Audi A8 D2 4.2V8 - 7 year running costs of a Shedworthy car
Discussion
Looks like you had a good run with your A8, looking through your spread sheet it doesn't contain anything nasty and mostly things that any car off that age would need.
I think you picked a barge from the right age, I'd think that a newer version or the Tesla could require the odd unit being replaced which eclipses anything your paid on your current car. Guess you never know.
Looking back at my expenses with a 3.0l 160k miles Alfa the fuel costs take the biggest slice by far.
Hence maybe the Tesla would be best, I think another ICE barge would present bigger bills, so maybe it's time to go Electric. In 3 years your could probably get it serviced outside of the Tesla network to reduce costs.
Although I wonder if you'll enjoy the model3 in a different way because I doubt it will feel as luxurious as the A8? But then due to the silent running gear it might have good NVH.
You might need to add tax for the Tesla as over £38k.
I'm also tempted to run my Alfa another 40k to 200k but it's starting to show little niggles, the rubber seals are starting to crack (not bad for 20 years), and internal bits like seat adjusters are stiff or not working. Also got a bit humid inside after these storms. A new car would allow you to skip these annoyances.
I think you picked a barge from the right age, I'd think that a newer version or the Tesla could require the odd unit being replaced which eclipses anything your paid on your current car. Guess you never know.
Looking back at my expenses with a 3.0l 160k miles Alfa the fuel costs take the biggest slice by far.
Hence maybe the Tesla would be best, I think another ICE barge would present bigger bills, so maybe it's time to go Electric. In 3 years your could probably get it serviced outside of the Tesla network to reduce costs.
Although I wonder if you'll enjoy the model3 in a different way because I doubt it will feel as luxurious as the A8? But then due to the silent running gear it might have good NVH.
You might need to add tax for the Tesla as over £38k.
I'm also tempted to run my Alfa another 40k to 200k but it's starting to show little niggles, the rubber seals are starting to crack (not bad for 20 years), and internal bits like seat adjusters are stiff or not working. Also got a bit humid inside after these storms. A new car would allow you to skip these annoyances.
Thought it warranted an update as the car has now passed 185K - also need to fix my opening post where i said the car was a 2000 model, when it was actually registered in April 2001
Must say that these old Audi's were solidly made as the doors still clunk and everything works (still got the weird HVAC clicking that has been there for years), and its still a comfy place to waft along the motorway.
Wife still thinks its a stately home on wheels and still (after all these years!) hates that it is green, but I do now hope to get it to 200K before looking for a replacement - which on current thoughts would be a Dacia Duster with the extra warranty - following the thread https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Obviously the fuel cost is a major outlay on a car like this and i have never kept tabs on spend. Around £30K would be my guess
So rough man maths of £30K for fuel and £10K in bills to drive 124K miles over just under 11.5 years works out at 32p per mile (excluding tax and insurance) or £3500 per year
Must say that these old Audi's were solidly made as the doors still clunk and everything works (still got the weird HVAC clicking that has been there for years), and its still a comfy place to waft along the motorway.
Wife still thinks its a stately home on wheels and still (after all these years!) hates that it is green, but I do now hope to get it to 200K before looking for a replacement - which on current thoughts would be a Dacia Duster with the extra warranty - following the thread https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Obviously the fuel cost is a major outlay on a car like this and i have never kept tabs on spend. Around £30K would be my guess
So rough man maths of £30K for fuel and £10K in bills to drive 124K miles over just under 11.5 years works out at 32p per mile (excluding tax and insurance) or £3500 per year
Well i didnt go down the EV route (though may be taking a new look at it) and the old A8 beast has sailed past 200,000 (back in December) and is now on 207K from memory (car is currently on a 400 mile day trip to the mother-in-laws). I was really pleased to hit the 200,000 mark with her.
Touch wood, nothing significant to report. It did start running very rough and needed 2 new ignition coils, the engine management light remains on (except when I clear it with VAGCOM, but soon comes back), and the weird HVAC clicking every 8 mins remains (from almost the day i bought it)
£11K in costs (excluding petrol, insurance, road tax) seems a great deal over 12.5 years and 145,000 miles, in a comfy barge. Yes i have to top up the oil every now and then, but she is an old girl (22 years), and obviously she likes a drink from the local purveyor of petrol.
Through work it is looking likely that i will be getting an EV (prob an MG 4 Trophy) which would mean my time with the A8 would come to an end. Done 3 trips to the South of France plus Brussels, Paris and a few other european jaunts, and not once has it let me done or come home on a flat bed (tempting fate). Maybe the old adage of "they don't make em like they used to" is very apt for the D2 generation A8
Touch wood, nothing significant to report. It did start running very rough and needed 2 new ignition coils, the engine management light remains on (except when I clear it with VAGCOM, but soon comes back), and the weird HVAC clicking every 8 mins remains (from almost the day i bought it)
£11K in costs (excluding petrol, insurance, road tax) seems a great deal over 12.5 years and 145,000 miles, in a comfy barge. Yes i have to top up the oil every now and then, but she is an old girl (22 years), and obviously she likes a drink from the local purveyor of petrol.
Through work it is looking likely that i will be getting an EV (prob an MG 4 Trophy) which would mean my time with the A8 would come to an end. Done 3 trips to the South of France plus Brussels, Paris and a few other european jaunts, and not once has it let me done or come home on a flat bed (tempting fate). Maybe the old adage of "they don't make em like they used to" is very apt for the D2 generation A8
Proper barging.
Amazed you have not had at least one chunky bill.
Having run a 1999 BMW740 (70k to 210k) and a 2005 650 (38k to 201k) with only two big bills (£900 fuel tank on the 740 and £1500 valve stem seals on the 650), I think you have done brilliantly. I regret selling both cars.
I enjoyed every minute of those 300k miles over 14 years.
The thought of doing 300k miles in an EV would fill me with despair.
P.s. you have not deducted all the shell points you accumulated from your numbers, it all adds up. :-)
Amazed you have not had at least one chunky bill.
Having run a 1999 BMW740 (70k to 210k) and a 2005 650 (38k to 201k) with only two big bills (£900 fuel tank on the 740 and £1500 valve stem seals on the 650), I think you have done brilliantly. I regret selling both cars.
I enjoyed every minute of those 300k miles over 14 years.
The thought of doing 300k miles in an EV would fill me with despair.
P.s. you have not deducted all the shell points you accumulated from your numbers, it all adds up. :-)
Quhet said:
Without wishing to derail the thread, why exactly?
Surely the quiet and smooth running of an EV are crucial barge traits?
The quiet and smooth running of the actual EV part are probably ideal for a barge but I've yet to drive one that feels even remotely luxurious. Surely the quiet and smooth running of an EV are crucial barge traits?
We've had a Tesla M3 and currently have a Y - both let down by excessive road noise, crashing ride and creaky rattly interiors. The motor might be silent but the rest of the car definitely isn't!
I'd imagine an Mercedes EQS might be pretty good but they're well over £100k. Maybe once Lexus bring out something decent.
Just been to the local MG garage and an orange Trophy model is looking ever more likely. Part of me would love to try and get the A8 to 300,000 but that's quite a few more years of petrol to pay for.
Not sure I have ever kept a car much over 4 years previously so A8 ownership will be a record that is unlikely to be beaten.
As we left the MG dealer the wife said 'i would be really sad to see the A8 drive away, as after 12 years she is part of the family ". And I always thought she hated it for being "old man like"!!
Oddly, having always been a fan of GTI, WRX type stuff I would go as far as saying that the A8 has been the best car we ever owned...maybe that just reflects that I have gotten old !!
If we do say goodbye, I will come on here and close the thread. If not, maybe the next update will be at 222,222 miles
Not sure I have ever kept a car much over 4 years previously so A8 ownership will be a record that is unlikely to be beaten.
As we left the MG dealer the wife said 'i would be really sad to see the A8 drive away, as after 12 years she is part of the family ". And I always thought she hated it for being "old man like"!!
Oddly, having always been a fan of GTI, WRX type stuff I would go as far as saying that the A8 has been the best car we ever owned...maybe that just reflects that I have gotten old !!
If we do say goodbye, I will come on here and close the thread. If not, maybe the next update will be at 222,222 miles
Well our time with the A8 has come to an end, with her being replaced by a salary sacrifice leased MG4 Trophy in a rather bright orange.
Sheet below records all the costs along the way (i may have missed some smaller ones) as well as the buy and sell price.
So £16K (excluding tax, insurance and shed loads of petrol) over 13 years and 4 months, and 150K miles . Dont think i can complain about that, especially as it never once failed to start, or let us down. We averaged 12,600 miles a year over the past 6 years so she was still adding the miles on. Pleased i got a photo of it clocking over to 200,000
Hopefully we will see it around for a few years to come, as someone local took it away as a wafter to drive 5 miles to work for a few months before giving it to his dad
Sheet below records all the costs along the way (i may have missed some smaller ones) as well as the buy and sell price.
So £16K (excluding tax, insurance and shed loads of petrol) over 13 years and 4 months, and 150K miles . Dont think i can complain about that, especially as it never once failed to start, or let us down. We averaged 12,600 miles a year over the past 6 years so she was still adding the miles on. Pleased i got a photo of it clocking over to 200,000
Hopefully we will see it around for a few years to come, as someone local took it away as a wafter to drive 5 miles to work for a few months before giving it to his dad
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