Does anyone here have any experience with an older model Audi A8?

[Dino]

There's no new car out there that interests me, besides an unaffordable Tesla, so I'm starting to look at used cars. I have always liked the A8 with the 4.2 engine but these cars are not without their problems either. Timing chain issues come to mind. That said, I am looking at 2007-2010 models mostly but I have no experience with Audi in the US. Last time I worked on those was in Europe 15+ years ago and I don't know what happened to the brand as far as reliability goes.

Looking at cars like this right now: Loads of car for little money. The first link is several grand higher than the average A8 from those years, but it comes with some extra goodies.

https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/d/2007-audi-a8l-quattro-all/6420406317.html

https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/d/2008-audi-a8-for-sale/6435048403.html

[Aero426]

Loads of car for little money.

Until you have to fix it.    Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) is going to be expensive.  There is a reason you are buying at 10 cents on the dollar.

Mechanically, it may be ok, but we have other things that are getting towards end of life like emission and climate control stuff.         I think you want to find the best one with the best service records, even if it means paying more. 

Owning a German car myself, I would tell you to find out who the trusted local independent service guy is and talk to them. 

[Dino]

Loads of car for little money.

Until you have to fix it.    Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) is going to be expensive.  There is a reason you are buying at 10 cents on the dollar.

Mechanically, it may be ok, but we have other things that are getting towards end of life like emission and climate control stuff.         I think you want to find the best one with the best service records, even if it means paying more. 

Owning a German car myself, I would tell you to find out who the trusted local independent service guy is and talk to them. 

Very good advice! Yeah I worked on these things years ago, the stupidest little thing costs an arm and a leg!

I really like the first car linked which has an active 3 year warranty. Not that I'm buying one today but something like that one with a strong history is what I need.

[alfaitalia]

I once worked selling Audi's (and VWs from the same showroom)....A few years later I found a nice FSH A8 4.2 V8 tiptronic for sale for a song.....it had an LPG conversion (dual fuel)...which is the only way to run a V8 as a DD at UK fuel prices ! Racked up about 40,000 miles in 3 years (160,000 mile total)....never missed a beat. Being 4wd it was very sure footed in the rain and ice. Averaged about 23 to the UK gallon on petrol and 18-20 on the propane.  I even used it as my wedding day as it had cream leather. I'd recommend one to anyone!

[Dino]

When I was at Audi/VW late 90s early 00s, I would occasionally take the 4.2 A8 or S8 out to play and it was a very impressive car on all levels. This was in Belgium so LPG was a must there as well. Although seeing this was a 90K car, a lot of owners could afford the premium fuel.   

[Dino]

Well no shortage in cars out there. That's the good news. Bad news is that the vast majority are at large used car lots and dealing with these salesmen is like dealing with pond scum. And I mean absolutely no offense to pond scum.

I have walked away from 3 very nice, and loaded, cars just because these slimy pricks make my blood boil.

I'm finally going to see one soon that's being sold by the owner. Wish me luck!

[Mytur Binsdirti]

All German cars are nice when new, but everything about them are overengineered and overcomplicated which equates to quirky problems and expensive repair bills down the road. Having owned three MB's, a VW (for my kid) & a few Sprinter work vans, I know first hand.

[moparstuart]

All German cars are nice when new, but everything about them are overengineered and overcomplicated which equates to quirky problems and expensive repair bills down the road. Having owned three MB's, a VW (for my kid) & a few Sprinter work vans, I know first hand.

and Audi's are the worst  , they have tons of engine problems and they never have made a good transmission and its all expensive .

[sccachallenger]

Heard about one of the used car mega-stores that offers warrantees on everything they sell, probably carmax.
Regardless of where you buy the car, check into purchasing a warranty for it.
It may give you the peace of mind to take the plunge.
And pick the brains of the local dealer personnel, they should know which warranties are worth having.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Regarding foreign cars, I trust a Japanese car for dependability over a German car any day. We traded in my wife's MB for a 2013 Lexus ES350 & it's been a great car. The only issue we've had in 65,000 miles was a water pump, which was covered under warranty & tire replacement.

[JR]

This is the PERFECT vehicle to buy from CarMax and get their "bumper to bumper" warranty.

[Derwud]

Here is my rule of thumb when asked about buying expensive cars used.. If you couldn't afford it new, you can't afford it now..

That said, I can get you employee price on a new Mazda!

[Dino]

It's all relative. I'm pretty sure they have made a good transmission in the past though.   
The D2 was known for it's quirky transmission, but those issues are long gone. I'm only looking at certain years for a good reason, they have the better track record in the reliability department. With a car like this, the insane amount of computerized stuff is indeed the big issue, and it would cost a fortune to have even a switch replaced. But I'm not one to take my car to a dealer either so moot point. If something electronic quits working then I fix it or leave it be if I don't need it.
I'm not going to yank the engine though, I have my limits! I do have to say that this may not happen without having a reliable mechanic clse by. He's a mopar guy but he knows his way around these cars.

The car I'll be checking out will have 3 year bumper to bumper warranty left on it, and it just had the timing chain, tensioners, and all that stuff replaced so I feel pretty good about that one. Pics below.

Thanks Derwud but I'd rather buy 2 or 3 of these for the price of 1 Mazda. That's just not gonna cut it.   

I prefer Japanese over German as well in the reliability department, but my 62,000 mile Honda just blew its starter. And it seems to be a known issue. They're not what they used to be either. There's a lot of little stuff going on with that car that I had to address. The new Honda's are even worse. Quality has really gone down. Damn shame, those were good cars for the money.

Anyway, I'll keep you guys posted on what I find.

[alfaitalia]

I can honestly say I never had a single issue with any factory electronics with mine....or any mechanical issues to be honest. And being aluminium panels hanging on a glued alloy space frame corrosion is not an issue either.

[randy73]

All German cars are nice when new, but everything about them are overengineered and overcomplicated which equates to quirky problems and expensive repair bills down the road. Having owned three MB's, a VW (for my kid) & a few Sprinter work vans, I know first hand.

and Audi's are the worst  , they have tons of engine problems and they never have made a good transmission and its all expensive .

I had an 01 S8 and zero engine problems, the 4.2 is a very reliable engine, now electrical issues are pretty common. They don't hold their values and parts are expensive, that is the main reason you do not seem many after 6-7 years, I think. Put 35,000 miles on it and had 60,000 when I bought the car.

[Dino]

I decided to go with an 09 or 10 model as they pretty much have all the stuff I want in stock version. The problem is distance. The car I like best is at a used car dealer in NJ so I need to get my butt over there, have the car checked by an Audi mechanic, try to lower the asking price and drive it home. I'm unsure how much they'll waver on price seeing I crossed a few states for it...
This one's an 09 with around 85,000 on the clock.

[Dino]

Lucky me! I was about to book a flight when this car popped up just west of Chicago, a little less than 4 hours on the road for me.
It's a 1-owner 2010 model and it's loaded with all the goodies I want and then some. 72,000 miles on the clock and all service records from day 1.

One of the options is dual pane side glass, making the car way more silent than the already stock quiet cabins in these. Sweet!

It has the heated steering wheel I so so wanted because it gets so damn cold here!

And I really didn't plan it but just like the Charger it's white! The black version looks a bit more sleek no doubt, but after owning a black car for 8 years I'm really done with them, it's only nice up until 5 minutes after cleaning it.

I'm going to check it out tomorrow. Wish me luck!

[Dino]

more

[alfaitalia]

Looks nice...long wheel base version too....so a bit more rear passenger room. In the UK the double glazing in the side windows is standard on the V8 versions.

[Dino]

No kidding? It's pretty rare here. V8 is also the only option on this model, or the W12 but it was discontinued for 2010. Most A8s here are the long version. There are short versions but the price is the same so why not go all out? 

[alfaitalia]

Over here you could get all these. The vast majority being sold as standard wheel base models.;

Petrol (gas!) engines.

A8(L) 2.0 TFSI hybrid 2012 – 1,984 cc (121.1 cu in) I4 turbo 211 PS (155 kW; 208 bhp)@? 350 N⋅m (258.15 lbf⋅ft)@1500–4200 7.7 235 km/h (146.0 mph)
electric motor, 1.3 kWh lithium-ion battery 54 PS (40 kW; 53 bhp)@? 210 N⋅m (154.89 lbf⋅ft)@?
combined 245 PS (180 kW; 242 bhp)@? 480 N⋅m (354.03 lbf⋅ft)@?

A8(L) 3.0 TFSI quattro (290PS) 2010 – 2,995 cc (182.8 cu in) V6 supercharged 290 PS (213 kW; 286 bhp)@4850–6500 420 N⋅m (310 lb⋅ft) @2500–4850 6.1 / 6.2 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (limited)
A8(L) 3.0 TFSI quattro (333PS) 2012 – 2,995 cc (182.8 cu in) V6 supercharged 333 PS (245 kW; 328 bhp)@5500–6500 440 N⋅m (325 lb⋅ft)@2900 – 5300 5.5 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (limited)
A8 (L) 4.0 TFSI quattro 2012 – 2013 2014 – 3,991 cc (243.5 cu in) V8 twin turbo 420 PS (309 kW; 414 bhp) @5000 600 N⋅m (443 lb⋅ft) @1500 4.5 / 4,6 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (limited)
A8 (L) 4.0 TFSI quattro[75] 2012 – 2013 2014 – 3,993 cc (243.7 cu in) V8 twin turbo 435 PS (320 kW; 429 bhp) @5000 600 N⋅m (443 lb⋅ft) @1500–4500 4.5 / 4.6 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (limited)
A8(L) 4.2 FSI quattro 2010 – 2012 4,163 cc (254.0 cu in) V8 372 PS (274 kW; 367 bhp) @6800 445 N⋅m (328 lb⋅ft) @3500 5.7 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (limited)
A8 L 6.3 W12 quattro 2010 – 6,299 cc (384.4 cu in) W12 500 PS (368 kW; 493 bhp)@6200 625 N⋅m (461 lb⋅ft) @3250 (2010–2011)
625 N⋅m (461 lb⋅ft) @4750 (2012– ) 4.9 (2010)
4.7 (2011 – ) 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (limited)
A8 L 6.3 W12 quattro (North America) 2010 – 6,299 cc (384.4 cu in) W12 500 PS (368 kW; 493 bhp)@6200 628 N⋅m (463 lb⋅ft) @4750 (2012–) 4.4 (2012 –) 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (limited)
A8 L 6.3 Security W12 quattro 2011 – 6,299 cc (384.4 cu in) W12 500 PS (368 kW; 493 bhp) 625 N⋅m (461 lb⋅ft) @4750 7.3 210 km/h (130.5 mph)
S8 4.0 TFSI quattro 2012 – 2018 3,993 cc (243.7 cu in) V8 twin turbo 520 PS (382 kW; 513 bhp)@6000 650 N⋅m (479 lb⋅ft) @1700 – 5500 4.2 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (limited)
S8 Plus 4.0 TFSI Quattro 2016-2018
3,993 cc (244 cu in) V8 Twin turbo || 600 PS (441 kW; 592 bhp)



Common rail Diesel engines


A8 3.0 TDI (204PS) 2011– 2,967 cc (181.1 cu in) V6 turbo 204 PS (150 kW; 201 bhp) @3750–4500 400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) @1250–3500 8.0 235 km/h (146.0 mph)
A8(L) 3.0 TDI quattro (250PS) 2010– 2,967 cc (181.1 cu in) V6 turbo 250 PS (184 kW; 247 bhp) @4000–4500 550 N⋅m (406 lb⋅ft) @1500–3000 6.1/6.2 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (limited)
A8(L) 3.0 TDI clean diesel quattro (250PS) 2010?– 2,967 cc (181.1 cu in) V6 turbo 250 PS (184 kW; 247 bhp) @4000–4500 550 N⋅m (406 lb⋅ft) @1500–3000 6.1/6.2 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (limited)
A8(L) 4.2 TDI quattro 2010– 4,134 cc (252.3 cu in) V8 turbo 350 PS (257 kW; 345 bhp) @4000 800 N⋅m (590 lb⋅ft) @1750–2750 5.5/5.6 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (limited)

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Looks like a very nicely optioned ride.   You dont see them that often around here in NYC.

25k gets you a lot of car

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=449334531&zip=10304&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3Fzip%3D10304%26startYear%3D1981%26sortBy%3Drelevance%26incremental%3Dall%26firstRecord%3D0%26endYear%3D2019%26modelCodeList%3DA8%26makeCodeList%3DAUDI%26searchRadius%3D10&startYear=1981&numRecords=25&firstRecord=0&endYear=2019&modelCodeList=A8&makeCodeList=AUDI&searchRadius=10&makeCode1=AUDI&modelCode1=A8

[Dino]

Yes loads of car for the money, no doubt. I'm not a fan of the 2011 onward version though. The interior is nice and the gadgets are better than the one I'm looking at, but I don't like the body much. Still I wouldn't mind one! I'm paying less than $20K for the white car and I should get close to $10K for my Honda.

Europe has way more versions of these althoug we do have a few of those here. I know you can have a 3.0T or 4.0T in the 2011-on cars. 2010 was the last year for the 4.2FSI. They are limited here to 130 though instead of 155.

I'll be leaving soon so wish me luck!

[alfaitalia]

 

[Troy]

White with that interior will make it nice in the summer too!

Troy