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Audi A8

1483 messages,  Last post on Jul 23, 2010 at 11:27 AM

You are in the Audi A8 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Audi A8, Sedan

Messages Page 23 of 149

#215 of 1483 1998 A8 4.2 by lostwages

Oct 26, 2000 (1:13 am)

I have never owned an Audi (Volvo and BMW) but am considering a 1998 A8 4.2 w/ 18,500 miles for $40,000. I have liked this car for some time, but I do not know much about them. Could someone give me insight as to dependability, is it fun to drive, what you like best about the car, what you like least, and anticipated cost of major tune, etc. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks


Mark

#216 of 1483 30K service by billmillsva

Nov 04, 2000 (2:37 pm)

Well to help with an idea of cost of ownership, I just had my 30K service performed. I am no longer under the original warranty so I took the car to a shop that specializes in European cars and is a sponsor of our local chapter of the quattro club. The service ran $368 dollars which included plugs, change of oil & filter (I provided the oil), change of air filter, change of cabin dust and pollen filter and a list of about 20 "check this" items. The shop that did the work installed bosch platinum spark plug which they indicated would save me from having to change them at the next 30K service. Considering the plugs run $50 for the set and R & R is probably $35 (1/2 hr labor) the next 30K service (60K)should be under $300 provided nothing major needs to be done. The 90K service on the other hand, requires a timing belt change. Some how I don't think that's going to be cheap.

#217 of 1483 Front bumper pull off by newowner2

Nov 07, 2000 (2:35 am)

I too am a new owner and lover of my 97 A8. But three days after picking up the car I caught the front bumper on a curb and had to have it completely replaced. I believe there is a true design flaw here and I am attempting to find out how commom this is. I intend to look for the article listed in audiworld.com that was mentioned in an earlier post. If anyone knows how to gather additional statistics, please let me know as I do not believe this should be reason for the insurance industry to place additional surcharges.

#218 of 1483 front bumper pull off by bollinger

Nov 07, 2000 (7:31 pm)

Make sure to check the A6 forum on www.audiworld.com. People have reported this problem on plenty of cars other than Audi's. It's just a fact of life nowadays with cars with noses that hang over like that.

#219 of 1483 thanks for the info. more questions.. by steverisity

Nov 10, 2000 (2:09 am)

OK, understood; get the Audi assured plan - but is this on top of the standard warranty? Is there any reason to buy this before the standard warranty runs out?
Also, can you change the oil in the A8 at places like Jiffy Lube? It's not cost I really care about with maintenence, it's convienence. I would rather get it done in a half hour than drop it off at some out of the way place that require an appointment. I'm the type that wouldn't want to pull into the Audi service site unless something major breaks or I hit 90k miles.

#220 of 1483 there is no Audi extended warranty in the US by bollinger

Nov 12, 2000 (4:57 am)

Assured program is when buying a car used, I don't know that you can add it to a car that you bought new.

#221 of 1483 W12 A8 by vwguild

Nov 13, 2000 (3:11 am)

For those posts concerning this subject...The W12
is a marriage of two VR6 VW engines...They are
displaced at 15 degrees...Hold up your index finger and middle finger and overlap your two
index fingers and you will discover the origin of the W.
Same engine as the VW *D-1* coming to the Detroit Show a year from January 2001.


ENJOY!!!!!

#222 of 1483 RE 231 & 232 by billmillsva

Nov 17, 2000 (3:44 pm)

Audi Assured is for pre owned cars. It kicks in when the factory warranty expires. It's not really something you add on later after you buy the (preowned) car and really the only reason you wouldn't get it is if you bought the car some where other than a dealer. I am sure you could get them to include it as part of the deal no cost. If you don't buy the car from a dealer, I'd get a warranty plan for one of the independent warranty companies. I asked my service advisor about them i.e. are they worth while. He didn't skip beat when he said "yep. if your, quattro system breaks, it will cost you $13,000 dollars to replace it. Usually those warranties pay for them selves if you have one major problem out side of the warranty period."
As far as "Jiffy Lube" goes, my opinion would be find a shop that specialises in Audi or European/German cars and stay away from fast food oil places. All the better if you can find one near your place of work so you can drop off the car and pick up the car later after work but most shops will accomodate a while you wait oil change if an appointment is made. Just make sure where ever you go that they have the ability to reset you service indicator. Your A8 holds 8 quarts of oil so oil changes only need to be done about every 5,000-7,500 miles depending on your driving habits.

#223 of 1483 billmillsva by marsha7

Nov 19, 2000 (1:33 am)

Appreciate your thoughts on extended warranties, as I have always bought them for cars...too many expensive things can break, easily costing in excess of the cost of the warranty.


But, just out of curiosity, how often does the quattro break? $13,000 is probably the most expensive component repair I have ever seen, not counting vehicular damage from a collision. Makes me wonder if anyone would ever keep an audi over 100K miles (the usual limit on most extended warranties). Too many quattro breaks, and it would not bode well for buying an audi/vw-4-motion.

#224 of 1483 M7 by vwguild

Nov 19, 2000 (3:22 am)

The VW 10/100 covers your powertrain including
the 4MO cars..."any lubricated part that moves the car"....

Messages Page 23 of 149

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