Audi S8

[crazy about cars]

Always wanted a V10 S8 and noticed this one up for sale : http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Spec looks lovely but I have a few concerns:

• Mileage : At that mileage am I looking at some immediate big bills?
• Ceramic brakes : How long does this last? What are the cost of replacing with conventional steel brakes?

I'm prepared for the usual running costs like fuel, tyres, tax and insurance but just wondering if there's anything else I should look out for with a car this age/mileage?

[KungFuPanda]

That's pretty reasonable mileage given that there are others over there with well over 100,000 miles on. I've got an S6 with the same engine and it's on 130,000 miles. Still running well.

The car you link to seems nice enough but there are a couple of things that look slightly chav. The wheels aren't the right ones. They'd probably be aftermarket Audi copies with the wrong width and offset. Also, and this is just me, the extra addition of the V10 badge to the driver's side of the bootlid is just wrong.

[rufmeister]

My S6 has nearly double that mileage, no issues at all. It's had a couple of big jobs done on it, but nothing bad, such as inlet manifold and lambda sensors. As far as the engine itself is concerned, no issues.

Same for me as KFP, that example just looks not right for me, wheels are wrong, and the badge just creams avoid.

Far better looking examples out there I'd say.

[crazy about cars]

Thanks for the heads up guys I thought the wheels were originals. The low price did rouse my suspicions.

Spoke to a mate and he recommended an S6 instead. Smaller, same engine just less gadgets.

[Dr G]

Those wheels were available on A8s so may well be genuine.

Do we think their valeters like a bit of silicon spray? Shiny shiny!

[Nors]

crazy about cars said:

Thanks for the heads up guys
Spoke to a mate and he recommended an S6 instead. Smaller, same engine just less gadgets.

My mate has one and it's the same wheels and his are original.

S8 about 150kg heavier with a bit more bhp. I'd say the performance should be almost the same.


S8 is more of an 'event' to be in for sure. Arguably looks better too.

[rufmeister]

Looking here: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachment.php?attachme...

The wheels weren't available on is model year, and weren't ever available to my knowledge with painted inners.

They look wrong on the car, offset, width, I don't know, just wrong.

[silentbrown]

rufmeister said:

Looking here: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachment.php?attachme...

Page 23 surely: Am I missing something?

[rufmeister]

silentbrown said:

Page 23 surely: Am I missing something?

Your glasses?

The ones in your image are standard S8 wheels, the ones on the Autotrader ad are RS4 style, which the name eludes me at the moment.

Only Audi geeks could probably tell the difference though, so you're excused.

[silentbrown]

rufmeister said:

Your glasses?

Ooops

[Gazzab]

Boot shut lines look wrong on the Autotrader car (near side rear).

[anonymous-user]

That style of wheels was available on later S8s, though not sure about the painted inners. They look like they have Audi centre caps.

[MrTickle]

Personally, I would avoid a car with ceramics. They are frankly terrible for road driving. Horrific in the wet as there is no progression, just as you think they are not going to work, you press harder and end up with someone going into your rear! If you do have a problem with them replacements are ruinous - you can revert back to steels - but it involves new calipers as well as discs and that also is not cheap!

Mileage is not a problem. Wheels are definitely not the original ones, but if they are genuine Audi they shouldn't be a problem (but at this price point there is a good chance they are copies which I would get rid of).

[Dr G]

I agree, a million cool points for ceramics but my preference is steels on an S8. For the type of driving involved they're more than up to the job.

rufmeister said:

The wheels weren't available on is model year, and weren't ever available to my knowledge with painted inners.

I believe you're correct on year; earliest brochure I have is October 2007 when they were available and in two tone. See:

[rufmeister]

Dr G said:

I believe you're correct on year; earliest brochure I have is October 2007 when they were available and in two tone. See:

I left Audi in 2006 so thats where my knowledge ends

Still don't look correct IMO, they may be genuine rims with a "council" refurb.

Anyway, OP, buy one.

These V10's are just

[Dr G]

Looks factory to me, slightly better pic:



Diamond cut face with grey between the spokes.

[the-photographer]

Please, please research the cost of replacement pads and discs!

And no, you can't easily fit steel parts.


http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[crazy about cars]

the-photographer said:

Please, please research the cost of replacement pads and discs!

And no, you can't easily fit steel parts.


http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Informative thanks. I always thought you could easily swap for steel discs.