Audi S8: PH Used Buying Guide
Thinking of buying one of the ultimate bargain barges? Make sure you read this first!
Of course, you could look at it another way, and wonder why so much car is on offer for so little money... You don't need a doctorate in Shedology to know expensive, fast saloons retain their appetite for large bills even when their age-adjusted price tumbles into the temptingly affordable bracket. So it is with the D3 generation of S8.
Much of this car's appeal lies in its V10 engine, which is related to rather than borrowed wholesale from the Lamborghini Gallardo. In this guise, the V10 makes 450hp and 398lb ft, with the latter developed at 3500rpm to peak at half the revs of its distant Italian cousin. Rather than lament that, though, celebrate that it makes the S8 a superbly adept high speed cruiser. Average fuel economy of 20.3mpg might reign in the range to some degree, but there's a 90-litre tank so you can still easily cover 350 miles before the warning light blinks at you.
Audi also offers carbon ceramic brakes as an expensive option, but few owners bothered ticking this box. The steel discs work fine and CCBs are now a wallet-melting liability if they need replacing.
During its four-year run, little changed with the S8 and it didn't catch the imagination of many buyers. Now, it's a fast, understated way to travel if you can stomach the occasional big bill. Reckon on spending from £10,000 for one with full history and 100,000 miles. A 60,000 miler will start at £16,000 and you should factor in the cost of an aftermarket warranty.
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Bodywork and interior
Aluminium bodywork resists corrosion, but look for signs of previous repairs. Any damage to the panels is expensive to put right.
Engine and transmission
Access to the rear-most spark plugs is limited and requires the engine to be partially lowered to remove them. This makes replacing all 10 with the correct plugs a pricey service item and explains why a major service from an independent garage can come to £750. Minor services are around £600.
Cam cover gaskets leak and let oil drip onto the exhaust manifolds, so look and smell for signs of this. Replacing this gasket is made trickier by the rear bolt being hidden under the bulkhead due to the length of the engine.
The oil pump seal can fail, generally at around 100,000 miles, but with this generation of S8 getting older now it can strike on lower mileage examples. The seal is pennies to buy but requires the engine to be removed, though some specialists can do the job with the engine in situ to bring the labour cost down to around £1,500.
Coil packs can fail, so watch out for any rough running.
Transmission fluid changes at 20,000-mile intervals are recommended as the Tiptronic 'box has to cope with a lot of torque and all-wheel drive traction. Listen for any noises from the gearbox and walk away if it there are, or if the shifts are not perfectly smooth.
Suspension and steering
The S8 weighs in at 1940kg, so the suspension gets a hard time. The front uses twin upper and lower wishbones, so there are double the number of bushes. Replacement suspension arms from Audi are £250, but good used replacements can be had for £125 from Prestige Motor Services.
Wheels, tyres and brakes
The standard brakes work well, but check their condition. New front discs and pads will set you back £850. Rear pads are around £100 per set.
Make sure the electronic handbrake is working efficiently. If not, it could be just worn pads, but if it's an electrical fault it can cost up to £1000 to put right.
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SPECFICATION - AUDI S8 D3
Engine: 5,204cc V10
Transmission: 6-speed auto, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 450@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 398@3,500rpm
MPG: 20.3
CO2: 321g/km
Price new: £73,715
Price now: £10,000 upwards
One thing I would say, and it's a gripe of all A8s, is that the switchgear doesn't seem to be any better than that in the base models - once they're a few years old they always seem to have the writing rubbing off the buttons on the console etc. Strikes me as a very cheap detail on what was a very expensive car. Classic VAG perceived quality.
Yes, they can be bought cheap but that's only the beginning and only tells one side of the story. It does pay to have these buying guides though. Go in eyes-open indeed!
With respect to cost of ownership over three years then unless something miraculous happened, the depreciation you suffered was several times the cost of tyres, fuel and any other consumables put together.
This is the odd thing with bangernomics. It is somehow okay to lose £50k on a £100k car in depreciation over 3 years and yet if you buy a secondhand luxury barge at £15,000 and possibly loss £10,000 because of bug bills you are seen as profligate and mad.
Yes, they can be bought cheap but that's only the beginning and only tells one side of the story. It does pay to have these buying guides though. Go in eyes-open indeed!
I appreciate cramming in 10 cylinders and 4 wheel drive isn't easy but still...
Yes, they can be bought cheap but that's only the beginning and only tells one side of the story. It does pay to have these buying guides though. Go in eyes-open indeed!
I appreciate cramming in 10 cylinders and 4 wheel drive isn't easy but still...
I can only assume that there's no cheap way of fixing it, so a very much like it or lump it scenario. There will be a goof few cars out there that struggle with similar issues. Unfortunately, this just happens to be a premium branded car with premium parts prices to match and alot of labour.
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