2007 Audi S8 - running costs

[kprm77]

I'm considering a 2007 Audi S8 with FASH and 87k (serviced 1.5k ago). Ignoring fuel and insurance costs, am I being naive to think £2k per year will be enough to budget for maintenance? I'd have thought I'd be doing 8k per year absolute maximum as I've another more sensible car to do the boring miles.

[rufmeister]

Had one for a few months, awesome machines, absolutely awesome.

Mine had a few electrical issues that I chucked nearly a grand at, and didn't cure, I think electrics are fairly common issues.

Get over to the a8 owners forum: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=69 for more info.

You're £2000 will. To go far, as many jobs are engine out, which will see your annual budget gone before they fix it.

[aceparts]

Once you get the big stuff behind you - decoke and any gremlins then they're very reliable cars. I've recently done a tonne of money chasing a vibration and bits but to be honest, I can't think of anything a solid feeling that could replace it so just pay the money with a smile!
Fwiw I got my car at 82k and it's now on 130k. It's basically just awesome!

[aceparts]

Btw, how much you paying? I don't believe they achieve their seemingly high asking prices despite their brilliance!

[kprm77]

The one I was thinking of was this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-S8-5-2-V10-Quattro-...

Suspect I can afford normal maintenance, but anything big would be engine out and blow my yearly budget as rufmeister pointed out.

[rufmeister]

I sold my 2007 with 110k, FASH and a couple of the big jobs already done for £12. So that looks ok, but wouldn't say great value.

I'd go private and haggle, there will be bargains out there. Don't worry about mileage, I had the same engine in my S6 at 150k, ran beautifully.

[anonymous-user]

I think £2k pa should be fine. Most years you'll be comfortably under that. It's when tyres, brakes and bits of suspension all come along at once that it can get uncomfortable

[anonymous-user]

kprm77 said:

The one I was thinking of was this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-S8-5-2-V10-Quattro-...

Suspect I can afford normal maintenance, but anything big would be engine out and blow my yearly budget as rufmeister pointed out.

B&O - a plus.

I'd be a bit wary of the ceramic brakes. I have an idea that they're good for about 100k miles. Replacement is roughly 2.5k. Per corner.

To measure how worn they are you have to take them off and weigh them. Not especially convenient. You can swap the car over the steel brakes but as I understand it you also need to change the master brake cylinder and (perhaps) do a have the car's software adapted.

There's a black 74,000 miler at £15.5k on autotrader that is nicely spec'd.

[kprm77]

Greg66 said:

B&O - a plus.

I'd be a bit wary of the ceramic brakes. I have an idea that they're good for about 100k miles. Replacement is roughly 2.5k. Per corner.

To measure how worn they are you have to take them off and weigh them. Not especially convenient. You can swap the car over the steel brakes but as I understand it you also need to change the master brake cylinder and (perhaps) do a have the car's software adapted.

There's a black 74,000 miler at £15.5k on autotrader that is nicely spec'd.

Think I'll give this one a miss then - I'll check out the autotrader one you mentioned.

[kprm77]

That S8 is very close to me.

Got a bottom figure off Webuyancar which reckons it's worth just over £10k. Don't think I'd get anywhere near that much off. Bearing in mind the spec and assuming it's as described, would you think £14 - £14.5k is achievable? That car has been on AT for a few weeks at least as I remember the Peppa Pig on the screens and the fact it has 3 new tyres rather than a matching 4..

[anonymous-user]

Yes, I'd have though 14-14.5 is attainable. These cars tend to sit around for a long time because (a) people take they view they will be money pits; and (b) the market for 5.2l V10s is absolutely tiny these days.

I spent over two years looking before I bought. Passed on a couple in that time which were spot on what I wanted but were a bit toppy pricewise. I'm very happy with what I ended up with, but what I ended up with was also toppy pricewise, and I decided in the end that it wasn't worth wasting months and years waiting for the perfect car at the perfect price. Life's too short...

[Tom8]

Did you buy in the end? I have decided to sell mine if you are interested. Wonderful thing but lifestyle change means it needs to go sadly. Let me know.