Is there anyone here that current has a W12 or had one, and also had the V8 A8 that can describe the difference between the two cars in terms of power etc? I am trying to decide if a 35k price premium is really worth it. (considering swapping my 2006 A8L for a 2008 W12)

 

As great as the 4.2 is, the difference is significant, look at the 0-60 times. I think the W12 has a broader torque curve as well. I don't regret getting a W12 over a 4.2 when I was looking last year, despite the fact that I have my W12 up for sale. Nothing to do with the engines, just looking to get into an SUV/wagon.

I'm not sure why there would be a $35k difference between a 4.2 and W12 of the same model year and similar options list? Are you saying that's the additional cost for you after your 2006 4.2 trade-in?

 

35k-40k delta is for an 08 with CPO with 30k miles on the clock. My 06 has nearly 72k on the clock. The W12 will set me back in the mid to upper 60's after taxes while my 06 A8 if I am lucky would sell for 25-30k. (its had full maintenance timing belt job done you name its been done)

08 W12 is loaded minus radar guided cruise and the fridge. Full leather B&O etc.

 

The engine and performance is only part of the 35K difference. The other (big) difference is that the W12 is loaded to the gills with features that were optional (if available at all) on the A8L.

I'm not sure that I could personally swallow a 35K difference, but it certainly doesn't seem out of line from what I'm seeing online for prices.

Let us know how it shakes out.

 

Here, a W12 is more of a liability than an asset, no-one seems to be able to justify the running costs, Sir Alex Ferguson seems OK with one though...
http://www.audi.co.uk/about-audi/eve...-and-audi.html

 

I have a 2000 A6 4.2 and a 2006 A8 W12. The 2000 is back at 300 HP, but not that different than the pre-FSI A8 4.2. Both cars weigh just over 4,000 pounds (big but aluminum body vs. steel but mid sized). Earlier 5 speed tranny makes some difference too. I like the 4.2 and still smile when I push it a bit, but wow is the W12 in a whole new realm. Big time power, super torquey. As Modest W12 mentioned, really broad torque curve. At way under 2000 RPM (as in, any time you start to push the pedal down even modestly and it steps down seamlessly even one gear), it has loads of torque. With the 4.2 only as the short tract runners open up in the mid 3K RPM range do I feel the full power of that motor. I can drive the 4.2 and use every bit of the gas pedal travel and power at times; very rarely to I ever do that with the W12, yet it just quietly gets up and moves really fast and really, really effortlessly. Being clear though, if I owned a late model D3 4.2, particularly in the later years if well optioned, I would be a very happy camper too.

As Modest W12 said, the equipment level of the W12 is huge. Things I would probably never buy on a new car are in there, and nice to enjoy. Having lived with both, you will have a higher gas bill. Mostly in town, where real world MPG can be down close to 10. On the freeway at reasonable speeds it is actually in the low 20's, so it's really the heavy stop and go part where you feel/see the difference. Maintenance wise, I basically have had zero issues with anything specific to the W12 motor or its auxiliary parts (extra oil and tranny coolers, two air boxes, amped up cooling system, etc.)and have owned it for 4+ years now. It has shorter major service intervals than the 4.2 (basically filters and (harder to access) plugs), but on the other hand as a chain drive motor it has no expensive timing belt recurring upkeep like the pre-FSI 4.2, nor questions about valve fouling and related performance that most FSI motors (Audi or otherwise) seem to be more prone to develop. It's a low volume motor (including the old Phaeton and the several Bentley fitments) but having followed it now for some years, I really don't think of anything it is reputed to have issues with.

Finally, owning a 10 year old 4.2 A6, well it's a nice car that I know I have maintained well, but there is nothing that special about it, and indeed most have moved on to a younger set and are getting to be "beaters." The W12 is really rare and low volume--fewer W12's are here than RS6's [before they got totalled at high rates], and about now there may even be a similar total number of R8's. I think there are likely meaningfully more W12 Bentleys than W12 A8's even. And as motors get downsized, a V8 will be even more the exception than now (newest stats are less than 20% of vehicles being sold domestically). But a W12 will be a truly rare and unique bird found otherwise pretty much in exotics. Very subjective, but having owned Audi's well past their prime years, this one may well have a halo effect for a good long time. Realistically 4.2 C and D bodies don't really seem to by out 10 years even with the great D3 qualities, and the only one in those body groups I can think of that kept some mystique years on was the C4 body S4/S6 (yes, called the S4 early on before Audi standardized platform naming) with the pumped up I-5 turbo motor, and stick based, comparatively light quattro. In common, it shared enthusiastic owners, smile on your face power and responsiveness in its time, and small total sales base, all hiding in plain site side by side with its high volume alternate motor sibling. RS6 might be another one, but it was high strung enough and with incrementally more reliability questions than the C5 that it seems muddier.

 

and as such, commands all kindsa stuff, like wow, what a great car!, thats where my name comes from actually, couldn't see owning the other lesser audis, now, i don't want to sound pompous assy like, though thats exactly what it does sound like, but it really is just the best... i recently bought a 2002 996tt with the same hp but maybe 500lb less in the porsche, but with the spool time of the turbos, the a8 will kill it off the line, for a few second anyway... and i think the 8 is close to the tt to 60 anyway, and it is miles ahead in comfort and quality and fit 'n finish and just that luxe'feel', even though the old d2's were i guess way behind the d3's, never been in one, but i hear the d4 leaves the d3 in a dusty bowl somewhere outside of queen creek, south of sedona and jerome, and oh what neighboorhood to enjoy your car on, lovely twisties, long and desolate, the one cop patrolling from there to vegas would catch you for sure, but so what, or he might see you, probably wouldn't catch you if his radio were broken, anyway, bit of a ramble here, but i plan on NEVER selling my w12, and the porsche is up in mobile.de next week, so there we are,go with the bestest

 

Hello friend.
I want to buy audi a8 w12 long Year 2005.
My questions:
Do I have to fuel 98 octane? Or 95? Will there be damage?
Is it possible to replace a smaller prevent? 4.2 liter or 3.2 liter?
Timing when to replace strap?
You can get the list of necessary treatments by miles and their costs?
Thank you
Raziel ah