Audi A8 L W12 Road Test: How Does It Measure Up?

This big VW is nothing compared to the tru winners in this clas, the 5-Series and E-Class, whic sell beter rightfuly so.

I am not sure if the A8 is in the same class as the 5er and E-class.
I think it is highly probable that it is in the same league as the 7er, S-Class and the LS460.

Correct, this car competes against the 7er, S-class and LS. Not the 5er, E-class and GS.

benz the W12 outsells the V12 from BMW and MB combined internationaly

Rightfully so. 760Li is overpriced and underpowered (no reason to buy it over the 750Li or Alpina B7). S600 is overpriced and overpowered. A8L W12 strikes the perfect balance of price and power, LOL.

Where do you get the idea that this is a big VW? The A8 is all aluminum and VW does not make aluminum-bodied cars. I am not sure about the inherent balance of a W-12 vs. a traditional 60-degree V-12. I think that the W configuration makes this 12-cylinder engine needlessly complex. I'd rather have the more cost-effective V8 any day.

For a car of this stature, the transmission needs to be more refine. A clunking noise when in manual mode is not good. Other than that, the car sounds phenomenal.

BenzW124 is showing his clear lack of automotive knowledge yet again. Anyone that is an educated car enthusiast knows that no $120K+ Audi is in the same class as a Mercedes E class or BMW 5-series.

For Audi, the A6 lineup would obviously be the best competitor to the BMW 5 and Mercedes E.

A pure lack of the most basic automotive knowledge by BenzW124

No, Im smarter than all of you obvisly since noone can see that this isa big overpriced stretched Passat-Phaeton S-Class wannabe. Why woul anybody buy this over a S-Class or 7-Series?

benz are you amazingidiot under a new screenname?

sounds like it

no he might be RobertFrisk reincarnated from formula1

You are not smart at all. The S-Class is grossly overpiced compared to the A8 and the only advantage it has is a fully independent seat cushion length adjustment on very comfy front seats. The A8 gives you almost as comfy front seats but adds a rust-free aluminum body and superior AWD sytem however. I guess a fool and his money are soon parted.

No, Im smarter than all of you obvisly since noone can see that this isa big overpriced stretched Passat-Phaeton S-Class wannabe. Why woul anybody buy this over a S-Class or 7-Series?

BenzW124,

Please STOP! I am a huge Mercedes Fan, and prefer German cars. But please...you are making yourself look like an idiot, whether this is fun to your or not i don't know, but please just stop it.

I agree with Czelinski...German cars are my favorite, but if stupid fanboys plug up this site, please ban them!!!

Yes, he sounds like a stupid teen-age punk who just does not know when to quit.

why do u guys bother replying to idiots like BenzW124.

JUGNU

I have no idea. david989, benzW124... all the same.

BenzW124 is just a retard. Ban him! Idiots like him make this site look stupid.

I am not convinced by this car. It's a cheap way of creating power at the expense of the environment.

Put it next to a Lexus LS600h and it get's destroyed. The Lexus LS600h is faster, quieter and consumes less fuel and emits fewer emissions. Basically you get V12 performance and V6 fuel economy. The LS600h is the true benchmark in this class, not these overrated German cars.

Caltrans,

LS600h > A8 W12

Live with it.

The A8 is a gussied up VW Phaeton and nothing more. Only stupid people buy this rip off. I'd rather spend my money on a real luxury car like the LS followed unwittingly by the BMW 7 series and Benz S class.

I Audi can only manage to sell 200 a8 per month, who many w12 are they selling per month 2? Audi could stop selling the a8 here in the US it will not be noticed or missed.

Oh, SHUT UP!!!

I DON'T CARE HOW MANY A8S AUDI SELLS IN A MONTH!!! IF IT SOLD 2,000,000, GOOD JOB!!! But it's an amazing sedan and THAT'S WHY IT SELLS BETTER THAN THE S-CLASS AND 7 SERIES WORLDWIDE.

Let me repeat that: I DON'T CARE ABOUT SALES. If the BMW 7 Series sold 1 unit a month, that wouldn't make it any less of a vehicle. I don't buy a car based on how many other people own it. In fact, I avoid that altogether- I want a car that NOT a lot of people own.

that is true Larry and I dont really understand why it does not sell in the US at all? I think some of it has to be blamed on VW for creating the Phaeton. I am sure alot of people then looked at the A8 as a guessied up VW. The A8 is a nice car, but for the money I would be buying the 760LI, S600 or Masserati ...

I don't know. For $120K I would definitely look at the Quattroporte, but you'd have to give another $25,000 to get an S600.

I would definitely NOT look at the 760Li. It's worthless- 750Li is just as fast. And then there's the Alpina B7 complicating things.

However, I would probably look at the S8 over the A8L W12. That's not a "probably," now that I think about it. It's a "definitely." And a very well-equipped S8 barely runs $100K.

Wow, what a stupid comment.

I love how you found one test where the A8L W12 was "slower" than the LS600hL. According to everyone else, it's faster, but okay. LS gets better mileage, definitely, but it can't keep up.

Interior is so completely different from the A6's. That's like saying, "the LS interior doesn't look any different from the GS's." But even the two Lexus sedans have very similar layouts, while I believe the A8 and A6 interiors were designed by two different people.

As for the outside. I love how the A8 looks; I don't care how much it looks like the A6 to you. And you know the E-Class will look more like the S-Class when it gets redesigned.

I, too, would take an S8. That's the one place where I agree with you. But don't expect miracles in mpg.

BTW, loaded A6 is more than $60K. A lot more.

Don't start now...

The Audi A8L W12 Quattro is a great car. In my opinion I would choose this car over a BMW 760Li or the over-rated Lexus LS600hL. Audi makes some of the most it not the best interiors and exteriors. I terms of styling this car wins for its class. Hey I rather be ser apart b/c not many people drive A8's they only sell like 1000 a month if that. But yeah its a good car but too bad it's still not good enough to dethrone the might Mercedes S600.

A8L W12 came out in 2004... I would say that since it was out three years earlier, it would have been hard for it to "de-throne" the new S600. Anyway, you have to pay $25K more to get the Mercedes. To some, it's worth it, but I say, while I'm up there I'll just get a Bentley.

The A8 is fantastic.

The S8 doesnt offer some of the things that give the A8L that executive and classy feeling. The s8 is the sexier car given the carbon fiber trim and recaro seats. Audi needs to make rear seating a little more creature comfort friendly like the Japanese a6's with tables and refrigorators in stock executive models. Other than that, If anyone can cash up 140 there money would be well spent, and could easily afford modding the seats to recline and build a fridge or get tables set up. But thats when money isnt an issue and for the people buying these cars, it wouldnt be a problem.