Audi A8 4.2TDI (2010)
Discussion
Got a 2008 A8L 4.2TDi and a 2010 3.0TDi.
I have done 190,000 miles in the 4.2TDi and the only fault i had was a starter motor burn out 10days after i got it which was replaced under warranty and a suspension sensor go which was about £300.00 inc vat fitted.
Absolutely stunning machines, ultimate wafting really. Returns about 34 - 35 on a run, all the toys you need plus a few more you did'nt think you needed/ Supremely comfortable for long journeys, massive boot space, surprisingly nimble for a large car. Bad weather does not phase them at all and I understand with a remap they are good for close to 400bhp with phenominal torque.
Remember to do a front to rear tyre swap every 5000m as fronts can wear the inside shoulder away quite quickly.
Had the 3.0TDi 6 weeks and that has notched up 12000 miles already. I do not bother looking at any other car now as they are just so competent in everything they do.
I have had 4 now and probably clocked up to half a million miles in them altogether.
I have done 190,000 miles in the 4.2TDi and the only fault i had was a starter motor burn out 10days after i got it which was replaced under warranty and a suspension sensor go which was about £300.00 inc vat fitted.
Absolutely stunning machines, ultimate wafting really. Returns about 34 - 35 on a run, all the toys you need plus a few more you did'nt think you needed/ Supremely comfortable for long journeys, massive boot space, surprisingly nimble for a large car. Bad weather does not phase them at all and I understand with a remap they are good for close to 400bhp with phenominal torque.
Remember to do a front to rear tyre swap every 5000m as fronts can wear the inside shoulder away quite quickly.
Had the 3.0TDi 6 weeks and that has notched up 12000 miles already. I do not bother looking at any other car now as they are just so competent in everything they do.
I have had 4 now and probably clocked up to half a million miles in them altogether.
excellent. thanks for the replies. some other Q's
did either you guys drive a 730/740d (F01 09>)? the V8 in the Audi is what i want and there isnt a comparable engine in the F01 but wondered what the key differences are.
given youve tried the 3.0 and 4.2 back to back, does the 4.2 really transform the car? whats the power like and does it make a v8 noise or cant you tell the difference?
what spec do you have beyond the standard kit? id want a SE Exec to get the extra bits, but wondered if there were any key options which youd think worth looking for?
did either you guys drive a 730/740d (F01 09>)? the V8 in the Audi is what i want and there isnt a comparable engine in the F01 but wondered what the key differences are.
given youve tried the 3.0 and 4.2 back to back, does the 4.2 really transform the car? whats the power like and does it make a v8 noise or cant you tell the difference?
what spec do you have beyond the standard kit? id want a SE Exec to get the extra bits, but wondered if there were any key options which youd think worth looking for?
I drive both versions, in the real world of motorway driving you don't notice the difference but the acceleration of the 4.2 is something else. It is not quite so agile as the 3.0 as you are aware of the extra weight at the front. No real V8 rumble as they are supremely quiet and smooth, engine noise is higher on the 3.0 version.
Remapped 3.0 is also worth considering, that brings them up to around 280bhp.
A8's are well equipped as standard but Bose stereo is good as well as soft close doors and auto boot. It depends what you need the car for.
Tried a BMW 7 and felt the ride was too hard for my requirements. A8 has adjustable air suspension.
Remapped 3.0 is also worth considering, that brings them up to around 280bhp.
A8's are well equipped as standard but Bose stereo is good as well as soft close doors and auto boot. It depends what you need the car for.
Tried a BMW 7 and felt the ride was too hard for my requirements. A8 has adjustable air suspension.
I did a lot of test drives before I bought my car including BMW 730/740's, New jaguar Xj, Mercedes S-Class and a Porsche Panamera, the A8 was a much nicer car to drive, I drove a A8 3.0 TDI but when my car came up for sale I couldn't resist it. It was one of the D4 launch cars that went out to the press it has every toy you could imagine.
I've had up to 39 mpg on long motorway runs but I tend to average mid 20's. the last A8 I had was a lemon, I spent a lot of money on it and swore I would never buy another A8 until I went out in my car.
Neil
I've had up to 39 mpg on long motorway runs but I tend to average mid 20's. the last A8 I had was a lemon, I spent a lot of money on it and swore I would never buy another A8 until I went out in my car.
Neil
I bought my D4 3.0 SE Exec 6 months ago. Drove it back to back with a 4.2 (previously owned by Paul Scholes - he didn't have much time to clean it).
If you need a getaway car, then the 4.2 is great (with LSD I think). 99% of the time the 3.0 is more than ample I find. No problems to date - quiet, 750 miles from a tank, comfy and well equipped. You get used to the size after a bit. I looked at a 730d, but the A8 was better put together, better equipped and less in your face - it does look like an A4 (provided you're at a distance and have nothing else to reference it by).
I find the boot a bit small - I had an A6 previously - and find it not as good for moving PPI ambulance chasers that have offended me. Be aware that not all models have the wavy foot opening facility.
Bose is good, comfort seats are, well, comfy, drive select is useful, reversing camera is VERY useful on something 5.2m long in UK car parks, and MMI intuitive.
Have to say I like mine...
If you need a getaway car, then the 4.2 is great (with LSD I think). 99% of the time the 3.0 is more than ample I find. No problems to date - quiet, 750 miles from a tank, comfy and well equipped. You get used to the size after a bit. I looked at a 730d, but the A8 was better put together, better equipped and less in your face - it does look like an A4 (provided you're at a distance and have nothing else to reference it by).
I find the boot a bit small - I had an A6 previously - and find it not as good for moving PPI ambulance chasers that have offended me. Be aware that not all models have the wavy foot opening facility.
Bose is good, comfort seats are, well, comfy, drive select is useful, reversing camera is VERY useful on something 5.2m long in UK car parks, and MMI intuitive.
Have to say I like mine...
Dilligaf10 said:
I drive both versions, in the real world of motorway driving you don't notice the difference but the acceleration of the 4.2 is something else. It is not quite so agile as the 3.0 as you are aware of the extra weight at the front. No real V8 rumble as they are supremely quiet and smooth, engine noise is higher on the 3.0 version.
Remapped 3.0 is also worth considering, that brings them up to around 280bhp.
A8's are well equipped as standard but Bose stereo is good as well as soft close doors and auto boot. It depends what you need the car for.
Tried a BMW 7 and felt the ride was too hard for my requirements. A8 has adjustable air suspension.
Which one do you prefer? If yo had to keep one?Remapped 3.0 is also worth considering, that brings them up to around 280bhp.
A8's are well equipped as standard but Bose stereo is good as well as soft close doors and auto boot. It depends what you need the car for.
Tried a BMW 7 and felt the ride was too hard for my requirements. A8 has adjustable air suspension.
Txs
PF
2011 4.2 tdi here, and is a great car 
Cannot add anything else to the above, apart from get a set of winter wheels and tyres in prep for the cold, rain, and snow. The car is superlative in the cold season with Quattro + proper winter tyres. I got a set of OEM 19inch wheels and 235 Dunlop 3D winter tyres for around £1, 800 + VAT from local Audi dealer. Try to order your set early as possible before the winter comes to get good price.
Cannot add anything else to the above, apart from get a set of winter wheels and tyres in prep for the cold, rain, and snow. The car is superlative in the cold season with Quattro + proper winter tyres. I got a set of OEM 19inch wheels and 235 Dunlop 3D winter tyres for around £1, 800 + VAT from local Audi dealer. Try to order your set early as possible before the winter comes to get good price.
Yes for sure, if a decent set of used winter wheels + tyres can be procured in A8 fitment in time for winter.
The deals from Audi are very good I think, if you are planning to keep the car for a few years the premium paid for the new wheel / tyre set is worth it, the cost is much lower than buying new wheels and tyres separately. Also, the Audi approved winter wheels for the D4 model are 19 inch and 20 inch going by the little sticker on the drivers door, so unless you drop lucky I don't think you would save much buying correct fitment used (if you could find a set) vs new from Audi.
The deals from Audi are very good I think, if you are planning to keep the car for a few years the premium paid for the new wheel / tyre set is worth it, the cost is much lower than buying new wheels and tyres separately. Also, the Audi approved winter wheels for the D4 model are 19 inch and 20 inch going by the little sticker on the drivers door, so unless you drop lucky I don't think you would save much buying correct fitment used (if you could find a set) vs new from Audi.
Edited by MOD500 on Tuesday 2nd July 23:03
Which 'summer' tyres are you using and are they genuinely summer tyres or all season.
I had Dunlops and of all the things I might spend money on to augment my A8 winter types really would not be high on the list - and I'm a fan of winter tyres!
They stopped making the Dunlops so I've switched - it will be interesting to see the difference this winter.
I had Dunlops and of all the things I might spend money on to augment my A8 winter types really would not be high on the list - and I'm a fan of winter tyres!
They stopped making the Dunlops so I've switched - it will be interesting to see the difference this winter.
Edited by james S on Thursday 4th July 10:10
A difficult choice if I could only keep one.
My head says the 3.0TDi but my heart would always choose the 4.2TDi.
The A8 really does need winter tyres in the snow. It has the traction ok but the sheer physical weight can overcome this. Both my Prius and my Chrysler Grand Voyager which were on full winters ran rings around the A8 on summers.
All cars will be on full winters from now on, except the rod of course...although...
My head says the 3.0TDi but my heart would always choose the 4.2TDi.
The A8 really does need winter tyres in the snow. It has the traction ok but the sheer physical weight can overcome this. Both my Prius and my Chrysler Grand Voyager which were on full winters ran rings around the A8 on summers.
All cars will be on full winters from now on, except the rod of course...although...
james S said:
Which 'summer' tyres are you using and are they genuinely summer tyres or all season.
I had Dunlops and of all the things I might spend money on to augment my A8 winter types really would not be high on the list - and I'm a fan of winter tyres!
They stopped making the Dunlops so I've switched - it will be interesting to see the difference this winter.
Checked earlier and am running Goodyear F1 265/40/20 as summer shoes.I had Dunlops and of all the things I might spend money on to augment my A8 winter types really would not be high on the list - and I'm a fan of winter tyres!
They stopped making the Dunlops so I've switched - it will be interesting to see the difference this winter.
Edited by james S on Thursday 4th July 10:10
What tyres are you running?
This is very interesting. I had Dunlop SP9000s on mine which are rated as a summer tyre. I've driven it in all conditions including 8 inches of snow and sheet ice.
Only twice has it ever been a problem. The first one was completely my fault. I left it too late to brake to turn right in deep snow and the ABS kicked in to save the day, leaving me having to reverse 10 feet in a slightly embarrassing fashion.
The second was on wet sheet ice, I touched the brake and the car slide in a straight line. I removed my foot and it all settled down.
Other than that I've never lit the traction control or ABS up in winter. I assumed it was some kind of black magic. I have Falken's on it now I think, so it will be interesting to see how it is this year.
I 'm sure it would be even better on winters but I wouldn't want people thinking you need to get a set of winters to drive an A8 in winter, in my experience you really don't
Only twice has it ever been a problem. The first one was completely my fault. I left it too late to brake to turn right in deep snow and the ABS kicked in to save the day, leaving me having to reverse 10 feet in a slightly embarrassing fashion.
The second was on wet sheet ice, I touched the brake and the car slide in a straight line. I removed my foot and it all settled down.
Other than that I've never lit the traction control or ABS up in winter. I assumed it was some kind of black magic. I have Falken's on it now I think, so it will be interesting to see how it is this year.
I 'm sure it would be even better on winters but I wouldn't want people thinking you need to get a set of winters to drive an A8 in winter, in my experience you really don't
Edited by james S on Friday 5th July 10:13
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