SecondHandSense: Audi A8There are few cars as lavishly equipped as Audi's A8. So much so that one has to ask what is the point of owning one in this country. It is a perfect car for a German autobahn but here, its speed capability (the 3.7, for instance, has a governed speed of about 240km/h) is meaningless and its green credentials border on the embarrassing.
Yet, as a car salesman reminded me, there are people who consider a car like this merely a luxury element of their lives, and to hell with the cost or the environment.
A new, top-of-the-range A8 will cost you over €130,000. As a second-hand prospect, the A8 will only attract the most determined. In fact, this is also true of the new car buyer. The A8 has not had rich people putting their names on waiting lists en masse.
So what is it about the A8? My own view is that it has little or no personality.
It takes to the road with presence but not a refined one, such as you will find with an equivalent BMW. It bristles with technology. Yet it stands forlorn when compared to the creative lines of BMW and even Mercedes. A mini A8 would be very much at home on one of those TV shows where people build remote-controlled machines on wheels to battle with each other.
On the other hand, the A8 is a great drive. There is a choice of engines, from 3-litre to 4.2, none of which are really justified in this country and are thus extremely expensive to run. Steering may be a little loose and the ride may be challenging, but overall the A8 has character and poise.
If you are the escapist type who loves to drive to get away, then you could practically live in the A8. It has everything you need and some models even have the Quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system. This is yet another thing you don't actually need, but if you are an A8 buyer that does come into the equation.
The A8 is very comfortable, and at its best when cruising, but then the logic is rather confused when you look at a motorway top speed of 120km/h.
There is a great boot, plenty of room in the interior and leather upholstery. The automatic gearbox makes for effortless driving. Computer information galore and a dashboard that could have come from the space shuttle complete the picture.
The A8 does not have a crash test profile in the EuroNCAP tests, because it has not been put through the procedure. Early problems with the car being recalled have now been generally sorted as it has been de-bugged, but be prepared for major expense if something does go wrong.
A 2005 3.0-litre diesel model with 59,000 miles and equipment such as satellite navigation, leather and sports suspension will cost about €60,000. A 2003 4.2-litre petrol with 77,000 miles will cost about €40,000.
FOR:Bristling with technology. Very pleasant to drive AGAINST:Hardly a green prospect. Running costs. Styling