I am in my second month of V10 ownership having come from a B6 4.2 V8 S4 and I would say that so far (aside from a slight condensation issue) its been rock solid, not had any problems or lights, clean VCDS scan the other day - i've done just over 2,000 miles and average 19.4mpg across all driving styles during that time (tracked MPG not lying trip computer mpg)

Fuel wise, the tank is bigger than my S4 and swallows £90 a time at BP or Shell, but I was averaging 22mpg or so in the S4 so the difference between the two isn't that bad.

Essentials: B&O, full history, steel brakes

Insurance is cheap at £430 for the year fully comp, protected NCB

I wanted black or grey, really didn't want silver or blue, ended up with silver and glad I did, so don't be put off by the colour, go for the spec and the history first +++

Two of you say to avoid ceramic brakes, I must ask why? Is it from personal experience or urban myth, or worry about the expense to replace?

I've had my car for over two years now and the ceramics are great, never been a problem and are still like new, and they produce next too no brake dust that melts it's self into the alloys and they never rust.

I would thoroughly recommend them on the S8 and would certainly not dismiss a car over them.

There's a documented process for checking them in Elsa and I would recommend that you have that done on a car you were considering.

That said it still wouldn't bother me as there has been loads of S8's broken since I took ownership of mine and I could quite confidently say you could pick up a set of steel discs and calipers should there ever be any issue with the ceramics and the fat calipers that you would have left over would probably cover the cost of the steel disc setup.

^^^ everything he said.

I confess I have personally avoided ceramics in the past. A bit of the unknown I guess. I steered away from them on the Rs6 also - not that they're that common. Even at 700bhp I never saw brake fade, so clearly didn't rag mine as hard as some folk do... ;)

But now, they have been around long enough, and proven generally very reliable.

And there is always the option to swap to standard brakes and lose little.

I admit, Del's was one of the S8's I was keeping an eye on should it ever come up to for sale, and could have been my first ceramic car.

But now I have the D4.... doh... +++

Cost of replacement and squealing noises were the two main factors putting me off, I understand you can switch to steel if you want to from ceramics, but don't you have to also change the master cylinder and a few other gibbins?

In any case, if ceramics aren't a concern for someone then fair play, go for it, personally I wanted to be able to change my own brakes and not break the bank in doing so, with 3 cars to run it seemed more prudent then ceramics for my own personal circumstance.

There are pros and cons to all specs based on opinions, some thing the B&O is overpriced and Bose is adequate (which it was in my S4) but personally I think its worth the difference, whereas the brakes weren't worth the difference to me.

Squealing when cold, £2.5K per corner to replace, switching to steels means pads, discs, master cylinder and some other stuff.

And it's not as if the standard steel brakes have a shortcoming...

Not according to my research, ABS unit needs coding, calliper, disc, dustsheild and hoses are whats different.

Master cylinder is same for all A8's, S8's & R8's

Audi even have a retrofit kit for ceramics, although you would need deep pockets.

Each to their own, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another car with ceramics.

I'd love ceramics.. especially the massive RS6 ones. Gorgeous to look at and stop you on a sixpence... :love::love::love:

I was personally looking for an S8 without ceramics purely because of cost factor if anything needed an overhaul but I must admit I didn't fully research the cost of replacement pads etc. so if I could buy my S8 again and it had ceramic brakes, I probably still would. They do look very cool and the squealing wouldn't bother me one bit.

I've done a couple of track days in a new 911 Turbo with ceramics and the performance of them is amazing - caning it around Porsche's handling circuit at Silverstone I almost expected brake fade and was ready to compensate for it when I braked for a corner but there was nothing. +++

i had ceramics on my black S8 they were simply stunning

i would be more than happy to have them on any car again

and never heard a squeal ever

http://i67.tinypic.com/5luohg.jpg

They do squeal when cold and in reverse. More of a squeak than a squeal. But never in forward direction or on all but the very coldest days. Just as easy to work on, replace pads etc as steel. Yes, they cost more but they last longer ( so cost is somewhat compensated ).

Having had both, I would not seek out ( nor avoid ) one or the other