SOTW: Audi A8

This week it's vorsprung durch aluminium for Shed

The Audi A8 was not Ingolstadt's first attempt at barge-scale motoring, but it was the first time that Audi had (how shall we put this politely) put some proper effort into creating a proper luxury car.

Audi went its own route, though, vorsprung durch technik-ing its way to an aluminium monocoque (Audi Space Frame in Ingolstadt-speak) for its first proper assault on the luxury car market (and making a moderately light car in the process, at 1750kg).

And this unusual approach was rewarded with decent sales figures - while its steel-bodied predecessor, the Audi V8, only trickled into the UK in tiny numbers, you'll find plenty of 'D2' generation A8s around.

It's a good thing there are so many around, we reckon, because the A8 is a rather attractive thing to behold. Yes, it looks essentially like an overgrown A4 of the same vintage, but the flowing curves seem to suit the larger proportions. It is (to the eyes of most of the PH office at least) a handsome, sophisticated-looking car.

They are now increasingly dipping into SOTW territory now, too. Mind you, as with their peers the BMW 7-series and (to a lesser extent, perhaps) the Mercedes S-class, many have fallen victim to drug-dealer chic and have been 'pimped up' with grossly inappropriate alloys and the like.

This particular A8 has thus far avoided that particular ignominy (though given that it's advertised on Gumtree, rather than a more 'enthusiast-focused' site, unless one of you lot buys it that is probably the fate which awaits it), and is all the better for it.

You also get a lot of thump for your money with this one - it's the 4.2 V8, so you've got almost 300bhp at your disposal (and Quattro 4wd, of course). You won't get bored while you're surging along on a wave of V8 poke, either - because this car has kit coming out of its (metaphorical) ears, including dual-zone climate control, heated, electrically adjustable memory seats (front and rear), a six-disc multichanger, double glazing. You name it, this A8 will stop you getting bored on the motorway with it.

You'll hopefully be able to stop effectively too, as the vendor says the front brakes have been replaced (though quite what a 'caloper' is, we're not sure).

All in all it's a heck of a lot of car for £950, especially considering there's tax on it until December and an MOT won't need doing until March (and with an aluminium body you won't have to worry about rust). The only thing that worries us is that the mileage isn't mentioned. Still, unless the odo reads intergalactic numbers you've got to admit that this big Audi is a tempting proposition...

Advert is reproduced below

AUDI A8 QUATRO 4.2 (1997)
£950 North Lanarkshire

THIS IS STILL A LOVLY LOOKING CAR IN SIDE AND OUT FOR A 1997 MODLE, APART FROM AGE RELAITED MARKS THE WORSED BEING A SMALL DENT ON THE FRONT GRILL AND ONE JUST UNDER THE REG PLATE AT THE BOOT, THE CAR IS STILL IN LOVELY CONDITION, THE SPEC OF THIS CAR IS HUGE AND HAS LITERALLY EVERY EXTRA FITTED WHICH IS DUAL ZONE CLIMATE CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL, ABS, ELECTRIC WINDOWS, ELECTRIC SUNROOF, ELECTRIC FRONT AND REAR SEATS WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT HAVING A 4 WAY MEMORY, ELECTRIC AND HEATED SIDE MIRRORS, HEATED FRONT AND REAR SEATS, FULL CLIMATE PACK INCLUDING ELECTRIC REAR BLIND WITH PULL UP SIDE SCREENS, DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS, MULTI 6 DISC PLAYER, FRONT ARM REST, ELECTRIC ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUM, HEAD LAMP WASHERS.
AS YOU CAN SEE A REALLY WELL EQUIPPED CAR, THE ONE FAULT IS THE REMOTE CONTROL FOR THE DOORS HAS STOPPED WORKING. AS FOR DRIVING THIS IS A JOY TO DRIVE, ALL THE BRAKES HAVE ALL JUST BEEN REPLACED WITH NEW FRONT DISCS AND A NEW CALOPER WITH THE OTHERS BEING SERVICED WHICH IS A REASSURING FEELING GIVIN THE POWER THIS CAR HAS.
THE CAR WAS SERVICED IN MARCH AT THE SAME TIME AS THE MOT WAS RENEWED.
ANY VEIWING IS WELCOME
M.O.TED TILL MARCH 17th 2012
ROAD TAXED TILL DECEMBER 2011

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bigrich4

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