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Day-by-Day Review: 2009 Audi S8

April 21st, 2009 by James Bergeron

Picture Gallery: 2009 Audi S8     | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss

Day 1:

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A few weeks ago I was in full shopping mode. I was looking for an investment property to get myself into the real estate game. I did put an offer in on one condo, a two-bedroom in a nice building; my offer was just under $130,000, which is not bad for a condo in a large city. It needed some work but not much. This week, though, I drive a vehicle that doesn’t need any work and, coincidentally, whose MSRP is more than what I offered for that condo!

I’m sure if the owners of the condo saw me pull up in this vehicle before I slapped down my low-ball offer, they would have countered high or told me to fly a kite. (I didn’t get the place by the way, so if you know of any good properties drop me a line.)

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I have driven my fair share (or perhaps unfair share depending on your view) of luxury cars over the past few months. Lincoln MKS, Audi A4 and A6, BMW 335i, BMW X5 — a nice line up of vehicles. But here is the cream of the crop: the Audi S8, powered by a V10 monster and with luxury seeping from every nook and cranny, but still offering up something to keep the driver feeling young — power and handling!

The “base” price of the S8 is a cool $127 grand, to which my tester adds: a ski bag for $250, a heated four-spoke multi-function steering wheel ($250; although I’m still trying to find the power button for it), $650 for very chic carbon fibre trim, $275 for Audi’s Music interface and la pièce de resistance, the Bang & Olufsen Advanced audio system for $7,800.

The engine is something you might expect to find in a supercar. This 5.2-litre V10 powerplant puts out 450hp and 398lb-ft of torque, and although the S8 is no lightweight vehicle, this engine propels the S8 from zero to 100km/h in 5.1 seconds — not bad for a car nearly as large as a limousine.

2009 Audi S8
MSRP as tested (including destination): $137,825

For more information on Audi and the S8 visit Audi Canada

Day 2:

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Where do you start your interior descriptions in a vehicle like the S8, where everything is just beyond what you would expect? The imposing exterior is understated yet still clearly sophisticated, but the interior is typical Audi brilliance, with just that little extra touch to make the owner feel more special than the guy in the A4.

From those who know what the S8 is, you get a nice nod as you drive on past, but those not in the know either ignore the vehicle altogether or perhaps realize that it is something special, but they are not sure why. Nevertheless, they crane their neck trying to figure out exactly why this car is drawing their attention in such a mesmerizing fashion.

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The basics are far from basic in the S8, with everything you would expect, like heated leather seats, cruise control, automatic climate control and the typical clean and well-crafted Audi interior. The S8 steps it up a notch with: leather headliner and A-pillars, memory seats for both driver and passenger, a dual-stage vanity mirror with magnification and, of course, the Bang & Olufsen audio system with speakers that rise from the dash upon turning the ignition.

The power seats are quite the spectacle, with adjustments available for recline, fore and aft, up and down, thigh support, head rests (up/ down, front/back), lumbar and — a first for me — a power adjustable seatbelt. The S8 has one of the cleanest dash layouts of Audi’s lineup with the navigation/control screen popping out from behind a carbon-fiber panel (this can be hidden away at the touch of a button) and with the climate controls found lower down, providing a smoother flowing design.

The trunk is massive, and the rear seating quarters as comfortable or perhaps even more so than the fronts. The Bang & Olufsen stereo is stellar, as you would expect for $7,800, although I suspect for all but the most critical listener the standard Audi stereo would be just fine, as it is no slouch — but I have to admit the pop-up tweeters are pretty pimpin’!

Day 3:

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I had this thought today — what if all cars had 450hp? I think we would live in a much nicer world. Sure, everyone would use more fuel and perhaps that is bad, but think about the good that could come of it. All cars would be quieter under mild and normal acceleration and people would be more relaxed, for the most part, since they would know there is no point in “gunning” it because the car would take off so fast you would need to almost immediately get back on the brakes. Ah… I can only dream.

Maybe that’s a little “out there” and I now expect to get hate mail from the greenies, but having a 450hp V10 does have some advantages. Forget about the insane acceleration from a vehicle as long and nearly as heavy as a full-sized pickup truck. But for a luxury sedan, it can’t be beat! The S8 accelerates absolutely effortlessly, and the shifts are so smooth that you can’t help but be calm you as you glide home in hybrid-like silence.

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But unlike a hybrid, when you want or need to unleash the fury of hell onto the tarmac, in this car, you put your foot down, the gearbox pops down a few gears and the exhaust pipes emit the most intense roar as you rocket off into license-removal speeds in mere seconds.

But Audi didn’t stop there. No, they somehow make a 2,080kg (4,586lb) vehicle handle, too. With Audi’s active suspension system, the S8 can be set to comfort, dynamic or automatic mode which changes the suspension tuning as well as steering responsiveness. You can also set the vehicle into lift mode, which raises the suspension for more ground clearance. You certainly can feel the difference between dynamic and comfort as the suspension gets firmer immediately. Despite my penchant for fast, tight-handling cars, I have left the S8 in comfort mode for most of my time with with the car as it handles great in this mode and soaks up imperfections in the road just fine.

My only complaint is also a plus. On the road, the steering feel is rather numb with nearly zero feedback, but this translates into great low-speed maneuverability in parking lots and excellent highway cruising manners.

Day 4:

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I knew coming into it that the S8 would not be a fuel miser, but it still is somewhat of a shock to get full-size truck type fuel economy from a sedan that requires premium fuel. But you only live once and the cost of the fuel this week paid for itself, and more, in smiles.

I averaged 15.2L/100km by week’s end. For most of the week the on board computer was stuck at 16.0L/100km but 150km of highway driving over the weekend dropped the number — a little.

The seats in the S8 are by far the best I have ever had the pleasure to sample. I could sit in the S8 for days and just continue on driving, and I wish I could!

*Rating out of 5:

2009 Audi S8
Acceleration
Handling
Comfort
Interior
Audio System
Gas Mileage

*Rating based on vehicle’s classification

2009 Audi S8
MSRP as tested (including destination): $137,825

For more information on Audi and the S8 visit Audi Canada

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 at 8:04 pm and is filed under Sedans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

59 Responses to “Day-by-Day Review: 2009 Audi S8”

1. Sir Osis of Liver Says:
   April 23, 2009, 12:31:31 am
   Quote from: Just Bob on April 22, 2009, 11:42:08 pm
   
   This is the bizarrist thread ever!  
   
   
   
   I'm not sure you've been paying attention!
   
   I should clarify a bit. As it stands, the S8 is fantastic, much like its predecessors; but seriously, these, and the big Mercs, Jags and BMWs are crippling because of high depreciation and repair costs. The LS still has the high depreciation, but holds up pretty damned well over the long term.
   
   The über-rich have fall-back cars, so won't care. Well-off professionals on the other hand, had better dump them before the warranty ends.
   
2. Oz Says:
   April 23, 2009, 01:51:15 pm
   Quote from: Just Bob on April 22, 2009, 11:42:08 pm
   
   http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/971871.htm
   
   Not keen on the red leather but nice car...
   
   
   Aiee.. that red is way too bright. I have red in my car but its a lot flatter in terms of color.
3. Oz Says:
   April 23, 2009, 01:53:23 pm
   Quote from: Sir Osis of Liver on April 23, 2009, 12:31:31 am
   Well-off professionals on the other hand, had better dump them before the warranty ends.
   
   
   
   Yep, the ol' lease and dump. Thats how a certian trader I know rolls.
   
   3 year leases on cars that are mortgages on wheels. 3 years up, on to the next fad.
4. safristi Says:
   April 24, 2009, 10:09:18 am ..Geez WINGIE yer sap ..i said "SAP! " is rising...........Condo Bongos and $130,000 KARS..... and an Audi  "SKI BAG" fer $250 is that hourly............................
   
   
    IMHO stay away from real estate.....the other shoe has yet to DROP................and enjoy yer 2nd career as a Journo..U have improved by leaps and bounds............
5. Brigitte Says:
   April 24, 2009, 12:22:22 pm Frankly, James, I'm a little disappointed.  Day 3, and still no cupholder count?   
6. safristi Says:
   April 24, 2009, 12:43:23 pm ..i figure BY NOW he is HOLDING his OWN........................
7. wing Says:
   April 24, 2009, 02:34:44 pm
   Quote from: Brigitte on April 24, 2009, 12:22:22 pm
   Frankly, James, I'm a little disappointed.  Day 3, and still no cupholder count?  
   
   
   Only 2!!!
8. Audi Lover Says:
   April 24, 2009, 09:06:44 pm Ok, for once, I'm disappointed at a review of an Audi.  Numb steering feel and zero feedback is a negative in any books.  Sounds like something out of the Lexus camp.  How can you enjoy a car if the steering wheel conveys no sense of road conditions, amount of grip, etc.  Sure, parking lot manoeuvers and highway cruising easy, but most cars these days can lay claim to that.
9. wing Says:
   April 24, 2009, 09:23:10 pm Audi Lover, almost all Audi's are like that -- the S8 even more.  Do you have an Audi?  Or just love them?
10. vdk Says:
    April 25, 2009, 01:49:30 am
    Quote from: wing on April 24, 2009, 09:23:10 pm
    Audi Lover, almost all Audi's are like that -- the S8 even more.  Do you have an Audi?  Or just love them?
    
    
    Which one is the best when it comes to steering feel? The TT probably right? I bet the A4 is still better than the S8.
11. Sir Osis of Liver Says:
    April 25, 2009, 01:51:46 am I'm surprised to hear that actually. A few years ago, Audi was lauded for its exceptional steering feel.
12. safristi Says:
    April 25, 2009, 09:18:22 am How does IT feel.........man...................
13. vaff3 Says:
    April 25, 2009, 10:45:34 am Just don't crash it.  With the aluminum structure, you have to take it to a certified shop.  Car and Driver crunched one (Feb 09) and found out there was only one certified facility in all of Michigan.  Five months, 126 hours and $30 000 later, they had their S8 back.  No, I'm not kidding; check it out for yourself.
14. Audi Lover Says:
    April 25, 2009, 11:14:39 am safristi, we were not referring to actual 'texture' or tactile feel of a stationary steering wheel (I'd like to think we're not that nit-picky).
    By steering feel we mean like for instance, when you turning a corner, can you sense thru the steering wheel whether or not the tires are having proper grip; is it giving you enough feedback.  An extreme example would be like driving a real car, and then driving one of those cheap video game steering wheels.  The latter would be an example of no feedback or steering feel.  Or, like you're driving a real car, and your baby son is in the back seat 'driving' with one of those fake steering wheels - extreme no feedback.
15. safristi Says:
    April 25, 2009, 11:17:58 am OBVIOUS MAN......................respond with the "details" of how U "FEEL" the steering.....................HARD TO UNDERSTEER   err understand.............
16. Brigitte Says:
    April 27, 2009, 02:31:33 pm Day 4:  "The S8's seats are the best James has ever sampled..."
    
    Are you sure you're allowed to chew the leather?   
17. dr_spock Says:
    April 27, 2009, 05:26:30 pm "excellent highway cruising manors."
    
    Shouldn't that be excellent highway cruising manners?     
    
    I wonder if he is going to install a set of S8 seats in his movie projection room? 
    
    
18. wing Says:
    April 27, 2009, 06:26:56 pm It should be, you would think my editor would have caught that, eh?
19. Steve Says:
    April 28, 2009, 09:07:22 am I'm surprised you haven't mentioned that Audi just announced they have cancelled the S8.
20. sirAQUAMAN64 Says:
    April 28, 2009, 09:20:23 am Pick on James day, who else wants in? 
21. Demosthenes X Says:
    April 28, 2009, 12:08:26 pm
    Quote from: dr_spock on April 27, 2009, 05:26:30 pm
    "excellent highway cruising manors."
    
    Shouldn't that be excellent highway cruising manners?     
    
    
    The S8 is nearly the size of a manor, so he's not too far off... 
22. safristi Says:
    April 28, 2009, 12:24:30 pm .give tha guy a break he spent 14 hours FILLING the BIG TOY fer RICH BOYS UP.............. .......tha fumes finally got to him.............sampling seats....well at least he didn't squeeze tha dashboard...... or DIDYA!!!!......did it taste like "chicken??"............feet
23. Spec5 Says:
    April 28, 2009, 01:08:33 pm Stunning car - I find they look a lot like the 94-96 Impala SS from the back.
    
    Discontinued eh? So what's Jason Statham going to drive in the next Transporter movie?!
24. safristi Says:
    April 28, 2009, 01:11:19 pm   "Horny women wild"............  would be MY GUESS............................
25. Just Bob Says:
    April 28, 2009, 11:58:29 pm
    Quote from: Spec5 on April 28, 2009, 01:08:33 pm
    Stunning car - I find they look a lot like the 94-96 Impala SS from the back.
    
    Discontinued eh? So what's Jason Statham going to drive in the next Transporter movie?!
    
    
    Hopefully his acting coach to work.

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