How reliable/expensive to maintain is the A8?

[xxForgedxx]

I was wondering if the Audi A8 is a car that is fun to drive or more of a car that is so soft and comfortable that you can't tell your are really driving. The car looks great but it is a given that large German cars with all kinds of goodies usually have problems and quirks... EXPENSIVE ones. How reliable is the A8? How expensive to maintain is the A8? I always hear horror stories of how much of a mess the 7 Series and S500's are in terms of things breaking, failing etc.

[CrazyEights]

Like all luxo cars make sure you've got some cash to spare for incidentals if you're buying a used A8 from someone else and don't have all the maintenance records to give you piece of mind. Also, try to make sure you know someone in your area to do your basic maintenance or make sure you can do it yourself because the stealership is not your friend when it comes to labor rates. For a lot more information, you should find Auditech79 on here or Fit4aKing (Andy/Spankysspeedshop.com) or go to audiworld.com because there's a much larger and more active community of A8 owners.

[xxForgedxx]

Like all luxo cars make sure you've got some cash to spare for incidentals if you're buying a used A8 from someone else and don't have all the maintenance records to give you piece of mind. Also, try to make sure you know someone in your area to do your basic maintenance or make sure you can do it yourself because the stealership is not your friend when it comes to labor rates. For a lot more information, you should find Auditech79 on here or Fit4aKing (Andy/Spankysspeedshop.com) or go to audiworld.com because there's a much larger and more active community of A8 owners.

Ok so how fun to drive is the A8? Or is it more of a comfortable, feel as little of the drive as possible car? Transporter 2 makes it seem like one hell of a car haha.

[G Men 08]

^^ is that an a8 or s8 in transporter? my guess is it is more of a luxury ride with the power when you need it.. good luck!!

[xxForgedxx]

^^ is that an a8 or s8 in transporter? my guess is it is more of a luxury ride with the power when you need it.. good luck!!

I think it was that V12 A8

[G Men 08]

omg v 12 just wow (drool)

[xxForgedxx]

omg v 12 just wow (drool)

It's a rare combination I think. But an option, I don't know the details

[CrazyEights]

okay.... sorry for taking so long... the A8 is super fun to drive. if you get a D2 A8/S8 be sure to get the tranny recoded because it makes the car much more spirited. also that torque and hp when turning through corners/twisties makes you realize just how much Quattro means versus the competitors. i'd never owned an AWD car before this and i, as well as most other Quattro lovers, can honestly say that I will never go back as long as i have a choice. but yea, from what i hear from the long-time A8/S8 owners, it's even more fun when winter's first snow hits the ground.

[CrazyEights]

I think it was that V12 A8

oh yea folks. the A8 in transporter is a W12 A8. The did have those in the D2 as well but unfortunately never for release in America. If you want a new D3 W12 A8, be prepared to spend a lot of money or take a look on ebay to find the best possible deal including a warranty.

[xxForgedxx]

oh yea folks. the A8 in transporter is a W12 A8. The did have those in the D2 as well but unfortunately never for release in America. If you want a new D3 W12 A8, be prepared to spend a lot of money or take a look on ebay to find the best possible deal including a warranty.

That car is way too expensive to buy/maintain/repair.

[CrazyEights]

That car is way too expensive to buy/maintain/repair.

ditto... not worth it imo unless you've just got plenty of cash to spend or the cash on hand to buy a hell of a warranty.

[CrazyEights]

ah hah... the producers are liars... i guess it was too much of an investment to do all of the stuff the did in the movie with an actual W12...

[AUDIA8MAN]

i track the car 3,4 time a year and i can tell you when i pull behind a race prep. civic they freak out!!
i can do better time laps then most of the cars here.

even if the car is heavy it feels very nimble.

only thing i changed is suspension and brakes.

H&R rears and ajustable fronts(shocks and springs)
Ksport 13" disc 8 pot calipers,street and race pads.

used before ht8 hawk pads with original setup,but liquified my weights on the mags. and you can't use this pad on street.

[SlicerDicer]

Well put it this way.. Be sure to do the maintenance.. If in doubt replace :)

I am dropping 1400 or there abouts next month in mine to make _sure_

[Trickle X]

The D2 (1997-2003) is a great car to drive. Its not too plush that you feel like a mafia agent & handles supurbly for that large of a car. It uses Audi's Space Frame, which is all aluminum and all body panels are constructed of ALu. The D2 did offer dual pane safety glass, so that does add weight, however not as much as the 750L with the v12 from bmw. The earlier D2's are known for some tranny issues like hunting, clunking, & reverse gear not working. So check out the trannys good if looking at a D2. Other issues are the abs modules failing and power headrests stop working. There are other issues that crop up that can be $ like fuel pump failures on older D2's and normal things like coil paks.

As for the D3's(2004~on) they are a quite a bit different. They still use the ALu frame and body panels, but add on tons of gismos that could forseeable cause great costs after warrenty expires. Everything is controlled through the MMI interface, such as radio, GPS, temperature controls(although its has seperate), air suspension adjustment, tire pressure and temp monitoring, blutooth mobile phone connection, voice command, interior lighting adjustments as well as exterior as well as a few more. It offers automatic trunk open and shut as well as it will close each door if left open partially. There is the option of the keyless start as well. It does boast 35 more hp than the standard d2 as well as a paddle shift 6 speed tranny as opposed to the tiptronic 5speed. there is a weight difference, but the 6 speed gearing as well as the extra power give it a boost in 0~60 and 1/4 mile times.

In summary, both cars will cost you abour $75 usd to do the oil change by yourself, coilpaks are about $32 each(8) and changing out your tranny fluid is only for the brave unless you have a lift. Timing belt & water pump will kill you if you take it to the dealer as well as wheel bearings. If you can stand knowing your maintance costs are well in excess of that of a jap/amer car, then by all means proceed, you will be greatly rewarded with an amazing driving expirence. The D3 is truely a vast improvement over the D2 in creature comforts/looks/ & driving fun, but the D2 vastly outweighs most of the newer midrange crap on the market currently for much less.

[SlipAngle]

funny..I've been looking at a D3 recently. Found some for around 18-20k with about 60-80k on the clock, getting into the need major service zone though.

The thought of parts cost for that car should something go wrong is putting me off though. Right now its a tossup between a late D2 or D3 A8, 04 2.7T A6 s-line, or a 2.0T A4.

Just need to crunch the numbers.

I looked at a black on black D3. That is one mean looking machine, good lord. A set of replica MTM Bimotos, some tints, and you are set.

Luckily I have ready access to a lift and a source for cheap parts so we'll see.