CTC Review: 2009 Audi S8

[Toronto]

It has aluminum body as you said it. It's not our fault that north america is not up to date with  the european technology. This car will never rust, you can not have everything. I think you are bunch of cry babies. whaaaaaaaaa, it's all aluminum it will never rust but the repair is expensive. have you heard of insurance? that's why we have it after all. Dear god.
You want to have everything but don't appreciate what you have.

[mmret]

repair is expensive. have you heard of insurance?

I'm positive that the insurance company has no clue about the expense and will charge you as if it was made of steel and could be repaired in the back alley over there.

Yep, positive.

Maybe they should hire you.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Given the choice of buying a $137,825 S8 and a $92,500 Lexus LS460L, I wouldn’t blink. The Lexus is bullet proof reliability-wise, has a gorgeous interior and is made of conventional materials. The $45325 difference could pick up a pretty sweet ride for Lady O.

[vdk]

Given the choice of buying a $137,825 S8 and a $92,500 Lexus LS460L, I wouldn’t blink. The Lexus is bullet proof reliability-wise, has a gorgeous interior and is made of conventional materials. The $45325 difference could pick up a pretty sweet ride for Lady O.

I would compare the LS460 with the A8 4.2. Both V8s, both available in LWB, and the 4.2 is $95k.
S8 would battle an LS-F in my view.

[Brigitte]

An S8 now, Wing?    Do horseshoes fall out your butt when you stand up these days?  Sheesh...   

[bluelines]

It's a bit surprising that you're reviewing this car when we're in the final model year of the current A8. Even the S8 has been around for three years, give or take a few months.

Now that said, I do think the S8 is still one of the very best looking cars on the road, particularly in black.

[bluelines]

Huh? How do you "gain revenue" by increasing the expenses of a business?? And who cares if self-employed people are choosing to indulge in a great car with the money they've earned?

In any case, the maximum allowable deduction for a car lease by Rev Can is $800 / month, which might get you a loaded A4. For the S8 you'd be looking at more like $2,500 / month.

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.

[Audi Lover]

For sure the Audi S8 is a better investment than a condo downtown Toronto.  With the housing market the way it is, a condo in Toronto will likely depreciate faster than an Audi S8.  Furthermore, people are much more impressed with a fancy car than any fancy shelter.  How often you gonna invite ur friends and acquaintances to your house vs. how often they will get a glance of you driving in your shiny Audi S8?

To the poster that even mentioned Lexus.  LOL!!!!!!  Why don't u just buy a hyundai accent?  You probably feel a hyundai accent is just as good as Audi S8.  Why buy one Audi S8 when you can get 14 hyundai accents of similar quality and prestige as Audi S8.

[2hondas]

For sure the Audi S8 is a better investment than a condo downtown Toronto.  With the housing market the way it is, a condo in Toronto will likely depreciate faster than an Audi S8.  Furthermore, people are much more impressed with a fancy car than any fancy shelter.  How often you gonna invite ur friends and acquaintances to your house vs. how often they will get a glance of you driving in your shiny Audi S8?

To the poster that even mentioned Lexus.  LOL!!!!!!  Why don't u just buy a hyundai accent?  You probably feel a hyundai accent is just as good as Audi S8.  Why buy one Audi S8 when you can get 14 hyundai accents of similar quality and prestige as Audi S8.

   You go ahead, live in a house at Jane and Finch, and drive your S8.

No, I won't buy 14 Hyundai Accents. I'll buy the LS460 and a G37 instead...or maybe a Audi A4! I am sure that will make you happy Audi Lover.

[Jaeger]

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.

Then you're into $2k per month on repairs.   Of course, according to AudiLover, real Audi enthusiasts like those repairs and would be offended by if their cars were more reliable.    If this describes you, then an out of warranty S8 should be a peach.

Jaeger

[vdk]

And here we go again... sigh.

[Demosthenes X]

For sure the Audi S8 is a better investment than a condo downtown Toronto.  With the housing market the way it is, a condo in Toronto will likely depreciate faster than an Audi S8.  Furthermore, people are much more impressed with a fancy car than any fancy shelter.  How often you gonna invite ur friends and acquaintances to your house vs. how often they will get a glance of you driving in your shiny Audi S8?

To the poster that even mentioned Lexus.  LOL!!!!!!  Why don't u just buy a hyundai accent?  You probably feel a hyundai accent is just as good as Audi S8.  Why buy one Audi S8 when you can get 14 hyundai accents of similar quality and prestige as Audi S8.

   Is there something in the water where you come from? 

[Just Bob]

This is the bizarrist thread ever!  

Anyway, I agree with GD, I love the S8, I very nearly bought one instead of the subaru back in the UK, but after speaking to some owners about repair bills went with something cheaper.  These cars like the fast, large engined BMW 7's and Merc S's depreciate like a stone, so if you put a little aside for large repairs every now and again you can pick up a 4+yr old luxury supercar and travel like a dictator!

 

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/971871.htm

Not keen on the red leather but nice car...

[vdk]

Remember this?

[gut]

Just a comment on this paragraph from the article: "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."

It is Audi's choice to design 3 classes of a sedan to look almost the same, just in a different general sizes: on the first sight A6 looks like a bit bigger A4, and A8 looks like a bit bigger A6. If you see one net to other, it is easy to know them; as soon as you see them alone onthe road - it becomes more tricky. That is the main cause I sometimes give a closer look to A8/A6: I wonder is it A6 this time, or it is A8? It's like a little game 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

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.

[Oz]

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.

[Oz]

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.

[safristi]

..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............

[Brigitte]

Frankly, James, I'm a little disappointed.  Day 3, and still no cupholder count?