BigGrasshopper

In a recent review of the new BMW M5, Dan Neil said "The strange truth is, the M5 is too heavy for the track and too fast for the street."

Which got me thinking, is the same true for the S8? I've driven it and its a beast. But for me it would be highly frustrating to drive in city and even highway traffic because of the vast untapped and unusable potential. I don't get that feeling in the A8.

I have a high displacement sports car that is annoying to drive in the same circumstances but all is forgiven when taken on the track our vacant roads. I suppose the potential of the S8 could be wrung out on the track, but who's going to track one?

04_ultrasport

If we had an autobahn then the power it puts out would be more usable but on U.S. roads it will just get you in trouble and its just to big to use on the track.

wilfred2k5

Well, you never know when you might need to outrun a tsunami or something. In the S8, I bet you could...

navin in KC

Makes me think of this:



You could only outrun the tsunami if you are on the correct side of the highway.

Madlax65

I have had my S8 for one week and It is so fast 0-60 that you do run out of road too fast. Oddly it doesn't even feel that fast due the cabin isolation and 4 wheel drive grip. Hit the pedal and boom, you are at 60 looking like an idiot in light traffic. (Where is that guy going so dang fast?) It just feels so normal, and not too exciting after a while since the car does it with ease. I had a CTSV for a few months and it felt like a bat out of hell that could lose grip at any moment due to it's 2 wheel drive. My Pano 4S never felt that fast 0-60. 4.2-4.5 runs were amazing, but 3.5-4.0 runs in the S8 are another matter. You know you are doing it, but it just doesn't feel that special. Perhaps a louder exhaust note would add to the effect.
70-90 is a whole other amazing feeling in the S8. It does it so fast, that you can't press down on the accelerator for longer than a few seconds. I will never take this car above 90, (rarely do that but for open highway) but would love to try it. The 90-130mph times have to be amazing.

Anyone in Germany want to express their feelings going wide open in the new S8 on the autobahn?

L0U

I did a zero to 150mph run. Pulled onto the shoulder, and let the traffic get 1 minute ahead. The acceleration after 100mph was scary, since there is no relief in the speed. It goes full bore to the limiter. 200mph would be easy if the limiter was removed. The larger bentley does 202 with less hp, and brutal aerodynamics.

Its really making my snow tires hurt daily. Need warm weather!

s5blitzer

Love hearing stories of speed without a real sensation in the cabin. Scary but it is a fact. That's one of the reason I have a V1 in my cars to remind me to watch my speedometer.

BigGrasshopper

Ha! V1 or Escort definitely a great investment in a car like this.

Somewhere in North America I got the D4 A8 to 130mph with ease and ZERO cabin noise. In fact passenger was sleeping and did not wake (no, I was not running from the Policia!)

My point is that the A8 is so easy to get to speed that the S8 might actually be too easy.

Great article in R&T where the C7 Vette engineer says that the horsepower wars are now out of control. Don't get me wrong - the S8 is an engineering marvel. I just know that with my A8, 70mph is slow - like asking a rocket scientist to do simple algebra. In comparison the S8 is like Einstein.

Audis or VWs 4Life

Its not too much, you just can't put your accelerator peddle into the carpet for too long. You really have to look around and make sure you have a clear path and no other cars around you before you bury it. Its damn fun to drive. Once GIAC or APR make a chip for it with no speed gov you'll see 200 easy unless the car has issues with super high speed aero which I doubt. In situations where you are a light and the lanes merge ahead from two down to one count on an easy first to merge about 99.9% of the time. Even the ZR1 or Viper owner better have some rowing skills to stay ahead.

RL371

I don't think the S8 is "too much" since it puts a huge smile on my face when driving. I have found that it is very rare in every day driving to find a spot that I can put the car in dynamic, and floor it off the line. Its one of the few cars that I have to think well ahead of me, to ensure someone isn't going to be in my path when I'm doing 60 from a light or merging on a highway.

Now if I lived in Texas/Oklahoma this wouldn't be as much of an issue, but in Santa Monica, it's a challenge. I think I've only floored it 2-3 times in 2,500 miles.