D4 S8 - Thoughts & Impressions

[tonupkid]

Sat in a new D4 S8 yesterday.
I'm not a fan of the exterior, it looks a little slab sided to my eye and I'm still uncertain which model I'm seeing when approaching from the back.
Well the interior is a truly lovely place with loads of soft upholstery and lots of shiny highlights here and there.
I checked out the centre arm rests. No height adjustment!!! No stowage in the arm rests themselves, and very shallow storage in the centre below them.
I did a double take at the dash. First off it was the usual sexy arrangement of dials. But on closer inspection I believe that the entire thing is a screen. A monitor, and not a very good one. The dials and everything, including the chrome dial surrounds being a figment of some chip. It was surprisingly low resolution.
I got out, and gently pushed the door to only to discover that there's no soft close. I thought that this was on all the D3 S8's. Anyway, not a deal breaker.
Finally after wandering around the showroom I realised that the wheels on the S8 were identical in design to the A4 loaner I had just taken back. And an A7, A3 and A1. Probably every car in the range
I've always liked the idea that the 8's are set a little apart from the range, as in better. And the S's came blessed with some standard stuff that you had to pay a little more to get on the other models.
What's going on?

[steamship]

That's it, I'm not buying a new D4 S8! Come to think of it, I can't even afford a D2 S8 . Anyway, glad to see that someone else thinks the new A8/S8s are too bland looking from outside. That's something I liked about the D2 and D3 versions, individuality.

[71camaro]

Originally Posted by steamship

That's it, I'm not buying a new D4 S8! Come to think of it, I can't even afford a D2 S8 . Anyway, glad to see that someone else thinks the new A8/S8s are too bland looking from outside. That's something I liked about the D2 and D3 versions, individuality.

D2s look like a big A4.

[The_Laird]

Originally Posted by 71camaro

D2s look like a big A4.

Can we ex-communicate someone from this forum?

[71camaro]

To someone who doesn't know, that could be the same car.

Originally Posted by The_Laird

Can we ex-communicate someone from this forum?

[David's8]

Originally Posted by 71camaro

To someone who doesn't know, that could be the same car.

You are absolutely right.

[ScottD3]

Originally Posted by 71camaro

D2s look like a big A4.

I can kinda see it but surely the 8 is closer to the 6?

The lines between each model is getting very blurry with each newer model.

A1 is a smaller A3, A3 small A4 and so on.

I do like the D4 but agree that the S version needs something a little bit more on it to make it stand out from the normal A8.

Also noticed that Audi appears to be getting very stingy with their standard options on recent models.

A1 does not come with heated mirrors, A3 you have to spec the footwell lights and door lights. It would not be surpris if you had to spec soft close doors on the S8 and a glove box light.

[steamship]

Originally Posted by 71camaro

D2s look like a big A4.

Agree with you that from the front, the A4 B5 has the same look, but from the side and rear, they're totally different. What I was getting at is that if I see one of the newer Audis coming towards me, it isn't immediately obvious which one it is. Apart from the Q, TT and R8 ones, the only other one that you can identify straight away is the A1.

[Phil303]

bit late to the party but here's further comparison.

[IMG][/IMG]

[ScottD3]

I keep seeing Audis behind me or by the side of me and go "oh look another A8, I'm not the only one down here any more".

Turns out to be a A6.