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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 31 of 149

#301 of 1483 My '98 A8 by automan227

May 11, 2002 (7:03 pm)

I have had my 1998 A8 4.2 for about a year now. I picked it up Audi Assured about a year ago. Since that time, there have been no really major problems with the car and love the car. Could just used a little more power....pre owned s8 here I come.
 
Anyway I thought I would just clarify some of the problems that other owners have had and that I had.
 
1) Radar detectors/garage door openers not working. This is caused because of the fact that the body is all aluminum and that until 2000 the A8 was manufactured with a windshield that had lots of metal in it therefore causing such devices not to work. I even had to get a handsfree phone kit so that I could use my cellphone in the car, because otherwise I would not get a signal.
 
2) Transmission shifting in a funny way.
The A8 is equipped with a feature known as Adaptive Learning which learns your "driving habits" and then...well...tries to adapt to it to get the best gas mileage. My service manager told me to bring the car in and he could fix the shifiting problem. As he did it (let me watch) he explained to me this whole adaptive learning system. When he gave me the car back he said that the problem should be gone, but that I will notice a minor loss in gas mileage. Sure enough when I got back in the car and put my foot down on the gas, the thing flew forward- Something which I was not expecting since I had gotten used to that other shifting pattern.
 
Since then I have had basically no problems reliability wise.
 
Hope this helps any perspective buyers.
 
AS

#302 of 1483 New A8L pricing question by garybsi

Jun 04, 2002 (9:20 am)

I recently ordered a new A8L 2003 for delivery in October. In view of the fact that the A8 will experience a re-do in the summer of '03, I am wondering what the effect will be on the current body styling when the new style hits the market next summer.
I visited another dealer this week and they were willing to knock $3000 off the list price which I felt was inadequate for a car that is going to have a make over next summer.
 
What thoughts do any of you have about the pricing for the current model in view of the make over. If I purchase a new A8L I am somewhat concerned about the depreciation issue in view of the changeover. That leaves Option "B" - leasing.
The new pricing schedule is out for the '03 and Audi apparently has put together a $1950 package which includes the Navigation System, Front and Rear Parktronic, Tire pressure Monitoring System and 17" forged wheels with All season tires. The Solar sunroof option remained at $850 as an option. The effect is a $1490 savings over the '02 model for those options.
 
Also, does anyone have any idea of what the "new" body style will be, or where it can be seen?
 
Thanks,

#303 of 1483 garybsi by merc1

Jun 04, 2002 (10:36 pm)

Easy, just picture the VW Pheaton with some slight changes and there you have the next A8, or the Audi Avatissimo Concept car. The Audi is destined to look better than the already good looking Pheaton, inside and out.

http://www.germancarfans.com/photos.cfm?PhotoID=3020523.002

http://www.audiworld.com/ (you'll have to search for the Avatissimo on this site)

M

#304 of 1483 by l943973

Jun 05, 2002 (6:29 am)

thats a pretty nice VW. I've also been thinking about an A8L, but I'm going to hold off and see what the next redesigned model has to offer.
 
Does anyone know when this VW is available in the states?
 
thanks,

#305 of 1483 by merc1

Jun 07, 2002 (11:30 pm)

Well VW is saying next July, but knowing them and their terrible product launch history I 'd say early 2004.
 
On a different note I rode past the VW store around here, and I don't see how they'll be able to sell a 70K car. VW must have a dealer revamp plan in the works??? Anyone know?
 
M

#306 of 1483 Well it's here!!!!!!!!!!! by merc1

Jul 09, 2002 (11:20 pm)

The New A8:

http://www.germancarfans.com/News.cfm?NewsID=2020709.001

M

#307 of 1483 Take a look at the new A8 by jstyle

Jul 10, 2002 (10:27 am)

Can't wait for to see the car in person but I think the back looks like a little VWish but overall a very nice design. Elegant yet sporty. And my gosh that interior is beautiful. I love the fact the screen can be set to close in the dash. Makes for a much more elegant look. BMW 745 is a dead duck with this car in the market and it will even pull people like me with a MB E500 on order. I will take a look and perhaps make a trade if it is a larger car with E500 driving dynamics. Wow.

#308 of 1483 Merc1 by jstyle

Jul 11, 2002 (9:40 am)

Got a question since you are a huge German car fan. If you take a look at the interior pics of the Audi A8 on Germancarfans.com and read the specs is that nob by the shiftgate similar to the I-drive?

#309 of 1483 jstyle by merc1

Jul 11, 2002 (10:21 pm)

Very, but Audi is promising easier more "logical" operation. Plus with the new A8 you still get most of the traditional "buttons" to bypass the MMI system. If Audi's current Nav system is anything to go by it should be easier than i-drive and Comand. Man I really love that interior though! It's official to me, Audi easily makes the best interirors of the German makes, and arguably the best in the world. I'm going to have to find out some names of their interior designers.
 
M

#310 of 1483 new A8 by regfootball

Jul 16, 2002 (3:42 pm)

dull.
 
not the splash it needed to be. Doesn't have near the presence of the Avantissimo concept.
 
not bad, bad not stunning.........the Phaeton is nicer on the exterior.
 
Wow, the Germans miss the mark with the 7 series and now the A8...at least they didn't screw up the E class.

Messages Page 31 of 149

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