Audi A8 4.2 Quattro 2003
Discussion
So here's my latest in a long line of bargain barges and after just over 4 months and 14,000 miles, I thought it was time I posted some pictures. 
I was looking for something up to around £10k, that would still look fairly current and would be a nice way to spend 30-40,000 miles per year. I considered all the usual large barges, but this one caught my eye in the PH classifieds. It was the most humble car in the fleet belonging to PHer http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
so I knew it had to be coming from a very good home. It had covered just 55,000 miles, with a full Audi main dealer and specialist service history and although I wasnt a lover of the wheels (due to be changed this week) and the grey interior is not to everyone's taste, it was an honest car and a deal was struck at just under £7,500.
Coming from a manual VXR8, this was a bit of a change of ambience and I was afraid I would get a little bored, but the quality of the interior makes it a really nice place to be and the V8 is a lot more vocal when provoked than one would expect from a luxo-barge.
The drive home from Surrey to Norfolk was effortless and I knew I had bought a good car. After many miles and several months, I can confirm this car crushes long journeys. Yes as many have said before, the chassis is a little dull, but that's not what these cars are about and I prefer to enjoy what it does best.
My car is equipped with the optional keyless entry and keyless go, complete with fingerprint recognition, which automatically adjusts your seat, steering wheel etc. A lovely touch which you become used to very quickly.
The Multi-media screen is a doddle to use, which adjusts everything from the temperature of the heated seats and climate control, to the suspension settings and the audio. The rear heated seats and electric blind are a hit with the rear seat passengers too.
The things that really strike you about the car when you spend any time with it are the quality of the interior materials, which are first rate, together with those lovely finishing touches that make living with it on a day to day basis an absolute doddle. One such example of this, are the hooks at the top of the cavernous boot, which fold down and allow you to securely hang carrier bags without fear of them falling over. A Godsend on an enthusiastic drive home from the local Chinese take away!
Over the last 4 months, all maintenance has been routine. Front and rear pads, full service and timing belt change, complete with all associated ancillaries (water pump etc) and this week there will four new tyres to go with the replacements wheels (pics to follow). The MOT was an instant pass with no advisories. So I'm still the right side of my £10k and intend to keep running it for a couple of years or so. Average fuel consumption so far has been 21MPG just in case anybody is interested.
Hope the above is of use to anyone who likes or may be considering buying one of these cars. I must say, I really fancy a go in a W12 and an S8 for comparison, but not until I get close to selling mine!
Stop Press! Having trouble getting photos to post, so a friendly PHer will be along very shortly!
Thank you ferret!
I was looking for something up to around £10k, that would still look fairly current and would be a nice way to spend 30-40,000 miles per year. I considered all the usual large barges, but this one caught my eye in the PH classifieds. It was the most humble car in the fleet belonging to PHer http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
so I knew it had to be coming from a very good home. It had covered just 55,000 miles, with a full Audi main dealer and specialist service history and although I wasnt a lover of the wheels (due to be changed this week) and the grey interior is not to everyone's taste, it was an honest car and a deal was struck at just under £7,500.
Coming from a manual VXR8, this was a bit of a change of ambience and I was afraid I would get a little bored, but the quality of the interior makes it a really nice place to be and the V8 is a lot more vocal when provoked than one would expect from a luxo-barge.
The drive home from Surrey to Norfolk was effortless and I knew I had bought a good car. After many miles and several months, I can confirm this car crushes long journeys. Yes as many have said before, the chassis is a little dull, but that's not what these cars are about and I prefer to enjoy what it does best.
My car is equipped with the optional keyless entry and keyless go, complete with fingerprint recognition, which automatically adjusts your seat, steering wheel etc. A lovely touch which you become used to very quickly.
The Multi-media screen is a doddle to use, which adjusts everything from the temperature of the heated seats and climate control, to the suspension settings and the audio. The rear heated seats and electric blind are a hit with the rear seat passengers too.
The things that really strike you about the car when you spend any time with it are the quality of the interior materials, which are first rate, together with those lovely finishing touches that make living with it on a day to day basis an absolute doddle. One such example of this, are the hooks at the top of the cavernous boot, which fold down and allow you to securely hang carrier bags without fear of them falling over. A Godsend on an enthusiastic drive home from the local Chinese take away!
Over the last 4 months, all maintenance has been routine. Front and rear pads, full service and timing belt change, complete with all associated ancillaries (water pump etc) and this week there will four new tyres to go with the replacements wheels (pics to follow). The MOT was an instant pass with no advisories. So I'm still the right side of my £10k and intend to keep running it for a couple of years or so. Average fuel consumption so far has been 21MPG just in case anybody is interested.
Hope the above is of use to anyone who likes or may be considering buying one of these cars. I must say, I really fancy a go in a W12 and an S8 for comparison, but not until I get close to selling mine!
Stop Press! Having trouble getting photos to post, so a friendly PHer will be along very shortly!
Thank you ferret!Edited by slippery on Sunday 13th May 22:14
GBDG said:
What a way to waft about. Fantastic.
You just have to resist the W12 now
Must. Avoid. Classifieds. You just have to resist the W12 now
There was a wonderful W12 on the £5-20k bargain barge thread very recently. I was incredibly tempted, but had literally booked mine in for the big service and timing belt change that day.
emicen said:
Why not the 4.2 TDi?
Still a V8 but would be at least £3k a year cheaper to fuel.
I didn't actually consider any diesels. I was considering A8 W12, 750i/760i, S500/600/55, XJR etc. There will probably be a day, when I am forced out of the wonderful petrol engined cars I'm lucky enough to be able to drive, but for as long as I can I'm going to stick with them. For now at least, I'm happy to allow my fuel costs to be offset, by marginal levels of depreciation and low road tax. Still a V8 but would be at least £3k a year cheaper to fuel.
B'stard Child said:
slippery said:
Only if I can leave them in your garage BC!
I can find room for them - based on ending up owning the car in a few years time 
Can I aslo ask you to get a stealth towbar fitted sometime in the next 2 years
I'm going to leave the wheels with my friendly tyre man to try and sell for me. I don't know how much success we'll have, but it's worth a go and they aren't worth more than a couple of hundred pounds, so I'm certainly not cluttering up my garage with them.
Next time I'm in Manchester, you can take me for a spin and I'll let you off! 
Well we are due to pass the 70,000 miles mark this weekend and today the wheels I bought secondhand from a friendly PHer named Jim (with a lovely F355 
) in Leicester had their new tyres fitted. I know that wheels will always divide opinion, but I'm pleased and I guess that's what matters most. They were only £200 and I think they bring the car right up to date. I had Kumho tyres fitted as they are a brand I have used for many hundreds of thousands of miles with no issues.
Now would be a good time to have a little tot-up of what's been spent so far.....
10.04.12 Front and rear brake pads replaced, discs cleaned, slides lubricated etc £308.64
09.05.12 Very full service, plugs, air filter, timing belt, water pump, rollers, idler, tensioner, ribbed belt, etc., at VAG specialist £1214.70
11.05.12 Replacement wheels £200
19.05.12 4x new Kumho 255/40/19 Y tyres, valves and balance. £633.60
Running total £2356.94
Let's hope the spending slows down over the next couple of weeks!
) in Leicester had their new tyres fitted. I know that wheels will always divide opinion, but I'm pleased and I guess that's what matters most. They were only £200 and I think they bring the car right up to date. I had Kumho tyres fitted as they are a brand I have used for many hundreds of thousands of miles with no issues.Now would be a good time to have a little tot-up of what's been spent so far.....
10.04.12 Front and rear brake pads replaced, discs cleaned, slides lubricated etc £308.64
09.05.12 Very full service, plugs, air filter, timing belt, water pump, rollers, idler, tensioner, ribbed belt, etc., at VAG specialist £1214.70
11.05.12 Replacement wheels £200
19.05.12 4x new Kumho 255/40/19 Y tyres, valves and balance. £633.60
Running total £2356.94
Let's hope the spending slows down over the next couple of weeks!
Edited by slippery on Monday 21st May 09:52
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