On the fence over an S8
08-01-2014, 01:24 PM
#11
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08-03-2014, 11:04 AM
#12
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I've been looking at getting a larger vehicle, and have been considering the S8, A8L and S550.
The pros on the S8 are that it's large, luxurious and sporty. The S8 isn't very common.
The negatives are the cost, the gas mileage and the fact that it's not much larger inside than the A6. I could obtain most of the options on a A8L.
My last S8 was one of my favorite vehicles, but I felt compelled to buy a Hybrid Toyota Camry for my daily driver. I wouldn't do that again.
I could also get into a S550 for the same money. The S550 has great tech features. My reservations are that it's a bit less discrete. Most people know the S550 is very expensive.
Any thoughts?
The pros on the S8 are that it's large, luxurious and sporty. The S8 isn't very common.
The negatives are the cost, the gas mileage and the fact that it's not much larger inside than the A6. I could obtain most of the options on a A8L.
My last S8 was one of my favorite vehicles, but I felt compelled to buy a Hybrid Toyota Camry for my daily driver. I wouldn't do that again.
I could also get into a S550 for the same money. The S550 has great tech features. My reservations are that it's a bit less discrete. Most people know the S550 is very expensive.
Any thoughts?
08-03-2014, 12:38 PM
#13
That's how I feel. I chipped my S8 with APR tune. I considered, before, my '08 MB CL 600 to be a torque king. Not any more. S8 eats them for breakfast.
08-06-2014, 10:17 PM
#14
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My wife has a 14 S550 and I drive a 14 S8. My potpourri of thoughts. The self steering function on the new S550 is very nice on long road trips. Interior design and seat comfort is essentially a wash between the two. I prefer the Audi MMI over the Mercedes Command. (Both are rendered archaic by the intuitive Tesla user interface IMHO.). The wife likes the fact that the S550 interior can be lit up with more colors than a Bangkok brothel; I think it's a bit cheesy. The MB styling is more attractive to my eye, but I like that the Audi flies totally under the radar.
Ride quality is similar. The S8 ride quality is worsened by the very low profile 21" wheel/tire package relative to the standard A8. Mercedes ride harshness is worsened IMHO from the last generation S550 by the run-flat POS tires they used. It just doesn't absorb small sharp imperfections very well. Uneven concrete expansion joints are particularly annoying in the Mercedes. The runflats are going away soon.
Obviously, the S8 engine crushes the S550. The Audi gearbox has superior shift smoothness in standard mode and is very effective at putting down the power in sport mode.
If you elect to purchase the A8, to avoid buyer's remorse, don't test drive a S8. Although the A8 is a great car, I found the S8 to be much more fun to drive with relatively little compromise in comfort.
Ride quality is similar. The S8 ride quality is worsened by the very low profile 21" wheel/tire package relative to the standard A8. Mercedes ride harshness is worsened IMHO from the last generation S550 by the run-flat POS tires they used. It just doesn't absorb small sharp imperfections very well. Uneven concrete expansion joints are particularly annoying in the Mercedes. The runflats are going away soon.
Obviously, the S8 engine crushes the S550. The Audi gearbox has superior shift smoothness in standard mode and is very effective at putting down the power in sport mode.
If you elect to purchase the A8, to avoid buyer's remorse, don't test drive a S8. Although the A8 is a great car, I found the S8 to be much more fun to drive with relatively little compromise in comfort.
Last edited by prg; 08-06-2014 at 10:20 PM.
08-08-2014, 05:49 AM
#16
My wife has a 14 S550 and I drive a 14 S8. My potpourri of thoughts. The self steering function on the new S550 is very nice on long road trips. Interior design and seat comfort is essentially a wash between the two. I prefer the Audi MMI over the Mercedes Command. (Both are rendered archaic by the intuitive Tesla user interface IMHO.). The wife likes the fact that the S550 interior can be lit up with more colors than a Bangkok brothel; I think it's a bit cheesy. The MB styling is more attractive to my eye, but I like that the Audi flies totally under the radar. t.
07-01-2015, 10:02 AM
#17
AudiWorld Member
I drove a '13 A8L for 7 months before getting my '14 S8 and felt the long wheel base car was a little too big, especially if you don't haul people around much. The advantage of the S8 is intoxicating power and exclusivity--you don't see many of them and there are S550's on every corner.
07-01-2015, 11:20 AM
#18
AudiWorld Member
S Class Mercs are a dime a dozen and I'm not a huge fan of how they look [totally subjective I realize]. With respect to the RS7, do some searching I have read a lot of people unhappy with that car as a gussied up A6. I have never been inside a new gen A6 so I don't know but for your dollars, an S8 is hard to beat for exclusivity and panache [and to smoke about anything on the road].
Dollars to donuts, if the valet has one spot left and there is an S550 or an S8 to park out front, who do you think gets the space? In Boston a while back there were 2 Porsches that took second fiddle to my S8--now, that isn't why I bought it [actually kind of the opposite/only those "in the know" know what it is], but it's still pretty cool to have a 7 year old car pushing out 991s in the valet lineup.
Dollars to donuts, if the valet has one spot left and there is an S550 or an S8 to park out front, who do you think gets the space? In Boston a while back there were 2 Porsches that took second fiddle to my S8--now, that isn't why I bought it [actually kind of the opposite/only those "in the know" know what it is], but it's still pretty cool to have a 7 year old car pushing out 991s in the valet lineup.
