RE: Audi S8 (D2): PH Heroes
Discussion
M666 EVO said:
I'd still choose the XJR over this.
Faster and better looking.
I had a 4.2 A8 and a 4.0 X308 XJ8. The Audi was better in every respect. Faster and better looking.
My old A8 was a 2001 model with a massive file of paperwork with it. It had been owned by one of the most well known A8 part suppliers in the UK. It was in superb condition and had loads of S8 parts fitted (from memory, Avus wheels, mirror caps, grille, half leather and alcantara interior). It was just a superb car, and the electric rear blind never failed to amuse.
My enduring memory of it will always be how well it drive and how superbly refined it was. In particular, it made the E38 of the era feel absolutely ancient and very shoddy. There was quality everywhere, even the poly finish over the wood veneers was polished and smooth as glass. It wasn't devastatingly fast at 310bhp/300 ft/lbs but it went well enough and was a really tidy handler. The low kerbweight, well below 2000kg, smashed the competition and meant it stopped and turned really well. Long, wide gearing meant it surged through overtakes and it was limited to 155mph, which was doable.
The gearbox was always a worry but mine never gave me a spot of bother. A friend of mine also had a 4.2 and he sold his after the gearbox developed a 'tick' noise under shifting. I was more beset with stupid electric problems, which were more easily fixed with swapping relays in the hedgehog. Overall, I replaced a cracked spring and a couple of relays in my time but I was never able to make the HVAC system work reliably though it was rarely an issue. Any work to the water pump and timing gear was typically expensive as the front end of the car had to come off (much like with my uncle's old C5 RS6). Some garages would do it for less by lashing up the front bumper on straps and suspending it, with the mechanic working in the void between the bumper and the engine.
I would have another as I know them inside out now.
Went to look at a 6-spd manual a few years back, a very well taken care of car mechanically atleast, lasting memory of it was that it sounded great, went really well and it was very quiet. Deal fell thru due to the fact that the seller didn't mention before I took a 400 round trip that 50% of the paint was applied with a rattle can..
Still looking for one, there is a Manual one for sale atm, it would compliment my e39 M5 I reckon.
(Edit, atrocious spelling)
Still looking for one, there is a Manual one for sale atm, it would compliment my e39 M5 I reckon.
(Edit, atrocious spelling)
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Thursday 20th December 19:38
M666 EVO said:
I'd still choose the XJR over this.
Faster and better looking.
Agreed, the performance specs of the S8 pre-facelift seem quite pedestrian, but much better on facelift?Faster and better looking.
Looks wise, the XJR is nicer, but the tech does look very impressive on the A8, compared to the antique radio, ect in the Jag.
howardhughes said:
Always loved these despite the horror stories of running costs.
They have aged well too like a good wine!
Just budget £1500 for a gearbox and IME nothing else was worrisome.They have aged well too like a good wine!
My first one (S8 in a lovely non-metallic bright blue) had no issues at all. The cheapo brown 4.2 suffered for terminal gearbox death, I prefer to blame the wife who, in her words 'had some issues' when driving it in the snow and the box failed immediately afterwards ....
macky17 said:
When Audis were cool- a distant memory.
.
Ain’t that the truth! In ‘98 I had an A8 4.2 Quattro sport and I loved it. At 3 years old it cost me £20k ! Proper old school Audi quality and built like a bank vault. Albeit made from aluminium so managed 26mpg in spite of being such a big car. Properly quick too. Mine had the electric rear blind and solar roof which powered the fans to keep the car cool when parked. Very nice car and one of the best I’ve owned..
PowerslideSWE said:
Went to look at a 6-spd manual a few years back, a very well taken care of car mechanically atleast, lasting memory of it was that it sounded great, went really well and it was very quiet. Deal fell thru due to the fact that the seller didn't mention before I took a 400 round trip that 50% of the paint was applied with a rattle can..
Still looking for one, there is a Manual one for sale atm, it would compliment my e39 M5 I reckon.
(Edit, atrocious spelling)
Intersting, they only did manual in LHD, ie not in UK and I am only aware of two in the UK that have been converted, and it's a pig of a job apparently Still looking for one, there is a Manual one for sale atm, it would compliment my e39 M5 I reckon.
(Edit, atrocious spelling)
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Thursday 20th December 19:38
Edited by ninepoint2 on Thursday 20th December 22:42
Vee12V said:
Not a fan of the chrome bits but other than that, such a handsome beast. Still remember the bank vault-like doors. The quality of these was just superb.
I agree, mine has no chrome bits...wonderful cars, and as has been said if you ignore the "sealed for life" nonsense Audi told you and got the box serviced every 20k then they are OK, I know of many into the mid 100k miles still on the original box. Even then a refurbed box from a the only "A" rated ZF agent in the UK is only around £3.5k with a very good warranty. You couldn't get a decent replacement S8 for that money nowadays so well worth it IMHO
Edited by ninepoint2 on Thursday 20th December 22:13
Earl of Petrol said:
This was the last time Audi made something appealing. Has something of the Bauhaus in the styling and at that time Audi were a lot cooler than they are now. I like this a lot. I know the satnav is dated and the wood a bit naff but it’s aged so well.
The darker coloured wood ages better I think..
I had a 2002 S8; one previous owner, FSH, lovely colour combo (Dolphin Grey with 'Aqua' interior, which was a dark, steel blue, it was lovely.)
Sold it to fund the purchase of a Range Rover and didn't really miss it at the time. Several cars down the line I now realise what a fast and capable machine it was. Problem being that because it took everything in its stride (passengers, luggage, speed, comfort, handling) you took it for granted. Imagine having Wonder Woman era Lynda Carter for a girlfriend; after a while you'd stop being totally enamoured and get a bit blasé about it and move on, only to later see her again and realise what you'd lost.
I wish I'd kept it but as each year passed I would be even more afraid of the dodgy ZF box going pop. I think the same unit was used in BMW era Range Rovers and some Jags.
Sold it to fund the purchase of a Range Rover and didn't really miss it at the time. Several cars down the line I now realise what a fast and capable machine it was. Problem being that because it took everything in its stride (passengers, luggage, speed, comfort, handling) you took it for granted. Imagine having Wonder Woman era Lynda Carter for a girlfriend; after a while you'd stop being totally enamoured and get a bit blasé about it and move on, only to later see her again and realise what you'd lost.
I wish I'd kept it but as each year passed I would be even more afraid of the dodgy ZF box going pop. I think the same unit was used in BMW era Range Rovers and some Jags.
Great read and always happy to see the D2 S8 get some publicity.
I do hate it when ph'ers correct the fine editors at PH towers, however...
0-60 time of 6.6 seconds is for the pre-facelift cars up to 99 and maybe a bit harsh.
The facelift cars have 5v per cylinder and some extra grunt (360 bhp is correct) taking 0-60 down to 5.6 seconds.
Wiki has the following:
4.2 quattro (4172 cc) (S8) 1996–1999 V8 340 PS (250 kW); 420 N⋅m (310 lb⋅ft) 5.6 sec 250 km/h (155.3 mph)
4.2 quattro (4172 cc) (S8) 1999–2002 V8 360 PS (265 kW); 430 N⋅m (320 lb⋅ft) 5.4 sec 250 km/h (155.3 mph)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_A8
Compared to a standard auto of this vintage, the rpm at which point the car changes gear is quite high making if feel sporty. Along with shorter gearing, 80 mph is over 3,000 rpm. My 2015 S4 in D is doing 1200 rpm in 7th gear at any opportunity, quite annoying in comparison.
I do hate it when ph'ers correct the fine editors at PH towers, however...
0-60 time of 6.6 seconds is for the pre-facelift cars up to 99 and maybe a bit harsh.
The facelift cars have 5v per cylinder and some extra grunt (360 bhp is correct) taking 0-60 down to 5.6 seconds.
Wiki has the following:
4.2 quattro (4172 cc) (S8) 1996–1999 V8 340 PS (250 kW); 420 N⋅m (310 lb⋅ft) 5.6 sec 250 km/h (155.3 mph)
4.2 quattro (4172 cc) (S8) 1999–2002 V8 360 PS (265 kW); 430 N⋅m (320 lb⋅ft) 5.4 sec 250 km/h (155.3 mph)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_A8
Compared to a standard auto of this vintage, the rpm at which point the car changes gear is quite high making if feel sporty. Along with shorter gearing, 80 mph is over 3,000 rpm. My 2015 S4 in D is doing 1200 rpm in 7th gear at any opportunity, quite annoying in comparison.
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