I want a super barge... high mileage Audi A8 L ok??

[zed4]

Hello everyone,

I'm seriously considering getting something more comfortable for day to day duties. I have the TVR and the Caterham for thrills, but I’m getting a little fed up with the Clio Cup for daily duties, and I’ve not had the time to take it on track days or auto tests, slaloms etc which I had originally planned. It’s also very French, and very basic!

I would also like a car that will accrue me a small income, along with my TVR and Caterham, which I hire out for self drive hire. I have a couple of supercars for chauffeur driven wedding hire and I think a luxo barge would be an ideal car to sit alongside those for the complete package. I don’t want to spend a fortune, I’m weighing up spending a little on a higher mileage car (bearing in mind that my mileage will be very low) or spend twice as much on a much lower mileage car. My thinking is that if I spend half as much, it gives me a big margin to spend on possible repairs in the future.

I’m really quite taken by this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A8L-3-2-SE-FSI-BLAC...

The petrol engine doesn’t bother me, as I don’t do many miles anyway. I would love the B&O stereo as I’m a big music fan and the Clio is just beyond awful! The spec is perfect, I love the colour and it looks very well looked after.

What are your thoughts? Worth the risk? How worn out could it be after sitting on the motorway for thousands of miles?!? Or do I spend £14k and buy one from a dealer with warranty and far fewer miles?

Cheers,

Dan

[Matttracker]

I think you'd struggle to sell it on if that matters to you

[TurboHatchback]

I approve of super barges and think a high mileage A8 is a perfectly good proposition but I wouldn't personally go for that one. The multitronic gearbox doesn't have the best reputation, that one is (I think) FWD which seems wrong for such a car and the 3.2l V6 seems a bit limp compared to the other engines available. If I was you I would find a nice 4.2 V8 quattro or 6.0 W12.

[zed4]

Matttracker said:

I think you'd struggle to sell it on if that matters to you

Resale doesn't matter. I will probably buy it through the company and just write it off over the years. I will register it as private hire and probably just keep it for the foreseeable future.

[zed4]

TurboHatchback said:

I approve of super barges and think a high mileage A8 is a perfectly good proposition but I wouldn't personally go for that one. The multitronic gearbox doesn't have the best reputation, that one is (I think) FWD which seems wrong for such a car and the 3.2l V6 seems a bit limp compared to the other engines available. If I was you I would find a nice 4.2 V8 quattro or 6.0 W12.

Ah, didn't even think it would be non Quattro. I assumed they all were! Good point. I would like a Quattro.

What are the gearbox options? What should I look for and what should I avoid? And why?

[User33678888]

CVT gearboxes aren't known for longevity. I'd be finding out what a new/recon one would cost should it be needed.

There are similar V8s available for similar money, with half the miles. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014... for instance .

[TurboHatchback]

zed4 said:

TurboHatchback said:

I approve of super barges and think a high mileage A8 is a perfectly good proposition but I wouldn't personally go for that one. The multitronic gearbox doesn't have the best reputation, that one is (I think) FWD which seems wrong for such a car and the 3.2l V6 seems a bit limp compared to the other engines available. If I was you I would find a nice 4.2 V8 quattro or 6.0 W12.

Ah, didn't even think it would be non Quattro. I assumed they all were! Good point. I would like a Quattro.

What are the gearbox options? What should I look for and what should I avoid? And why?

The multitronic is a CVT gearbox with virtual gear ratios available on only the FWD models, according to the internet they aren't the best box ever. The other option is the tiptronic which is a conventional 6-speed torque converter auto which comes on quattro models, supposedly very reliable and I very much like the one in my car (A6 4.2 quattro). I would certainly go for a tiptronic quattro model myself, it's the main appeal of Audi over other manufacturers IMO.

[KungFuPanda]

Looks lovely. The only thing that would put me off is the light interior. Black with a darker leather would be perfect for me.

I was looking at high mileage S8s before Xmas. They seem to wear the miles well. Even the rough ones weren't that rough.

[shakotan]

Audi A8 V6s - All the fuel consumption of the V8 with none of the upsides.

[Lee540]

Perhaps consider an E65?

[Swanny87]

That is a staggering amount of car for about 7k

[zed4]

Thanks for all the advice.

The seller sounds nice and genuine. They have an in house mechanic who has serviced the vehicle, but it has gone to Audi for gearbox servicing and more technical work. He says it's nearly all motorway use and rarely over 2000 RPM.

I am particularly drawn to the B&O stereo!

As much as I'd like a V8, I can't help but think that the fuel consumption might be a little too high. That one linked too was also pre-facelift.

[zed4]

Something like this might be a safer bet...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

But no B&O (although not the end of the world!) and I don't want the black leather interior. Nice as it is, I think a lighter interior would be better suited for wedding hire.

Also, would the DPF in this engine be problematic on regular short journeys (6 mile commute to work each day?)

[TurboHatchback]

zed4 said:

As much as I'd like a V8, I can't help but think that the fuel consumption might be a little too high.

The figures for the earlier V8s aren't great but the later FSI V8 is barely any different to the V6 as regards fuel consumption but considerably quicker and its a V8!

I have the 4.2 FSI V8 in my A6 quattro which is only 80kg lighter than the LWB A8 and it's not bad on fuel at all. It easily tops 30mpg on longer runs (33.6mpg best trip average so far) and manages mid 20s on short runs. The V8 + auto + quattro means it justs leaps off the line, no wheelspin at all even in horrible conditions.

[shakotan]

zed4 said:

As much as I'd like a V8, I can't help but think that the fuel consumption might be a little too high. That one linked too was also pre-facelift.

shakotan said:

Audi A8 V6s - All the fuel consumption of the V8 with none of the upsides.

[Palmers]

I've had an A8 in that shape. 4.2 TDI. 25mpg round town, 45.1 was the best on a run to London.

475 ft lb + quattro meant it threw itself when u hit the right pedal, was mental. Quattro allows zero wheel spin, none at all off the line.

You could get one around 80-100k miles for a few extra k. Would be much better imo.

Edited by Palmers on Monday 19th January 15:24

[Matt UK]

6-cyl in smooth in the level below, but the execs are carrying some timbre.

And an exec level car should never feel strained or thrashy. You need a V8.

[Benbay001]

My money would go here
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[User33678888]

Benbay001 said:

My money would go here
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Cracking car for the money. Pre 2006 cheap tax as well. They're not in the same league for rear space etc as a lwb A8/7er/S-class though.

[jgtv]

zed4 said:

Also, would the DPF in this engine be problematic on regular short journeys (6 mile commute to work each day?)

You are aware that you will get taxed on the LIST price of these cars if your using them daily, just so you know.

Anyway if your keeping it for a while I would probably pick an S Class (millions of taxi drivers cant be wrong)failing that just get an Arnage whack a private plate on it and its always going to look like something special.