2fast2c

I have 07 A8 100k miles with pretty much all the options. I'm pretty happy with the car. But as you know, I'm getting itch for an upgrade. I would still stay in D3, 07-08 S8.
Any S8 owners with thoughts? Anyone who went from A8 to S8?

Thanks for your advices and opinions

Incaico

I think the adage "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" applies here...

gaspasser19

That expression refers to asking about the cost of an item. The OP never mentioned price.

I love my S8 for the sport seats, the carbon fiber interior accents, the sport suspension, the 20" wheels and OH YEAH!...the extra 100hp from the V10

tx170754

Went from a 2006 A8 to a 2008 S8, night and day. I would go ahead and take one for a drive, then you have to decide.

2fast2c

What's the difference in mpg from A8 to S8? Any problems with V10 vs V8, meaning any more problem other than known issues from A8?

2fast2c

Thanks for your concerns, however, I do not want to waste my money unless I can justify the reason. That's why I'm asking for your advices and honest opinion. Just because something is bigger, more expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's better. I'm just doing my homework before the purchase. That's all.

bmwm750

I think D3 S8 is really neat, mostly due to the V10 and its exotic nature. However, as neat as they are, you really do pay the price in fuel burn, and get to enjoy the lovely FSI carbon issues. The V10 also gives the car even more front weight bias, as its such a long engine. As much as I don't really care for the D4 cars, the current blown V8 will walk away from the V10 in the D3.

As much as I like the D3 S8, I'm really thinking that a D4 is going to replace my D3 A8, and not a D3 S8.

kgd_007

I recently went through a similar decision process. I was considering D3 S8 vs. D4 A8. I had the D4 A8 several times as a loaner car and really liked it. I am now in my second D3 S8. My first one was rear ended and totaled by the insurance Company. I now have a 2009 S8 prior one was a CPO 2008 S8. If you are talking about the price difference between A8 and S8 the "cost" difference doesn't make sense. You have to like having a unique car. When I was looking the full leather, carbon fibre and B&O where a must. The interior of the car is the nicest I have seen with leather, aluminum and carbon fibre everywhere you look. Again this is a personal choice but I love it. The lane assist, side assist and adaptive cruise are all nice but I could live without. The car I have now has the solar sunroof. I liked my first S8 without the solar better, miss being able to let the light in and can't tell a difference when parked in the sun. Both cars have the 4 zone climate control but I never sit back there so I could live without. I had the prior owner of the second car fix rear side sun shades and trunk motor before I bought the car, my first one had the same issue. Make sure the shades pull up nice and smooth. I replaced the center dash speaker on the 2009 S8 myself right after I bought it. About $150 and less than an hour to swap them out. Not sure what previous owner did but the phone audio was horrible prior to replacing.

The decision part for me was mileage (I get 14 to 17 with the S8, D4 A8 much better), the Nav system in D4 is much better with moving cursor and traffic, I see tons of the D4's rarely see the D3 S8. I like the overall body of the D3 vs the D4. D4 quite a bit more money than any D3. You can easily get a CPO D4, not likely to get a CPO D3. D4 will ride better but less road feel than D3 S8. At the end of the day I was still really liking the S8 and decided to stay with that for now.

Given the purchase price difference I am pretty sure that I will end up paying less money all in with the D3 S8 vs the D4 A8's I was looking at. The S8 I bought had about 38,000 miles, the D4's I was looking at we're in the 20,000 to 30,000 mile range.

ltooz_a6_a8_q7

Smart thinking -

I don't think the S8 is bigger - it's shorter than A8L - More expensive and faster - These days the only way you can get your speed or acceleration is to go to the track.

S8 is for people who want to spend more money - not necessarily more confident, or truly more well off than the A8's owners.

Cheers,

Louis

1Wasserwerks

Exactly what KGD said!
Research what you think you would like to get into, then get into it. I think some options are not available with the s8, but i could be wrong (massage seats, ventilated seats).
I was settled on a 2008 s8 daytona grey with leather upgrade, c/f, b/o. Just so happened that a 2009 came along with the same options. I swooped in like a hawk going after a chipmunk. It ends up there are (from what I found) 209 s8's imported in 2009, so not only is a d3 s8 a rare bird, the 2009 is even a bit more of a rarity.
Good luck with your search.