I found the window sticker

"whoarder is tellurium" (whoarder) 05/25/2020 at 16:32 • Filed to: None

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In comparison, my previously owned 2001 A8L:

Luxury car depreciation is fun.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > whoarder is tellurium 05/25/2020 at 16:45

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Wow. So that A8L cost over $100k in 2020 monies...

gin-san - shitpost specialist > whoarder is tellurium 05/25/2020 at 16:45

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Was the A8 actually better on gas? I figured better engine tech would have offset the bigger displacement in the E550.

whoarder is tellurium > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/25/2020 at 16:46

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I dont recall. I mainly drove it around the city so it wasnt great lol. 

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > whoarder is tellurium 05/25/2020 at 16:46

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I think this every time I get in the Jag.

whoarder is tellurium > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/25/2020 at 16:49

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Yup and it makes sense, considering it was the big boi model. Gah I loved that car.

Meanwhile, the E550 would be ~$86k in 2020. Nuts.

whoarder is tellurium > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 05/25/2020 at 16:51

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SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/25/2020 at 16:52

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I’m a fanatic about the “D2 series” A8s... 1997-2003 and have owned a bunch of them. The pre-facelift cars had taller gearing and I could usually get 26-27 MPG (on real gasoline, not E15) on 65 MPH backroads on a 97-99 car. That drops to more like 24-25 MPG with the shorter gearing of a face lift car 00-03.

I also have an S8, which feels a LOT quicker— some of which is due to 50 more HP, but most of it is due to the really short gearing. Like 20MPG short gearing. But, it’s a quick car.

Having had S-Class of the same era at the same time? I always feel like the AUDIs were good for 1-2MPG better economy on the V8s.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/25/2020 at 16:54

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I’ve bought several of these D2 series (97-03) AUDIs and have never paid more than $750 (in today’s dollars) for the $100K (in today’s $$) AUDI-- of course they always need a new transmission, and a new fuel pump, and a new TB/WP...  but if you can deal with that?  A lotta car for the money.

WilliamsSW > whoarder is tellurium 05/25/2020 at 17:00

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Lol yeah the depreciation on these things can make them a great bargain. Or a huge money pit.  

Roadkilled > whoarder is tellurium 05/25/2020 at 17:01

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The good old days when a 4.5" display was a feature.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > WilliamsSW 05/25/2020 at 17:22

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that IS the dichotomy.

I love these cars, but WoW  can it get expensive fast if the AUDI dealer is your service provider.

WilliamsSW > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 05/25/2020 at 17:26

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Yup. I have a 20 year old BMW and also have the same car whoarder just bought (a couple years newer).

I’ve been very lucky - though the BMW has been well maintained since new and the Merc is still on a CPO warranty. 

gin-san - shitpost specialist > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 05/25/2020 at 17:51

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It’s just like me to completely forget about the gearboxes in this equation. Thanks!

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > whoarder is tellurium 05/25/2020 at 18:00

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Damn. My 2011 F10 535 was like 65k new, when I bought it for $11k, and I thought I was ballin’

I’m amazed at how terrible those Mpgs are, though. I also have a LR4 that’s...well, a freaking tall box on wheels with a big V8 ...that gets better mileage than your E550.

fintail > whoarder is tellurium 05/25/2020 at 18:01

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And you got the E550 for maybe 15% of MSRP?

These are definitely cars to either find a crazy lease deal new, or buy used.

whoarder is tellurium > fintail 05/25/2020 at 18:06

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Yep just about that 15% figure.

fintail > whoarder is tellurium 05/25/2020 at 18:08

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Nice. If/when I get off the lease carousel, I’d really look into a few various 212s. They seem to be pretty solid cars compared to some prior models, and I liked the few I had in the past.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > gin-san - shitpost specialist 05/25/2020 at 18:43

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Yeah, that ZF 5HP24A has “a reputation”... Which is that, once you get to 100K miles, you are on very, very borrowed time.

Oddly that gearbox was also designed into some really heavy SUVs, like the Range Rover, and was spec’ ed to tow some seriously big loads. So, the box itself was designed to a robustness that should have meant it was fine in an A8.

Having seen the inside of several of mine? Oh, man, those gearsets are huge. Very rugged. HOWEVER, one basket had a serious design weakness wherein it would split on the splines and no longer hold pressure— and the Reverse clutch ‘piston’ wasn’t rugged enough. Both parts were re-engineered in the rebuild kits— and are demonstrably stronger. Somewhere I have a pic of my “smashed down” Reverse piston next to a new part— it’s hilarious to see how visible the damage is.

I can see how the dealer presenting a bill for $12,000  for a new transmission, coming on the heels of a $3000 fuel pump fix, might put an aspiring dentist or attorney in the mindset to trade for something new.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > whoarder is tellurium 05/26/2020 at 00:44

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I’ve wondered if there’s a way to get a window sticker reprinted from a VIN. I’ve been curious what the original MSRP of some of my cars was.

My Jaguar was around $33k in 1985 which is about $78 now. Damn, and think what interest rates were back then.

whoarder is tellurium > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 05/26/2020 at 08:45

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Yeah I believe it is possible to get re-prints base off VIN. Contact a local Jaguar dealer. I ve heard there are online services that can do it too . Not sure if trust worthy, but maybe worth the research.