CTC Review: 2009 Audi S8

[CD_Editor]

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!   More...

[mmret]

Some day...some day.... 

[jake beck]

I don't see the purpose of such cars when it's illegal to drive anywhere close to the car's capabilities. Also, the roads here are not designed for high speeds.

[vdk]

I don't see the purpose of such cars when it's illegal to drive anywhere close to the car's capabilities. Also, the roads here are not designed for high speeds.

I think I know a few stretches..

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Make Model Annual Depreciation

Jaguar XJ8 25%
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class 22%
Kia Rio 22%
Audi A8 21%
Lexus LS 21%
Suzuki Verona 21%
Volvo C70 20%
Hyundai Accent 20%
Audi A4 20%
Audi A6 20%

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/06/nada-luxury-segment-has-the-worst-depreciation/

$137,825 MSRP makes that $28943.25 in year one! It will be worth half of its initial price at the end of year 3!

I'll never be rich enough to cope with that much depreciation, let alone the 6 figure entry fee.

[Demosthenes X]

I don't see the purpose of such cars when it's illegal to drive anywhere close to the car's capabilities. Also, the roads here are not designed for high speeds.

The S8 is more about luxury and style than out-and-out speed.  A big, powerful engine just comes along with it because these cards are designed for the Autobahn, which has no speed limit.

Even my old Honda Civic would do 150 kph, though, so you can't legally drive any car to its capabilities in Canada, can you?  :/

[G0dspd]

Nice cruiser but a little overkill for canadian roads.

Sorry if I'm wandering off topic but where can someone find a condo for $130K in Ottawa?  The cheap ones on the Plateau (Gatineau = supposedly cheaper) are around $150 000.  Just curious.

[Bullet Blue]

Make Model Annual Depreciation

Jaguar XJ8 25%
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class 22%
Kia Rio 22%
Audi A8 21%
Lexus LS 21%
Suzuki Verona 21%
Volvo C70 20%
Hyundai Accent 20%
Audi A4 20%
Audi A6 20%

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/06/nada-luxury-segment-has-the-worst-depreciation/

$137,825 MSRP makes that $28943.25 in year one! It will be worth half of its initial price at the end of year 3!

I'll never be rich enough to cope with that much depreciation, let alone the 6 figure entry fee.

Sure makes buying a used one more tempting though.

[tpl]

Unless the A8/S8 has had a radical change it has a particular problem in that very few body shops are "licenced" by VAG to do serious work ( crash repair) on that aluminium unit body.  I am sure the insurance companies take that into account.

[wing]

Godspd -- bayshore / carling  / south keys / riverside... there are a few places.  They aren't "luxury" I think I rather live in the S8

[DockMan]

$7,800 Stereo Upgrade? Good God!

[Demosthenes X]

Sorry if I'm wandering off topic but where can someone find a condo for $130K in Ottawa?  The cheap ones on the Plateau (Gatineau = supposedly cheaper) are around $150 000.  Just curious.

wing said he offered $130 000.  Maybe he's just a cheap sob.     

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Talk about an amazing car. Only thing that'd make it better would be more of it - an S8L.

How do you find that audio unit? Looks impressive, and heard it's great, but unless your ears are at a certain place intended in the interior it's comparable to some others at much lesser cost (such as Genesis).

[Giant Dwarf]

When looking at the pics of the S8 and comparing them to current 7-series or S-class designs, it's the eldest of the bunch (the Audi) that is the far and away best styled of the bunch.  The other designs look too trendy or busy... the big Audi is just clean and mean (especially in black). 

The A8/S8 is scheduled to be replaced next year with a new design, isn't it?

I envy you this week, James.  That's an awesome car to be tootling around in!

[Toronto]

I had to comment to vdk:

Are you buying the car for it's features, technology, looks or are you buying to make money of it? You people are crazy. Enough with if you buy new you will loose money and looses this much and that much per year. Car is not an investment to grow after a year. You WILL loose money on any car. It's wrong way of looking at the car.
The S8 is luxury, up to date, technology loaded car and you pay for that.
Just stop it.

[nsmyhte]

Does the S8 have a more rear biased AWD system like the new A4 or does it still have the previous quattro system with a 50-50 torque split?

[Blueprint]

By the end of the week, I bet Wing will be tired of his co-workers saying "Home, James."  

[Blueprint]

Cars like this aren't bought, they are leased, and usually under company name or by the self-employed (who often are a one-employee number company working for another firm).  The lease payments become deductable expenses made by said company to gain revenue.  Company cars have "F" plates in Quebec, and you rarely see a 6-figure car without such a plate.

Welcome to a tax system written by businessmen who tranferred all their assets to spouses and kids when they became politicians.

[TopGun]

I've always liked the clean lines of the A8....althought I'd still buy a Quattoporte.

I flipped through a recent Car & Driver and saw they crashed an A8/S8.  Apparently, there are very few places where they can repair the aluminium structure...contamination from other metals was something they said needs to be avoided at all costs....and there are many costs!

[vdk]

Unless the A8/S8 has had a radical change it has a particular problem in that very few body shops are "licenced" by VAG to do serious work ( crash repair) on that aluminium unit body.  I am sure the insurance companies take that into account.

As TopGun mentioned, C&D crashed their S8 a while ago. Well it's been in the shop for 6 months(?) and the bill totaled $30k. And it wasn't a serious accident, no airbags deployed or anything.