S vs A8 vs 7 series
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2024 S580
This has been true for a long time for their non-SUVs. Issue is their lease rates are so terrible even with those discounts a comparable BMW or Mercedes is cheaper.
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23 S580 Executive
It's a problem with Porsche too, you can often be ahead buying rather than leasing. On the other hand with Porsche you've got some similarities with Apple where people will buy for the brand rather than the qualities of the product itself. Audi doesn't command the same mindless loyalty but they do have the terrible leases which is a problem in a market where people have become accustomed to flipping leases every 3ish years.
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I watched parts of the video, including all of the i7 and 7 series portions. He seemed to like it very much. I watched with the close captioning on. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I had a hard time understanding Thomas without close captioning. Only the 7 series section had it. I think that if I have an opportunity, I’d definitely compare the i7 to the EQS.
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It's a problem with Porsche too, you can often be ahead buying rather than leasing. On the other hand with Porsche you've got some similarities with Apple where people will buy for the brand rather than the qualities of the product itself. Audi doesn't command the same mindless loyalty but they do have the terrible leases which is a problem in a market where people have become accustomed to flipping leases every 3ish years.
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2024 S580
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23 S580 Executive
In fairness, there is nothing wrong with being a fan of something; it's the flat earth guys I'm referring to with the fanboy comment. I think everyone knows that but this being the internet and people liking to argue... 
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Totally, there is being a fan and then there is zealotry.
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One thing I think everyone can agree on though is German fanboys aren’t as bad as the Tesla cult though, lol.
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23 S580 Executive
Oh yeah, the old 18 way on a GT car is blasphemy paradigm. lol closely related to the concept that if you don't order the buckets the car is ruined. Shows what I know because 2 seconds after I climbed into a GT4 with the buckets I knew I would never order them. I'd order a GT4 though... To be honest I think the Taycan section is just as bad and partly because of the Tesla folk. Of course the most vocal of those are the ones who would never buy the Taycan but are happy to hang out in a Porsche forum and explain why you're stupid for even considering it.
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S500 / Db9 / F360 / Range Sport V8
Agreed, not a fan of the V6, and I don't like how bulbous the styling is in general. I think the previous D4 generation A8 was a prettier and overall sleeker car, although like most Audi's, the interior has aged poorly. Another issue is they sell so little of these cars (a little over 2,000 a year) that you pretty much have to custom order because so many are spec'd poorly and they have sub-par materials standard.
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Plenty of that for every brand, including owners of A8s, 7 series, and S Classes.
Precisely why some are drawn to the product (exclusivity)
Precisely why some are drawn to the product (exclusivity)
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Hmm. This is a high volume production car with a low sales volume. That doesn't equal exclusivity 
It's a very fine car by any measure; it's just very boring looking car and not having a V8 is a miss in this segment IMO
It's a very fine car by any measure; it's just very boring looking car and not having a V8 is a miss in this segment IMO
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Also, no car maker is going to be making a ton of cars that don't sell. Audi makes what the market will buy. So, nice try with the bait, but not grounded in reality.
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S560
The A8 does not have a V8, only the S8 does. If Mercedes dropped the 580 you would say the same thing, top line performance branding (AMG, S, M etc) is not the same as regular models. Everything Wolfman said is true, the A8 is not an exclusive vehicle because of limited production. It's exclusive because people don't buy them.
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The A8 does not have a V8, only the S8 does. If Mercedes dropped the 580 you would say the same thing, top line performance branding (AMG, S, M etc) is not the same as regular models. Everything Wolfman said is true, the A8 is not an exclusive vehicle because of limited production. It's exclusive because people don't buy them.
Seems like fanboyism is super strong in these neck of the woods and hasn't changed
Then again that makes sense given the reasons why people buy S classes.
Last edited by superangrypenguin; Dec 25, 2022 at 07:42 AM.
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23 S580 Executive
Exclusive means either having the tendency to exclude through one or more properties or something that isn't generally shared with others due to specific bars to entry. The A8 is exclusive only in that it's comparatively undesirable and few are selling; it is not exclusive in terms of bars to entry; anyone may own one if he/she is willing to pay.
Saying it's exclusive is like saying you're the rare person who finds stepping in cat feces in the dark while on a middle of the night bathroom run enjoyable, therefore, you are in an exclusive group. Sure, I'll give it to you, that is an exclusive group. Bravo. But is it an exclusive group because of its positive attributes and desirability, or is it an exclusive group because most don't want to join? You do see there is a difference, right?
Just so you know: I do agree that this car is no more/less exclusive; if you have the money and want to spend it, you're in.
Saying it's exclusive is like saying you're the rare person who finds stepping in cat feces in the dark while on a middle of the night bathroom run enjoyable, therefore, you are in an exclusive group. Sure, I'll give it to you, that is an exclusive group. Bravo. But is it an exclusive group because of its positive attributes and desirability, or is it an exclusive group because most don't want to join? You do see there is a difference, right?
Just so you know: I do agree that this car is no more/less exclusive; if you have the money and want to spend it, you're in.
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S560
The Audi A8 60 TFSI has a V8. If you're going to start attempting to spew facts, maybe start by getting them right? Sure, they recently got rid of this model, but also dropped the pricing of the S8 substantially to make up for that. And yes, people don't buy A8s like they don't buy Rolls Royces (not comparing the two in quality but I'm not the one who brought up this idea of limited production ! = exclusivity, though that literally is the definition of exclusivity so the argument is lost on me (and is wrong)). Anyways...
Seems like fanboyism is super strong in these neck of the woods and hasn't changed Then again that makes sense given the reasons why people buy S classes.
Seems like fanboyism is super strong in these neck of the woods and hasn't changed
Then again that makes sense given the reasons why people buy S classes.It's not fanboyism, heck- I don't even like the S580. But when you make silly comments like "since no one wants to buy the car I own I am in an exclusive club" and "they have a V8, just not anymore" you enter rare super fanboyism. I mean textbook definition. Audi will produce an A8 for any person who wants to buy the car right up to the limit of the factory. And if they maxed that out they would work to increase production. If Mercedes only sold 2000 S classes you wouldn't say it's exclusive, you would call it a failure. But since we are so used to Audi being in those shoes it is just normal. I'm not saying it's a bad car, it's probably a good car, but the market doesn't think it is worth buying over an S class.
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Merry Christmas all
The twisted logic here is hilarious. The Audi A8 60 TFSI existed from 2019 to 2022. You don't count an S8? LOL - if anything you compare a AMG to an RS8, and the latter doesn't exist, but okie dokie. If you don't like the S class, I don't even know why you're on this forum then, but you do you.
Whoa there, lump of coal for Christmas? Let me refine this for you. An EQS is exclusive, a RR Ghost is exclusive, a S480 is exclusive, and heck, even a F150 is exclusive (in the UK).
It depends on what you're comparing things against. An A8 is far more exclusive than an S class, and just because people buy S classes in drove doesn't make it a selling feature for the rest of us But go ahead, be proud that the S classes sells in spades and is everywhere in places like NYC or HKG. You do you!
Merry Christmas all
Your first sentence contradicted itself, I think maybe twice but we will have to analyze it because it is so twisted. I said they do not have a V8, you said they do and I should get my facts straight and then you proceeded to say they just don't have it ANYMORE. Ooooooooh. I get how we do this now. If it once had it then that still counts? And no, we aren't counting AMG/S/M etc. That's a different line.
It's not fanboyism, heck- I don't even like the S580. But when you make silly comments like "since no one wants to buy the car I own I am in an exclusive club" and "they have a V8, just not anymore" you enter rare super fanboyism. I mean textbook definition. Audi will produce an A8 for any person who wants to buy the car right up to the limit of the factory. And if they maxed that out they would work to increase production. If Mercedes only sold 2000 S classes you wouldn't say it's exclusive, you would call it a failure. But since we are so used to Audi being in those shoes it is just normal. I'm not saying it's a bad car, it's probably a good car, but the market doesn't think it is worth buying over an S class.
It's not fanboyism, heck- I don't even like the S580. But when you make silly comments like "since no one wants to buy the car I own I am in an exclusive club" and "they have a V8, just not anymore" you enter rare super fanboyism. I mean textbook definition. Audi will produce an A8 for any person who wants to buy the car right up to the limit of the factory. And if they maxed that out they would work to increase production. If Mercedes only sold 2000 S classes you wouldn't say it's exclusive, you would call it a failure. But since we are so used to Audi being in those shoes it is just normal. I'm not saying it's a bad car, it's probably a good car, but the market doesn't think it is worth buying over an S class.
Saying it's exclusive is like saying you're the rare person who finds stepping in cat feces in the dark while on a middle of the night bathroom run enjoyable, therefore, you are in an exclusive group. Sure, I'll give it to you, that is an exclusive group. Bravo. But is it an exclusive group because of its positive attributes and desirability, or is it an exclusive group because most don't want to join? You do see there is a difference, right?
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It depends on what you're comparing things against. An A8 is far more exclusive than an S class, and just because people buy S classes in drove doesn't make it a selling feature for the rest of us
But go ahead, be proud that the S classes sells in spades and is everywhere in places like NYC or HKG. You do you!
Last edited by superangrypenguin; Dec 25, 2022 at 01:46 PM.
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S560
The twisted logic here is hilarious. The Audi A8 60 TFSI existed from 2019 to 2022. You don't count an S8? LOL - if anything you compare a AMG to an RS8, and the latter doesn't exist, but okie dokie. If you don't like the S class, I don't even know why you're on this forum then, but you do you.
Last edited by emilner; Dec 25, 2022 at 02:13 PM.
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The 2021 was the last year for 60 V8 in the US, so 2 model years ago. The AMG compares to a car that doesn't exist? Who has twisted logic? The S8's direct competitor is the S63 AMG. You are all over the map. It would also be helpful if you knew the definition of exclusive. But who cares at this point....
This thread started off with a thorough review of the major flagships. It started off, fairly well, and then completely went off the deep end. The turning point was when it didn't "sit" well with some S class owners that the A8 is, comparatively, more exclusive.
In the grand scheme of things, to your point, who cares? But this thread is quite telling. The S class owner has to "prove" a point that their car is "superior". Another thread on MBW talks about the 223 looking too "bland" because it's now not show-y off enough like in the past.
I think this just says a thousand words.
No, a S63 AMG is not compared to an S8. There is no Audi comparable to the S63 AMG. Any reasonable person would compare a 55 TFSI to a S450, and a 60 TFSI to a S550 (or whatever the numbers are now). Engine size to engine size, and price to price. A S63 is in a league of its own, especially since prior models had a V12.
But hey, maybe the latter is a point of opinion. Would any of you turn down a S63 AMG if it was the same price as a 550/580? (I forget what the numbers are these days). Of course not.
That said, I'm out. Carry on with the whole tape measure competing contest. The rest of us prefer to be in rarer cars that fly under the radar because we don't want to show off. If anything, this thread reinforced my decision to not buy a W223, as it came down between the D5 and waiting for the soon to be launched 223 at the end of the day and I was literally tossing a coin deciding between the two.
