"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
05/30/2014 at 17:23 • Filed to: audi, oppo review
12
31|
"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
05/30/2014 at 17:23 • Filed to: audi, oppo review | 12
| 31 |
This week, I was given my first car, and what a first car it is! It is powerful, comfortable, cool, and loaded with toys that I will probably never use. I've spent the last few days getting to know the car, and every second I drive it, or sit in it, or look at it, it grows on me more. The car's original owner selected every option available on the car when it was new, and it has been meticulously maintained for the last 13 years. And now, it has been passed on to me. Worry not, though. I don't plan to trash it or abuse it or even be remotely careless with it. I plan to take care of it like a member of the family. Here's what I've learned after my first week with the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive (original MSRP) car my family has ever owned.
Exterior: 6/10
The A8L is a handsome car, in my opinion. It looks dignified and important, the way a big German luxury barge should. It also looks somewhat imposing, given its large dimensions and upright, squarish front end. The optional 18" alloy wheels add to the exterior, and, when clean they are like big, round mirrors. However, this is by no means a beautiful car, nor is it a particularly cool looking one. There are a few reasons for this. One, I think it could visually do with a tiny bit more front and rear overhang. I don't know why, but it just seems like it would suit the car better. Secondly, it is beige. The very antithesis of an interesting color, the color of choice for hearing aids and generic suburban houses. I would've preferred almost any other color, but hey, beggars can't be choosers. Lastly, the styling itself, although suitably dignified and restrained, is a little boring. It looks exactly like the smaller A6 and A4. It won't turn heads the way a Jaguar XJ or a Mercedes S-Class will, and that's okay with me. It means less attention from the police, who would like nothing more than to stop a 16 year-old guy driving a big, fancy looking car.
Interior: 8/10
This is where the A8 really shines. The interior is in excellent shape. The seats are very comfortable, but firmer than you might expect from such a big barge. I like this, because I am not yet old enough to be burdened with backache. Everything feels very high-quality. And there's toys. Lots and lots of toys. All this wrapped up in a big, comfortable package. It does lose point in the same place every German interior loses point: the cup holders. Yes, they are heated, but there's only one in the front, and the space where the other on should be is occupied by the GPS controls, which means if you spill any of your drink, you ruin the car's entire electrical system, as a fellow Jalop warned me. So there's basically nowhere to put drinks in the front.
Nevertheless...
Acceleration: 8/10
This may seem a little high for a car that was not designed with quarter mile sprints or track days in mind. But what they did have in mind when the dropped the 4.2 liter V8 in the front was the Autobahn. This engine produces 310 horsepower and 302 lbs/ft of torque, which is good enough for a 0-60 time of around 6.7 seconds, and, like all German cars, an electronically limited 155mph top speed. I am fairly confident, however, that without the limiter, it could go faster. As I said, their are lots and lots of cars that will outrun the A8. But for a 16 year old driver, whose friends are mostly driving olds Jeeps and pickups, or Toyota Corollas, this thing is a rocket ship.
Braking: 7/10
I have no idea what the 60-0 stopping distance of this car is. What I do know is that it has 4 ventilated disk brakes with ABS, and big, fat, brand-new tires. As far as the actual performance 0f the brakes, well, I haven't hit anything yet, so they can't be that bad. What I do know is that, because of dust on the rotors or something, the brakes screech. A lot. In fact, it sounds like a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
Ride: 9/10
Once again, the A8 rides a little more firmly than I was expecting for a full-sized German luxury cruiser. It's by no means harsh, just a little sportier than one might think. That's good, because it means you can have fun in this car confidently. And responsibly, of course. When you aren't testing out the capabilities of the chassis, AWD, and steering, the A8 rides supremely well. It never jolts you or allows you to feel the vibrations of the road. This may make it a little less of a driver's car, but it makes it joyously wonderful to drive home in after a long, stressful day, or to cruise in at 80mph on the interstate. Also, it thankfully does not have air suspension, like its successor, or I would very shortly be bankrupt, as this car didn't have a Carmax warranty.
Handling: 6/10
Before I start on this, I should say that the steering in the A8 feels excellent. It turns with little effort, yet it isn't too floaty. The Quattro AWD and fat summer tires also keeps this car feeling firmly planted, even when you hustle it along. Keep in mind, though, that while it may be sportier than I was expecting, it is still a large car designed for comfort, not cornering. Push it too hard into a corner and the tires will squeal, letting you know that you really shouldn't be engaging in such hooliganism, sir. It will corner, and corner quickly if it has to, but it is no Mazda Miata.
Gearbox: 7/10
The A8L gets Audi's 5-speed Tiptronic shiftable automatic. It shifts smoothly enough, and allows you to do quite a bit of revving before it clicks up. Still, while it does technically let you select your own gears, it's not a manual, or a six speed, so it won't score any higher.
Toys: 8/10
There are toys. It has power seats with 4-person memory, and all 4 seats and all 3 cup holders are heated. It also has a primitive turn-by-turn GPS system, a power rear sunshade, an in-car phone more primitive than the GPS, power seat belts (the good kind), a full-sized matching spare wheel, and the loudest horn this side of a Mercedes Grosser. And judging by the number of buttons, there's a lot more toys that I have yet to discover.
Audio: 7/10
The A8 has a single-disc CD changer in the dash, and a 6-disc changer in the trunk for a grand total of 7 CD's, plus one for the GPS. It also has something called a cassette player, AM/FM radio, an iPod hookup, and a mount for Sirius satellite radio. And the Bose premium speakers are excellent. As for the other type of audio, the engine provides a lovely soundtrack when you want it to, and remains very quiet when you don't.
Value: 8/10
This car cost around $70,000 new, and had every available option. Since then, it has done just over 114,000 miles, and has seen two previous owners, both of home took perfect care of the car. It has new tires, a fresh synthetic oil change, a new air injection system, and a clean bill of health from two different mechanic's shops. And the cost of this beauty? $7,000, almost exactly one tenth of the original sticker. Even with German cars being notoriously expensive to work on, that is a pretty good deal in my opinion.
Total: 74/100
Well, there you have it. One lucky, spoiled kid's review of a big old Audi sedan. Now, if you'll excuse me, I just finished my last day of sophomore year, the weather is great, and I am going to go for a drive.
*Note: All of the above photos were taken by me, using a potato.
MonkeePuzzle
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/30/2014 at 17:32 |
|
a jealousy. I have it. I guess, though, you have a 14 year old fully loaded import, I had nearly the same, mine was 8 years old and fully loaded... just from Japan.
good luck with your new driving, esspecially the parking mwahahahaah
jkm7680
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/30/2014 at 17:32 |
|
Nice review! The car looks great.
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> MonkeePuzzle
05/30/2014 at 17:38 |
|
What was yours?
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> jkm7680
05/30/2014 at 17:38 |
|
Thanks!
KatzManDu
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/30/2014 at 17:38 |
|
I'm going to be foul-mouthed here.
Holy Fucking Shit. Your parents are trusting you with a 300hp luxe sedan made of aluminum. And this is as pimp a ride as pimp rides come. Stupid fast, but also stupid safe. And a back seat big enough for... well, what high school kids do in backseats.
I'm a former 1997 A8 owner. Awesome cars.
First, go here:
If the transmission hasn't been serviced get it done NOW. Check out the CV-joints.
To mod this thing, you can install paddle shifters for the tiptronic. You can also install a more modern navigation unit that takes DVDs instead of CDs and has a display. Also go for the S8 suspension components if you can. If they haven't been done yet, ball joints and control arms, as well as the struts will be due.
Enjoy it.
Also, I have an older VAG-COM cable I will GIVE you. It uses the 9-pin serial port on a PC, and you'll have to purchase the software from ross-tech.com yourself.
|
MonkeePuzzle
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/30/2014 at 17:39 |
|
a fully loaded 1988 Subaru GL-10 (yeah thats the one with the turbo and digital dash!)
|
MonkeePuzzle
> KatzManDu
05/30/2014 at 17:40 |
|
its like giving a teenager a volvo wagon, but better, because safety. And the L version for extra extra crumple zone
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> KatzManDu
05/30/2014 at 17:41 |
|
Thanks! I don't know how much modding I will be doing within the first year or so, but I will definitely look into some of those maintenance things you mentioned.
ciscokidinsf
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/30/2014 at 17:42 |
|
Yikes. So in this wonderful deal, who covers maintenance? Maintenance is still priced accordingly to a $70,000 sticker price. Engine is sturdy (I used to have it and drove it 6 years) but maintenance on these is still a bear. Car is 30% sensors. Your piggy bank should have $1500 for 'emergencies' and $2,000/yr for 'other stuff'...
I love these A8L's because they do look very elegant. but it would not be my choice for 1st car, unless the giver of the car will partake on the upcoming maintenance bills. My advice? lower it a bit, get better tires. Ask your Dad for his favorite 'mixed tape' (he'll understand even if you don't) and he'll smile and give you one for your ride. (Probs 80's stuff) Have fun and God will certainly bless the mechanics in charge of the new ride. Take good care of it!
|
KatzManDu
> KatzManDu
05/30/2014 at 17:45 |
|
It looks like it has an AUX-in wired up per Paul's spec (with the switch) .. you tell it to use the external CD changer, but throw the switch and the aux in is live.
Big Bubba Ray
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/30/2014 at 17:48 |
|
These are by far my favorite generation of the A8 and the fact that you got the L makes it even better.
Gotta admit, I'm extremely jealous. Awesome review, take good care of her!
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> ciscokidinsf
05/30/2014 at 17:52 |
|
Will do. & we are prepared for higher maintenance costs. Thanks!
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Big Bubba Ray
05/30/2014 at 17:53 |
|
I plan to. Thank you!
Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/30/2014 at 18:14 |
|
You could make it sound better:
Here is a comparison between the Audi A8 and a Jaguar XJR. Spoiler alert: The Audi wins.
WhatDaFunk
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/30/2014 at 18:18 |
|
Congrats, awesome car! Not a big fan of the wheels though, maybe throw some S8 wheels on there?
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
05/30/2014 at 18:27 |
|
I saw both those videos during my "research". I may try to replicate the sound from the first video. We'll see.
Zohaibman72
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/30/2014 at 20:45 |
|
Nice car! I really wanted my first car to be a german luxo-barge, but I got the Camry instead. It would be the coolest thing rolling up to school in an A8L
Vicente Esteve
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/30/2014 at 21:35 |
|
You sir, are lucky. Man, even if it is more than 10 years old, its a fantastic piece of engineering. I really would love to have something like that. You feel so, important.
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Vicente Esteve
05/30/2014 at 22:00 |
|
Thanks! It's a great car. Everyone turns their head and looks at you when you pull up. This is because the brakes are screeching like banshees, but still.
Seriously, though, I've scared a few pedestrians with how loud the brakes are. I think it's just the humidity, as the brakes don't seem to be affected, but I'm having it checked out nevertheless.
|
Vicente Esteve
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/30/2014 at 22:10 |
|
Do check it out. My moms Expedition has it as well, I think it would drive me mad if I had to drive it for more than a week or something.
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Vicente Esteve
05/30/2014 at 22:11 |
|
Trust me, it would drive you insane. It's really annoying.
Alex B
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/08/2014 at 21:24 |
|
My neighbor has gotten the modern equivalent of yours! http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/audi-a8l-15623…
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Alex B
06/08/2014 at 21:29 |
|
That's a very pretty car. I like the color better than mine. And everything else about it, but, ya know.
|
Alex B
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/08/2014 at 21:41 |
|
Yeah, but nothing wrong with yours!
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Alex B
06/08/2014 at 21:48 |
|
Of course. Its a very nice car. But if I had 100k to spend on a car, it would probably be a new A8L/S8.
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Alex B
06/08/2014 at 23:13 |
|
Also, did you end up moving cross-country?
|
Alex B
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/09/2014 at 13:10 |
|
No, we decided against it for now, still possible in the future though.
Chandlerk
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/05/2014 at 20:44 |
|
That's a very handsome car and a great review. I'm 16 also and just got my first car. It's a beige (like yours) 1998 Lincoln Continental. A proper American Luxury boat haha. I'm sure your Audi is 100 times more refined than my car, but I'm still very happy. It has a decent V8 and 16 year old leather seats that feel like a recliner. I hate the color, but it only has 100000 miles and we got it for less than 4000. I just need to save up the money to convert the air suspension to coils. Maybe I'll spend some time and write my own review.
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Chandlerk
08/05/2014 at 20:49 |
|
That is also a very nice first car. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. And yes, I would recommend that if those air shocks haven't failed yet, you replace them as soon as possible. You're on borrowed time as-is, IMO. This was the only generation of A8 not to have air shocks, but I did not know that at the time. I asked the salesman if it had them, knowing full well that if it did, I wasn't getting the car. I got lucky, and if the ones on your Lincoln are still good, so did you. But better to be safe than sorry.
|
Chandlerk
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/05/2014 at 20:52 |
|
I bet that they will be fine for another year or so, but I should be able to switch them out before the winter. Good luck with your Audi though, I'm beyond jealous.
|
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Chandlerk
08/05/2014 at 20:54 |
|
I understand your jealousy, and you may remain jealous right up until something breaks on that car.
Then there is no sense being jealous of a bankrupt person.