2016 Audi A8 Exteneded Test Drive
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2016 Audi A8 Exteneded Test Drive
We were offered an opportunity to do an overnight test drive of a new 2016 Audi A8. The car was a gorgeous color floret silver metallic/black and also had the very sharp 21" wheels.
Pros:
Much more engaging to drive than the S.
Better handing.
Sportier interior.
Nav screen disappears into the dash.
More supportive seats and with more adjustments.
Not seen on every corner/a bit more exclusive.
Excellent 8 speed gearbox with an excellent and sharp looking console mounted shifter.
Quattro standard.
Similarly equipped to the S costs approx. $15,000.00 less.
Very good fit and finish.
No run flats.
Excellent and smooth power.
Cons:
Very noisy albeit smooth riding tires (Conti DP5's) on certain sections of interstate. Drove the S with Goodyear F1's over the exact same sections of road and the difference was night/day. This would be a deal breaker if it were the only tire offered (confirming this today).
Very limited center console space.
No ionizer for the AC, even as an option.
Less torque than the 550.
Does not have that S class/MB glide.
No USB.
Cabin not as quiet as S even thought it too has double glass and glass does not have the extra reflective properties the S does.
Odd intermittent rattle coming from under the car. To be fair the S we tested overnight had an interior rattle coming from the cup holder and a very poorly aligned fuel filler door, which the Audi did not have.
All in all, the A8 is quite nice, especially for those that might enjoy not as common a car as the S and one that's a sportier more engaging car to drive. Leasing this car is the only way to go, as the all new completely redesigned A8 will be here in about 16 mo's and from what I've seen it appears is going to be quite impressive in design and tech.
The all new 7 will be here soon and we look forward to making our final comp in this large sedan purchase.
Pros:
Much more engaging to drive than the S.
Better handing.
Sportier interior.
Nav screen disappears into the dash.
More supportive seats and with more adjustments.
Not seen on every corner/a bit more exclusive.
Excellent 8 speed gearbox with an excellent and sharp looking console mounted shifter.
Quattro standard.
Similarly equipped to the S costs approx. $15,000.00 less.
Very good fit and finish.
No run flats.
Excellent and smooth power.
Cons:
Very noisy albeit smooth riding tires (Conti DP5's) on certain sections of interstate. Drove the S with Goodyear F1's over the exact same sections of road and the difference was night/day. This would be a deal breaker if it were the only tire offered (confirming this today).
Very limited center console space.
No ionizer for the AC, even as an option.
Less torque than the 550.
Does not have that S class/MB glide.
No USB.
Cabin not as quiet as S even thought it too has double glass and glass does not have the extra reflective properties the S does.
Odd intermittent rattle coming from under the car. To be fair the S we tested overnight had an interior rattle coming from the cup holder and a very poorly aligned fuel filler door, which the Audi did not have.
All in all, the A8 is quite nice, especially for those that might enjoy not as common a car as the S and one that's a sportier more engaging car to drive. Leasing this car is the only way to go, as the all new completely redesigned A8 will be here in about 16 mo's and from what I've seen it appears is going to be quite impressive in design and tech.
The all new 7 will be here soon and we look forward to making our final comp in this large sedan purchase.
Last edited by RJC; 10-05-2015 at 12:22 AM.
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E450 wagon, C43 AMG Cpe, C43 AMG Cab
Recently rode in an A8L diesel. It is a fine car with excellent fit and finish and good performance. I don't think the interior is anywhere near as luxurious as the S. There are a lot of Audis in my area and even though I consider myself a car guy, I have difficulty differentiating one model from another without reading the badging on the trunk. I suppose one could argue that MB is moving in that direction also where a C and E class are hard to distinguish from each other. Having owned a few Audis I can attest to the fact that they depreciate like a rock compared to MB and BMW. A friend has an order in for a new BMW 7 that is scheduled for delivery at the end of this month. Curious to see the interior upgrades everyone is talking about. For me, having been exposed to a number of luxury makes and models, it is difficult to beat an S all things considered.
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Recently rode in an A8L diesel. It is a fine car with excellent fit and finish and good performance. I don't think the interior is anywhere near as luxurious as the S. There are a lot of Audis in my area and even though I consider myself a car guy, I have difficulty differentiating one model from another without reading the badging on the trunk. I suppose one could argue that MB is moving in that direction also where a C and E class are hard to distinguish from each other. Having owned a few Audis I can attest to the fact that they depreciate like a rock compared to MB and BMW. A friend has an order in for a new BMW 7 that is scheduled for delivery at the end of this month. Curious to see the interior upgrades everyone is talking about. For me, having been exposed to a number of luxury makes and models, it is difficult to beat an S all things considered.
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
The current Audi A8's are very competent cars but look incredibly dull. Since the new design language can be seen in the new Q7 I fear it is getting worse.
Audi is the new Volvo for building the boxiest cars apart from the G-Wagon. I think they hate curves of any kind.
BMW on the other hand has done a lot to make the new 7 as luxurious as the S. They have certainly taken most features, down to MBC and Air fragrance. If they have the quality under better control than with the prior model , this will be a serious alternative to the S.
Hopefully they also dropped some of their idiotic features (like having to pull the door handle twice to open the cars or pressing the engine stop button twice to actually shut the car off, just to name a couple)
Audi is the new Volvo for building the boxiest cars apart from the G-Wagon. I think they hate curves of any kind.
BMW on the other hand has done a lot to make the new 7 as luxurious as the S. They have certainly taken most features, down to MBC and Air fragrance. If they have the quality under better control than with the prior model , this will be a serious alternative to the S.
Hopefully they also dropped some of their idiotic features (like having to pull the door handle twice to open the cars or pressing the engine stop button twice to actually shut the car off, just to name a couple)
#5
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The current Audi A8's are very competent cars but look incredibly dull. Since the new design language can be seen in the new Q7 I fear it is getting worse.
Audi is the new Volvo for building the boxiest cars apart from the G-Wagon. I think they hate curves of any kind.
BMW on the other hand has done a lot to make the new 7 as luxurious as the S. They have certainly taken most features, down to MBC and Air fragrance. If they have the quality under better control than with the prior model , this will be a serious alternative to the S.
Hopefully they also dropped some of their idiotic features (like having to pull the door handle twice to open the cars or pressing the engine stop button twice to actually shut the car off, just to name a couple)
Audi is the new Volvo for building the boxiest cars apart from the G-Wagon. I think they hate curves of any kind.
BMW on the other hand has done a lot to make the new 7 as luxurious as the S. They have certainly taken most features, down to MBC and Air fragrance. If they have the quality under better control than with the prior model , this will be a serious alternative to the S.
Hopefully they also dropped some of their idiotic features (like having to pull the door handle twice to open the cars or pressing the engine stop button twice to actually shut the car off, just to name a couple)
Here's info for the new A8...quite stunning imho.
http://www.carscoops.com/2015/03/new...-will-get.html
Last edited by RJC; 10-05-2015 at 12:51 AM.
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
We found the A8 (with the 21's) actually looking sharper than the S (with the 20" AMG multi spokes). You should go drive a new A8 sport...I think you 'll be in for a pleasant surprise especially if you prefer more of a driver's car. The S is still the king however for the true luxury German car.
Here's info for the new A8...quite stunning imho.
http://www.carscoops.com/2015/03/new...-will-get.html
Here's info for the new A8...quite stunning imho.
http://www.carscoops.com/2015/03/new...-will-get.html
Never heard anyone call an A8 stunning but if you like it, then great for you
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The current Audi A8's are very competent cars but look incredibly dull. Since the new design language can be seen in the new Q7 I fear it is getting worse.
Audi is the new Volvo for building the boxiest cars apart from the G-Wagon. I think they hate curves of any kind.
BMW on the other hand has done a lot to make the new 7 as luxurious as the S. They have certainly taken most features, down to MBC and Air fragrance. If they have the quality under better control than with the prior model , this will be a serious alternative to the S.
Hopefully they also dropped some of their idiotic features (like having to pull the door handle twice to open the cars or pressing the engine stop button twice to actually shut the car off, just to name a couple)
Audi is the new Volvo for building the boxiest cars apart from the G-Wagon. I think they hate curves of any kind.
BMW on the other hand has done a lot to make the new 7 as luxurious as the S. They have certainly taken most features, down to MBC and Air fragrance. If they have the quality under better control than with the prior model , this will be a serious alternative to the S.
Hopefully they also dropped some of their idiotic features (like having to pull the door handle twice to open the cars or pressing the engine stop button twice to actually shut the car off, just to name a couple)
#10
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Traded same generation A8 (2013) for 2016 S550. The S class is heads and shoulders above the A8 in terms of quality, fit and finish. We got rid of Audi after 35K miles because every 6 months it spent a week at the dealer getting electronics repaired, cameras re-aligned etc. While it was fun to drive, the S in Sport mode (with active body control) is also a joy and it has a very much quieter ride.
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If you read it correctly,"stunning" was describing the new A8 in the link I provided, not for the current car
Here's info for the new A8...quite stunning imho.
http://www.carscoops.com/2015/03/new...-will-get.html
Last edited by RJC; 10-05-2015 at 04:10 PM.
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Traded same generation A8 (2013) for 2016 S550. The S class is heads and shoulders above the A8 in terms of quality, fit and finish. We got rid of Audi after 35K miles because every 6 months it spent a week at the dealer getting electronics repaired, cameras re-aligned etc. While it was fun to drive, the S in Sport mode (with active body control) is also a joy and it has a very much quieter ride.
Last edited by RJC; 10-05-2015 at 03:11 PM.
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I hear ya Hype, the S is very sweet indeed, but for us and even our friends we showed both cars to, we all actually preferred the A8 Sport, although I wish it has the same level of interior quietness as the S, but this may be due to the very aggressive tires on the A8 Sport. I see you're no longer in S FL?
Last edited by RJC; 10-05-2015 at 03:12 PM.
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^wonder if the A8 is named after the famous section of Autobahn......
there's a really neat picture in this months copy of the star on the A8
there's a really neat picture in this months copy of the star on the A8
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I think you may have me confused with someone, as I've never taken up residence in the sunshine state
been there to visit many times
been there to visit many times
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I had A8's in each of the last two generations. They were really nice cars, performed great, and were "under the radar". After switching to the W222 I wouldn't see how I would go back to Audi. The Benz is very rewarding to own and drive. It may be a little less sporty, so what, these are large sedans, we have other cars to be sporty.
The combination of styling, features, luxury, driving dynamics, ownership experience etc.., makes the Benz tough to beat. Maybe the new 7 series will stop the bleeding that has been going on at BMW, and the A8 needs a refresh, hopefully it will get a bit more exciting. We all benefit when competition is strong between these brands.
The combination of styling, features, luxury, driving dynamics, ownership experience etc.., makes the Benz tough to beat. Maybe the new 7 series will stop the bleeding that has been going on at BMW, and the A8 needs a refresh, hopefully it will get a bit more exciting. We all benefit when competition is strong between these brands.
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^reminds me a bit of Cadillac with their boxy lines