You made my mind up, flew to Glasgow and bought one and drove it back to wales. Same spec you have here, loudest thing on the motorway was the heater blower. I’m in love with it so far, king of the road.
As a retired chauffeur I agree with you wholeheartedly Matt. I drove the exact same specification on numerous occasions, the client always appreciated being transported in this stylish, well appointed, and comfortable motor. I can even confirm that, as demonstrated one March heading up to Beverley at 3:00 am, it makes a good snowplough! Around Beverley the snow was up to the top of the wheel arches and it didn’t miss a beat. Great review as usual, you’re just missing the black suit!
We special ordered our 2013 A8L in May of 2013 and still have it in our garage. We absolutely love this vehicle! It’s quiet, comfortable, powerful, extremely fast and has been absolutely reliable. We have the 4.0 twin turbo engine which delivers excellent gas mileage and outstanding performance while maintaining a relatively quiet attitude unless you spool up both turbos! In 10 years, we had to replace a vanity mirror light switch and everything else has been routine yearly maintenance. The car still looks and drives like it’s brand new! Other than outdated technology (particularly the GPS), it’s got all the bells and whistles Audi offered including the top B&O system which is fantastic!
I had an 07 mk2 A8 4.2TD and covered 300K miles in 6 years, regularly drove down to Italy in one go. In that time, other than headlight build replacements and servicing, nothing went wrong. At about 300K, a rear brake light cluster failed and rear suspension arms replaced... At high speeds the A8 was really well balanced and very refined for long journeys. I Bought an A6 Allroad, 3.0l and missed the comfort... The 4.2td is such a great engine, smooth power from tick over. The A6 3.0L with EGR and all the emissions was less refined. I had it remapped and blocked off the EGR, smoother, much more power and better economy... indecently quick. However, still not a match for the A8... A8 4.2td highly rated by me.
@@Atombender To cut a long story short ....fancied a change ..all set to buy an Audi S5 then they changed it to a diesel after i had placed my order I didnt want a diesel in a sports car ......ended up in a V6 diesel Velar instead !
The problem with Audi is that most people cannot tell an a4 from a6 from an a8 from a Passat. The A8 simply doesn't look the money and maintenance issues sink it in the resale market.The thing I enjoy most about Matt's videos is the modern car juxtaposed against a background of 300 year old homes.
A great video, I’m 77 years old and retired, but I had one of these cars before I retired and I agree with everything you said about it. I had many luxury executive cars, but this was the best, it never got keyed and did not attract attention. Keep up the good work, I love your channel and presentation style. Cheers Peter
My dad got a 2010 A8 4.2 tdi in September, it’s such a technically impressive car but it doesn’t shout about it, and I love that about it! Makes a ridiculous amount of torque and is so quiet on the motorway. A 2.0 A4 would’ve been a much more sensible car but it’s not as good value as an A8 and it wouldn’t put as big a smile on your face!
This was the review that decided me. I've bought a 4.2 tdi D4. It only has about 50k miles and is superb. It's 10 years old but looks and drives like new. Thanks Matt. By the way, you dodged a bullet with your decision over becoming an airline pilot!
How do you feel about the car? I always wanted one of these, since for me they seem like perfect blend of luxury and sportiness, while still being uncensored. But am afraid of possible maintenance costs, and breakdowns.
@@imeprezime1069 Hiya. I really like the car. Although it's by far the oldest car I've ever owned, it's also one of the nicest I've ever driven. It manages almost 40 mpg on the motorways, doing about 70ish mph. Local trips see the mpg plummet as it doesn't change into top gear until about 65mph. I've had no big bills so far and with the build quality as it is, hopefully I won't get any. If you can afford a slightly newer one, then do so, as they made the cars even better from about 2013 until this model (D3) ended in 2017. Enjoy. I don't think you'd regret it :)
@J Scott Yes, it's great. I've had it for over a year now and covered about 15k miles. No nasty surprises and it does about 38mpg on the motorway. I've got a bluetooth dongle from Invery so i can stream music and Audible from my phone. The last iteration, from c2014 to c2017 would be the best option but they are a lot more expensive. If you can find a low mileage pre-facelift like mine, I think you'd be very happy with it. Good luck.
Me, watches every High Peaks video, gets half way every time and jumps straight on Autotrader as the car (whatever car 😂) makes total sense for my new passion project!!! I’m either weak willed/easily swayed or Matt is the worlds greatest salesman
I was thinking about this yesterday when I was driving a 2015 Jaguar XJ 3.0 diesel, and even though i haven't driven the A8 I was wondering why anyone would want anything else other than an XJ. It was a fantastic car. 😎
Brilliant review! Before 2 months I bought myself a facelifted 2014 A8 4.2 TDI short wheel base. And it is simply brilliant, especially if you are younger and you are looking for a big executive saloon, the A8 is the most youthful of its competition I would say:) It’s an absolute joy to drive, especially with its 385hp and 850nm! And mine has all of the niceties( adaptive stop and go cruise control, active lane assist, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, quilted leather seats, heated and cooled and with a brilliant massage function, black alcantara headliner and soo many other stuff! The point is if you find a example with nice extras, go for it. This A8 blends understated elegance, comfort and dynamism in a very balanced package. As for reliability, mine has 110,000miles, but it has a full service history and it is fine, although some parts are more expensive than its competitors. For example my right exterior mirror didn’t fold, so I was expecting that it just needed a new electric motor and it would be fine, as in my s class and 7 series that I have owned, but I had to buy a new mirror because the electric motor is a part of the mirror, so when it breaks you have the change the whole thing:) But besides those small things it isn’t really more expensive to maintain than an average car. Cheers!
Well done Matt. Excellent review. I have had my 2014 A8L 4.2TDi SE Executive for a couple of months now and cannot fault it. It is simply the best car I have ever owned. It has more grunt than a herd of pigs, but in 2,000 miles of mixed motoring it has averaged 38mpg. The comfort is superb and as you say, "like a deserted library" at motorway speeds. Keep up the good work. Cheers Pat.
Matt, I part exchanged my 2016 A8 for my 2014 Range Rover sport. Like you, I'm a RR fanboy, but the A8 was a better car. Comfort, smoothness, refinement. All better on the A8. Brilliant cars and very, very reliable.
My husband has an 06 plate D3, 4.2 tdi v8 with 156000 miles on it. just passed its MOT, no advisories, 38mpg on the motorway, 23mpg round town. Superb car. £6.5k two years ago.
Thank you for your input. Having a V8 2015 A8 L delivered via CarMax in a few days. Black exterior (think its high gloss, not metallic), Burnt Orange leather, similar colored alcantra door panels, beautiful natural matte wood, and every option on the list, 43k miles, $38K. The interior is breathtaking. Perfect condition inside and out. first car I've been truly excited about. Steal felling a bit guilty...so luxurious, but I'm a bit disabled and i can drive this car so comfortably. Cannot drive many.
I have a 2011 standard wheelbase A8 se executive 3.0D with around 80k - bought for £11k two years ago, my first Audi always had BMW 5 or 7’s previously. I genuinely love it, so fast and refined yet averages mid 40mpg or 50mpg on a slow cruise. Bought it as I thought it looked better than the S class or BMW equivalent 2011 models. Everything you say in the review I can vouch for and agree the gear-lever design is about the only think I’d change too!
The D4 platform is indeed very polished and thought out. I used to have a 3.0TDi D3. Then upgraded to the D4 S8 Plus. Hand on heart, even after nearly 2 years of ownership, it always puts a huge smile on my face and I always take the scenic route.
I have had 2 A8's and an early S8 all have been great. Things to watch out for, timing chain is an engine out job around £2k at a specialist, mega bucks at a main dealer. Chain the gearbox oil every 40 - 50 thousand miles. They have been known to go at around 80 thou without this. Great cars
Couldn’t agree more. Loved my D4 Black Edition that I leased. These are now a very cheap car for what they are. I used to drive across Europe in total comfort after an early Eurotunnel jaunt. I had the 3.0 TDi which was fine coming from an E60 535d LCi. I imagine the 4.2 TDi is even better but they are rare. Great opening comments!
The extra front end weight of the 4.2 makes it less relaxing to drive. Since using the additional power would mostly be illegal or dangerous, their is little point. If you weigh up all the differences, including running cost and maintenance, almost every one of them starts to look like a disadvantage. Unless you are in the market for a RR or Bentley, stick with the 3.0 TDI and spend the money that you save on a nice holiday.
Great review as always, no bull straight to point. I’m like you , just the A8 and keep looking at them as an understated luxury machine. How much was this one. Keep up the good year
(For naming info, Audi uses "D" for this class car, D1=Audi V8, D2= Series 1 A8 etc) I have a D2 S8 (2002) and that is the one to have from that era. I also have a daily driver 2011 D4 S8 4.2 V8 TDI which is epic. 360BHP 35mpg (on a run). It also have £25K of extras including £6K B&O stereo, special colour, extended leather etc. It also has all the safety features. I have no idea what I could replace it with for less than £100K. Mine actually cost over £100K when new. I've had it 3 years and I bought it for £17K. Amazing car.
I wish all car dealers were like this telling you all the good points and bad hes a great guy and I do enjoy watching his shows so keep up the good work 👍👍👍👍👍
As you know, I recently purchased a Jag XJ Portfolio. I really love it! Mind you I am still finding out about things, the reason I mention this is that the Audi has a very sensible placement of the seat adjustment controls, mine are situated in a tight space between seat and door - can’t change the settings without opening the door. As you correctly pointed out, using the stereo and auxiliaries white driving is distracting and possibly downright dangerous, but in the Jag, mode and volume.are on the steering wheel. The start button is in a silly place as well. I still think I made the right choice though, and IR.D.
@Wooly Chewbakker Join the club! The design sets it apart from all competitors, it’s British and always draws attention. I am always being asked about running costs and reliability. It’s a thoroughbred, It will need maintenance, but it’s a beautiful luxury car- that is what you are buying. Richard D
Another underrated car was the VW Phaeton with massive depreciation but the brand badge was its let down I gather. I think at the Audi A8 and A6 level for an older second hand car, Lexus makes more sense because of the reliability and service costs.
I have driven the A8 as a diplomatic/royalty driver. The vehicles also driven apart from Range Rovers and Jag XJL. I loved my A8’S I had top spec. Loved it. I
I must fess up (again) bought a barn find 2002 D2 S8 4.2 Quattro ....I love it FSH until 2015 when it was left on a farm, best £2000 buy so far, I’ve put my video on TH-cam Barnfind S8 . Excellent video .....there’s a 2002 top gear review, A8, the S class, 7 series & a Jag ....Clarkson loves the A8 ....in his summing up but then says ....sadly it doesn’t say S Class on the badge & in this category...class rocks
Lovely car great review. I was lucky and got the S class 3.0 diesel a 2006 model with 29.000 miles one owner, I paid £10,000 and kept it for Three and half years, sold it for £8.000 a lovely car.
I have owned a 2004 A8. 4.2L with 77,000 miles on her for the last 8 years. Fabulous car to drive and really well built, mine has the sport seats but still very comfy. I have a bad back and when my back is really bad the seats still feel comfortable. But there is one problem and it’s a big problem, the cost is spares, yes of course if you buy a car like this you know things will be expensive but Audi take it to a new level. For instance to replace the rear lights will cost you around £1500. Which is bad enough but the inner two lights will only last approx 4 years before they crack, let in water and your in for another nearly £800. I did ask in an Audi showroom why everythng from a basic nut is so much more that other cars. Oh it’s an A8 with a smile. That’s an excuse not an answer I replied. But the car if not visiting an Audi garage every week is superb to drive and really comfortable to drive, yes get the 4.2 petrol if you can find one as they are the one to go for and if you can find a low mileage one go for it, prices are going up for the older mk2, there is a 2004 A8 4.2 for sale with only 64,000 miles going for nearly £10,000. Granted it’s a really nice one but that shows how much the car is appreciated. But I would suggest adding another £2000 for any nasty surprises. Tyres, mine runs on 20 inch alloys but if you go for a cheaper but still reasonably good make you should pay around the £600 mark. Obviously Michelin Pirelli etc will set back a lot more. But it is worth it and you have the security of the Quattro 4 wheel drive system to keep you out of trouble
I love this generation of A8. Almost as beautiful as the second generation. Audi is the best when it comes to making subtle and elegant yet muscular looking sedans.
Another great review. Big execs suffer chronic depreciation from new. I think second hand buyers are put off by potential running costs. Makes them brilliant value used buys, if that is your thing.
Great review mate, i'll start with that. Just bough a 10 plate 4.2tdi one. Has individual paint and comfort seats, night vision and few other stuff, about 17k of extras on it. Sits just over 47k on the clock and drives amazing, will pick it up this coming week. Paid 16k for it which I believe it does worth it. Had a BMW f10 which I sold few days ago, a 520d, and this 4.2tdi 'scares' me, haha. Great cars, cant wait to drive it.
A friend of mine just bought a 57 plate A8 3.0 TDi (LWB) with only 106K miles on the clock. FSH for only £3,800 and the seller even filled the tank up with diesel. Car is in near mint condition. Fantastic bit of kit.
I bought a 2019 A8 S-line with the 350bhp petrol engine as a one year old ex demo and did my standard 15 min. commute; after a couple of months an engine warning lamp informed me that, due to short journey times, the oil needed to be changed (expensive) and I was shocked to find emulsified oil under the oil filler cap. My ownership ended a week later!
Understated car. Get a 4.2L engine and you will see most brands still sitting at traffic lights when you pull away. Much more comfort and gadgets than other brands. Why would you buy a Maserati, for example! Just the badge, I assume. Soft closing doors, keyless entry-close +start engine, television, 4x4 driving (security) as standard (Quattro) loads of leg room and massive booth too. This is now, since 2006, the fourth A8L I have had.
As a family man I simply love my Audi A6 avant and the vast amount of space it offers. When space isn't as important the A8 3.0tdi will be my target car. Thanks for the review Matt and confirming my next choice if car. 👍
My profession is vip driver. I have driven 3x the A8L version of the D3 4.2 fsi v8, D4 V8 and V6 diesel. Now i am driving a 740Ld. And the next one will be an A8L again. Audi is just better build inside with better materials. The under the radar as you mentioned is actually a big plus in this segment. The gear lever is indeed serious getting used to. The only thing where the bmw really shines over the audi is that they use the same zf gearbox but are better programmed. And the S class is overpriced because it does not better perform in any range. Your A8 is a nice one but those are not original audi A8 wheels which is a shame. Keep up the good work with your channel.
Hi there I am to think that the Audi A8 is probably one of the best cars you can buy on the planet I look exceptionally well well-built good value for money cheers Phil from Newark PS Don't Forget they used an Audi A8 in running on the best films around as a getaway car
Ive had the A and now the S8 of this generation, the gear selector you overcome quickly, when I first got mine I did what you said, but now its second nature you don't think about it, the 3.0 diesel will get over 50mpg on a motorway run, it really is a brilliant engine, equally the V8 in the S will see 37mpg, its an altogether different beast mind you!
My 2.7 litre twin turbo Quattro A6 was in the shop a lot, luckily under an extended warrenty, but I loved driving it. I'd love an A8 TDI but diesels are few and far between here in the colonies.
What sort of classy introductions do you have on _your_ TH-cam channels, "unknown" (so appropriate) and "millinutz" (probably appropriate, also)? Post a link to them and we can see whose channel is the most successful. Dumb idiots.
Had every mark of the A8 excepting the current one...theyre all lovely and got better with each update...fantastic cars, but although I loved each one at the time, they don't seem to age well in the looks department, just my opinion...great review! Thankyou
Matt, you are the most decent car reviewer on youtube. Super real, this video is the reason I bought myself an A8L 3.0 TFSI . I live in Houston Tx , ergo the petrol engine. Always a pleasure to watch your videos
After this review I've purchased one. You're costing me a fortune. That's S Class, Jaguar XF and 6 series and now A8 thanks to your real world reviews. Next video please.
Hi Matt. Due to lockdown and mid life crisis and the media love of all things electric I decided I needed a V8 in my life and came across the A8 and later your channel for an honest opinion. I was hooked. I did buy a V8 but it was inspired by one of your other videos. tbc..
My (2004 4.0TDI Quattro) A8 was the biggest let-down of any car I’ve had; the build quality was epic and the upgraded leather divine, but the steering feedback is better on a Logitech G25 gaming wheel and it was the only car that I’ve ever owned with air suspension that amplified road noise and imperfections rather than muffling them. Maybe it was a bad one, but compared even to the L322 that was its stable mate at the time, the ride quality was pants! Your (excellent as always), review has me tempted to try a later one however...
It’s definitely a beautiful car and Audi is my favourite out of the German trio, but I’d still rather have the Lexus LS because there’s just something special about Lexus for me.
Maybe the fact they keep working. The Audi is a very unreliable car with high repair costs. It typically is 3x as unreliable as the average car with repair costs twice as high which is 6x the costs in real terms. It's really for those who buy new and sell before the warranty runs out or perhaps a mechanics own car. It's a high risk car to buy s/hand especially if there is a major fault with the engine or transmission which is fairly common which can render the car uneconomic to repair. It's really down to what you want to do with your money. A car for people with a high amount of disposable income who are happy to dispose of it. You seem to have good instincts so keep with the Lexus, far higher quality engineering built to last. web.archive.org/web/20171231111002/www.reliabilityindex.com/reliability/search/298 web.archive.org/web/20171221040611/www.reliabilityindex.com/reliability/search/32 You can see the Lexus is 10x as reliable approx although repair costs are on average a similar price but then but still for every £500 you put into the Lexus for repairs you would typically put about £5000 into the Audi. Surely people have better ways to spend that £4500.
@@bonzobanana1 true, but I think in this situation the Lexus is the outlier in terms of reliability. Other than the LS, all of the big luxury barges are prone to issues because they have a lot of features and the manufacturers figure that people won’t mind paying to keep them repaired because they’re a prestige car, and in Audi’s defence their build quality is very good and the car will last a long time and will age very well if the owner puts in the money as you say. However, the Lexus LS is probably the highest quality car bar none, so naturally it wipes the floor with the rest of the competition in that respect. But there’s just something else that I love about Lexus that I can’t put my finger on. For a while now, Mercedes and BMW have been making some vulgar, flashy, crass cars in my opinion with massive badges and lots of glitzy styling (think A Class, GLA, BMW X1) so that the people that lease them for little more than a nicely equipped VW Golf can feel like they’re driving a prestige car and make sure everyone sees their premium badge but Lexus just haven’t done that. Even their cheaper models have a level of gravitas and craftsmanship in my opinion, and you just know that it’s built to be reliable long beyond the typical lease period. It’s just a shame that not many people seem to care about that, they just want a big three pointed star, but I think that’s where Lexus gets my respect. I just wish they had a better model lineup with a nice estate.
@@CS-oo6hs I don't think the Audi's last a long time, many luxury cars go very cheap after a few years because of the cost of keeping them on the road and they sadly get scrapped early as they become uneconomic to repair. Complicated electronics, engines and transmissions etc lead to many problems and emissions standards has caused many manufacturers to use smaller engines with powerful turbo's etc. These shorten the life of many engines so many cars get scrapped earlier. The sort of models that have very long lifespans are the simple reliable cars, Toyota Corolla's etc. I had a quick look at 'how many left' and found these pages; www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/audi_a8_2.8_auto www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/lexus_ls_460_a It looks to me that the Audi's go downhill rapidly and the summary at the end shows a huge amount Audi's SORN compared to licensed on the road actually more cars not fit for the road. Where as the Lexus shows far more cars being actively used so every 1 car SORN six are still used. This would surely indicate a huge number of Audi's are problematic or need major work before they can be used on the road. I don't claim to fully understand this data but its clear these similar models from Audi and Lexus shows the Lexus is far more likely to be used for more years. I don't deny though part of this could be Audi's are driven more stupidly and are in more accidents. The sort of people that drive Audi's are dare I say it a bit more stupid with their money and more about image and their own ego, they are more reckless and drive their cars less safely and get involved in more car accidents. This could be a factor in that data. It seems like every other week there is a local news report of something like a white van colliding with a German executive car like a BMW or Audi.
@@bonzobanana1 you are right, Lexuses are known to just keep going. I mean, just look at the million mile Lexus series on youtube, or the number of pristine engines on high mileage Lexuses on r/justrolledintotheshop. Interesting to see the data you posted about the Audi. I would imagine you’re right and the reason for so many A8s going SORN is due to repair costs. I don’t doubt the Audi is *capable* of lasting a long time, but clearly it won’t do it cheaply, and as Matt said in his video, they depreciate rapidly so it won’t take long for them to become uneconomical to repair. It’s a shame really, but I guess that’s why Lexus has such a strong USP because it can last as long as you want it to without much issue. I’m interested to see how the new Genesis models last when they start selling here to see if they give Lexus reliability a new challenger.
Beautiful car ! Recently travelled in one to Stoke from Hudderfield Unbelievable, comfortable , quiet , economically brilliant , performance ! I’m thinking of selling my Range Rover two 😀
Just got a 2015 A8L 3.0 TDI, only 30 000 miles on it, for only $30 000. It's extremely rare configuration for north America, as of today only 8 TDI's are for sale in whole north America.
Head room /windscreen is a little low, I removed my sun visor for a better view. I have a SWB 4.2FSI w/roof racks for surf boards, and added a hitch for my bikes= true sport utility. And run '10 L322 for winter, towing & offroad. I can have both for the $ of one L405.
Epic car...always had a soft spot for the A8. And yet another impressive,informative & interesting review... I’ve said it before & I’m gona say it again now...why is this man not on tv...in my humble opinion he’s sir Jezza Clarkson’s worthy successor & should be treated as his heir...why hasn’t he gt his own Sunday nite slot on say the bbc...Matt easily has more talent,knowledge & character than those 3 that do top gear (fair do’s Harris is alright)...I’d much rather see a car show with cars that are attainable to joe bloggs,Mr Smith etc. Why hasn’t Matt gt his own column in the Sun or even one of the broadsheets...I just think the people in charge of such things,media people are missing a massive trick...this guy is perfect for the above mentioned. WAKE UP WHITE CITY/FLEET STREET!!!...
You hit it out of the park yet again, I'm struggling to find a replacement for my BMW 730d and would probably have gone for a leggy L405, as XJ's have aged badly. I'd written off the A8 as a wooden boat but you've changed my mind, for some reason they now now look very attractive. You have the ability to give an honest car review from an ownership perspective filled with common sense and dry humour that is so bloody refreshing. I love variety please keep it up.
I sold my 66 plate A8 sport 3.0 tdi last year which I got pre reg and was an awesome vehicle superbly built and ultra reliable. I have an A7 50 tdi now which has more tech but build quality isn’t as good ! These cars just don’t get old
I had the mk1 4,2 5V A8. The best bits were the engine, the economy, the 4wd and the technology - solar panel in the sunroof to run the fans to keep the interior cool in the summer when parked, amongst lots of other things. I thought the build quality was great, but the biggest downside was the gearbox which after numerous oil changes gave up at about 80k miles.
Unlucky as it is the pretty ubiquitous ZF 8 speed found on many cars. My D3 A8 had the older 6 speed box. I had the fluid changed at 110K miles and it is still trouble free at over 200K miles.
Great car.. I have one same as this. No complaints. Ur fuel figures might be a bit on the optimistic side.. More like 30mpg but still I wont change it for many years. Great review
Lovely motors until they go wrong, service costs can be prohibitive as well. I think the best kept secret exec car is another VAG vehicle, the Skoda Superb MKII. Available in 4WD with both petrol and diesel engines and super smooth 7 speed DSG gearbox, huge interior space. Elegance spec gives you all the gadgets you need, the L&K version even more so. Totally flies under the radar and approx half the price of the A8. Not for badge snobs for sure but anybody in the know realises the old Skoda reputation has long since past.
Borrowed a 12 plate A8 3.0 tdi Quattro recently for the weekend, very impressed , to me it felt solid like a large suv , but lighter to drive if that makes sense, love the way the infotainment can disappear , only downside for me, the length ! 🚢
Amen on used luxury cars. I just got an approved used '09 740d with 25k miles for much less than a Focus would have cost. I'll be able to get five sets of tyres for the difference.
A8s are great only thing that can scare me going wrong is the air suspension. Other than that they amazing. I had a 05 4.2 V8 and it's never gave any problems only service bits...
Test drove an A8 and the XJ - the interior of the XJ is in a different league to the A8- also it drives a lot better. It has almost a sports car like feel. But the XJ- has some issues- seats are not suitable for long distance commuting (think its the cooled seat function),- they are too firm, also the paint is thin and I don't think its as well made as BMW or Audi. But for drivability my XJ is a joy to drive.
I just got the same car but in standard version (not L), and Is the best car I have driven. Answering a question from the title ...You should definitely buy this car :)
I sat in the back of a normal non lwb A8 and leg room was underwhelming to say the least also not as comfy as I expected either, i don’t find it much different to the a6 of its era and I don’t think that should be the case with a luxury flagship, either way love the videos mate 💯
Thanks for the review, well done!👍 I would only disagree with your comment concerning the first generation A8: Now, more than 20 years since the last one of them was built, I would argue that in hindsight they will be the most durable. When you see one, they always seem to be in overall much nicer shape than the rusted out S-Classes and 7 series, and the old TDI engines are holding on forever, if maintained properly. But yeah, the first gen was extremly understated and maybe too 'boring'☺️🙈
Great car, had a 2008 A8L, drove to Germany in one day super comfortable will look for another, I did like the L version especially with son at 6’2 tall !
I would love to go on a long journey in one of these! Looks incredibly comfortable. One thing i don't like: No adaptive cruise! Should have been standard at this pricepoint (options..ugh)
Agree Matt I’ve had Range Rover and A8 , I don’t need the off road capability and A8 is so much more value, also I bought my last A8 purely for the Merlot leather which looks absolutely stunning 👍😀
I love the A8. Its on my very short list of cars that will replace my Vectra V6. I love its understatement. I took one out for a test drive and came back with a big grin. Sadly I probably wont buy one because I'd never be able to park it anywhere. But you never know! Watch this space.
Mechatronic on gearbox and air compressor failed in 3 years time and 55k miles, but I had a RAC warranty 😊 Amazing car and very efficient, if you drive in the speed limit on a long journey you get 5l on 60 miles..😊
I test drove one from 2016 with the 4.2 TDI V8, it was a pleasant car and all but i thought that the road noise was borderline obscene for a car of such nature. Lots of tire roar despite not even being on its larger summer wheels at the time of the test drive! It left me slightly underwhelmed honestly, it was very nice and relaxing but it just felt like a larger A6 since it was barely any quieter inside and only marginally more comfortable thanks to the seats. An equivalent 7-seires was from experience way quieter inside, not to mention the Lexus LS which to me made the a8 feel like a tin can in terms of NVH levels.
You made my mind up, flew to Glasgow and bought one and drove it back to wales. Same spec you have here, loudest thing on the motorway was the heater blower. I’m in love with it so far, king of the road.
May I ask as to how have you found the car now you have it a while. Service etc.
You're the king of your back yard kiddo
@@jjb4531 run along, the adults are talking
@@Papatroll talking to yourself more like. Now be quiet kiddo
How has the car been for the last 2 years? I am interested but put off by reliability fears
As a retired chauffeur I agree with you wholeheartedly Matt. I drove the exact same specification on numerous occasions, the client always appreciated being transported in this stylish, well appointed, and comfortable motor. I can even confirm that, as demonstrated one March heading up to Beverley at 3:00 am, it makes a good snowplough! Around Beverley the snow was up to the top of the wheel arches and it didn’t miss a beat. Great review as usual, you’re just missing the black suit!
The knowledge of having AWD is a great selling point over the others
Hello, I'm thinking of becoming a chauffeur, i would like some pointers.
@@antoniomweenejunior283 driving license and an ability to let another adult talk to you like a child
We special ordered our 2013 A8L in May of 2013 and still have it in our garage. We absolutely love this vehicle! It’s quiet, comfortable, powerful, extremely fast and has been absolutely reliable. We have the 4.0 twin turbo engine which delivers excellent gas mileage and outstanding performance while maintaining a relatively quiet attitude unless you spool up both turbos! In 10 years, we had to replace a vanity mirror light switch and everything else has been routine yearly maintenance. The car still looks and drives like it’s brand new! Other than outdated technology (particularly the GPS), it’s got all the bells and whistles Audi offered including the top B&O system which is fantastic!
I had an 07 mk2 A8 4.2TD and covered 300K miles in 6 years, regularly drove down to Italy in one go. In that time, other than headlight build replacements and servicing, nothing went wrong. At about 300K, a rear brake light cluster failed and rear suspension arms replaced... At high speeds the A8 was really well balanced and very refined for long journeys. I Bought an A6 Allroad, 3.0l and missed the comfort... The 4.2td is such a great engine, smooth power from tick over. The A6 3.0L with EGR and all the emissions was less refined. I had it remapped and blocked off the EGR, smoother, much more power and better economy... indecently quick. However, still not a match for the A8... A8 4.2td highly rated by me.
"Drive it up to big Ben without being treated like a sex offender" 🤣🤣🤣
Had 3 A8s .....loved them all . Massively underrated .
What happened to them?
He found out that the beemer 7 is even better
@@GrumpySalmon nah
@@Atombender To cut a long story short ....fancied a change ..all set to buy an Audi S5 then they changed it to a diesel after i had placed my order I didnt want a diesel in a sports car ......ended up in a V6 diesel Velar instead !
@@GrumpySalmon At the time when I liked the 7 series in the early ninety's I couldn't afford one !
You went through the whole video without saying "that's all the car you'll ever need"!
Close: 8:01
@@DiscoFang Hahah
He did say the diesel was "all the engine you'll ever need!"
The problem with Audi is that most people cannot tell an a4 from a6 from an a8 from a Passat. The A8 simply doesn't look the money and maintenance issues sink it in the resale market.The thing I enjoy most about Matt's videos is the modern car juxtaposed against a background of 300 year old homes.
A great video, I’m 77 years old and retired, but I had one of these cars before I retired and I agree with everything you said about it. I had many luxury executive cars, but this was the best, it never got keyed and did not attract attention. Keep up the good work, I love your channel and presentation style. Cheers Peter
My dad got a 2010 A8 4.2 tdi in September, it’s such a technically impressive car but it doesn’t shout about it, and I love that about it! Makes a ridiculous amount of torque and is so quiet on the motorway. A 2.0 A4 would’ve been a much more sensible car but it’s not as good value as an A8 and it wouldn’t put as big a smile on your face!
This was the review that decided me. I've bought a 4.2 tdi D4. It only has about 50k miles and is superb. It's 10 years old but looks and drives like new. Thanks Matt. By the way, you dodged a bullet with your decision over becoming an airline pilot!
Pleased to hear it! Enjoy your car 😉
How do you feel about the car? I always wanted one of these, since for me they seem like perfect blend of luxury and sportiness, while still being uncensored. But am afraid of possible maintenance costs, and breakdowns.
@@imeprezime1069 Hiya. I really like the car. Although it's by far the oldest car I've ever owned, it's also one of the nicest I've ever driven. It manages almost 40 mpg on the motorways, doing about 70ish mph. Local trips see the mpg plummet as it doesn't change into top gear until about 65mph. I've had no big bills so far and with the build quality as it is, hopefully I won't get any. If you can afford a slightly newer one, then do so, as they made the cars even better from about 2013 until this model (D3) ended in 2017. Enjoy. I don't think you'd regret it :)
@J Scott Yes, it's great. I've had it for over a year now and covered about 15k miles. No nasty surprises and it does about 38mpg on the motorway. I've got a bluetooth dongle from Invery so i can stream music and Audible from my phone. The last iteration, from c2014 to c2017 would be the best option but they are a lot more expensive. If you can find a low mileage pre-facelift like mine, I think you'd be very happy with it. Good luck.
@paulcurran5117 hows the car after a year now ,any mechanical issues?
Me, watches every High Peaks video, gets half way every time and jumps straight on Autotrader as the car (whatever car 😂) makes total sense for my new passion project!!! I’m either weak willed/easily swayed or Matt is the worlds greatest salesman
Same here!!
Not just me then.
I was thinking about this yesterday when I was driving a 2015 Jaguar XJ 3.0 diesel, and even though i haven't driven the A8 I was wondering why anyone would want anything else other than an XJ. It was a fantastic car. 😎
Matt, the other problem with LWB versions is that even if you arrive for an appointment on time, the back end is always late 😁
😂
Brilliant review! Before 2 months I bought myself a facelifted 2014 A8 4.2 TDI short wheel base. And it is simply brilliant, especially if you are younger and you are looking for a big executive saloon, the A8 is the most youthful of its competition I would say:) It’s an absolute joy to drive, especially with its 385hp and 850nm! And mine has all of the niceties( adaptive stop and go cruise control, active lane assist, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, quilted leather seats, heated and cooled and with a brilliant massage function, black alcantara headliner and soo many other stuff! The point is if you find a example with nice extras, go for it. This A8 blends understated elegance, comfort and dynamism in a very balanced package. As for reliability, mine has 110,000miles, but it has a full service history and it is fine, although some parts are more expensive than its competitors. For example my right exterior mirror didn’t fold, so I was expecting that it just needed a new electric motor and it would be fine, as in my s class and 7 series that I have owned, but I had to buy a new mirror because the electric motor is a part of the mirror, so when it breaks you have the change the whole thing:) But besides those small things it isn’t really more expensive to maintain than an average car. Cheers!
And have you found tyres to be more expensive?
Well done Matt. Excellent review. I have had my 2014 A8L 4.2TDi SE Executive for a couple of months now and cannot fault it. It is simply the best car I have ever owned. It has more grunt than a herd of pigs, but in 2,000 miles of mixed motoring it has averaged 38mpg. The comfort is superb and as you say, "like a deserted library" at motorway speeds. Keep up the good work. Cheers Pat.
Matt, I part exchanged my 2016 A8 for my 2014 Range Rover sport. Like you, I'm a RR fanboy, but the A8 was a better car. Comfort, smoothness, refinement. All better on the A8. Brilliant cars and very, very reliable.
The A8L is truly a drivers car! I've purchased the D3 and a d4 and there's nothing like the captain's chair
Here, on the continent, we usualy forget the Jag XJ instead of the A8
And now, we can forget the Jaguar XJ altogether unfortunately :(.
@@jaffaorange3809 crap design no wonder
@@tonywellington7854 "crap design"? 😐
@@zsb707 the last Jag XJ is crap design
@@tonywellington7854 I'm sure that's an expert's opinion ...
My husband has an 06 plate D3, 4.2 tdi v8 with 156000 miles on it. just passed its MOT, no advisories, 38mpg on the motorway, 23mpg round town. Superb car. £6.5k two years ago.
Yes, because you can run down peasants and just shout “diplomatic immunity” in a South African accent out the window 👍🏻
DEEPlomateeec immunitaaaaay!!
Has just been revoked.
What an epic comment!!!
This reference is on point
You could not even give me a perking teeket
Thank you for your input. Having a V8 2015 A8 L delivered via CarMax in a few days. Black exterior (think its high gloss, not metallic), Burnt Orange leather, similar colored alcantra door panels, beautiful natural matte wood, and every option on the list, 43k miles, $38K. The interior is breathtaking. Perfect condition inside and out. first car I've been truly excited about. Steal felling a bit guilty...so luxurious, but I'm a bit disabled and i can drive this car so comfortably. Cannot drive many.
Good choice! Enjoy
I have a 2011 standard wheelbase A8 se executive 3.0D with around 80k - bought for £11k two years ago, my first Audi always had BMW 5 or 7’s previously. I genuinely love it, so fast and refined yet averages mid 40mpg or 50mpg on a slow cruise.
Bought it as I thought it looked better than the S class or BMW equivalent 2011 models.
Everything you say in the review I can vouch for and agree the gear-lever design is about the only think I’d change too!
They're great cars aren't they
The D4 platform is indeed very polished and thought out. I used to have a 3.0TDi D3. Then upgraded to the D4 S8 Plus. Hand on heart, even after nearly 2 years of ownership, it always puts a huge smile on my face and I always take the scenic route.
I have sat in the S8 and it was an absolute blast! Have fun with your Plus version :)
As Jason Statham would put it: “Looking good and feeling good go hand in hand.”
I have had 2 A8's and an early S8 all have been great. Things to watch out for, timing chain is an engine out job around £2k at a specialist, mega bucks at a main dealer. Chain the gearbox oil every 40 - 50 thousand miles. They have been known to go at around 80 thou without this. Great cars
Couldn’t agree more. Loved my D4 Black Edition that I leased. These are now a very cheap car for what they are. I used to drive across Europe in total comfort after an early Eurotunnel jaunt. I had the 3.0 TDi which was fine coming from an E60 535d LCi. I imagine the 4.2 TDi is even better but they are rare. Great opening comments!
The extra front end weight of the 4.2 makes it less relaxing to drive. Since using the additional power would mostly be illegal or dangerous, their is little point. If you weigh up all the differences, including running cost and maintenance, almost every one of them starts to look like a disadvantage.
Unless you are in the market for a RR or Bentley, stick with the 3.0 TDI and spend the money that you save on a nice holiday.
I love the look of this car and I prefer this interior to the new version.
Exactly
Reminds more of a plane cockpit with all the buttons compared to the current boring screens.
@@Dynamoduck-nf4ws yes looks so much more interesting. Plus the new design the front looks crap as well
@@Dynamoduck-nf4ws absolutely. No character I think. God I sound old 😂
Great review as always, no bull straight to point. I’m like you , just the A8 and keep looking at them as an understated luxury machine. How much was this one. Keep up the good year
(For naming info, Audi uses "D" for this class car, D1=Audi V8, D2= Series 1 A8 etc) I have a D2 S8 (2002) and that is the one to have from that era. I also have a daily driver 2011 D4 S8 4.2 V8 TDI which is epic. 360BHP 35mpg (on a run). It also have £25K of extras including £6K B&O stereo, special colour, extended leather etc. It also has all the safety features. I have no idea what I could replace it with for less than £100K. Mine actually cost over £100K when new. I've had it 3 years and I bought it for £17K. Amazing car.
I wish all car dealers were like this telling you all the good points and bad hes a great guy and I do enjoy watching his shows so keep up the good work 👍👍👍👍👍
The A8 car chase in Ronin was filmed near me in Gréolières, France. Great sounding car.
Thats right!
One of the best sequences on film, superb!
Remember it...mainly for super sexy Natasha
Great film.
Wasn't it an S8?
I’m glad the seats aren’t similar to a stage coach
It chassis rigidity that helps with ride quality, not flex. Allows the suspension to do it's job, flex adds secondary reverberations.
As you know, I recently purchased a Jag XJ Portfolio. I really love it! Mind you I am still finding out about things, the reason I mention this is that the Audi has a very sensible placement of the seat adjustment controls, mine are situated in a tight space between seat and door - can’t change the settings without opening the door. As you correctly pointed out, using the stereo and auxiliaries white driving is distracting and possibly downright dangerous, but in the Jag, mode and volume.are on the steering wheel. The start button is in a silly place as well. I still think I made the right choice though, and IR.D.
I love the XJ. Its a beautiful car
@Audi8 they’re not unreliable
@Wooly Chewbakker Join the club! The design sets it apart from all competitors, it’s British and always draws attention. I am always being asked about running costs and reliability. It’s a thoroughbred, It will need maintenance, but it’s a beautiful luxury car- that is what you are buying. Richard D
Another underrated car was the VW Phaeton with massive depreciation but the brand badge was its let down I gather.
I think at the Audi A8 and A6 level for an older second hand car, Lexus makes more sense because of the reliability and service costs.
High praise indeed, if it was tempting you to chin off the RR
I have driven the A8 as a diplomatic/royalty driver. The vehicles also driven apart from Range Rovers and Jag XJL. I loved my A8’S I had top spec. Loved it. I
I must fess up (again) bought a barn find 2002 D2 S8 4.2 Quattro ....I love it FSH until 2015 when it was left on a farm, best £2000 buy so far, I’ve put my video on TH-cam Barnfind S8 .
Excellent video .....there’s a 2002 top gear review, A8, the S class, 7 series & a Jag ....Clarkson loves the A8 ....in his summing up but then says ....sadly it doesn’t say S Class on the badge & in this category...class rocks
Yes he would, the man who abused Reliants 😅😃
Lovely car great review. I was lucky and got the S class 3.0 diesel a 2006 model with 29.000 miles one owner, I paid £10,000 and kept it for Three and half years, sold it for £8.000 a lovely car.
I have owned a 2004 A8. 4.2L with 77,000 miles on her for the last 8 years. Fabulous car to drive and really well built, mine has the sport seats but still very comfy. I have a bad back and when my back is really bad the seats still feel comfortable. But there is one problem and it’s a big problem, the cost is spares, yes of course if you buy a car like this you know things will be expensive but Audi take it to a new level. For instance to replace the rear lights will cost you around £1500. Which is bad enough but the inner two lights will only last approx 4 years before they crack, let in water and your in for another nearly £800. I did ask in an Audi showroom why everythng from a basic nut is so much more that other cars. Oh it’s an A8 with a smile. That’s an excuse not an answer I replied. But the car if not visiting an Audi garage every week is superb to drive and really comfortable to drive, yes get the 4.2 petrol if you can find one as they are the one to go for and if you can find a low mileage one go for it, prices are going up for the older mk2, there is a 2004 A8 4.2 for sale with only 64,000 miles going for nearly £10,000. Granted it’s a really nice one but that shows how much the car is appreciated. But I would suggest adding another £2000 for any nasty surprises. Tyres, mine runs on 20 inch alloys but if you go for a cheaper but still reasonably good make you should pay around the £600 mark. Obviously Michelin Pirelli etc will set back a lot more. But it is worth it and you have the security of the Quattro 4 wheel drive system to keep you out of trouble
I owned a A8 4.2 V 8.....best , best car ever driven. Seriousely
It is Bryan Ferry's favourite car of all time as well.
I love this generation of A8. Almost as beautiful as the second generation. Audi is the best when it comes to making subtle and elegant yet muscular looking sedans.
Another great review. Big execs suffer chronic depreciation from new. I think second hand buyers are put off by potential running costs. Makes them brilliant value used buys, if that is your thing.
A colleague bought one, 14 plate, 108000 miles on the clock, been owned by a chauffeur and full Audi service history. Great motor
Great review mate, i'll start with that.
Just bough a 10 plate 4.2tdi one. Has individual paint and comfort seats, night vision and few other stuff, about 17k of extras on it.
Sits just over 47k on the clock and drives amazing, will pick it up this coming week. Paid 16k for it which I believe it does worth it.
Had a BMW f10 which I sold few days ago, a 520d, and this 4.2tdi 'scares' me, haha. Great cars, cant wait to drive it.
I own one of these and I don't understand why you don't like the gear selector - I have never once selected the wrong gear? Don't see the issue at all
A friend of mine just bought a 57 plate A8 3.0 TDi (LWB) with only 106K miles on the clock. FSH for only £3,800 and the seller even filled the tank up with diesel. Car is in near mint condition. Fantastic bit of kit.
Bargain!
I bought a 2019 A8 S-line with the 350bhp petrol engine as a one year old ex demo and did my standard 15 min. commute; after a couple of months an engine warning lamp informed me that, due to short journey times, the oil needed to be changed (expensive) and I was shocked to find emulsified oil under the oil filler cap. My ownership ended a week later!
Understated car. Get a 4.2L engine and you will see most brands still sitting at traffic lights when you pull away. Much more comfort and gadgets
than other brands. Why would you buy a Maserati, for example! Just the badge, I assume. Soft closing doors, keyless entry-close +start engine, television, 4x4 driving (security) as standard (Quattro) loads of leg room and massive booth too. This is now, since 2006, the fourth A8L I have had.
They're great cars. I agree, the 4.2 is superb
As a family man I simply love my Audi A6 avant and the vast amount of space it offers. When space isn't as important the A8 3.0tdi will be my target car. Thanks for the review Matt and confirming my next choice if car. 👍
My profession is vip driver. I have driven 3x the A8L version of the D3 4.2 fsi v8, D4 V8 and V6 diesel. Now i am driving a 740Ld. And the next one will be an A8L again. Audi is just better build inside with better materials. The under the radar as you mentioned is actually a big plus in this segment. The gear lever is indeed serious getting used to. The only thing where the bmw really shines over the audi is that they use the same zf gearbox but are better programmed. And the S class is overpriced because it does not better perform in any range. Your A8 is a nice one but those are not original audi A8 wheels which is a shame. Keep up the good work with your channel.
Hi there I am to think that the Audi A8 is probably one of the best cars you can buy on the planet I look exceptionally well well-built good value for money cheers Phil from Newark PS Don't Forget they used an Audi A8 in running on the best films around as a getaway car
Ive had the A and now the S8 of this generation, the gear selector you overcome quickly, when I first got mine I did what you said, but now its second nature you don't think about it, the 3.0 diesel will get over 50mpg on a motorway run, it really is a brilliant engine, equally the V8 in the S will see 37mpg, its an altogether different beast mind you!
My 2.7 litre twin turbo Quattro A6 was in the shop a lot, luckily under an extended warrenty, but I loved driving it.
I'd love an A8 TDI but diesels are few and far between here in the colonies.
I’ve got a 66 plate black edition a8 can’t fault it, solid cars! Has to be a black edition adds a nice sporty feel👌🏽
preferred the clean og intro tbh, that was classy
I agree with you... An expensive car being introduced with a cheap intro.
@@millinutz yh this feels like an intro from TH-cam in 2007
What sort of classy introductions do you have on _your_ TH-cam channels, "unknown" (so appropriate) and "millinutz" (probably appropriate, also)? Post a link to them and we can see whose channel is the most successful. Dumb idiots.
@@millinutz Cant see anything wrong or un-classy about having brief bit of music in the intro.
@@nickturner2813 you all right mate? Want to take a deep breath? Jesus. Some people get triggered over nothing
Had every mark of the A8 excepting the current one...theyre all lovely and got better with each update...fantastic cars, but although I loved each one at the time, they don't seem to age well in the looks department, just my opinion...great review! Thankyou
A great review. I had an A8 SE Executive and it was brilliant. Quiet but deceptively fast.
Totally agree
Matt, you are the most decent car reviewer on youtube. Super real, this video is the reason I bought myself an A8L 3.0 TFSI . I live in Houston Tx , ergo the petrol engine. Always a pleasure to watch your videos
Thank you. I appreciate the support
After Ronin, the A8 will always be cool.
S8
After this review I've purchased one. You're costing me a fortune. That's S Class, Jaguar XF and 6 series and now A8 thanks to your real world reviews. Next video please.
Haha sorry. They’re great cars though
We had the old 2002 A6 Quatro(2.5 bi-turbo) with 330,000 miles on it...fab car.
I’ve got a 2017 A8L. Aside from an issue with my air suspension, it’s been problem free.
Hi Matt. Due to lockdown and mid life crisis and the media love of all things electric I decided I needed a V8 in my life and came across the A8 and later your channel for an honest opinion. I was hooked. I did buy a V8 but it was inspired by one of your other videos. tbc..
My (2004 4.0TDI Quattro) A8 was the biggest let-down of any car I’ve had; the build quality was epic and the upgraded leather divine, but the steering feedback is better on a Logitech G25 gaming wheel and it was the only car that I’ve ever owned with air suspension that amplified road noise and imperfections rather than muffling them. Maybe it was a bad one, but compared even to the L322 that was its stable mate at the time, the ride quality was pants!
Your (excellent as always), review has me tempted to try a later one however...
It’s definitely a beautiful car and Audi is my favourite out of the German trio, but I’d still rather have the Lexus LS because there’s just something special about Lexus for me.
Maybe the fact they keep working. The Audi is a very unreliable car with high repair costs. It typically is 3x as unreliable as the average car with repair costs twice as high which is 6x the costs in real terms. It's really for those who buy new and sell before the warranty runs out or perhaps a mechanics own car. It's a high risk car to buy s/hand especially if there is a major fault with the engine or transmission which is fairly common which can render the car uneconomic to repair.
It's really down to what you want to do with your money. A car for people with a high amount of disposable income who are happy to dispose of it.
You seem to have good instincts so keep with the Lexus, far higher quality engineering built to last.
web.archive.org/web/20171231111002/www.reliabilityindex.com/reliability/search/298
web.archive.org/web/20171221040611/www.reliabilityindex.com/reliability/search/32
You can see the Lexus is 10x as reliable approx although repair costs are on average a similar price but then but still for every £500 you put into the Lexus for repairs you would typically put about £5000 into the Audi. Surely people have better ways to spend that £4500.
@@bonzobanana1 true, but I think in this situation the Lexus is the outlier in terms of reliability. Other than the LS, all of the big luxury barges are prone to issues because they have a lot of features and the manufacturers figure that people won’t mind paying to keep them repaired because they’re a prestige car, and in Audi’s defence their build quality is very good and the car will last a long time and will age very well if the owner puts in the money as you say. However, the Lexus LS is probably the highest quality car bar none, so naturally it wipes the floor with the rest of the competition in that respect. But there’s just something else that I love about Lexus that I can’t put my finger on. For a while now, Mercedes and BMW have been making some vulgar, flashy, crass cars in my opinion with massive badges and lots of glitzy styling (think A Class, GLA, BMW X1) so that the people that lease them for little more than a nicely equipped VW Golf can feel like they’re driving a prestige car and make sure everyone sees their premium badge but Lexus just haven’t done that. Even their cheaper models have a level of gravitas and craftsmanship in my opinion, and you just know that it’s built to be reliable long beyond the typical lease period. It’s just a shame that not many people seem to care about that, they just want a big three pointed star, but I think that’s where Lexus gets my respect. I just wish they had a better model lineup with a nice estate.
@@CS-oo6hs You're right about Lexus, even though the new huge grille takes away from the gravitas showcased on older models ...
@@CS-oo6hs I don't think the Audi's last a long time, many luxury cars go very cheap after a few years because of the cost of keeping them on the road and they sadly get scrapped early as they become uneconomic to repair. Complicated electronics, engines and transmissions etc lead to many problems and emissions standards has caused many manufacturers to use smaller engines with powerful turbo's etc. These shorten the life of many engines so many cars get scrapped earlier. The sort of models that have very long lifespans are the simple reliable cars, Toyota Corolla's etc.
I had a quick look at 'how many left' and found these pages;
www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/audi_a8_2.8_auto
www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/lexus_ls_460_a
It looks to me that the Audi's go downhill rapidly and the summary at the end shows a huge amount Audi's SORN compared to licensed on the road actually more cars not fit for the road. Where as the Lexus shows far more cars being actively used so every 1 car SORN six are still used. This would surely indicate a huge number of Audi's are problematic or need major work before they can be used on the road. I don't claim to fully understand this data but its clear these similar models from Audi and Lexus shows the Lexus is far more likely to be used for more years.
I don't deny though part of this could be Audi's are driven more stupidly and are in more accidents. The sort of people that drive Audi's are dare I say it a bit more stupid with their money and more about image and their own ego, they are more reckless and drive their cars less safely and get involved in more car accidents. This could be a factor in that data. It seems like every other week there is a local news report of something like a white van colliding with a German executive car like a BMW or Audi.
@@bonzobanana1 you are right, Lexuses are known to just keep going. I mean, just look at the million mile Lexus series on youtube, or the number of pristine engines on high mileage Lexuses on r/justrolledintotheshop.
Interesting to see the data you posted about the Audi. I would imagine you’re right and the reason for so many A8s going SORN is due to repair costs. I don’t doubt the Audi is *capable* of lasting a long time, but clearly it won’t do it cheaply, and as Matt said in his video, they depreciate rapidly so it won’t take long for them to become uneconomical to repair. It’s a shame really, but I guess that’s why Lexus has such a strong USP because it can last as long as you want it to without much issue. I’m interested to see how the new Genesis models last when they start selling here to see if they give Lexus reliability a new challenger.
Just bought an a8 sport swb based on this review big fan of them, cheers 🤝👌
How is it going man any major issues ?
Gorgeous motor.
Fully loaded A8L 55TFSI petrol versions in the Middle East depreciate faster than Warp 10 so a good 2nd hand buy.
I have an 2011 Audi A8 executive ,black metallic .drives superb ,good on fuel and turns a lot of heads as of condition 👍
I would love to send pictures of my 2011 D4 Audi A8 executive and you can judge how much I love my car
Beautiful car !
Recently travelled in one to Stoke from Hudderfield
Unbelievable, comfortable , quiet , economically brilliant , performance !
I’m thinking of selling my Range Rover two
😀
I'm not selling my RR but I do love the A8
Just got a 2015 A8L 3.0 TDI, only 30 000 miles on it, for only $30 000. It's extremely rare configuration for north America, as of today only 8 TDI's are for sale in whole north America.
Head room /windscreen is a little low, I removed my sun visor for a better view. I have a SWB 4.2FSI w/roof racks for surf boards, and added a hitch for my bikes= true sport utility. And run '10 L322 for winter, towing & offroad. I can have both for the $ of one L405.
Epic car...always had a soft spot for the A8.
And yet another impressive,informative & interesting review...
I’ve said it before & I’m gona say it again now...why is this man not on tv...in my humble opinion he’s sir Jezza Clarkson’s worthy successor & should be treated as his heir...why hasn’t he gt his own Sunday nite slot on say the bbc...Matt easily has more talent,knowledge & character than those 3 that do top gear (fair do’s Harris is alright)...I’d much rather see a car show with cars that are attainable to joe bloggs,Mr Smith etc.
Why hasn’t Matt gt his own column in the Sun or even one of the broadsheets...I just think the people in charge of such things,media people are missing a massive trick...this guy is perfect for the above mentioned.
WAKE UP WHITE CITY/FLEET STREET!!!...
You hit it out of the park yet again, I'm struggling to find a replacement for my BMW 730d and would probably have gone for a leggy L405, as XJ's have aged badly. I'd written off the A8 as a wooden boat but you've changed my mind, for some reason they now now look very attractive.
You have the ability to give an honest car review from an ownership perspective filled with common sense and dry humour that is so bloody refreshing.
I love variety please keep it up.
"XJ's have aged badly"? I don't think so 😐.
@@zsb707 And your opinion means......
@@Salubrious101 It's important that your opinion means.......
@@zsb707 You got me 😂😂😂😂
I sold my 66 plate A8 sport 3.0 tdi last year which I got pre reg and was an awesome vehicle superbly built and ultra reliable. I have an A7 50 tdi now which has more tech but build quality isn’t as good ! These cars just don’t get old
They're great cars
I had the mk1 4,2 5V A8. The best bits were the engine, the economy, the 4wd and the technology - solar panel in the sunroof to run the fans to keep the interior cool in the summer when parked, amongst lots of other things. I thought the build quality was great, but the biggest downside was the gearbox which after numerous oil changes gave up at about 80k miles.
Unlucky as it is the pretty ubiquitous ZF 8 speed found on many cars.
My D3 A8 had the older 6 speed box. I had the fluid changed at 110K miles and it is still trouble free at over 200K miles.
@@mrradman2986 you might be thinking of a newer car, the mk1 as i called it was a D2 model and it had a 5 speed auto
@@paulspindler5849 Yep, I was referring to the D3. I'm not sure about the gearbox in the D2, mate of mine had one and he loved it.
Well now I know what I’ll be doing for the rest of the week on auto trader
@Ross Bourne yup
Matt, every car I see you review, I want to buy it, my imaginary garage is nearly full
Great car.. I have one same as this. No complaints. Ur fuel figures might be a bit on the optimistic side.. More like 30mpg but still I wont change it for many years. Great review
Funny this comes up; rewatched the whole Transporter trilogy this weekend
Lovely motors until they go wrong, service costs can be prohibitive as well. I think the best kept secret exec car is another VAG vehicle, the Skoda Superb MKII. Available in 4WD with both petrol and diesel engines and super smooth 7 speed DSG gearbox, huge interior space. Elegance spec gives you all the gadgets you need, the L&K version even more so. Totally flies under the radar and approx half the price of the A8. Not for badge snobs for sure but anybody in the know realises the old Skoda reputation has long since past.
Borrowed a 12 plate A8 3.0 tdi Quattro recently for the weekend, very impressed , to me it felt solid like a large suv , but lighter to drive if that makes sense, love the way the infotainment can disappear , only downside for me, the length ! 🚢
Amen on used luxury cars. I just got an approved used '09 740d with 25k miles for much less than a Focus would have cost. I'll be able to get five sets of tyres for the difference.
A8s are great only thing that can scare me going wrong is the air suspension.
Other than that they amazing. I had a 05 4.2 V8 and it's never gave any problems only service bits...
Test drove an A8 and the XJ - the interior of the XJ is in a different league to the A8- also it drives a lot better. It has almost a sports car like feel. But the XJ- has some issues- seats are not suitable for long distance commuting (think its the cooled seat function),- they are too firm, also the paint is thin and I don't think its as well made as BMW or Audi. But for drivability my XJ is a joy to drive.
Excellent review, very professional and informative. Well done.
I just got the same car but in standard version (not L), and Is the best car I have driven. Answering a question from the title ...You should definitely buy this car :)
I sat in the back of a normal non lwb A8 and leg room was underwhelming to say the least also not as comfy as I expected either, i don’t find it much different to the a6 of its era and I don’t think that should be the case with a luxury flagship, either way love the videos mate 💯
Thanks for the review, well done!👍 I would only disagree with your comment concerning the first generation A8: Now, more than 20 years since the last one of them was built, I would argue that in hindsight they will be the most durable. When you see one, they always seem to be in overall much nicer shape than the rusted out S-Classes and 7 series, and the old TDI engines are holding on forever, if maintained properly. But yeah, the first gen was extremly understated and maybe too 'boring'☺️🙈
He just sold me this car and I don’t even drive.
What a great reviewer!
FINALLY, I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS VID...
Great car, had a 2008 A8L, drove to Germany in one day super comfortable will look for another, I did like the L version especially with son at 6’2 tall !
Nice i used to have an audi 100 CD. Very good drag coefficiency. I think Clarkson drove one too Scotland and back , very good on fuel 😀
I would love to go on a long journey in one of these! Looks incredibly comfortable.
One thing i don't like: No adaptive cruise! Should have been standard at this pricepoint (options..ugh)
You're right, thats the one feature thats missing
Agree Matt I’ve had Range Rover and A8 , I don’t need the off road capability and A8 is so much more value, also I bought my last A8 purely for the Merlot leather which looks absolutely stunning 👍😀
Totally agree
I love the A8. Its on my very short list of cars that will replace my Vectra V6. I love its understatement. I took one out for a test drive and came back with a big grin. Sadly I probably wont buy one because I'd never be able to park it anywhere. But you never know! Watch this space.
The standard wheelbase versions are easier to park
My dad had an old 3.7 MK2 and we all loved it.
Mechatronic on gearbox and air compressor failed in 3 years time and 55k miles, but I had a RAC warranty 😊
Amazing car and very efficient, if you drive in the speed limit on a long journey you get 5l on 60 miles..😊
Sorry to hear that
I test drove one from 2016 with the 4.2 TDI V8, it was a pleasant car and all but i thought that the road noise was borderline obscene for a car of such nature. Lots of tire roar despite not even being on its larger summer wheels at the time of the test drive! It left me slightly underwhelmed honestly, it was very nice and relaxing but it just felt like a larger A6 since it was barely any quieter inside and only marginally more comfortable thanks to the seats. An equivalent 7-seires was from experience way quieter inside, not to mention the Lexus LS which to me made the a8 feel like a tin can in terms of NVH levels.