transferred

The distribution of the torque is more important than the number, not to mention smoothness. Once you get beyond 400lb/ft I'd say anything extra is basically bragging rights unless the vehicle is used to tow...now don't get me wrong the number 737 in a stock sedan makes me grin to this day but if it was ltd to 500 I don't think I'd much notice other than less of the orange triangle tbh...

now don't get me wrong, S-class is still the benchmark car, even if it does give up a few categories MB just have big cars down...

i_am_amused

what? 461 ft-lbs of torque in a road-going sedan is more than enough for anything except idiocy. While it's not the most available, it's far from "lame". The W12 will get the A8 to 60 in under 6 seconds, which is AMG-like performance. Really lame...

Red Marko

I certainly hope that, you are not implying 600/65 torque not being linear..

Also hope that, the difference betw. 400 and 737 lb/ft is not only the bragging rights, but what I call micro-adrenaline rush every time I floor the accelerator and I know, you have experienced it (Am I correct?)

Orange triangle, well, that depends how delicate someones foot is

Red Marko

What can I say, "having 461 ft-lbs of torque in a road-going sedan" it is enough.
But having 737...you are correct, it's "idiocy."

Imagine - 6" (good enough), 10" (idiocy).
Now, talk to your gf.
Report back to me

skrontz

Wow. Talk about overcompensating.

emilner

Under 6 seconds is fairly quick SUV status, low 4 second is AMG range.


Let's face it though, Audi's have always been quite underpowered. The last S6 I saw tested was a little slower than an E550, much less an E63...

GFEAR

I THINK ITS BETTER THAN THE 7 SERIES, BUT NOT QUITE THE S.

K-A

Seems a lot of people are warm on the new 7. I personally think it's close to flawless, and perhaps a class leader (the W221 always ends up edging it out eventually to remain my class fav, as they just both seem to cycle in and out of the position).

Red Marko

You think, buying V12 with so much torque, is overcompensating?
Is buying MB, overcompensating too?

emilner

THANK YOU...

emilner

I was ready to buy one until I test drove it. It had more power than my S, but it surprised me when it came to handling. The car I tested had the sports package and active handling but it did not feel as tight as my S with the AMG pkge. The car did not seem planted and never gave me the impression it wanted to go faster. The interior was beautiful and I liked the exterior but the drive was a dealbreaker.

I then test drove a loaded 550i and fell in love. The car was a rocketship and was tight and controlled on the corners but was not as harsh as my S. If it is possible it actually felt quieter and more refined too...

transferred

The S range has not competed against AMG and M since 2006 whatever the magazines think...the RS6 is the E63's competition and it blitzes it and the M5 even from a high roll...5.0 twin turbo V10 if you're not familiar

To build on your comments about the new 7 I had a similar test drive in one. Really good car but still I'd take the comparable W221

NH_Clark

to add some levity.. why not the best of both worlds..? Keep the S for the fit and finish and drive the R8 Spyder for the rest of the time:

Red Marko

Now, this is the advice I can adhere to

Nira_Lim

I wouldn't compare this car to the W221 S Class.
Wait until the next model comes out and then compare them.

It is obvious that the 2011 A8 L it out of the current's S class's league.
This car is however comparable to the new 7 series and we can see the winner in that one [;

No this car is not an S class, this car is more for those who are fortunate enough to have a chauffeur. The S class IMO is more of a car where you can drive yourself and enjoy every moment of it.

Why are you guys talking performance over this car? Its obviously not made for racing lol. If you wanted something in Performance why not go for an AMG or as previously mentioned, the R8?

Just my thoughts. [:

Richard18

I love the interior, just gorgeous and spacious.

emilner

I would not go as far as to say out of the S550's league. It is a good looking car and now is probably a solid competitor for the S, something the A8 has never been before. MB will sell 10:1 over it though.

Why are we talking performance? Really? Performance is why you go German, otherwise Lexus has a great appliance for you...

Nira_Lim

I didn't mean that the A8 L is out of the S class's league. I meant that this is a newer model with new technology and we shouldn't compare them just yet [: This is a huge leap for Audi, I've always liked their interior.

I was talking about performance because if you take a look at the A8.. you're not gonna go speeding in that thing... This is why I have an S class, its the best of both worlds. And yes Lexus does have great applications for me :p thats why I bought one.

I was just saying that the S is more of a driver's car and the A8 is more of a car that drives you. (Does that even make sense? o_O??)

K-A

I don't know if that's the case ^^.

Traditionally, M-B's have been the "car that drives you", and BMW, then Audi, have been more drivers cars. I don't know how it goes in this case, as I've only driven the W221 out of the two, but it certainly isn't a "drivers car" to me, in the traditional sense of the word (think BMW), which is why I like it: It's the ultimate luxury Sedan, and it indeed feels enough so like one, to make it feel indeed at home as a chauffeur driven car.

haris3344

Interior is beaaautiful, MB and BMW can't even come close to Audi's Interior.

nyca

Interior is great. Exterior - looks like a stretched chevy malibu.

krazy3281

I think I mostly agree with this sentiment. We were originally planning on leaving our '07 S550 for a '10 7-series, but honestly the car just doesn't feel right after sitting in a S. The interior, is awesome, and I loved the new multi-menu I Drive system. But the drive almost feels "clunky". It seems there is too much power for the cars handling--not that it is overwhelmingly fast--just the car does not properly distribute the power around turns, or normal driving.

Which is kind of odd, for me because I used to own the '04 745LI (bangle butt- i know, but I loved it) when it came out, and well that car was what A BMW is supposed to be, amazing handling and a great power delivery--Just like our 335i. It made me opt for it over the 04 S class.

Also the 7 series isn't ugly, but it's not pretty either. It's just kind of blah...no Character at all-The audi is ugly, I'm sorry. The old body style was much prettier--There is just no prestige to it's curves. It's a bloated A4.

But this time, we went back to the S-class-eventhough it was just a light model refresh...It's just perfect combination of drive,luxury, and of course beauty

krazy3281

I don't find this to be true, while I see your point... I don't think the A8 is a car to be chauffered in.

Possibly this car above is one to be chauffered, but its a W12 model, and will be a Competitor for a S600. Regardless, This is NOT what all A8's will look like...In actuality, most A8's will NOT look like this. It'll be the one that stands in most showroom floors or that you have to order!

And i think, gun to my head...regardlses of that interior.. I would rather be chauffered in a S-class. There is just no prestige or class tagged to an A8, relatively speaking of course. And as for the 7, I would much rather be seen in that, then a overweight

Audi makes some beautiful cars (A5, TT, of course R8) but the A8 is not, ,most likely never, will be one of them.

It's just ugly. The interior is nice, but doesnt it look like a computer generated interior? Maybe that's just my poor vision

Nira_Lim

Definitely agree with you there. There is no car that Audi or BMW makes that compares to the classiness of the S.

haris3344

A8 & 750LI are as good as an S550 (performance wise). A8s interior is far better than S550 or even S65 (which I currently own). Mercedes really needs to do some heavy work to get even close to A8 interior.

As you can see, some people still think that "it looks like a computer generated interior".