From A8 to S8. Opinions?

[Goran]

The D2 is a understated car, even the S8. I don't get the bling appeal of badging a A8 to a S8, you will always know in your heart of hearts that its an A8. As Billy Crystal once said, what's more important to look good or to feel good?

I drove my FL S8 for 5 years badged as a A8 2.8, with body-colour mirrors and eventually A8 grills.
Much more fun this way

[IT]

Probably the most uniform collective agreement amongst forum members on a post, ever lol

I concur in all respects.

If you desperately want to make your A8 go quicker, handle better or look better, go fit all the S8 bits n pieces. But don't put an S8 badge on, as it just isn't one.

The biggest, most misunderstood difference between the A8 and S8 are the final drive ratios. The A8 does 70 ish at around 2000 rpm, where the S8 does it at more like 3000 rpm. The S8 take off is far, far quicker and its not all down to a few extra ponies.

So you can make it *look* a bit like an S8, but without some serious effort it will never go like one, so as others have said, its typically more cost effective just to buy one

[Norretal]

Originally Posted by Goran

I drove my FL S8 for 5 years badged as a A8 2.8, with body-colour mirrors and eventually A8 grills.

That's brilliant, and sums you up in one short sentence

[Goran]

Originally Posted by Norretal

That's brilliant, and sums you up in one short sentence

Thanks
I'm still fighting the urge to remove the aluminium mirrors off my current 8 and replace with plastic ones. I'm a bit nuts
(and I still have A8 grills ready and waiting to go on potentially)

[David's8]

Up-badging is just not cool anyway you look at it - from the car purist or from the principled point of view (not a good idea to pretend to be something greater than you are). The converse is different if, like Goran, you dress down and achieve the wolf in sheep's clothing effect.

This forum is like the Gok Wan/ Fosters advert for doing the right thing.

The key difference when it gets to the crunch is, as IT says, in the gear ratios as well as "a few extra ponies" .

[Sir WIll]

No

[homer simpson]

Personally I think there is nothing wrong with an A8 having some nice upgrades and looking similar to an S8. However I would rather de-badge it rather than up-badge it

[kele]

And then there is insurance to consider. Declaring all modifications with many insurers not wanting to quote for modified cars.... Don't declare the modifications and then risk non payment in the event of a claim.

[Goran]

I think we came down too hard on a new member.
Really you should make your car look however you want, it doesn't matter if its different from stock as long as you are happy.
In case I was hypocritical, I am actually working hard to make my own car look and feel how I want and I don't care if it is not going to look stock.