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The lag is a transmission issue that sort of goes away in sport mode. Yes, I agree with you that it is a problem/nuisance.
I bet I could FIX that if I get Sprint Booster to make one of their units for the 2019 A8. Which I probably can. It fixes that drive by wire hesitation and lag you can get with a lot of new model cars still. They do have one for the w222 also.
Anyone on here ever notice when you hit the gas pedal, there is a bit of delay?
I have not read anything about the Costs or dealership experiences in your choice for new car?
I do not need answers but I am guessing when comparing you take into account:
Prices?
Insurance Cost?
buy or lease terms equal?
Service Dept charges similar for what is required per Owners manual?
Resale Value the same say after 4-5 years? In case you have to unload cause she is lemon.
Plenty of dealerships around should you need them where you travel?
Dealership service personnel are nice as is waiting room?
Do they provide loaner cars without making it a hassle?
I know above is boring but means something to me when I choose a car.
One reason I avoided Audi as only one dealership with 200 miles search of my house.
I looked @ audi the Local dealership issue was more then enough for me to say no even if I liked it.
For me now with MB I have choice of 3 dealerships all within 60 miles of my house (one East, West and South)
North one is about 2.5 hour drive away.
Also when I travel away from home they have plenty of dealerships to find and service car.
Something about a great dealership & dealership network makes ownership that much nicer...
Good luck with what ever you choose.
Thanks for the wishes. Just so you are aware, I am not purposely not replying to your post, but I want to keep this thread somewhat on topic so will choose to simply say that yes, I have thought of all of your questions and have an answer for each one and it is absolutely pertinent to my decision making process. That said, since everyone has a different take on their own scenarios in regards to this topic, I'll just leave these questions be. Again - thanks for bringing up these questions though!
GT63S ePerformance 4dr, '25 Bentayga Black Ed.(wife), Wrangler and 250 MLB(kids)
Originally Posted by superangrypenguin
Totally agree. I just ran all my numbers too.
Best case scenario for the S450 specced out to the way I want, and the Audi A8L to the way I want to, excluding ELW for both vehicles, the A8 will be $2000 more than the S class (an inconsequential number that I don't care about). This is inclusive of the massive interest rate differences between the two. (1.9% for the S class with the loyalty discount and 4.9% for the A8).
So it boils down to this.
S class - I don't love it as much, but it will have a better warranty and will be more reliable, and it's slightly cheaper.
That or take a gamble and buy an A8.
Life's funny sometimes.
Excuse me while I have a drink and sign off out of frustration because I hate this conundrum.
Reliability in these cars is mostly draw of the luck, in my personal experience I had more of it with Audi then the S-Class.
My previous S63 spent a total of 65 days in service during a 2 year lease, current S8 Plus had only scheduled service and sees the dealer only to swap the wheels seasonally, absolute ZERO issues in the 40k plus miles already,
Best daily driver I have ever had (that includes M5s, 911s, Bentleys and entire selection of S and E AMGs).
I have to replace it soon as this is my absolute record how long I kept a car and truly, I have no idea what to replace it with as everything I try is just not ticking my boxes.
S63 bores me, I sort of like the 760 but I know in my heart it will bore me within a week and I truly dislike the Panamera Turbo S.
Reliability in these cars is mostly draw of the luck, in my personal experience I had more of it with Audi then the S-Class.
My previous S63 spent a total of 65 days in service during a 2 year lease, current S8 Plus had only scheduled service and sees the dealer only to swap the wheels seasonally, absolute ZERO issues in the 40k plus miles already,
Best daily driver I have ever had (that includes M5s, 911s, Bentleys and entire selection of S and E AMGs).
I have to replace it soon as this is my absolute record how long I kept a car and truly, I have no idea what to replace it with as everything I try is just not ticking my boxes.
S63 bores me, I sort of like the 760 but I know in my heart it will bore me within a week and I truly dislike the Panamera Turbo S.
Can you please share what years your cars are? E.g. 2015 model?
I have thought about buying a S63, S8 etc, (probably one that is 2-3 years old as that is what would fit in my budget and would sit well enough with me from a depreciation standpoint), but my main concern is lack of reliability in those higher end models as they are not meant for "mass" production, at least when compared to the S450/550/A8 etc.
GT63S ePerformance 4dr, '25 Bentayga Black Ed.(wife), Wrangler and 250 MLB(kids)
Originally Posted by superangrypenguin
Can you please share what years your cars are? E.g. 2015 model?
I have thought about buying a S63, S8 etc, (probably one that is 2-3 years old as that is what would fit in my budget and would sit well enough with me from a depreciation standpoint), but my main concern is lack of reliability in those higher end models as they are not meant for "mass" production, at least when compared to the S450/550/A8 etc.
S8 is 2016 (model 2017), had 2006 SL65, 2004 E55, 2005,2010, 2013, 2016 G55/63, 2011 S63, 2012 CLS63, 2014 E63, 2016 S63, 2015 S65 and many other brand cars.
GT63S ePerformance 4dr, '25 Bentayga Black Ed.(wife), Wrangler and 250 MLB(kids)
Originally Posted by superangrypenguin
Wow, you sir, are a car fanatic. Good for you! (I'm jealous but happy for you!)
You really lucked out with the S8. That engine is known to eat turbos for fun!!
I will be sorry to let it go, never babied the car, have a very heavy foot and it saw north of 150 on numerous occasions, heavy braking frequently.
It would be on a 4th set of brakes by now without the CCBs that are a must in a heavy car of that type.
I do not want to go off topic, however given your experience (maybe a PM) what did you not like about the Panamera?
Originally Posted by absent
Reliability in these cars is mostly draw of the luck, in my personal experience I had more of it with Audi then the S-Class.
My previous S63 spent a total of 65 days in service during a 2 year lease, current S8 Plus had only scheduled service and sees the dealer only to swap the wheels seasonally, absolute ZERO issues in the 40k plus miles already,
Best daily driver I have ever had (that includes M5s, 911s, Bentleys and entire selection of S and E AMGs).
I have to replace it soon as this is my absolute record how long I kept a car and truly, I have no idea what to replace it with as everything I try is just not ticking my boxes.
S63 bores me, I sort of like the 760 but I know in my heart it will bore me within a week and I truly dislike the Panamera Turbo S.
My previous S63 spent a total of 65 days in service during a 2 year lease, current S8 Plus had only scheduled service and sees the dealer only to swap the wheels seasonally, absolute ZERO issues in the 40k plus miles already,
I have to replace it soon as this is my absolute record how long I kept a car and truly, I have no idea what to replace it with as everything I try is just not ticking my boxes.
Just keep it then. Nothing wrong with finding a favorite and keeping it.
Originally Posted by absent
S8 is 2016 (model 2017), had 2006 SL65, 2004 E55, 2005,2010, 2013, 2016 G55/63, 2011 S63, 2012 CLS63, 2014 E63, 2016 S63, 2015 S65 and many other brand cars.
Thoughts on the G55. Besides it riding like a bucket. My friend got one as a 4th car and put around 4k miles a year on it and loves the design.
GT63S ePerformance 4dr, '25 Bentayga Black Ed.(wife), Wrangler and 250 MLB(kids)
Originally Posted by teksurv
I do not want to go off topic, however given your experience (maybe a PM) what did you not like about the Panamera?
In short, haptic controls drive me crazy and I hate them with a passion(unfortunately more and more cars are coming out with them, new A8 included).Car should be made for driving and supplemental controls should support that task instead of turning it into an iphone.
Old Panamera, while not pretty, felt more of a "driver's car" then E63 or M5 at the time, new one, while better looking, does not feel better or handle better nor is quicker then the new E63 or M5 (that includes the Turbo S)
Regular Panamera Turbo is on average about $50k more then the MB or BMW, for Turbo S you can have both of them and even at equal price I'm not sure I would pick the Porsche over any of these 2 cars.
Overpriced so much it makes it ridiculous, overweight and having no advantage whatsoever over cars at half the price or even worse being beat by them.
Got it, thanks. I agree with you on haptic controls, I strongly prefer actual buttons to touch interfaces in cars.
Originally Posted by absent
In short, haptic controls drive me crazy and I hate them with a passion(unfortunately more and more cars are coming out with them, new A8 included).Car should be made for driving and supplemental controls should support that task instead of turning it into an iphone.
Old Panamera, while not pretty, felt more of a "driver's car" then E63 or M5 at the time, new one, while better looking, does not feel better or handle better nor is quicker then the new E63 or M5 (that includes the Turbo S)
Regular Panamera Turbo is on average about $50k more then the MB or BMW, for Turbo S you can have both of them and even at equal price I'm not sure I would pick the Porsche over any of these 2 cars.
Overpriced so much it makes it ridiculous, overweight and having no advantage whatsoever over cars at half the price or even worse being beat by them.
Just to close out this thread, I have decided on the 2019 A8. I was fortunate enough to have it on loan for 24 hours so I have become intimately familiar with the A8. I know this doesn't matter to anyone on here, but thought I'd close it out.
Main reasons.
1) Seat comfort. (both static and the massaging seat efficacy)
2) Ride comfort.
3) No RFTs and a spare tire. No staggered tires either.
4) Audi Care (complimentary maintenance for the first 5 (or 6 I don't remember) years.
5) Priced >$10K less than a S450
6) Infotainment.
7) A centered steering wheel!!!
What I will miss from the S class:
1) Burmester 3D High End stereo. I will miss the overhead speakers.
2) I will miss the 1.9% financing versus the Audi's 4.9% (yowsers).
3) I will miss the S class's presence.
4) Mercedes Me would have been a lot of fun to have! 5) Most importantly, I will miss everyone here on MBWorld. You all (in the S/E/C forums) have been absolutely wonderful.
6) An engine where I could do my own oil changes. I will miss that terribly.
Just to close out this thread, I have decided on the 2019 A8. I was fortunate enough to have it on loan for 24 hours so I have become intimately familiar with the A8. I know this doesn't matter to anyone on here, but thought I'd close it out.
Main reasons.
1) Seat comfort. (both static and the massaging seat efficacy)
2) Ride comfort.
3) No RFTs and a spare tire. No staggered tires either.
4) Audi Care (complimentary maintenance for the first 5 (or 6 I don't remember) years.
5) Priced >$10K less than a S450
6) Infotainment.
7) A centered steering wheel!!!
What I will miss from the S class:
1) Burmester 3D High End stereo. I will miss the overhead speakers.
2) I will miss the 1.9% financing versus the Audi's 4.9% (yowsers).
3) I will miss the S class's presence.
4) Mercedes Me would have been a lot of fun to have! 5) Most importantly, I will miss everyone here on MBWorld. You all (in the S/E/C forums) have been absolutely wonderful.
6) An engine where I could do my own oil changes. I will miss that terribly.
I hope this may help folks in some way.
Good luck and enjoy. Based on my 18 years of ownership of my last Audi they build a fine car.
You cant go wrong w any of these big body sedans, all great cars. If you miss the s class bring me the audi for a day! I'll gladly swap for a few days!
18 AMG GTC and 22 F150 Limited. Past owner 16 Maybach, 17 Brabus Smartcar, 06 Ford E150, and 22 G70
Daytona BMW has a brand new M760Li in the showroom as of last week for $150 something on the front window sticker with a MSRP in the 170s. That kind of surprised me that a v12 car was discounted right in the showroom from the get go.
Hmmm, an A8. Best wishes with it. I was curious what it looked like, so it looks like this. I wouldn't hate it for sure if my wife (if I had one) wanted one or if it was given to me as a company car. They look pretty classy.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
(I'm jealous but happy for you!)
