Dont you guys think that A8 is overpriced? I mean lets be realistic here, how many people are going
08-01-2001, 10:21 AM
#21
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That would be $175K not $70K, and AWD would be included free.
Do not get me wrong. I think A8 is an excellent car... for the money. Can't beat its value for a retail transaction price of mid $60K loaded, regardless of its resale. That is a price of much smaller and not much, if at all, better handling E430 4MATIC.
IMO its biggest selling points ARE the price and AWD, can't argue with both, but the weakest are styling, resale, potential collision repair costs/problems/insurance, luck of modern electronics - common analogue phone?
Save for price and AWD, latest of which MB will take care of with a '03 MY, it is still nowhere near W220 S-class.
Remember, we compare apples vs apples - A8L/S8 vs S430/500, not apples vs oranges A8 vs E430.
IMO its biggest selling points ARE the price and AWD, can't argue with both, but the weakest are styling, resale, potential collision repair costs/problems/insurance, luck of modern electronics - common analogue phone?
Save for price and AWD, latest of which MB will take care of with a '03 MY, it is still nowhere near W220 S-class.
Remember, we compare apples vs apples - A8L/S8 vs S430/500, not apples vs oranges A8 vs E430.
08-01-2001, 10:50 AM
#22
Styling opinions are subjective. There seem to be people who like the traditional
shape of the A8 over something more trendy. Who knows if trendy will become a classic ? Who knows if what we feel is the pinnacle of styling right now, will seem dated and cringe-worthy later ? Time will tell. IMHO, the A8 looks less current than the S, but not any less handsome. It is masculine when compared to the feminine lines of the S.
The dash of the A8 is the weakest interior point. Not because it doesn't look like an arcade game gone mad, but it is too tall and square. The interior materials on the other hand, are more like budget Bentley/Rolls, than mass produced cars.
I think we will see the continuation of a trend of buyers ( not lease ) in the A8 vs other luxury brands. This may change when the new A8 comes out.
IMHO, AoA missed the boat when Ronin came out. Greater assosiaction with that movie, would have done a lot for the mystique.
The A8 remains an excellent value if you desire understatedness, quality craftmanship and AWD. There are many other valid and desirable choices if you are willing to discard QTR.
The dash of the A8 is the weakest interior point. Not because it doesn't look like an arcade game gone mad, but it is too tall and square. The interior materials on the other hand, are more like budget Bentley/Rolls, than mass produced cars.
I think we will see the continuation of a trend of buyers ( not lease ) in the A8 vs other luxury brands. This may change when the new A8 comes out.
IMHO, AoA missed the boat when Ronin came out. Greater assosiaction with that movie, would have done a lot for the mystique.
The A8 remains an excellent value if you desire understatedness, quality craftmanship and AWD. There are many other valid and desirable choices if you are willing to discard QTR.
08-01-2001, 11:45 AM
#23
Ever see the assembly plant for the A8 ? Annual world-wide capacity is
15,507 cars. That covers SWB, L versions and of course the S8. It is not meant to be a mass produced car. The A8 does not generate much in the way of profits. It is the flagship - the best that Audi can make.
The A8 was not meant to be a stand alone product. It's a test bed. An engineer's exercise.
The A8 will stagnate in the sense that it is not priority for the survival of Audi. Of course the lessons learned, apply to the A2. Multi-plexed wiring started with the A8 ( within Audi ), the multi-link front susp started with the A8. A host of other technologies have trickled down in addition to the aluminium construction.
I would never cross shop the E class with the A8. Nor the 3 series BMW with the A6 - as happens often.
The A8 was not meant to be a stand alone product. It's a test bed. An engineer's exercise.
The A8 will stagnate in the sense that it is not priority for the survival of Audi. Of course the lessons learned, apply to the A2. Multi-plexed wiring started with the A8 ( within Audi ), the multi-link front susp started with the A8. A host of other technologies have trickled down in addition to the aluminium construction.
I would never cross shop the E class with the A8. Nor the 3 series BMW with the A6 - as happens often.
08-02-2001, 03:23 AM
#25
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In real world A8L is 15-20K less, Lets calculate it...
Option out an S500 and an A8L (phone, heated front and rear seats, CD changer, 17 or 18" wheels, Xenon lights, etc.) to be as equivalent and loaded as possible. I'd bet you find very few "strippers" with cloth seats are sold of either vehicle 
Since it is impossible to do an apples-to-apples comparison (for example, the nice rear seats on the MB are cooled as well as heated while the A8's are only heated) leave off the 4-wheel drive for the MB for the price comparison.
Then, see what you can get from your MB dealer (other than the "deer in the headlights stare") when you ask what it will REALLY cost you. MB does not let it's dealers deviate from the MSRP, Audi does (I got a large chunk off of my 2000 A8L).
Since it is impossible to do an apples-to-apples comparison (for example, the nice rear seats on the MB are cooled as well as heated while the A8's are only heated) leave off the 4-wheel drive for the MB for the price comparison.
Then, see what you can get from your MB dealer (other than the "deer in the headlights stare") when you ask what it will REALLY cost you. MB does not let it's dealers deviate from the MSRP, Audi does (I got a large chunk off of my 2000 A8L).
08-02-2001, 06:30 AM
#26
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Expensive to Insure? I don't think mine is...
My 97 A8 costs $1300 a year to insure, my old 91 200q cost $850 a year to insure, and that's today! I don't think $100 or $125/month is out of the question. I was thinking it was gonna be a lot more. I've got a $500 deductable and live in Chicago.
Paul
Paul
08-02-2001, 06:43 PM
#27
what was the famous quote????
A person who pruchases an Audi A8/S8 is the type of person who purchases Louis Vittone (spelling?) luggage and removes the monikers.
No, it's not overpriced.
No, it's not overpriced.
08-02-2001, 08:55 PM
#28
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Re: Styling opinions are subjective. There seem to be people who like the traditional
I bought my A8L primarily because of the AWD. Secondarily, because it is much more rare on the road than the Merc S class or BMW 7 series. Also, living in SF I often have to park in areas where I prefer the my car is a little bit less of an obvious $ sign.
I personally LOVE the dash on this car, although a map based nav system would have been helpful a few times already. I hear that's coming, though.
I leased mine, and as of now expect to upgrade to the new design when it hits the states in '03.
I personally LOVE the dash on this car, although a map based nav system would have been helpful a few times already. I hear that's coming, though.
I leased mine, and as of now expect to upgrade to the new design when it hits the states in '03.
08-02-2001, 10:46 PM
#29
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If you spec the S430 vs A8L, you'll be surprised...
Similarily equipped S430 LWB vs A8L 4.2Q (most realistic comparison)
A8L vs. S430 (price in Canadian)
A8L - $96,500
w/
17-inch wheels/tires - $1360
Premium Package (xenon, ski sack, heated steering) - $1200
Parktronic - $1000
TOTAL: $100,060
S430 - $101,850
w/
17-inch wheels/tires - est. $2000 (or sport package - $7200)
Xenon - $1150
headlight washer - $590
Parktronic - $1480
heated rear seat - $720 (std in A8L)
rear and side sunshade - $460 for side, $710 for rear (std in A8L)
TOTAL: 108,960
Tag in about $3000 for the 4-matic option in 2003, the only features the A8L doesn't have will be the Partronic distance indicator, the power assisted door and trunk, the rain-sensor wiper, COMMAND fibre optic tele-com system and MB's only trick Air suspension w/ the adaptive damping system... the difference will be about $9000 for the RWD S430 and $12000 for a 2003 4WD S430. You also have to remember, the A8 started off in 1994 while the new S-class just came out 2 years ago, the difference is very significant since technology has advanced so much over the past couple years...
I also heard VW is still losing money when they make a A8 while the S-class is one of the most profitable car Daimler-Chrysler has to offer, if VW is selling the A8 at a loss while DC is making a lot of profit off an S-class, which do you think is a better value?
A8L vs. S430 (price in Canadian)
A8L - $96,500
w/
17-inch wheels/tires - $1360
Premium Package (xenon, ski sack, heated steering) - $1200
Parktronic - $1000
TOTAL: $100,060
S430 - $101,850
w/
17-inch wheels/tires - est. $2000 (or sport package - $7200)
Xenon - $1150
headlight washer - $590
Parktronic - $1480
heated rear seat - $720 (std in A8L)
rear and side sunshade - $460 for side, $710 for rear (std in A8L)
TOTAL: 108,960
Tag in about $3000 for the 4-matic option in 2003, the only features the A8L doesn't have will be the Partronic distance indicator, the power assisted door and trunk, the rain-sensor wiper, COMMAND fibre optic tele-com system and MB's only trick Air suspension w/ the adaptive damping system... the difference will be about $9000 for the RWD S430 and $12000 for a 2003 4WD S430. You also have to remember, the A8 started off in 1994 while the new S-class just came out 2 years ago, the difference is very significant since technology has advanced so much over the past couple years...
I also heard VW is still losing money when they make a A8 while the S-class is one of the most profitable car Daimler-Chrysler has to offer, if VW is selling the A8 at a loss while DC is making a lot of profit off an S-class, which do you think is a better value?
08-03-2001, 05:26 AM
#30
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Re: PSYCHOLOGICAL POINT ... those who feel the need to buy a Merc / BMW / Lexus....
Hello there.
I hope you will see this one. I think you are probably looking at your wallet and poor you realises you cant buy a BMW or an MB and you have to post this thred to convince yourself you are doing tht right thing by buying an AUDI. I think we all know why BMW's and MB cost far more than AUDI's.
Just keep your stupidity to yourself and do not start talking of these funny non-existent complexes
I hope you will see this one. I think you are probably looking at your wallet and poor you realises you cant buy a BMW or an MB and you have to post this thred to convince yourself you are doing tht right thing by buying an AUDI. I think we all know why BMW's and MB cost far more than AUDI's.
Just keep your stupidity to yourself and do not start talking of these funny non-existent complexes