REVIEW: Audi A8 gets 5 star review?

Said before and I'll say it again. Best interior and best overall large 'saloon'. Period.

^^^^^^^ I CONCUR ^^^^^^^

me too. great car.

Take out all the gizmos (which you don't need, frankly) and this is one of the best cars on the road, bar none. I'd take this over Lexus, MB or Bimmer any day. It is simply gorgeous.

A8's always looks even better in person.


G

"Powering the A8 is a capable 4.2-liter V8 that pumps out 335 horses, putting it in cahoots with BMW's bigger, more powerful 7 series and leaving Mercedes and Lexus somewhat behind"

S550 382 HP > 750i 360 HP > A8 335 HP

Dude better check his math first before he disses the big boys. Lol!

4.5 stars. I like the sleek look but I also need a little agression.

Yeah, S550, 750i and, then A8 4.2, I guess you are not ready for A8 5.0 V8, coz it will defintely up the ante if they make one.

weapon, i think he meant because the a8s engine is so much smaller (1.3 litres for the 550, 0.6 litres for the bmw 750) yet it still produces a lot of power. and it weighs less than both those cars.

weaponx, Jay7-

For 2007, the A8's engine is bumped up to 350hp through FSI technology. Because of its aluminum structure, it is much lighter than both the 7 Series and S-Class, and it will be quicker than the 750, if not both of them.

And I think this guy was thinking about the 300hp S500, and this could've been done before the S550 was released.

"The A8 is an astonishingly good car, even at the price and given considerable competition from its countrymen. Unless a major competitor provides some techy feature you cannot live without, I'd recommend the A8 over the equivalent BMW or Mercedes, if only as a more self-confident and understated alternative. With the A8, Audi's proved its flagship's worth— not only vis-à-vis the Autobahn legend, inflated or not, but for all roads everywhere.

The A8 and its black-sheep cousin the VW Phaeton are a common sight in European capitals, a favorite of the elite and diplomatic cognoscenti. But stateside, they're a rarer breed. The style-conscious are right to wish Midtown Manhattanites would ditch tired old Lincoln Continentals for Audi's flagship, which brims with modern charm."

I couldn't have said it better myself. Audis are for people who are CONFIDENT about their self-image, and they don't need flashy cars to up their ego. However, the A8 is still undoubtedly chic and sumptuous, as well as sporty.

5 star review? so....

Its a pretty sweet car

Anything we haven't known already? The S8 is even better.

I have to agree with 350 horsepower the Audi A8 will not be slow at all.

With the increase in horsepower, same beautiful lines on the exterior and luxury defining interior, the A8 is fully deserving of the 5 star rating.

Audi A8L 6.0 W12 now starts at $119,350. This increase in price officially makes the Audi the second most expensive top of the line luxury liner from the German 3. Behind the $130,000 Mercedes S600 but ahead of the $118,300 BMW 760Li.

The extra hp may help, but the 745i & 745Li had 325hp and were both still faster than the 335hp A8. I doubt the A8's gain in hp will do much to keep up with the 7-series, mabye the Benz but even still.

The A8's a beautiful car (though the designs a bit to bland for me) especially the interior as we all know, but it's no performance marvel. Even the S8 isn't as amazing as it seems when you can still throw a 750i through the slalom faster. In fact with exception of the A4 models, (A4 2.0/3.2, S4, RS4) a 750i is faster through the slalom than Audi's whole line up.
Interesting...

130000 for an s600!

that is so cheap, its what an s550 costs here.
will, the reviewer has his wires crossed. the a8 isn't related to the phaeton.

Logical-
There are medications available for your type of condition......you need help with your anger and judging by that last post the Jack Daniels must have taken it's toll........grow up already there is life beyond your beloved BMW..........DISSMISSED.

Audi sold 0 Audi w12's in the USA in august, and sold only 10 in 2005.

Although this is dated recently, I would guess it is written months ago.

Also ran with its beautiful and aggresive lines. Hardly so.

Of course only your advanced logic would say the now officially $119,350 A8L 6.0 W12 is cheaper than a $118,300 760LI

Logical, get a better line-up of BMWs your cheapness disgusts me. You should be deeply ashamed to drive such ordinary BMWs. You are among very average owners of the brand you so love.

Your inability to see things with a braoder view has clearly hurt your financial success.

Your E39 M5 is an also ran when it gets spanked by an E60.

Would you appreciate it if I only supported BMW and started hating on Audi now too, Logical?

This is a sublime automobile. If they replace the MMI with a Lexus/Acura style nav system, it would be the perfect car....

GermanNut, you make it sound like a good thing that Audi's are becoming more expensive than BMW's. Though while the price might be a factor Audi's caught up in, the performance department, that remains BMW's.

Now the extra A8's hp may help, but the 745i & 745Li had 325hp and were both still faster than the 335hp A8. I doubt the A8's gain in hp will do much to keep it up with the 7-series, mabye the Benz but even still.

The A8's a beautiful car (though the designs a bit to bland for me) especially the interior as we all know, but it's no performance marvel. Even the S8 isn't as amazing as it seems when you can still throw a 750i through the slalom faster. In fact with exception of the A4 models, (A4 2.0/3.2, S4, RS4) a 750i is faster through the slalom than Audi's whole line up.

This just goes to show how much BMW still does out-perform Audi, when their full-size luxury saloon is more capable than half of Audi's line-up.

The RS4 is faster through the slalom than half of BMWs models.

So what's your point MunichRob?

What's my point? Are you serious?

Excuse me everyone while I break it down for GermanNut...

My point is the fact that BMW's largest model (with exception of the X5 & X3) in their line-up can outperform most Audi's. That says a lot about BMW...or mabye it says a little about Audi?!

What doesn't say a lot and is a tottally ridiculous counter-point at that, is the fact you bring up than an RS4 (Audi's highest performing model) is faster through the slalom than half of BMW's models!

It takes an RS4 to close the performance gap between regular BMW's. It takes Audi a supercar (upcoming R8) to outdo a 4-seater luxury GT from BMW (M6). Do you realize the performing dominance of BMW yet?

The clincher is motoring's finest interior, regardless of price. The cabin is just about impossible to fault for space, materials and how they are used, fit and finish, overall layout, attention to detail, and how sci-fi equipment blends with a traditional luxury car's ambience. The A8L is the world's most complete sedan.

The A8 is the world's most complete sedan and an Automobile Magazine All-Star.

Enough said.

MunichRob-

"...but the 745i & 745Li had 325hp and were both still faster than the 335hp A8."

Wrong. The A8, which weighs less than the 7 Series by a few hundred pounds, with more power, was quicker than the 745i by a bit. They were both in the sixes, but the 7 Series was about 6.7 and the A8, 6.3.

Now, 750i is about 5.8 if I'm correct, and the new A8 FSI will probably do better than that.

Larry-

Audi definitely sold more than 10 W12s, because I myself have seen about that many in my area (and I could tell they were different models). I'd like to see some proof.

LArry give me proof, until then you are all talk with no substance or factual support.

MunichRob, understand that even if Audi has to resort to their highest models they will be faster through the slalom then most BMWs including the M3, M5 and M6.

Does that make you happy now?

Audi's smallest version of its RS cars can outperform BMW 5-series based M5 which costs $81,200 and BMW's M6 which costs $96,100. The Audi only costs $70,000.

In terms of pure performance nothing can match the RS4 in the premium-luxury sedan arena. For that matter not even BMW's most expensive "M" model can touch it in slalom speed.

How does 70.8 mph sound to you MunichRob?

To me that sounds better than anything BMW can produce.

BMW has such a bad image it makes me sick, thinking about how many poor people drive BMW's is rather disgusting.

MunichRob, just like what you said about BMW being ahead of Audi in performance, I can say that Audi is ahead of BMW at the same degree when it comes to interiors.

BMW interiors are a material quality disaster, not to mention ergonomic mixup with the cupholders and just plain old empty dash with nothing on them.

It says something when every Audi model has a clearly better all-around interior than every single respective competing BMW model.

GermanNut, you have such a bad image on this website it makes us other users sick. All you can talk about is the interior's of Audi's. Not everyone feel's Audi's interior's are leagues ahead of BMW's...In fact there's people who prefer BMW interior's to Audi no question. I'm not one of those people while I will admit Audi makes a better interior pretty much all around.

Performance is a different story though, and if you ask me what I say about an RS4 accomplishing 70.8mph through the slalom? I'd say bullsh*t.

I've seen 69.5mph at most for the RS4, and 68.9 as the lowest as recorded by Motor Trend. M5 can accomplish 69mph through the slalom & and M6 70mph. However the quickest Bimmer through the slalom is the new M Coupe which is clocked at the best I've seen 70.5mph (Motor Trend). Now unless you show me some proof of the RS4 running the slalom that fast, as far as I'm concerned, the M6 & M Coupe are faster through the slalom than anything Audi has.

Same thing goes with you S4cabriofox...Your information is a little off. Don't say im wrong so surely if you're not 100% sure what your talking about.

The 745i clocked 6.1 to 60mph and the A8 4.2 at BEST could pull off 6.3, but is usually clocked around 6.5. The 750i is clocked at best 5.5, but in most cases has been clocked at 5.7.

So, prove me wrong...

I'll prove you wrong on the RS4 slalom times. You asked for it, so here it comes:


Through the slalom the RS 4 again defied conventional thinking by demonstrating an almost unthinkable ability to go where it was pointed. Its 70.6-mph slalom speed ranks it second fastest among every sedan we've ever tested. Mitsubishi's iconic Evo holds the record only 0.1 mph faster at 70.7 mph. Lateral grip was also stellar at 0.90g, with at-the-limit balance tending toward mild understeer with reasonable adjustability.

There you go courtesy of Edmund's first drive of the RS4.

70.6 mph through the slalom thereby officially making the Audi RS4 faster than the M coupe at 70.5 mph and subsequently the RS4 is faster than any BMW through the slalom.

Make the R8 also faster. That would make 2 Audis that are not only faster than BMW through the slalom but also more expensive (R8 & Audi A8L 6.0 W12)

Who cares which is more expensive? It's not a good thing to be more expensive in the same class.

Edmunds is the only road test review I've seen the RS4 pushing 70.6mph through the slalom. The M coupe on the other hand seems to consistantly produce numbers in the mid 70mph range. Motor Trends slalom numbers for the RS4 fall way short of what Edmund's accomplished, check them out! Besides GermanNut I thought you said before 70.8mph for the RS4...Little exageration to help your beloved Audi look better?

In this Edmunds review they also record slow 0-60 & 1/4 mile times for the RS4 which leaves me thinking, how good this road test really is!

So I'm sorry Nut but consistancy, means a lot more to me than once in a blue moon.

MunichRob, I think it is amazing for Audi to charge higher prices in the same class.

Not only does this continue to put down the myth that Audis are poor man's BMWs, but it shows that Audi owners do indeed have pockets deep enough to buy BMWs if they so desired.

It was not a little exageration on my part, I did not look at the review before I posted, but I knew anyway that the Audi was faster than the BMW, and the bottom line is that was proven true.

Rob, I'm sorry but to me I don't care what you think about a test that may occur once in a blue moon. To me the Audi RS4 is faster than any BMW in the slalom. That includes the BMW M3, M5, M6 and Z4 coupe.

This is a defining period in Audi history.

Not only does Audi make a car faster than any BMW in acceleration from 0-60 and even through the 1/4 mile with the R8, but it produces a car with a faster slalom time than any BMW produced with the RS4 and lastly Audi produces a car that is more expensive than any car BMW produces with the Audi A8L 6.0 W12 and soon to be the R8 V10 making that two models.

Audi is an amazing car company, and there is no denying it based on the aformentioned facts alone.

In every category from price, to straight-line acceleration, to 1/4 mile times, to slalom speed, to interiors, Audi surpasses BMW.

Audi is an amazing car company with an equally amazing roster of car both high-performance and regular.

Audi is a defining player in the arena of the German 3 and constantly makes not only itself better, but also BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

With cars like the RS4, Audi pushes BMW and MB to make faster cars in the slalom.

With the R8, Audi teaches BMW how to make faster cars in the 0-60, 0-100 and 1/4 mile times.

With the interior of the A8, Audi teaches the other two brands how to make ergonomically sensible interiors.

With price, Audi teaches BMW how to raise theirs.

Audi makes BMW a better company and BMW makes Audi a better company.

Therefore they are competitors.

MunichRob-

Even so, are luxury buyers really that interested in whether or not they can burn a Mustang GT? I feel that the A8L is a much more complete car than the 7 Series- frankly, the 7 Series has fallen behind the S-Class, LS and A8. I'm not saying I don't like it; I do. But if I wanted a sedan that large, it would either be an S550 4Matic or an A8L, no question. The 7 Series' fifteen minutes of fame are over. It doesn't really bring anything special to this exclusive segment- no special luxury touches or technology, not much performance advantage, and offensive styling (I happen to like it though).

Just like you despise Audi, Logical, I despise Mercedes-Benz. To me MB's are knock offs of their former selves. The quality is no longer there in materials. The handling was never there and it still isn't. The ony thing an AMG Benz is good for is going in a straight-line.

Unlike you logical, I don't base my characteristics of hating cars because of brand assocation. I have actual driving characteristics that allow me to prefer brands such as BMW, Porsche and Audi over others like Mercedes-Benz.

To me a car should be refined and also sporty. Mercedes' are refined but their attempt of sporty which is going fast in a straight-line is a very bad effort in my opinion.

That is why I love BMW, Porsche and Audi. Each one of these 3 companies makes cars that handle better than Mercedes' overweight straight-line only sporty philosophy.

Porsche are the best track cars in terms of the German brands. They are also getting a lot more luxurious as we speak with the 997.

BMW's are sporty and also luxurious to a small extent. To me, the BMW attempt of luxury is quite terrible but they handle well.

Audi's are sport and really put the luxury in luxury. Audi's interiors are the best in the auto industry (mainstream) and the cars handle much better than any overweight Mercedes.

Long live BMW, Audi and Porsche.

No doubt, this is a beautiful car. Audi is following what BMW used to do. All their cars look the same. BMW said somthing like their cars were all sausages in different sizes. I am sure this sounds beautiful in German, ha!

logical-

And you DON'T rant? Do you ever reflect and how dumb-assed you sound?

MunichRob-

"Edmunds is the only road test review I've seen the RS4 pushing 70.6mph through the slalom. The M coupe on the other hand seems to consistantly produce numbers in the mid 70mph range."

And consistency matters, why? That's not an excuse at all. If the RS4 is faster through the slalom, if one number says it or seventeen say it, it is!

Wow, logical. You really are a textbook example of a BMW asshole yuppie. It's disappointing to see that some of these people badge themselves as car enthusiasts, like yourself, and have no respect for anything outside of Mercedes, Porsche and BMW.

Have you no shame?

And logical, by the way-

The cycle never ends. I can just as easily say that the next-gen RS4 will blow the doors off of anything BMW has to offer.

BMW basically has nowhere to go; they've perfected their engineering. Audi is only going up.

I don't know any moron that drives an M3. The people that I've met drive RS4's because they can't waste their money on such a cheap car like the M3 that gets its ass handed to it by the RS4.

I rant on brands that I like and those that I hate.

"I move in fairly high circles."

Hahahaha, you move in fairly high circles, Logical.

Logical, more like you move in circles where you drive outdated BMWs and the current BMWs you do have are terrible (530xi).

You obviously don't move in the $100K + circles.

logical,
you clearly don't move in the right ones.
i meet plenty of audi owners, and my neighbour has just got an RS4.
note: the 530xi costs what, 50000 dollars? here a 530i se auto costs 70000 dollars. an E350 estate costs 76000, AND doesn't come with standard leather. we pay way more than you do, so if you move in high circles, i'm a couple of miles higher

He's not going to reply to any of this, because he knows he's an idiot.

Rupert-

How much does an XJ8 cost there? I'm curious. It's pretty cheap for an ultra-luxe sedan here ($62K base, second least-expensive in class), so I'd like to know what "inexpensive" for a luxury sedan is there.

And yes, Audi owners aplenty. I live in the eight richest town in the US, logical, and here are the Audis my friends have:

A8L
A8L
S6 Avant
S4
A6 2.8 quattro
A4 2.0T quattro
A6 2.7T quattro
A6 4.2 quattro

All love every moment with their cars. And of course there's my car, which is arguably the coolest of them all.

BMWs my friends have:

X5 3.0i
X5 3.0i
330ci

That's it. A lot of the badgewhores in my town drive Benzes, and BMW doesn't give off the best image around here.

Mercedes's I know:

SL500
S550
S550 AMG
CLK500 AMG
CLS 55 AMG
SL500
E320
ML320

And there you have it. One of the people traded their 1.5 year old 745Li right when the new S-Class came out- and the 7 was on a three-year lease.

s4 an xj8 (4.2) is 110000 dollars. the cheapest xj is a very respectable 80000 dollars, but that has a 3.0 v6.
a 730i costs 100000 dollars, a 750 120000. an a8 4.2 is 110000 dollars, an s550 is 140000 dollars.
the xj6 is the cheapest in its class, cheaper than the 730, a8 3.2, and an s350.

Did all read about the 4.2 FSI [430bhp] in the R8 imagine it detune for the A8, what will the so called 5.5 Mercedes Benz [380bhp] or 4.8 BMW[360bhp]do? Remember they are already heavier. AUDI on the RISE not FOLLOWING