2008 Audi S8 review
January 12, 2008 by Paul Maric
2008 Audi S8 Road Test
CarAdvice rating: 
Recommended Retail Price: $259,900. As tested $269,500.
Options Fitted: Adaptive Cruise Control ($6,400), Reversing Camera ($1,200), Four zone climate control ($2,000).
- by Paul Maric
“One sneeze on the throttle and this bellowing Lamborghini V10 propels 2-tonnes of mass from naught to one-hundred in the time it takes to read this sentence.“
As motoring journalists, people never pick us as the drivers of the cars we’re in. That’s why it’s amusing to find people standing next to your test car talking about it, only to stare in shock and amusement as you unlock the door and drive away.
So it was a sunny Spring day and I’m getting some milk from the local supermarket. I’m dressed in tracky-dacks and an old t-shirt. I approach the beige S8 and spot a young child and his father standing next to the car. The boy says “Dad, look, it says ‘V10’!” The Dad chuckles to himself and says, “It’s not a V10 son, they’ve obviously just stuck the badge on to make themselves feel better about spending 200-large on a car.”
I then slip through the pair, open the door, stick my finger on the fingerprint reader and turn over the 5.2-litre – V10. The father looks at me awkwardly, and realises that dirty noise exiting the engine is in fact the idling burble of a V10. As I drove off I could see him eating some humble pie, trying to explain to his son that he was wrong and that it was in fact a V10. You see, since Volkswagen Group bought Lamborghini, there has been a spate of part swapping between the companies under the VW Group hat – including Audi and Lamborghini.
As such, Audi raided the Lamborghini parts bin and found a V10 engine out of the Gallardo. They did some tweaking and ended up with a 5.2-litre capacity, tied to Audi’s quattro AWD system. Suffice to say, if the noise doesn’t awaken your senses, the super smooth power delivery of this V10 monster surely will.
good/interseting review – very hard car to define.
What are the headlights – xenon? any good?
The headlights are adaptive bi-xenon.
Each headlight cluster also has 5 LED lights which operate when the parking lights are on, in combination with the LED brake lights.
I have driven one of these on a few occasions. Being black, and with the gaping silver front grille, this one stands out. I agree with Paul entirely. It is a nice place to be, although it just fails to inspire. At 7 10ths, it’s a beautiful GT, but anywhere near the limit, it gets a bit diabolical. The engine is a pearler, and sounds tits, and the brakes are incredible, but thats about where it all ends. Spot on review Paul.
I reckon one of these would have made my 2000km+ round trip at Christmas time an absolute doddle!
“Turning circle: N/A”
Hmmm… Why have a steering wheel then? :)
I watched a segment on Auto Motor und Sport on Channel 31, on the audis fully sick audio system. The audio blokes actually engineered the speakers to echo sounds perfectly for each passenger, using the same ideas in amphitheaters. And the fuel consumption seems almost unbelievable, V10, 4wd and over 2 ton, how did it even achieve 13.4 . Is there a v10 diesel version of one of these?
^Could be a v12 diesel in the pipeline now we know it will fit in the R8!
Sure its a little better quality than a HSV, but for mine rather a TomCat fettled Senator and $150k in my pocket..
WAY overpriced, no better than say a C63 Benz [M3 eater]
Impressive stero if nothing else, AND can have:
“Powered By Lamborgini” on the windscreen! :-)
Cheers
F-O
lcat:
There is a W12 diesel available. The flagship model is the Audi A8 W12.
Frugal One:
Having driven both the E-series Senator and this vehicle, the quality is not only a “little better”, it’s leaps and bounds better.
No, the car isn’t overpriced. You must compare this vehicle to its competition, not a vehicle in HSV’s range. When compared to its competition, it’s some $50,000 cheaper than its nearest rival.
C63…you do understand the C-class is to two model ranges smaller than the A8? The A8’s competition includes the S-class and 7-series.
Paul, i compared the audi [auto union?] to the Senator for a number of reasons:
1.They both have over 300kW
2.Both are the top of the line model for each manufacturer.
3.Performance is similar
4.Both are large and luxo.
I think we should soon see a power boost in the HSV [maybe they can fit the Vette 7L donk] soon as FPV come out with its new range.
One things for sure, the S8 would drop $100k in the first year, a alarming fall really.
Yes the audi is in a different class, but they are offereing similar idea, just the audi is aiming for uber-rich upper clients.
Having said that, i would pay a extra $70k and step up to sister brand Bentley Cont. GT.Now THATS is a impressive beast!
Agree about the C63, its alleged the best sports sedan from Germany yet!
Cheers
F-0
Just a correction there lcat, there is NO W12 diesel, it’s a petrol powered W12 motor (essentially two V6 – petrol – engines fused together).
There is a twin-turbo V8 Diesel available though, which produces some 650Nm of torque.
^ thanks for info Paul
Frugal One:
As I said, I’ve driven both and the Audi is in a totally different league.
You mention they’re both “luxo”. The Senator doesn’t even come close to matching the Audi features list. The Senator is also smaller than the A8 – significantly.
Performance certainly isn’t similar. The 6-speed auto ‘box in the Senator is rubbish compared to the 6-speed used in the S8. The Senator also won’t corner at speed in the wet when compared to the S8.
Finally, the S8 isn’t the top-of-the-line model in the A8 range, that goes to the A8 L W12.
Your estimation of the depreciation of the car is also inaccurate. The S8’s depreciation percentage is actually lower than the Senator’s…
Seriously, the Senator isn’t competition to the S8 and anyone who buys an S8 would laugh at any attempt to compare the two.
When will we Australian motor enthusiasts ever come to a consensus on the issue of Aussie built Vs. German engineered?
From pillar to post Holden has been bragging about its Billion dollar baby, sadly though pouring good money after bad really hasn’t helped the cause. The Holden Commodore and all its offshoots still offer a level of refinement similar to a 2yr old being potty trained. And sadly though [Frugal One] I do not believe looking to the U.S. for a boost will offer much in the way of future stability.
With both General Motors and Ford trying to stay afloat whilst running with huge deficits I doubt that either will be making headlines with groundbreaking advancements or technology anytime soon.
Suffice to say I think this argument is one to rival religious debate and the only logical conclusion I can see on the horizon will come about as the Aussie-Americans fall into liquidation.
Debate aside, the Audi S8 is a powerhouse for the discerning buyer, and hopefully will continue to fly under the radar of the cashed-up Bogan for some years ahead.
Wouldnt you think that a reversing camera would be standard on a car like this!
I like reading your reviews, but 80%+ (too many) of cars reviewed end up in the same band: Four Stars. Makes it harder to understand your judgement. For example, CRV, Outlander, SantaFe, Lancer, etc. all got Four Stars.
But isnt 4 stars in their own cattogory!!
Not a Santa Fe against an Audi for instance!
Maybe the guys need to indicate what their judging them against to help you!
Those Bang & Olufsen speakers on the dash board’s left and right sides are so so cool! This is the gentleman’s pimp mobile!
To Troy: Do us all a favour and remove yourself from the gene pool, moron.