What led you to your '8?

[pete-p]

I've owned only a couple of Audis but have the bug. As in my signature I started with an 80 coupe but it wasn't quattro and as only a 2litre not very quick. That led to a lovely purple S4 when my career got better and I was earning more money (and also still singlle!). The two things these had one common theme though... they both suffered from rust.

Roll forward a few years and I'm married with one child one the way, I still have the S4 and my wife has a Volvo V40. She can't manage the heavy clutch in mine and we also could do with a bigger car. Neither of us like the larger people carriers, my wife prefers saloon and I like fast Audis! I remembered the film Ronin with the brilliant car chase and I could only think of one car which fits this bill at our budget and which also wouldn't have a rust problem.

My wife loves the car especially being automatic and not having to wait too long at junctions wondering if she can pull out in the gap in traffic!

Roll on a few more years and we now have three children the youngest born last month and appropriately named Deirdre, although more a coincidence and not based on any film character!

[homer simpson]

Having had an 80 and 100 in the family, I always had a love for them. Prior to that, as a kid I never knew Audi existed! When the D2 concept came out at the motor show, I remember seeing it in it's mirror finish and I absolutely loved it and wanted one. The S8 then came along and it was one of those 'I will get one when I grow up' lol.

As time went on, D2 prices dropped and the S8 was getting closer to my budget. However, work changed and I had no need for a private car and so didn't buy one. When circumstances change again I was unable to buy one and bought an old W210 E Class estate as I needed a big boot. I kept looking through AutoTrader and was shocked how much D3 S8s had come down. Now the D3 with a V10 seemed like the one to have and I loved the look of it too, but couldn't afford one when my health went south. Fast forward a few years and the E Class was dying. One night I was browsing and saw my D3. It had the best spec I had seen for sale in about 2 years (bar one on the forum). I said to the wife lets go see it tomorrow, she couldn't see what the fuss was about. I loved it as soon as I saw it and went against my own rules of thinking with my heart rather than my head. That night I did some man maths and the next day we picked it up. She said you deserve it after all I had been through and agreed we should put some of our hard saved cash into it.

Now, she appreciated the car for what it is and even today (3 years on), we have not found a car with similar spec and being a facelift with sub 100k miles.

[tonupkid]

I had an Audi 100 back in the 80's. It was OK but a bit characterless so I let it go after a few months. Then along came an Audi 200 turbo that was looking for an owner at work. That was more fun but the torque steer was horrendous (Front wheel drive), so that went within a month or so.
Roll forward to 2008. Money being tight I was driving a 1995 Lexus LS400. What a car. Quiet, fast, fantastic audio, slippery seats and very limited legroom. It had one massive failing, so after its refusal to enjoy the sublime twisting roads of the Scottish Highlands I resolved to ditch it. But what to replace it with?

I favoured a Jaguar XJR or big Merc but one of my drinking companions suggested the Audi S8. Back in the 90's when Audi were pushing their new A8's I was handed a 3.7 for a long weekend to try against my then BMW 750iL. That was a fun weekend and I was left deeply impressed by the competence of Quatro. Admittedly he Beemer was a low target (LOL) but even so, the thought of that four wheel drive transmission putting down 360 horses was compelling.
Auto Trader turned up a 2002 S8, 70k'ish miles for around £4.2k. It had lived on the street and been thoroughly keyed and dented but otherwise mechanically sound.
I got the bodywork sorted and discovered I had a car full of character that ate the miles, loved bends and flattered my limited driving skills.

This car took me to my first A/S8 meet at Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire where I met the other compelling benefit of owning an 8

[tintin]

Originally Posted by tonupkid

This car took me to my first A/S8 meet at Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire where I met the other compelling benefit of owning an 8

Nicely put Nick . I think there's something about the character of a car that (tends to...) attract matching personalities, which I'm finding more and more the case with my other cars and their owners. And the 8 is a "good bloke" (or lass ) - as is the case, almost without exception, with the owners . I can't recall ever having seen an 8 driven badly - which is not the same as fast!

[Norretal]

I'd had numerous cars over the years since gaining my licence in 1981 and had no particular favourite brand, despite working at a Ford dealership for a few years.

I bought an early S4 in the early 2001 and loved the quattro experience. The bloke I bought it from said "I know the perfect car for you" given that I'm 2 metres tall and not exactly an athlete. Fast forward a couple of years and I walk in to his showroom and he shows me the car he had in mind, an A8 4.2 QS in silver with black leather. I was hooked immediately.

Fast forward to 2014, drove down South to Harrogate to view IT's D3 S8, that V10 seduced me. She died due to a clown but I replaced her with a better one

[David's8]

Well, I had known The Laird a few years and he had got an A8 2.8 which i had admired for a while when he announced his intention to get an S8 which at 4.2 litres I thought was rather excessive. But when he'd got it and I had been for a few drives in the passenger seat i could see what he was getting at. So did SWMBO who thought the heated rear seats were the bees knees. About a year(?) later The Laird announced hi intention to buy a certain FE S8 but would need to sell the Ming Blue one first. At time he mentioned this we were having a few convivial drinks with our respective other halves at the local when SWMBO suddenly said "well, why dont YOU buy it" .....and we are still together years later

[GarethS8]

Mine started because of my old man, I had a saab 9000 because he had one, then he changed it to a c5 a6 2.8 it was the basic spec but a lovely car, then out of no where he decided he wanted an a8, so we went to look a w reg 2.8 sport fwd in green, deal was done he part ex the a6, I got to drive the a8 and I always loved them, so it was only a matter time before I go one, maybe buying my d2 could of blew up in my face, but thanks to mikki it didn't, I love it more everytime I drive her

[The_Laird]

As David says, my first ‘8 was a crystal blue 2.7 QS which I traded in my diesel A6 avant with Ranger’s goal keeping coach. He lived in Ayrshire, and even the 2.8 was too thirsty for his daily commute. Then I went to a meet and saw, what was then, James’ S8 and fell in love!
But it wasn’t for sale at the time, so I went looking for a 4.2 or an S8. I bought, what is now David’s S8. And then James’ S8 came up for sale, David magically bought my first S8, allowing me to afford to buy James’.
And we’ve been together ever since (eight years or so, I think - I’ll check later).

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by pete-p

I've owned only a couple of Audis

This reminded me, I've only ever owned two, both S8s, see my signature picture.

And I'd forgotten about "Man Maths" too, which seems to be a theme. With the important rule "Never ask permission, just for forgiveness"....
The cars just arrived on the drive and actually only got a mild reaction, even when we had two at the same time.
(OK, I realise that compared to MJ "We are not worthy" but in my world a pair of S8s is pretty remarkable, however temporary )

[Conan_the_Librarian]

I was shopping for an S6 Avant in 2007 to replace my high milage A4 Avant. Saw an advert for several examples at an independent Audi specialist up above Guildford and drove up with a mate to have a look.
While there spotted the Ming Blue S8 in a corner and asked what's the story. Salesman had taken it in px for an RS4 only 6 months old. I did the maths; 8 is 25% better than 6 and took a test drive. My mate got strange looks as we looked into the boot when he said "you could get two bodies in there guv"!
Shortly after his pager went off and we had to drive enthusiastically back to Portsmouth.
I rang the next morning, asked the appropriate questions, got acceptable answers, agreed a cash price of £10k and collected it at the end of the week. 78k on the clock. Immaculate inside and out and a large wad of Audi main dealer service documents. I had an LPG conversion done and was getting the financial equivalent of 34mpg out of it. It was a traumatic ending to a car I loved. Two engines blown up and wrecked by a 'mate' who defrauded me.
The only upside was I bought the Murple!