Very Impressed
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
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Very Impressed
Saw the new 2004 330 hp Audi A8 with sport package this weekend. (This car will be for sale in June and the S8 will be out in a year +/- with big power.) The car is simply awesome and I'm not the biggest 4 door fan. The lines are so smooth and the car squats down nicely, the fit and finish exterior/interior is superb and quality of materials used on the interior, I'm sorry to say, far exceeds what's in our beloved MBZ's including the s class IMHO. The window sticker was absent so I could not find a price. If this car drives as good as it looks and I were in the market for an upscale 4 door this would be it. I may take one for a spin, if one is availalble in the next day or so. From what I could see, well done Audi
Last edited by RJC; Apr 14, 2003 at 06:57 PM.
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From: VA
03 E320, sport package, moon roof, sound upgrade, brilliant silver, charcoal leather, heated seats..
http://www.edmunds.com/future/2004/a...photo..0.Audi*
The co^kpit looks very nice, and there is navigation!
take a look at :
http://www.edmunds.com/future/2004/a...photo..0.Audi*
The co^kpit looks very nice, and there is navigation!
take a look at :
http://www.edmunds.com/future/2004/a...photo..0.Audi*
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
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Trust me guys, these pictures do not do this car justice...it's really an awesome car to look at in person and there is no Volvo to it at all.
The car I saw had the most incredible dark polished wood, sumpteous leather and the exterior has the sleekest of lines for a sedan.
The car I saw had the most incredible dark polished wood, sumpteous leather and the exterior has the sleekest of lines for a sedan.
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I am sure it is nice, I guess I will see it at the NY auto show next week. But I still don't think they are going to be able to sell that many of them, unless the price is very aggressive. Even BMW knows they can't sell the 7 series for a price anywhere near the S500. Maybe some of the styling and features will show up in the new A6, Audi has a better chance of selling cars in that segment.
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i535
BTW have you seen pics of Cadillac XLR? It should go on sale in this summer for ~$76K. Interior looks not bad and it should duplicate most of MB features as keyless go, adaptive cruse control, navigation and many others. It looks like GM targets European market where the car should be much cheaper than in US, so we stay with SL for awhile.
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From: Atlanta
2004 S 600
I drive a 2001 S600. I think the A8 is an awesome car....saw it at the auto show in Atlanta. My cousin has current A8 and lives in upstate NY....if I lived there I'd drive the A8.
But, I'm a Benz nut....waiting for my 2004 S600 with RennTech engine upgrade (brings it back to Maybach spec) 661 Hp and 830 ft/lb of torque.....check out S600 Renntech post in 220 forum if you don't believe me.
Audi can't touch that!!! Nor can BMW, or Ferrari, or Porsche, or Lamborghini, etc.....
But, I'm a Benz nut....waiting for my 2004 S600 with RennTech engine upgrade (brings it back to Maybach spec) 661 Hp and 830 ft/lb of torque.....check out S600 Renntech post in 220 forum if you don't believe me.
Audi can't touch that!!! Nor can BMW, or Ferrari, or Porsche, or Lamborghini, etc.....
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unless they keep the production numbers very low, that XLR will depreciate like a stone if they sell it for the rumored $75K price (maybe more?). but GM won't do that, they don't understand the game. thats why MB will never bring the SL320 to the US to compete directly with the SC400, it would depreciate SL prices significantly both by having a less expensive offering in the segment and the associated higher sales/production. Ferrari could easily sell twice as many cars in the US as they currently do, but they will not increase production.
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
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A decent article and a great shot of the interior in gray (car is an 03 model, europe has it for +/- six months now)
http://www.europeancarweb.com/featur...di/index.html#
http://www.europeancarweb.com/featur...di/index.html#
Last edited by RJC; Apr 14, 2003 at 11:30 PM.
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From: Dallas, Texas
SL550
Depreciation
As others here have touched on, the main problem with the A8 and XLR is clearly the depreciation aspect. Even if the purchase price is less than their competition, Audis and Cadillacs (add in Lincolns and Jaguars for that matter) often end up costing MORE than their same size-class German competition when you factor in how much value is lost. Even the A4, which seems to hold its value better than other Audi models, was $100/month more to lease than my identically-priced BMW 328Ci back in 1999 due to the increased depreciation part of the payment. The saving grace for these carmakers are purchasers who aren't educated about future values and find out the reality when they go to sell, as well as inflated residuals to make lease figures more in line with their competition. That above-mentioned Audi for $100/month more ended up being $60/month LESS when you figured in some Audi incentives in place to counter the healthy sales of the then-new E46 3-Series.
Just my $.02.
Just my $.02.
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From: Dallas, Texas
SL550
Originally posted by Paul Le Corre
The A8 is too close from the volkwagen phaeton W12 for me. I prefer the past model. But at my opinion this car is technically better than a S 500.
The A8 is too close from the volkwagen phaeton W12 for me. I prefer the past model. But at my opinion this car is technically better than a S 500.
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From: Nashville, TN
2013 G550
It's not bad looking and I'm sure the pictures dont do it justice but you really need to be interested in big cars to consider the A8 or the S Class, 7 Series, etc. Even with good styling its nearly impossible to get the sporty look and drive of the E, 5, or A6.
