in mind what fuel costs in the UK (Near £5 a gallon) and you'll see why it would hurt to run an S8

Looked at and driven a few S8s now and love them, but went to see this today and is it a good compromise? 2002 2.8 Quattro Sport

Ok, from what I can see I'm gonna miss double glazing (Will road noise be noticable now?)
No Rear blind or side blinds
No sat Nav
And of course the performace drop is considerable. But how much in the real world. I do a lot of single carriage way passing and so it'd need to be good at kick down at 50-80mph

Bonuses..
It's a late 2002 model where I'm looking at a 1999 tops S8 for the same money
Xenon headlights
Those 'to die for' wheels
Better economy from the 2.8 V6
Lower mileage

 

the A8 has 2.8 engine?

wow how that weak engine can carry that car?

 

Yeah, I've been in a couple A8 2.8s in Germany and Russia, they're not that bad actually - hotels like to buy them as limos. Ditto for BMW 728i and Merc S280 W140 (which is stickshift, btw). I think americans are used to only being able to enjoy plutobarges with giant V8 and V12 engines, but the smaller engines are a lot more practical and easier on the wallet.


I'd say go with the 2.8, the S8 might look spiffy and everything, but the petrol bills combined with a decided lack of places to actually exercise all that power and speed arent gonna be much fun. Despite what all the journos write, the S8 is not all that great on B roads, it really thrives on the freeway, and you'd be better off with the smaller wheels on the 2.8 for daily driving comfort.

 

Thanks for your replies guys!

Yeah, we have a 2.8 A8 here, remember we pay around 80% of our fuel costs straight to the government in tax and they choose to fleece our asses! Economy is a massive factor in choosing cars here. I know guys here who pour £80 a week into running big engines (That's some £320 a month!)
If running a 2.8 is noticably better than the 4.2 V8 in the S8 then it may be a compromise worth considering!

I can live with the wheels on the A8 as they make the car IMO. I have a 2.2 VTEC Prelude I'm getting rid of (they also do a 2.0i non VTEC version of that for Europe too you know!)and that has 18" rims running 35 profile rubber so I am used to a firm ride. (The wife's car is a Clio 172 and that's also choppy!)

We travel to watch the LeMans 24 hours race every year and that's the only real trip where I would need all the power of the S8 (I travel with Evos and Subaru Imprezzas) but does one trip a year mean pouring obscene amounts of fuel in every week? Hmmm....

Thanks for letting me air my thoughts guys, need to make a decision!

I'll keep you posted

 

hi i have quart 2.8 sport 2001 just the same as you are looking at i think its great 142mph 0>60 in 7.5 sec but returns 33mpg at 70mph on motorway and 25mpg in town
my car has electric blind sat/nav pdc nokia phone. i also looked at s8 but was told to expense to run i going to install the sat/nav tv system rear roof screen /electric heated seat in rear.as you can see you can upgrade your car so it is just like a s8 but with a more economical a8 .i also hoping to fit the dvd rns sat/nav good luck im in scotland[X(]

 

Yu know, you can ADD all that stuff to the 2.8... Of course, for BEST passing, regardless of teh mota, yu'd need a manny tranny.

Yu could find teh blind and Nav at the strip-yard, cantcha? Or eBay.co.uk?

 

Ive had a 2.8, 3.7s and have just rebuilt a 2000 S8. In my opinion the are fantastic cars but the 3.7 has been the most economic. The 2.8 is slightly too small for such a big car, so if you get the chance it may be another option.