Talk me out of buying an A8/S8!
Discussion
Greg66 said:
Quite interested to know how many posters in this thread have owned an A8 or S8.
Owned 3 myself (4.2 Quattro, 2.8 Sport and 3.7 Quattro Sport). Also encountered many in the trade.I forgot to mention another common problem is the V8's burning through oil at a horrendous rate. The first A8 I had was a '99 4.2Q back in about 2005. It had 80k on the clock and full Audi history but did a litre of oil per 800 miles or so. The diffs groaned like hell, the ride was awful and the heater servos all clicked annoyingly. I sold as the gearbox started to play up.
Must be something about them as after a break I went and had 2 more which also had their own set of problems. They have their unique appeal but are a labour of love and you shouldn't buy one unless you accept that.
confused_buyer said:
Greg66 said:
Quite interested to know how many posters in this thread have owned an A8 or S8.
Owned 3 myself (4.2 Quattro, 2.8 Sport and 3.7 Quattro Sport). Also encountered many in the trade.I forgot to mention another common problem is the V8's burning through oil at a horrendous rate. The first A8 I had was a '99 4.2Q back in about 2005. It had 80k on the clock and full Audi history but did a litre of oil per 800 miles or so. The diffs groaned like hell, the ride was awful and the heater servos all clicked annoyingly. I sold as the gearbox started to play up.
Must be something about them as after a break I went and had 2 more which also had their own set of problems. They have their unique appeal but are a labour of love and you shouldn't buy one unless you accept that.
S3K04 said:
Buy it, the gearbox is not a major weak point
Enjoy
Audi S8 in Ronin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDcWMF44Cjs
Yes the gearbox is a major worry, especially the DTD ones. In most cases these are going to be when it needs rebuilding/replacing not if. Some will have had rebuilds/replacements already and it is worth looking out for one of these with a good history of gearbox servicing. Decent audi independant will not be terrified of them - most stealers wont have a clue.Enjoy
Audi S8 in Ronin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDcWMF44Cjs
I loved my S8 and the bargain barge 4.2Q, and am thinking of getting a D3 S8 or D3 4.2TDI.
They are a fantastic place to be on long drives and pretty good (for a big barge) at twisty stuff.
Mine was an a8 4.2 quattro sport, 1998, lpg converted with a prins kit, lpg have no issues, the rest of the car was
2.5 k gearbox
1.3k chasing a water leak including new cam belt water pump etc
200 quid on a tps after 3 auto electrical guys were scared off as un repairable
At least 500 notes on other sundries to keep the thing going, in all I usually cover 30k in my cars each year, I only managed 17k in this in 15 month as out was of the road so much
2.5 k gearbox
1.3k chasing a water leak including new cam belt water pump etc
200 quid on a tps after 3 auto electrical guys were scared off as un repairable
At least 500 notes on other sundries to keep the thing going, in all I usually cover 30k in my cars each year, I only managed 17k in this in 15 month as out was of the road so much
entwisi said:
2.5 k for a gearbox rebuild when (not if) it goes pop.
18 mpg, best I got was 24 and that was driving miss daisy as an experiment.
Get a vag-com cable before you buy and check all error codes,
Most non dealers are scared s
tless if you take one in with a problem as they are so complex, I was told it could be any number of ecu/immobiliser issues when mine played up, turned out to be a tps.
Cambelt/water pump is over a grand to do as the whole front of the car has to come apart as it does for some quite small jobs making labour a huge part of a bill.
Very comfy, fast, quiet machines when working but a 3k a8 still has 60k car running costs. Go in with eyes open and they are a lovely place to be, just be ready with a big wad of cash if stuff goes wrong
balls.18 mpg, best I got was 24 and that was driving miss daisy as an experiment.
Get a vag-com cable before you buy and check all error codes,
Most non dealers are scared s
tless if you take one in with a problem as they are so complex, I was told it could be any number of ecu/immobiliser issues when mine played up, turned out to be a tps.Cambelt/water pump is over a grand to do as the whole front of the car has to come apart as it does for some quite small jobs making labour a huge part of a bill.
Very comfy, fast, quiet machines when working but a 3k a8 still has 60k car running costs. Go in with eyes open and they are a lovely place to be, just be ready with a big wad of cash if stuff goes wrong
Also had a long talk with my friend that does the spanner work that is out of my league, he said buy one as he could retire on the labour costs!
Already got VAG-Com, will enquire how much a new box is to me from "Gearbox Ralph", will look for cars with a recent belt & water pump, the car will not be going anywhere near a dealership!!!
thanks for the advice, any more out there?
Buy it and live out Ronin fantasies!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPI5-TSdC9w&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPI5-TSdC9w&fea...
Edited by the_kato on Wednesday 27th July 22:23
AIUI, the 4 speed box is a lot more robust than the later 5 speed, but somewhat less smooth.
There is a guy on the Tyresmoke forums that specialises in breaking '8s (I think he's something like A8 parts on e-bay) who at the time I was there said he had never seen a failed 4 speed.
Mine was a 1995 4 speed 4.2Q on about 100K, bought for £1450, ran it for about a year then sold it on here for £1650
Total spend on maintenance <£200 on a (self) full service and some new lower suspension arms.
Only fault was the cruise control didn't work.
The gearbox was quite clunky though.
There is a guy on the Tyresmoke forums that specialises in breaking '8s (I think he's something like A8 parts on e-bay) who at the time I was there said he had never seen a failed 4 speed.
Mine was a 1995 4 speed 4.2Q on about 100K, bought for £1450, ran it for about a year then sold it on here for £1650
Total spend on maintenance <£200 on a (self) full service and some new lower suspension arms.
Only fault was the cruise control didn't work.
The gearbox was quite clunky though.
Edited by chris1roll on Wednesday 27th July 22:33
confused_buyer said:
Owned 3 myself (4.2 Quattro, 2.8 Sport and 3.7 Quattro Sport). Also encountered many in the trade.
I forgot to mention another common problem is the V8's burning through oil at a horrendous rate. The first A8 I had was a '99 4.2Q back in about 2005. It had 80k on the clock and full Audi history but did a litre of oil per 800 miles or so. The diffs groaned like hell, the ride was awful and the heater servos all clicked annoyingly. I sold as the gearbox started to play up.
Must be something about them as after a break I went and had 2 more which also had their own set of problems. They have their unique appeal but are a labour of love and you shouldn't buy one unless you accept that.
I forgot to mention another common problem is the V8's burning through oil at a horrendous rate. The first A8 I had was a '99 4.2Q back in about 2005. It had 80k on the clock and full Audi history but did a litre of oil per 800 miles or so. The diffs groaned like hell, the ride was awful and the heater servos all clicked annoyingly. I sold as the gearbox started to play up.
Must be something about them as after a break I went and had 2 more which also had their own set of problems. They have their unique appeal but are a labour of love and you shouldn't buy one unless you accept that.
Perhaps one of us has been lucky and one has been unlucky then.
I've had a 4.2Q Sport since Feb 00, when it was six months old. Nothing major has gone wrong. Rides well, feels smaller at pace than it is. Properly stable in the wet; brilliant for long distances.
The click-click from the ventilation system is (IIRC) a designed feature to signal that something quite specific has to be looked at in the vents. Unfortunately most Audi dealerships don't dig that far into the servicing details, so it gets missed. It goes after a while and is replaced by an intermittent chirrup.
I've had a grubby ABS sensor which is a recurrent problem. And a faulty sensor in the passenger seat that turns the airbags in that seat off. But it's all minor stuff. I read around the time I bought it that the 4.2s and S8s were hand built and sold at a loss, so important was it to Audi to get a foothold in that sector of the market.
A mate bought an S8 on the back of a borrow of mine. His gearbox went a couple of years ago at c 80k miles. He paid silly (and I mean silly) money to have it replaced at an Audi dealership. I would have kissed it goodbye (even though mine is still in the upper 60s).
I've used an independent to service it for a few years now. Cant remember the last time I had a four figure bill. Swapped out the RNS-D for an RNS-E sat nav which gave it a new lease of life.
It's obviously not thrifty on fuel, but what would you expect from a 340hp V8? I don't really do enough miles for fuel costs to be a concern, and frankly I'd rather spend money on fuel and drive around in a car I like that be confined to an economy-box that I hate, but be spending less on fuel.
The biggest issue I have with it now is that it is worth buttons and pocket lint. But it is properly cheap to run - zero depreciation and very manageable running costs. So it is very difficult to justify the economics of chopping it in.
My advice to the OP: get one. But do so on the basis that either you won't want to sell it, or if you do, you won't be able to.
That about be the guy who runs a8parts.co.uk.
Yes I believe the 4 speed is better, but the 5 speed is no smoother it wants to change up to the highest possible gear at all times so you end up pressing down to go, waiting a second, pressing hard them the box changes down 2 putting you into 5krev and 300 bhp when all you wanted was to waft past on the torque. I used to end up in semi auto far to often for a luxury waft mobile,
Incidentally, I was scared off the xjr due to the nikasil issue but do I wish I had gone that route, boy yes I do
Yes I believe the 4 speed is better, but the 5 speed is no smoother it wants to change up to the highest possible gear at all times so you end up pressing down to go, waiting a second, pressing hard them the box changes down 2 putting you into 5krev and 300 bhp when all you wanted was to waft past on the torque. I used to end up in semi auto far to often for a luxury waft mobile,
Incidentally, I was scared off the xjr due to the nikasil issue but do I wish I had gone that route, boy yes I do
Might be able to assist here! Got a S8 about 5 months ago having had Jags, S class, 7 series and various others.
Bad stuff on mine, which I paid the princely sum of £800 for is um, well, the ventral armrest for the driver is broken and that's pretty much it. Not bad for a car with 245k on the clock.
The Jag has a nicer interior as arguably does the BMW. Both feel a tad more alive on a dry road bit beyond that, the S8 is stunning. Everything works, she pulls like a steam train, the handling is perfectly comfortable aided by superb seats but the combo of that lovely 4.2 V8. a responsive tip-tronic box and quatro means the car is bst described as a brute-barge! All the cars of this type that people here tend to like are great and with the exception of an S class I would be happy to buy another of any of them but while I am not really into the looks of the Audi, and the interior while well equipped is a little bland, I love the old girl. 245k on the clock and still tight as a drum. Love mine to bits, stunning value, fantastic to drive and that engine... mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Bad stuff on mine, which I paid the princely sum of £800 for is um, well, the ventral armrest for the driver is broken and that's pretty much it. Not bad for a car with 245k on the clock.
The Jag has a nicer interior as arguably does the BMW. Both feel a tad more alive on a dry road bit beyond that, the S8 is stunning. Everything works, she pulls like a steam train, the handling is perfectly comfortable aided by superb seats but the combo of that lovely 4.2 V8. a responsive tip-tronic box and quatro means the car is bst described as a brute-barge! All the cars of this type that people here tend to like are great and with the exception of an S class I would be happy to buy another of any of them but while I am not really into the looks of the Audi, and the interior while well equipped is a little bland, I love the old girl. 245k on the clock and still tight as a drum. Love mine to bits, stunning value, fantastic to drive and that engine... mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Brilliant experience!!! I was in the market for a 2 grand waft barge and the A8 fit the bill so well. Much better than any x300/308, any merc or any 735/740.
I ran mine for about 6 months, loved every minute (I had the 3.7) and sold it for a few hundred quid more.
At best I got 24 mpg which was, as mentioned, driving miss daisy but in one of them you don't feel like gunning it although it could handle well for an 80ton cruise ship.
In the time I had it I serviced it and gliptoned the seats!!
Just do it!!
I ran mine for about 6 months, loved every minute (I had the 3.7) and sold it for a few hundred quid more.
At best I got 24 mpg which was, as mentioned, driving miss daisy but in one of them you don't feel like gunning it although it could handle well for an 80ton cruise ship.
In the time I had it I serviced it and gliptoned the seats!!
Just do it!!
falkster said:
Brilliant experience!!! I was in the market for a 2 grand waft barge and the A8 fit the bill so well. Much better than any x300/308, any merc or any 735/740.
I ran mine for about 6 months, loved every minute (I had the 3.7) and sold it for a few hundred quid more.
At best I got 24 mpg which was, as mentioned, driving miss daisy but in one of them you don't feel like gunning it although it could handle well for an 80ton cruise ship.
In the time I had it I serviced it and gliptoned the seats!!
Just do it!!
Interesting - I get 21 ave which is a mix of some short runs in traffic, a few long motorway runs (on which she will return an easy 30 MPG) and clear urban roads. I don't drive her too hard generally but I don't exactly spare the horses, the mid range on the S8 is terribly addictive. Owned TVR's, Esprits, couple of other toys and while the S8 is not in that league obviously, the mid range is fantastic. Jag and BMW had more steering feel though. I would happily go back to a XJ or 7 series but when I look for the next barge another A/S8 will be on the shortlist. Ergonomics and steering are not the class leaders in my mind but just a very well thought out, well executed and superbly built car which can happily eat up the miles in comfort, waft about in town, or when the mood strikes, be fantastic fun to drive and properly quick with great handling. And did I mention the joys of the 4.2 engine?!I ran mine for about 6 months, loved every minute (I had the 3.7) and sold it for a few hundred quid more.
At best I got 24 mpg which was, as mentioned, driving miss daisy but in one of them you don't feel like gunning it although it could handle well for an 80ton cruise ship.
In the time I had it I serviced it and gliptoned the seats!!
Just do it!!
It seems I have become something of an S8 fan.
This was up for sale recently and I was sorely tempted...especially at shed money!!!
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cac...
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cac...
Mate had one, there's a gasket/something on the autobox that drips oil onto the hot exhaust, give it some beans, pull up quickly and have a sniff out the window, any burning tranny fluid smells and it's £££ in labour as the prop needs to bd dropped and the gearbox has to come off. Check the auto box it's self is nice and smooth and the colour of the fluid. Both the above fairly common @ 100k plus. Also check all warning lights go off, my mates had an abs fault, think it was the module or something and was £££ to sort.
I love em but they do seem to throw big money suprises at you! I'd be looking for an e38 740i sport, my pals a8 4.2 has scared me off a bit. Also a pal in the trade who shifts alot of cars dismissed em as "big lemons".
Sorry for the negative reply, any owners on here feel free to flame away! Just I get the feeling you need to go into ownership with ur research done. Some really good a8 forums around, and some really happy owners.
I love em but they do seem to throw big money suprises at you! I'd be looking for an e38 740i sport, my pals a8 4.2 has scared me off a bit. Also a pal in the trade who shifts alot of cars dismissed em as "big lemons".
Sorry for the negative reply, any owners on here feel free to flame away! Just I get the feeling you need to go into ownership with ur research done. Some really good a8 forums around, and some really happy owners.
I had a D2 for nearly 3 threes. It was a 1998 and when I got it had 60k and when I got rid it had 140k. In the that time I actually main dealer serviced (mainly) as they gave a me a nice loaner and the cost was put through my co so not really an issue. However: 2 x Gearbox re-builds, 21mpg tops, lots of pads and discs. Sat Nav stopped being useful pretty quickly, some leccy stuff failed and the air con would play silly bugger.
But.
340bhp in a stable 4wd was (actually) a lot go fun - very very fast (170mph) and loads of space / comfort. It also towed my race car all over the UK and Europe for a number of years. Fantastic wagon. Dragged people all over the place, Le Mans etc.
I liked it so much I replaced it with a a 57 plate 3.0 TDi A8. Which was like a slow gin palace, but comfortable.
But.
340bhp in a stable 4wd was (actually) a lot go fun - very very fast (170mph) and loads of space / comfort. It also towed my race car all over the UK and Europe for a number of years. Fantastic wagon. Dragged people all over the place, Le Mans etc.
I liked it so much I replaced it with a a 57 plate 3.0 TDi A8. Which was like a slow gin palace, but comfortable.
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