Black or White A8 and Which One?
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AudiWorld Senior Member
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Black or White A8 and Which One?
Ya,i know, I've kind of passed on the A8 for now but it still a great car and am always up for conversation. So for those who picked white or black, I am curious which one you chose
Yesterday I found out IBIS white is available but the AUDI site still only has Glacier white when Building the A8, which, IMO doesnt look as nice. AUDI Really needs to do better at getting these changes up to date. It took them a awhile to get the 2012 A8 Build software up there
Anyway, I thought that the IBIS white with the front black grille makes for a sweet contrast (coolest contrast I have seen so far is a white R8 SPYDER with the black rear!) I also think the red rear lights on an IBIS are a nice contrast and make the car look nice form the rear
Black is alway the elegance color, when its kept clean!!! But there are 3 blacks. Phantom and Havana look nice. The other black seems to have some green in it. Brochures are tough to use for decisions
So between the blacks and the whites, which one did you choose and why?
Yesterday I found out IBIS white is available but the AUDI site still only has Glacier white when Building the A8, which, IMO doesnt look as nice. AUDI Really needs to do better at getting these changes up to date. It took them a awhile to get the 2012 A8 Build software up there
Anyway, I thought that the IBIS white with the front black grille makes for a sweet contrast (coolest contrast I have seen so far is a white R8 SPYDER with the black rear!) I also think the red rear lights on an IBIS are a nice contrast and make the car look nice form the rear
Black is alway the elegance color, when its kept clean!!! But there are 3 blacks. Phantom and Havana look nice. The other black seems to have some green in it. Brochures are tough to use for decisions
So between the blacks and the whites, which one did you choose and why?
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Oye Vey!!! Stop kicking the tires, and just get the damn A8 already! You know you want it...LOL :-))
Actually saw a Phantom Black D4 LWB as well as a white D4 LWB yesterday. Viewed the white one from the rear/rear passenger side as it was making a turn. I will say, white is quite striking on the D4, with a huge presence---however, upon reflection, IMO white on such a large car made it look boxier then the D4 appears in darker colors.
I have the Havanna Black, and while I like it for the most part, there are times I wish I had ordered Phantom Black. Had Phantom on my last D3 A8L, and I think the color looks much better on the D4's more angular body. Havanna just shows off so much brown tone in sunlight---and like with white, there is just too much real estate on the D4 for that much brown pigment in the paint. A side note, I think Havanna looks better on the smaller A7 and A6 bodies. In the end, Phantom seems to sparkle just a bit more, and I prefer the bluish hues it projects in sunlight versus Havanna's brown appearance---again, especially on such a large car. If they had toned down the brown pigment somewhat, then I'd probably like Havanna Black much more. Just my opinion.
Actually saw a Phantom Black D4 LWB as well as a white D4 LWB yesterday. Viewed the white one from the rear/rear passenger side as it was making a turn. I will say, white is quite striking on the D4, with a huge presence---however, upon reflection, IMO white on such a large car made it look boxier then the D4 appears in darker colors.
I have the Havanna Black, and while I like it for the most part, there are times I wish I had ordered Phantom Black. Had Phantom on my last D3 A8L, and I think the color looks much better on the D4's more angular body. Havanna just shows off so much brown tone in sunlight---and like with white, there is just too much real estate on the D4 for that much brown pigment in the paint. A side note, I think Havanna looks better on the smaller A7 and A6 bodies. In the end, Phantom seems to sparkle just a bit more, and I prefer the bluish hues it projects in sunlight versus Havanna's brown appearance---again, especially on such a large car. If they had toned down the brown pigment somewhat, then I'd probably like Havanna Black much more. Just my opinion.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 913
Likes: 20
Oye Vey!!! Stop kicking the tires, and just get the damn A8 already! You know you want it...LOL :-))
Actually saw a Phantom Black D4 LWB as well as a white D4 LWB yesterday. Viewed the white one from the rear/rear passenger side as it was making a turn. I will say, white is quite striking on the D4, with a huge presence---however, upon reflection, IMO white on such a large car made it look boxier then the D4 appears in darker colors.
I have the Havanna Black, and while I like it for the most part, there are times I wish I had ordered Phantom Black. Had Phantom on my last D3 A8L, and I think the color looks much better on the D4's more angular body. Havanna just shows off so much brown tone in sunlight---and like with white, there is just too much real estate on the D4 for that much brown pigment in the paint. A side note, I think Havanna looks better on the smaller A7 and A6 bodies. In the end, Phantom seems to sparkle just a bit more, and I prefer the bluish hues it projects in sunlight versus Havanna's brown appearance---again, especially on such a large car. If they had toned down the brown pigment somewhat, then I'd probably like Havanna Black much more. Just my opinion.
Actually saw a Phantom Black D4 LWB as well as a white D4 LWB yesterday. Viewed the white one from the rear/rear passenger side as it was making a turn. I will say, white is quite striking on the D4, with a huge presence---however, upon reflection, IMO white on such a large car made it look boxier then the D4 appears in darker colors.
I have the Havanna Black, and while I like it for the most part, there are times I wish I had ordered Phantom Black. Had Phantom on my last D3 A8L, and I think the color looks much better on the D4's more angular body. Havanna just shows off so much brown tone in sunlight---and like with white, there is just too much real estate on the D4 for that much brown pigment in the paint. A side note, I think Havanna looks better on the smaller A7 and A6 bodies. In the end, Phantom seems to sparkle just a bit more, and I prefer the bluish hues it projects in sunlight versus Havanna's brown appearance---again, especially on such a large car. If they had toned down the brown pigment somewhat, then I'd probably like Havanna Black much more. Just my opinion.
I saw glacier white in a showroom but I have yet to see Ibis in an A8. I saw ibis in an A6 and it seems to look nicer than the glacier white but I would have to see them together in an A8. Black will always carry a bit more elegance but there is more exterior contrast with white and A nice window tint on an Ibis A8 car would look striking.
Last edited by GR8-LIFE; Oct 6, 2011 at 08:32 PM.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: New York Metropolitan Area
Nope, Havanna Black is a glossy metallic finish, same as Phantom Black---the difference is the pearl effect technique in how the finish is applied with Phantom. The Emerald Black metallic will have a decidedly more dark forrest green appearance in sunlight. All are clearcoat finished.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
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Nope, Havanna Black is a glossy metallic finish, same as Phantom Black---the difference is the pearl effect technique in how the finish is applied with Phantom. The Emerald Black metallic will have a decidedly more dark forrest green appearance in sunlight. All are clearcoat finished.
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: So Cal
My wifes A8L is Oolong Grey which has a really wide range of colors dependent upon light. It will look at various times grey, brown but both have a blueish hue. I am told that the Oolong has the lowest gloss of the metallics which I tend to believe. My preference was white, but our trade was a white S class, my R8 is white as well as my daughters A4 and other daughters Benz. A bit of change is good but I may regret it in the next year or so.
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We also had Phantom on the D3 and even w/ all the new choices, we stayed with that color. Very elegant indeed, but yes we have 3 times the car wash expense as those with other colors. It is especially nice when the doors and/or trunk is open with the custom black and burgundy monogrammed woven floor mats and trunk liner - and certainly at night with the interior 'city lighting' effect.
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