Life before 8s - What's your story?

[Johnmed]

Great thread.

I've had many many cars, more recently a Renault Clio four cyl. 2 litre 172 for 6 years, BMW 323i straight 6 and then I decided to own an A2. I'd always wanted an A2, with its aluminium space frame and I loved the little 3 cyl. 1.4 TDi.

The interior rattled and squeaked, and when finances allowed, about 18 months after I bought it and with a heavy heart I said goodbye to 60+ MPG and bought another car I'd always wanted to own, the 8 I have now.

The 8 is fabulous. No squeaks, no rattles and it eats the miles in huge chunks without breaking a sweat. It's everything I hoped it would be, and it's my first AWD car. Refinement, interior space, (I'm 6'4") build quality, AWD, aluminium space frame all in one car.

Yet still, I can't really judge the size of this thing too well, and 30-35 MPG does make me think twice before jumping in the thing (where the A2 didn't).

I wish Audi had made an A4/A6 sized AWD aluminium car, if that makes sense (I know it doesn't for many reasons) cos it would probably be a car I'd buy and keep for ever.

A mid sized AWD, aluminium with a DSG 'box and torquey TDi would suit me down to the ground.