a8 vs a6
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 11
From: East TN
If the price is the same, get the S8/A8.
If you can find one, the more loaded with content, the better the long term results will be in my experience. (The Alcantera headliner/leather trim door panels for example do not make noise like the plastic only ones do as they age.)
If you can find one, the more loaded with content, the better the long term results will be in my experience. (The Alcantera headliner/leather trim door panels for example do not make noise like the plastic only ones do as they age.)ALL facelift ('00-'03) A8's and S8's ('01-'03) have the same alcantara (fake suede) door trim panels...front and rear.
Optional alcantara headliners are glued onto the same solid headliner as the padded cloth fabric on ALL other models.
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Like I've stated, one buys an A8 because they want an A8...not as an alternate choice to an A6. One buys an A6 because they want an A6.
Same year A6 sedan, with auto trans, is only about 140 lbs light than an A8 SWB...one lightweight passenger. My A6 Allroad outweighs my A8 SWB by 200 lbs.
What you can NOT get in ANY A6, with ANY degree of modification, is the MUCH more rigid aluminum space frame...infinitely stronger and more responsive than the steel uni-body of the A6...NO comparison. The A8 is aluminum, not just to save weight, but to facilitate an actual monocoque frame, which is way thicker metal and MUCH more stiffening bracing incorporated. Add stiffer suspension to that and lose modified A6's in the corners...easily.
Drive both and you'll feel what I mean. An unmodified A6 feels floaty and much heavier in handling than the same year (or even older) A8...not to mention all the cracking, splitting, cheap plastic parts in the A6's interior, singing a symphony of cheapness as it ages.
To each their own priorities to satisfy.
Peace
Same year A6 sedan, with auto trans, is only about 140 lbs light than an A8 SWB...one lightweight passenger. My A6 Allroad outweighs my A8 SWB by 200 lbs.
What you can NOT get in ANY A6, with ANY degree of modification, is the MUCH more rigid aluminum space frame...infinitely stronger and more responsive than the steel uni-body of the A6...NO comparison. The A8 is aluminum, not just to save weight, but to facilitate an actual monocoque frame, which is way thicker metal and MUCH more stiffening bracing incorporated. Add stiffer suspension to that and lose modified A6's in the corners...easily.
Drive both and you'll feel what I mean. An unmodified A6 feels floaty and much heavier in handling than the same year (or even older) A8...not to mention all the cracking, splitting, cheap plastic parts in the A6's interior, singing a symphony of cheapness as it ages.
To each their own priorities to satisfy.
Peace
AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
I happen to own both a 2003 A8L and a 2000 A6 4.2 and I love them both for different reasons, first let me say both cars are in excellent shape and the A6 4.2 is more of my daily driver and it is a great car but it is no way a match for the A8L both have the exact same engine and trans but the A8L ride is silky smooth while the A6 4.2 is a more firmer sportier ride. You cannot go wrong with either if you were not going to get the A6 4.2 I would go for a 04 2.7 S-line and if you did A8 you can't go wrong with A8 or S8.
