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Sedans Audi A8 Audi A8
1466 messages, Last post on Nov 18, 2009 at 6:51 PM
You are in the Audi A8 Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
| why doesnt audi sell the s8 in this country instead of the a8? | |
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Hello All, I own an A8 4.2l 1998 and have some non theoretical experiences to share. 1. It takes a hell of a long time to get the AL automobile fixed. I was run off the road at a high speed clover leaf access and what looked like a safe run off zone had a hidden 4' deep drainage ditch. Over three months w/o my ten day old car. Cost to my insurance company $27,000. 2. Rear vision from the driver's seat is dangerously poor. The passenger's outside mirror is small and awful with several major blind spots on the right. Driver's side is a little better, however, compared to the S class cars I have driven it is outrageous that Audi would do such a shameful job on the safety details. Directly out the rear window there are major blind areas due to the very large rear seat head rests. In addition the C pillar's design was deemed production ready in 1991. The 1991 date came from one of two books Audi sends its' A8 owners. I am still surprised at the emphasis made about the C pillar size being fixed as it is by management. Between the head rests and the fat pillars there are two very large blind spots to the right and left when backing up or using the rear view mirror. I requested modification to the rear head rests before delivery. I received what has become a stock answer from Audi "No, the car passed all safety requirements......." My dealings with Audi for the past 19 months have been an ongoing nightmare of duplicity, arrogance, and unprofessional. My worst Dealer and Manufacture experience in 41 years of car ownership. The Audi dynamic still puzzles me since their advertisements, image, and history are performance related. My dealer started off very positively about several changes I wanted to make after driving the car for 4-5k miles. What a shock to have exhaust and brake upgrades refused after the dealer conferred with the area representative for Audi. The most disturbing aspect about the refusal was being treated like a "slow child" and treated in a very unpleasant manner. It seems that when my dealer confers with the Audi represenative that their formerly friendly and willingness to participate, if not doing the work helping acquire parts and provide referrals to competent Audi qualified Tuner/Mechanics. These are among the high points of my ongoing "enthusiastic" discussions with Audi. My most recent service, first oil change, detailing, a few clunks from the front end, and an intermittent problem with the entry remote system was awful. I sent the car right back with a five point re do list including the remote control being totally non functional when my A8 was returned. My A8 has been at the dealer for three and one half weeks and still the entry remote does not work.  The A8 is a fine car to drive, some times anyway, ie: when no one is passing on the right or left side with a speed differential > 20 MPH over my 80 mph on the interstate. Too many near misses when making a signaled lane change that includes LOOK out the window in the direction you are going to double check for any UFO's closing rapidly. Only my 1988 Honda CRX SI, "Car of the Year" was worse for rear vision and I sold it after 9 months of ownership. Beautiful execution of detail and refinement marred by inexplicable safety deficiencies: vision and awkwardness using the dash controls for heat/cool and radio. Far too distracting for the driver. The two companies supplying rear view mirrors, the center one inside, are Gentex and Donnelley? Both of these manufacture's offer mirrors with a compass integrated into the mirror. Quite similar to my wife's Grand Cherokee LTD. In the Audi models prior to 99 or 00 that incorporate a GPS unit as part of the front center console. I want my damned compass and feel mildly miffed that I need to pay $180 - $250 for a mirror incorporating a compass. I wonder if the close association of the Audi R & D / manufacturing creates a "Not Invented Here" syndrome? This may account for the lack of forethought oversights that are so annoying with the A8. IE: NOT TETHER FOR THE GAS CAP OR PLACE TO SECURE IT. This oversight is a grade three fubar. Should you avoid the A8? I'm neither qualified to have an opinion Audi, or intelligent enough to make wise decisions Dealer. Funny I'm the gentleman who paid $70k (taxes tags etc.) for a fully loaded, every option except 17" wheels for the A8. Anonymous and angry. PS: I investigate "parktronic" equipment to compensate for the lack of safe rear vision when backing up and decided up a Microwave 10 ghz unit with a transceiver mounted on a license plate bracket and a small annunciator and visual display that provides both three levels 3' 6' 12' alerting to obsticals behind the car when in reverse. I asked my dealer to install it. 2 wires without polarity consideration for voltage and running the audio/visual alert head (2" x 3/4 x 1"). My dealer's service manager called me up in a huff about my requesting they install aftermarket parts on my A8. Audi rep said NO. Dealership said if they wanted to do aftermarket they'd go to work for BestBuy or Circuit City. |
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Hello All, I own an A8 4.2l 1998 and have some non theoretical experiences to share. 1. It takes a hell of a long time to get the AL automobile fixed. I was run off the road at a high speed clover leaf access and what looked like a safe run off zone had a hidden 4' deep drainage ditch. Over three months w/o my ten day old car. Cost to my insurance company $27,000. 2. Rear vision from the driver's seat is dangerously poor. The passenger's outside mirror is small and awful with several major blind spots on the right. Driver's side is a little better, however, compared to the S class cars I have driven it is outrageous that Audi would do such a shameful job on the safety details. Directly out the rear window there are major blind areas due to the very large rear seat head rests. In addition the C pillar's design was deemed production ready in 1991. The 1991 date came from one of two books Audi sends its' A8 owners. I am still surprised at the emphasis made about the C pillar size being fixed as it is by management. Between the head rests and the fat pillars there are two very large blind spots to the right and left when backing up or using the rear view mirror. I requested modification to the rear head rests before delivery. I received what has become a stock answer from Audi "No, the car passed all safety requirements......." My dealings with Audi for the past 19 months have been an ongoing nightmare of duplicity, arrogance, and unprofessional. My worst Dealer and Manufacture experience in 41 years of car ownership. The Audi dynamic still puzzles me since their advertisements, image, and history are performance related. My dealer started off very positively about several changes I wanted to make after driving the car for 4-5k miles. What a shock to have exhaust and brake upgrades refused after the dealer conferred with the area representative for Audi. The most disturbing aspect about the refusal was being treated like a "slow child" and treated in a very unpleasant manner. It seems that when my dealer confers with the Audi represenative that their formerly friendly and willingness to participate, if not doing the work helping acquire parts and provide referrals to competent Audi qualified Tuner/Mechanics. These are among the high points of my ongoing "enthusiastic" discussions with Audi. My most recent service, first oil change, detailing, a few clunks from the front end, and an intermittent problem with the entry remote system was awful. I sent the car right back with a five point re do list including the remote control being totally non functional when my A8 was returned. My A8 has been at the dealer for three and one half weeks and still the entry remote does not work. The A8 is a fine car to drive, some times anyway, ie: when no one is passing on the right or left side with a speed differential > 20 MPH over my 80 mph on the interstate. Too many near misses when making a signaled lane change that includes LOOK out the window in the direction you are going to double check for any UFO's closing rapidly. Only my 1988 Honda CRX SI, "Car of the Year" was worse for rear vision and I sold it after 9 months of ownership. Beautiful execution of detail and refinement marred by inexplicable safety deficiencies: vision and awkwardness using the dash controls for heat/cool and radio. Far too distracting for the driver. The two companies supplying rear view mirrors, the center one inside, are Gentex and Donnelley? Both of these manufacture's offer mirrors with a compass integrated into the mirror. Quite similar to my wife's Grand Cherokee LTD. In the Audi models prior to 99 or 00 that incorporate a GPS unit as part of the front center console. I want my damned compass and feel mildly miffed that I need to pay $180 - $250 for a mirror incorporating a compass. I wonder if the close association of the Audi R & D / manufacturing creates a "Not Invented Here" syndrome? This may account for the lack of forethought oversights that are so annoying with the A8. IE: NOT TETHER FOR THE GAS CAP OR PLACE TO SECURE IT. This oversight is a grade three fubar. Should you avoid the A8? I'm neither qualified to have an opinion per: Audi, or intelligent enough to make wise decisions per: Dealer. Funny I'm the gentleman who paid $70k (taxes tags etc.) for a fully loaded, every option except 17" wheels for the A8. My experience is an ongoing aggravation in the extreme, and I hope your experiences with your dealer and Audi of America are far more positive than mine are. Sincerely, Anonymous and angry. PS: I investigate "parktronic" equipment to compensate for the lack of safe rear vision when backing up and decided up a Microwave 10 ghz unit with a transceiver mounted on a license plate bracket and a small annunciator and visual display that provides both three levels 3' 6' 12' alerting to obsticals behind the car when in reverse. I asked my dealer to install it. 2 wires without polarity consideration for voltage and running the audio/visual alert head (2" x 3/4 x 1"). My dealer's service manager called me up in a huff about my requesting they install aftermarket parts on my A8. Audi rep said NO. Dealership said if they wanted to do aftermarket they'd go to work for BestBuy or Circuit City. |
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Nobody has anything else to say about this wonderful car? Anybody looking foward to the 2000 model? M |
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| Yes, Merc1, I am looking forward to the 2000 A8 and wish there was more info about it out there. I am told Audi intends to increase the horse power from 300 to about 365, in order to keep the A8 ahead of the new A6, which gets the 4.2 300 hp engine from A8 this year. I wish Audi would release some info on the 2000 models; maybe Audi is not Y2K Compliant yet. | |
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| I am considering the purchase of a either an A8 or a 540 (most likely used). I'm looking for feedback from folks who have driven both. Any comments/experience to share? | |
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An interesting choice, especially because the (used) 540 will be considerably less expensive than the A8. I had a 540 before the recent body style change, and thought it was the best car I had ever driven. The new 540 is also a BLAST to drive, but I can't get past the fact that BMW has opted for a body designed by wind-tunnel engineers. The new 540 now looks like every thing else on the road, especially like a Honda from behind (though the front is still pretty striking). I'd like a 540, if they hadn't ruined its design. Also, if winter driving is a concern, then there is no comparing the A8 Quattro to a 540 rear wheel drive (BMW can keep the "traction control"). For me, the A8 still has some character in body style (though it is, admittedly, no 740/750). And the attention to detail in the passenger cabin is absolutely to my liking. As a pure matter of road manners (cornering, handling, ride, etc.) I think it is a coin flip between these two choices. Will either be a dream? Yup. But the A8 will set you back a number of $$ more. Good choices and good luck. |
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1) The engine is getting a 5-valve per cylinder head (40 valves total) with a modest 10 hp and 7 lb-ft torque gain. Therefore, the horesepower is (only) 310. Throttle response is supposedly improved for better low end power. Additional aluminum suspension components have dropped the weight by about 100 lbs. 2) The A8 3.7 model has been discontinued. 3) The base MSRP has been reduced to $62,000. 4) A new front grille, revised door handles, and revised front apron change with foglights are the main exterior changes. 5) Interior upgrades include a revised center console with Symphony stereo (in-dash CD/cassette). 6) New options include park distance control, and navigation system. For exact invoice and MSRP, you can visit the www.a4.org A8/S8 forum. |
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These prices were posted by an Audi dealer on A4.org forums. Kelly Blue Book web site might have these prices up by now. As you can see, there is still a sizeable difference between base invoice and MSRP prices. Considering that this wonderful sedan doesn't sell all that well, it should be possible to buy one close to invoice prices. I imagine that the massive dealer incentives won't be available for the '00 A8 right away. Perhaps later in the model year, Audi will bring back similar incentives (up to $7,500 now!) to move the A8's. Note that the navigation system is not the full- screen type with maps. It's a simple design with simple directions and voice (same as A4 and A6). MSRP for '00 A8 4.2 quattro: base - $62000 warm weather pkg - $1200 premium comfort pkg - $1500 xenon - $500 17" wheels - $1000 navigation - $1100 acoustic parking - $700 ESP - $550 (electronic stability program) premium alcantara - $3500 phone - $495 destination - $525 Invoice prices for '00 A8 4.2 quattro base - $54805 warm weather pkg - $1056 premium comfort pkg - $1320 xenon - $440 17" wheels - $880 navigation - $968 acoustic parking - $616 ESP - $484 premium alcantara - $3080 phone - $431 |
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| Has anyone been able to take advantage of the $7500 dealer incentive on a '99? If my math is right, a 4.2 Quattro with Warm and Electronics packages can be had for around 53.5K and that would still give the dealer a $1000 profit. Given this current incentives, are these '99s hard to find. I'm in CT. | |
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