Just when you're happy with the car you're driving around Matt shows you a car that ticks all the boxes. It's simply a dream car for me and one day, yes one day I'm going to remember Matt's video. Making it real. Reality.
“Fingerprints are like the window of a cake shop next to a weight-watchers meeting room”😂😂. Had me dying. Great video! Bentley are able to create high quality climate controls so Audi 100% can in their top model You talk about every single possible factors which is rlly good👍👍
Audi gave me a new A8 50tdi as a loan car when my car was in for a service. I was really surprised how unbelievably comfortable it was. It just effortlessly wafts over anything 👌🏻
I visited the Audi factory in Ingolstadt in 2012 and our guide described one A8 which was definitely an example of very conspicuous consumption. A wealthy guy bought one for his daughter who was probably a Barbi fan. Our guide explained that you could get almost any colours you wanted on an Audi if you paid. And this guy paid for metallic pink paint and pink leather. At least no one would be insane enough to steal it.
Definitely agree on the button situation though, nothing beats good old steering wheel controls!! Definitely more dangerous having a tablet in front of you!!
I have a 2023 Octavia with a tablet screen in it and I cannot recall a single time that using it was even remotely danger inducing. In older cars, you are either pressing a button, twiddling a knob or flicking a switch. With a tablet, you are just lightly touching a flat screen. It is all there, easy to see and it all works. I guess some people are just better at driving than others.
@@calibrazxr750 we have this thing called a sense of touch that works best with physical tactile controls. The only reasons controls are put behind screens is cost saving. Argue and deny that all you want, but you are wrong.
Hi Matt, I fully agree with the excessive touch screens, never easy to operate while driving. Give me buttons any day. As for the purple lights everywhere, I was thinking more lap dancing bar than classy hotel :-)
I highly recommend the A8. I got an A8L with a 3.0 tdi, four massage seats, and 40-45mpg. The service is more than half the price of my Mercedes. I get an oil change every year or 18k miles. I chose 19-inch wheels for UK roads, and the comfort is unbeatable. After six years, only the lock to the fuel cap had to be replaced. No issue with German highways (130 mph) or snow in the Swiss Alps. Had before all other versions of the A8, including its predecessor, the Audi V8 from 1989. Maybe you don't get prestige, but you get a piece of good car for a bargain. Regarding the lack of buttons, its true you have to wipe the cockpit often. But press and click is always the same and there are no buttons to break.
Had 2 new of the previous generation A8 ( without the touch screens) and one dealer demo of the generation before that . One word - sublime . We bought the first one when we wanted a luxo barge, but didnt want the father in law to think we had just spent all our money on a car ! Two faults to mention . 1. After owning one you just really dont want anything else . 2. After 3 cars we just got tired of black interiors which unless you get a factory order 99% of new and used cars have . No issues at all with any of them. The 3.0 V6 diesel is an absolute peach and with the quattro / auto the only engine drive-line combination you will ever need . New has just got too expensive now ... But maybe another used one for the driveway one day . They really are that good 👌... glad to see you appreciate these beauties !......(edit ) Oh yeah 3. Got myself 6 points !!! 🤣
Thanks for the video. Thought of one for a while but the likely depreciation was eye watering. Bad enough on an S Class in this market, the A8 was far, far worse. I rented one from Budget / Sixt in Frankfurt Airport (for the price of renting a Golf on promotion) and I was hugely impressed. It had every option you could imagine back in 1994 or so. Best bit of rental fun over 3 days. The one that got away...
Regarding your issue with the lack of buttons, the charitable view would be it makes the car look more modern and minimalist, but the reality is it simply saves them money by removing lots of additional switchgear and updating the vehicle then becomes an over the air software task rather than an update of physical switchgear. Sadly, this is the future and I don’t like it either!
Back to the can't use a phone but can operate a computer touch screen while driving safely conundrum, there's an awful lot of people who don't pay enough attention without either distraction. 😵 Great review as always 😎👍
If I’m not wrong, carwow just released a reliability video stating that this Audi A8 (D4 and D5) was the most reliable luxurious limousine of the past decade (scoring about 56 points out of 100 compared to 41.9 of the Mercedes S Class and 37 of the BMW 7 Series). So it’s also pretty reliable in its class too!
Huge depreciation on these and therein lies the problem, particularly with the D5, it still hasn’t finished. We’re seeing a huge reset in the used car market, back to and below the pre covid gravy train. A few of these for sale at what would be considered near trade price at the minute, and still not selling. It’s also about spec with these cars, poverty spec isn’t desirable, especially when they are al similarly priced. Do love these cars, but in fairness I think the 740d offers better value, simply because of BMW’s epic 30d engine (best diesel engine on the planet?) stick a 40d in the A8, now that’s a forever car! Great vid Mat, happy new year mate ❤
You have perfected your style of videos. I have gained such an enthusiasm for cars just through watching your channel. Your poetic way of describing your gripes about a car never fails to make me laugh man 😂. Happy new year and wish you more success with your channel
@6:50 When this new car debuted a few years ago, and I was in the market to buy, I saw these now had touch-screens everywhere. I found myself a 2016 D4 A8--the model that still had physical buttons and knobs. I absolutely love it, and plan on keeping it for a long, long time.
I’m also not the biggest chrome fan but have to admit it looks stunning in black with the chrome trim. Something like this would definitely be my dream everyday car if money was no object. Great video as always Matt 👍🏻
i had a 2002 a8 s line 4.2 chip tuned to 350 bhp omg its been over 10 years since i sold it and i miss it every day.....i had 23 cars and that car was by far THE BEST
Thank you for doing this video I’ve got an A8 55 TFSI (2019) in black with lots of extras. I bought it from a main dealer it’s my first Audi ever and I’m quite impressed with it. Before this Audi, I had a range Rover sport 67 plate for about four weeks, but it had to go back to the main dealers because it had some problems and I was lucky enough to get my money back
How do you know I’ve been eyeing A8’s? The button thing is a deal breaker though. I’d still go for a previous generation A8. And happy new year, best wishes for 2024
We've only yesterday had to give a pal's Volvo S60 D4 the diesel fuel system cleaner treatment, together with a motorway blast to cure the low end misfiring, likely caused by blocked injectors from his daily 6 miles {i.e., too short a distance} to the gym. It's running better now but modern diesels are a total pain for mainly local use. He never uses anything but the priciest diesel either. I've told him numerous times to give the car a sound caning at least fortnightly. Too much slow stuff and it's the repetitive limp mode nightmare but he seems to have escaped that this time. A happy new year to you from Burry Port.
Excellent informative video as always Matt. I own an 48K miles S8 D4 2016 and have found it to be very reliable. Other than 2 Audi recalls (bonnet seal + Turbo oil filters) which cost me nothing, this car has cost me nothing out of the ordinary. The key is to find a good Audi Independent. I replaced Discs and Pads for circa £1500, Audi wanted nearly £4000. I need to change the 8 plugs at my next service, Audi are quoting £422 so it will be interesting to see what I can have that job quoted at. In summary though, Smiles per Miles per Gallon, takes some beating by any car !!
I owned 3 of these from new - a 2011, 2013 and 2018. Absolutely fantastic cars. Whilst the list price was high, there were inevitably huge discounts because the car to have in this band is the S Class. Is the A8 as good as an S Class? Probably not. Is it better value for money? Definitely. The 3.0 TDI is absolutely everything you could want in car (apart from a sunroof as somebody else said). Fast, economical, and a motorway muncher. A bit of a handful around the lanes though! Buying one 4-6 years old with a decent previous owner is an absolute steal. I agree on the "tactile" buttons, BTW. I also found the phone charger a bit fiddly. The digital dash is fantastic.
I have a Honda Civic 9G 1.6 I-DTEC that I've had for the last 7yrs. I do about 21k miles per year, service it every 6 month or 10k miles, whatever comes first and it still drives like a new car.
Beautiful cars had the 2005 version made the mistake of using it for work and put loads of miles on it. The timing chain was rattling and I got a quote for £4500 to sort it, so traded it in for something totally inferior. Biggest regret of my life, would love another one. They are pure class
Just bought a 3.0 D4 (2010) and it's just fantastic! Comfort beyond belief, fast as you like (you are correct about the sweet spot! Glad i found out in France with few police and speed cameras) love it so thanks for this video, it helped with my choice.
They're nice enough inside. I got limo'd in one in Mumbai, and the back was lovely, spacious and teched up. But, as a car to own I'd never park it up, look back and think "yes, what a special looking thing, I'm so glad I got that."
Wow that’s a whole lot of car for a reasonable amount of money Matt! It really has presence and has nice clean lines,gorgeous. It looks awesome in black 😀
Macclesfield Audi 😢 had my RS3 serviced there before Xmas. Brake fluid left on the front calipers / pollen filter wasn’t changed / oil filter housing was weeping from the bleed nipple and kept me waiting 1 hr 20 mins even though the car was finished and parked up outside. Never again.
Another great video. It is the only large executive car I would have if I could afford one. Keep up the good work love your honesty on the cars you review x
"Fingerprints like the window of a cake shop next to a weight watcher's meeting room". One of your funniest lines so far. Great car and great video as always
I've just played the 'What can you find for the money on AutoTrader?' game (£25-30k, diesel/diesel hybrid/diesel plug-in hybrid, from 2018) and you could end up with a Vauxhall Astra... When you could get a Skoda Superb (Laurin & Klement spec) for the same kind of money, the Audi looks like the only truly desirable option (but would *you* have it over a high-mileage Range Rover Vogue SE?).
Thanks for the review Mat. I couldn’t agree more about VW group infortainment systems. I will never buy another car that doesn’t have buttons. Screens and sub menus are distracting and dangerous.
My first ever Audi bought in the Summer last year has been a revelation - it has the head-up display, laser lights, all the safety tech inc self-driving assist & the quality of materials is just fantastic. It's a 2023 RS5 Vorsprung coupe....& you think you have trouble not getting speeding tickets in that A8?! I had 6 points after about 2 months & it could've been a lot worse - those hidden motorway cameras are a B! 😁
Hey Matt, I love your videos. I noticed you changed the introduction slightly. The original introduction music was better. You can't improve on perfection. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! I'm looking forward to your great original introduction returning!
Compared to the beauty of the Daimler you had recently, handsome is the correct adjective for this car. Also agree on this grill, it is a bit shouty, but at least it doesn't have quilted leather everywhere.
The reason they have gone to LCD for all the controls is cost and design, the LCD and software is interchangeable between all there cars whereas the button must be designed and made for each individual car ( a lot more cost ) it’s annoying I know but I’d say this is the reason and it makes sense on there part.
Smart, stylish, understated, functional, svelte, purposeful, businesslike, even classy. German cars are, often, all of these but, rarely, are they beautiful. Jaguars used to have the march on them all - sadly, no longer. Are there any beautiful saloons left? Can you imagine Jaguar placing anything so tasteless as that grill on one of theirs?
Fantastic, Matt! Thoroughly enjoy every aspect of your videos, especially those moments where you'd dress up for the car and share captivating stories (bring these back once in a while!). It's a real dilemma choosing between this, the S Class, BMW 7 Series, and the Lexus LS, as each has its unique strengths. Personally, I have a penchant for luxurious German engineering, which is why I ultimately decided on the A8. The A8's irresistible combination of elegance and performance sealed the deal for me... Keep up the great content!
I picked up my only speeding points and £100 fine in an A8L.. was doing an effortless 87mph.. At first it didn't occur to me that the X5 was wanting to pull me over.. It's hard to imagine how quiet and refined these Audis are . The officers were very nice about it, but couldn't really let me off with a wagging finger . Great cars...
Thank you Matt for another very informative video. I always enjoy them. I've been looking to change my car (a second car and I do very little mileage in it) for either a BMW 7 series, an S- Class or an Audi Q8. I've decided to get the Audi A8, 3 litre diesel. But, I'm running a 10 year old BMW 5 SE GT which I absolutely love with 58k miles on the clock. It's in immaculate condition but probably not worth a lot of money. The main thing for me though is it's got switches, buttons, levers, knobs so everything is a doddle to use. So, I'll wait until a lovely, low mileage A8 comes up, without fiddly touch screens and have another think. 👍
What do you consider a safe colour ? I agree with the grill , I believe its styled for the american market and they couldnt be bothered to put a little less aggressive grill for the European and rest of world market . Good vid to start the new year 👌
I have it's baby brother, a 2017 a4 3l diesel. Only issue has been AdBlu pump or controller. Did 6hrs in it Sunday, averaged 60 miles an hour and 45mpg. Surprised the a8 does 50mpg on motorway but the 8 speed likely has a taller top gear compared to the stronic 7 speed in mine
Love the look of this car, and the dashboard. Less thrilled with the colour of the leather seats- would prefer non-leather and grey, and the lack of physical switches. Also I worry about the reliability of second hand German cars, having had lots of bad experiences.
Happy new year Matt. I read somewhere that VAG are going back to physical buttons for heating etc.Everyone hates touchscreens.I still reckon the BMW i drive is the easiest to use whilst on the move.
I have the A7 version of this car - same engine, dash and equipment but a hatchback. once the seats go down it makes a great van for getting my gear to gigs! But totally agree on the fingerprint display, you need to keep a bottle of windolene in the boot.
I have an a6 2 litre diesel quattro s line so the baby brother to the a8. I get 34 mpg driving around town, I also have a 1.6 litre mini Cooper and I get 33 mpg around town, work that out. Great video as always Matt.
Another great and incospicuous car is, I dare to say - the current generation VW Touareg. My friend has one from 2019 with the same engine as this Audi, but his Touareg is like rental spec to the core 😂 doesn't even have air suspension, but I think that makes it more simple and thus even better. And still so stable and sooo quiet. I even read somewhere that Clarkson praised it as Bentayga for 1/3 of the price.
Had one myself. Definitely quiet. Air suspension very comfortable. But the sunroof leaked, apparently a common issue, filling the rear passenger door with water. A grand to fix (was just outside warranty) and 6 months later symptoms returned. Flogged it before I had another big bill.
Among the lavish technology, I think the A8 has one feature which I have never heard of on any other car. The headlamps are linked to the satnav so that, for example, if you cross the Channel to France the headlamp pattern will adjust to driving on the other side of the road. One more thing to go wrong.
That 3.0 TDI is a real beast! I had a ride in the previous generation A8. Quite a subtle growl and sounds quite docile. Guy put his foot down and I was pinned into my seat. Makes some sports cars look slow. Same with the A6 BiTdi. I prefer the previous generation because the interior is just lovely. Very much put on The Brabenburg Concertos and enjoy the ambience and luxury 😊 😊
As a merc man (on my 9th e class) I could be tempted into an A8 my son bought a 2020 A6 diesel recently and I was impressed with the looks and the drive albeit front wheel drive. As a seasoned biker I like my speed and my heated grips too. I have looked at other reviews of the A8 but yours was the most relatable (probably because the car was second hand in my price range 🤣) Keep up the good work happy new year.
In Europe (Germanay, Switzerland, Austria, partly Italia) the 4.0 TD, called the 60 with 425 HP and a V8 is quite popular. It is the strongest Diesel which was available until ca 2022.....Almost a perfect car, whith the same engine as the Audi SQ7....I know some owners of those w/ those engines. Very, very few problems, enormous power and very economic. You could say a viable alternative to the Merc S 400 D 4Matic.
Wasn’t expecting guest appearance from Matt Watson of Car Wow ! Is he a mate of yours? Quite agree about touchscreens epidemic, if they were higher up the dashboard you wouldn’t need to take your eyes quite so far off the road. Great video.
Had an absolutely lovely D2 3.7l V8 petrol in British Racing Green with tan interior that was a real pleasure to drive on all types of roads - quite agile for a largish car. Also had a D3 A8 with the 4.0l V8 diesel which made a typical V8 rumble and had fantastic torque. However, I found it too large and too heavy to push down a narrow country road with gusto - probably the weight of that big engine! It was definitely more of a motorway cruiser. Decided to downsize to an A5 2.0 quattro, but the now-adult kids complained about the lack of rear headroom and my old bones didn't like the low seats. My driving is more restrained now and have an A6 Avant BiTdi (same diesel as SQ5) on soft SE suspension and 17" wheels and I think it rides almost as well as the air-sprung A8. It has a tan interior with Audi exclusive light wood trim and plenty of buttons. Much more opulent inside than your particular D4 A8 even if it has no toys at all. I think the A8 - and I suspect the other cars its its class - are more about relaxed pleasure rather than fun - and there is nothing wrong with that.
Stunning car, great review Matt. If you can use Alexa then you can operate the tech, Also, most of the tech can be operated via the steering wheel controls. Once you get to learn it you won't want to go back, it's like trying to use a Nokia 3020 after using an Iphone.
When I was at the RAC we really didn't like Audi A8s if they had to go back to the dealer you had to find a covered wagon or covered trailer to take it.
The S8 model from the movie Ronin was always my favourite but not a fan of Audi overall I prefer bmw but each there own, I’ve raced the r8 round a track that a special car, enjoyed the vid as usual Matt 👍
Thanks for the review Matt. Informative as always and presented without the “over the top” style of some US reviewers. I have a 2015 S8 in black with the 4.0TT petrol. it’s a beast. Whilst a bit thirsty in town, on a freeway run I can get 30mpg, and that’s with 4 people on board and a boot full of luggage. It’s also very easy to go too fast without realising it. The car’s sweet spot for cruising is 130 - 150 km/h, however we have a silly 110km/h limit in Australia, even on 6 lane freeways with middle barrier separation. I prefer the D4 series as the D5 looks a bit lardy from some angles and the grille on the D5 doesn’t quite look as integrated. Further I prefer analogue dials and the switches of the D4 over the touch screen of the D5. The interiors are the best this side of a Bentley.
Matt. It has air suspension as standard! BTW. Matt. I read that if a diesel has less than 1/4 tank it will not regenerate its dpf, so driving around in town on a low tank is not great idea for the long term health of that filter.
digital dash and switchery is all very splendid…..for at least 3 days……and then for some bizarre reason most people yearn for good old fashioned analogue dials and buttons to press.
I’m driving 2019 A8L with 45k miles now. Love the car and haven’t had any problems. Amazing thing is it gets 30mpg at 70mph. So quiet and comfortable
Great car! We love it! Better quality than Mercedes S-class w223
Why are you getting such bad mpg? Are you in the US in a petrol model?
@@mikeyBIA yes
@@3dogs1monkey not bad then.
How long are you planning on keeping your car? I'm looking at the same year also.
Just when you're happy with the car you're driving around Matt shows you a car that ticks all the boxes. It's simply a dream car for me and one day, yes one day I'm going to remember Matt's video.
Making it real. Reality.
“Fingerprints are like the window of a cake shop next to a weight-watchers meeting room”😂😂. Had me dying. Great video! Bentley are able to create high quality climate controls so Audi 100% can in their top model You talk about every single possible factors which is rlly good👍👍
Haha thanks! Glad you enjoyed it
Some Little Britain vibe going on 😁
@@Mizerables came here to say the same
Matt doesn't do loads of funnies but f me he nailed it
Awesome line 😂
Audi gave me a new A8 50tdi as a loan car when my car was in for a service. I was really surprised how unbelievably comfortable it was. It just effortlessly wafts over anything 👌🏻
Its an a8. Of course its good
How Top Gear didn’t ask this guy to be a presenter is beyond me? He’s better than all the currents ones. Huge fan. Loves your videos
I visited the Audi factory in Ingolstadt in 2012 and our guide described one A8 which was definitely an example of very conspicuous consumption. A wealthy guy bought one for his daughter who was probably a Barbi fan. Our guide explained that you could get almost any colours you wanted on an Audi if you paid. And this guy paid for metallic pink paint and pink leather. At least no one would be insane enough to steal it.
Hold my beer……
Definitely agree on the button situation though, nothing beats good old steering wheel controls!! Definitely more dangerous having a tablet in front of you!!
Thats right
I have a 2023 Octavia with a tablet screen in it and I cannot recall a single time that using it was even remotely danger inducing. In older cars, you are either pressing a button, twiddling a knob or flicking a switch. With a tablet, you are just lightly touching a flat screen. It is all there, easy to see and it all works. I guess some people are just better at driving than others.
@@calibrazxr750 you dont seem to understand human physiology
@@terrydelahunt842 in what manner?
@@calibrazxr750 we have this thing called a sense of touch that works best with physical tactile controls. The only reasons controls are put behind screens is cost saving. Argue and deny that all you want, but you are wrong.
Hi Matt, I fully agree with the excessive touch screens, never easy to operate while driving. Give me buttons any day. As for the purple lights everywhere, I was thinking more lap dancing bar than classy hotel :-)
Ah. Gentlemen's entertainment venue please!! 😀😃🙂
Returning to the classics with Should You Buy! I rate this format massively, with all the quips and anecdotes included.
I highly recommend the A8. I got an A8L with a 3.0 tdi, four massage seats, and 40-45mpg. The service is more than half the price of my Mercedes. I get an oil change every year or 18k miles. I chose 19-inch wheels for UK roads, and the comfort is unbeatable. After six years, only the lock to the fuel cap had to be replaced. No issue with German highways (130 mph) or snow in the Swiss Alps. Had before all other versions of the A8, including its predecessor, the Audi V8 from 1989. Maybe you don't get prestige, but you get a piece of good car for a bargain.
Regarding the lack of buttons, its true you have to wipe the cockpit often. But press and click is always the same and there are no buttons to break.
I bought this car and had it for a year and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! Really well built and awesome engine.
Why you get rid?
4:24 Rear wheel steering would be a nice addition for a car like this. It really makes the car feel a lot smaller when manoeuvering in tight spaces.
it does. it's part of a package
Had 2 new of the previous generation A8 ( without the touch screens) and one dealer demo of the generation before that . One word - sublime . We bought the first one when we wanted a luxo barge, but didnt want the father in law to think we had just spent all our money on a car !
Two faults to mention . 1. After owning one you just really dont want anything else . 2. After 3 cars we just got tired of black interiors which unless you get a factory order 99% of new and used cars have . No issues at all with any of them. The 3.0 V6 diesel is an absolute peach and with the quattro / auto the only engine drive-line combination you will ever need . New has just got too expensive now ... But maybe another used one for the driveway one day . They really are that good 👌... glad to see you appreciate these beauties !......(edit ) Oh yeah 3. Got myself 6 points !!! 🤣
Thanks for the video. Thought of one for a while but the likely depreciation was eye watering. Bad enough on an S Class in this market, the A8 was far, far worse. I rented one from Budget / Sixt in Frankfurt Airport (for the price of renting a Golf on promotion) and I was hugely impressed. It had every option you could imagine back in 1994 or so. Best bit of rental fun over 3 days. The one that got away...
An estate version of this would be the holy grail.
I came so close to buying an A8 last year and a good part of me regrets not following through. Great review Matt 👌
JFDI - I love mine, but definitely advise secondhand, let some business take the depreciation hit….😎
Regarding your issue with the lack of buttons, the charitable view would be it makes the car look more modern and minimalist, but the reality is it simply saves them money by removing lots of additional switchgear and updating the vehicle then becomes an over the air software task rather than an update of physical switchgear. Sadly, this is the future and I don’t like it either!
Back to the can't use a phone but can operate a computer touch screen while driving safely conundrum, there's an awful lot of people who don't pay enough attention without either distraction. 😵
Great review as always 😎👍
My thoughts exactly!
People driving with ear buds/earphones, taking one sense away.
@@johnnunn8688...and that's usually the only sense they have!!!
You can't operate the touch screen while driving. Use the voice feature before you kill someone!
If I’m not wrong, carwow just released a reliability video stating that this Audi A8 (D4 and D5) was the most reliable luxurious limousine of the past decade (scoring about 56 points out of 100 compared to 41.9 of the Mercedes S Class and 37 of the BMW 7 Series). So it’s also pretty reliable in its class too!
Huge depreciation on these and therein lies the problem, particularly with the D5, it still hasn’t finished. We’re seeing a huge reset in the used car market, back to and below the pre covid gravy train. A few of these for sale at what would be considered near trade price at the minute, and still not selling. It’s also about spec with these cars, poverty spec isn’t desirable, especially when they are al similarly priced. Do love these cars, but in fairness I think the 740d offers better value, simply because of BMW’s epic 30d engine (best diesel engine on the planet?) stick a 40d in the A8, now that’s a forever car! Great vid Mat, happy new year mate ❤
I ran one of the older A8's for 5 years and loved it, fantastic car. Can see me having one again.
You have perfected your style of videos. I have gained such an enthusiasm for cars just through watching your channel. Your poetic way of describing your gripes about a car never fails to make me laugh man 😂. Happy new year and wish you more success with your channel
Thank you! I appreciate it
@6:50 When this new car debuted a few years ago, and I was in the market to buy, I saw these now had touch-screens everywhere. I found myself a 2016 D4 A8--the model that still had physical buttons and knobs. I absolutely love it, and plan on keeping it for a long, long time.
This is the definition of silent luxury, and that fuel consumption is mouthwatering😮💨
I’m also not the biggest chrome fan but have to admit it looks stunning in black with the chrome trim. Something like this would definitely be my dream everyday car if money was no object. Great video as always Matt 👍🏻
i had a 2002 a8 s line 4.2 chip tuned to 350 bhp omg its been over 10 years since i sold it and i miss it every day.....i had 23 cars and that car was by far THE BEST
Very cool
Thank you for doing this video
I’ve got an A8 55 TFSI (2019) in black with lots of extras. I bought it from a main dealer it’s my first Audi ever and I’m quite impressed with it.
Before this Audi, I had a range Rover sport 67 plate for about four weeks, but it had to go back to the main dealers because it had some problems and I was lucky enough to get my money back
That was a narrow escape with that RR.....
@@Brian-om2hh so funny my friend said the same thing he said it’s like you’ve dodged a bullet there
i have a 71 plate tdi 3litre and you have described it perfectly, brilliant car inevery way and i also came from Range Rover and dont regret it.
Cannot agree more. I absolutely despise touch screens.
They're a nuisance
How do you know I’ve been eyeing A8’s? The button thing is a deal breaker though. I’d still go for a previous generation A8. And happy new year, best wishes for 2024
We've only yesterday had to give a pal's Volvo S60 D4 the diesel fuel system cleaner treatment, together with a motorway blast to cure the low end misfiring, likely caused by blocked injectors from his daily 6 miles {i.e., too short a distance} to the gym. It's running better now but modern diesels are a total pain for mainly local use. He never uses anything but the priciest diesel either. I've told him numerous times to give the car a sound caning at least fortnightly. Too much slow stuff and it's the repetitive limp mode nightmare but he seems to have escaped that this time.
A happy new year to you from Burry Port.
I love these cars. So subtle.
Excellent informative video as always Matt. I own an 48K miles S8 D4 2016 and have found it to be very reliable. Other than 2 Audi recalls (bonnet seal + Turbo oil filters) which cost me nothing, this car has cost me nothing out of the ordinary. The key is to find a good Audi Independent. I replaced Discs and Pads for circa £1500, Audi wanted nearly £4000. I need to change the 8 plugs at my next service, Audi are quoting £422 so it will be interesting to see what I can have that job quoted at. In summary though, Smiles per Miles per Gallon, takes some beating by any car !!
I owned 3 of these from new - a 2011, 2013 and 2018. Absolutely fantastic cars. Whilst the list price was high, there were inevitably huge discounts because the car to have in this band is the S Class. Is the A8 as good as an S Class? Probably not. Is it better value for money? Definitely.
The 3.0 TDI is absolutely everything you could want in car (apart from a sunroof as somebody else said). Fast, economical, and a motorway muncher. A bit of a handful around the lanes though! Buying one 4-6 years old with a decent previous owner is an absolute steal. I agree on the "tactile" buttons, BTW. I also found the phone charger a bit fiddly. The digital dash is fantastic.
I have a Honda Civic 9G 1.6 I-DTEC that I've had for the last 7yrs. I do about 21k miles per year, service it every 6 month or 10k miles, whatever comes first and it still drives like a new car.
I love cars like these. 50 mpg from a 3.0 litre diesel is wonderful. I'd have this over any EV anyday.
Beautiful cars had the 2005 version made the mistake of using it for work and put loads of miles on it. The timing chain was rattling and I got a quote for £4500 to sort it, so traded it in for something totally inferior. Biggest regret of my life, would love another one. They are pure class
Just bought a 3.0 D4 (2010) and it's just fantastic! Comfort beyond belief, fast as you like (you are correct about the sweet spot! Glad i found out in France with few police and speed cameras) love it so thanks for this video, it helped with my choice.
Alternator failure , starter failure , electrical issues , headlight failure , timing chain issues , car failing to see key issues , stop/start issues
They're nice enough inside. I got limo'd in one in Mumbai, and the back was lovely, spacious and teched up. But, as a car to own I'd never park it up, look back and think "yes, what a special looking thing, I'm so glad I got that."
You must bring back the old intro music, for a moment I thought my speakers have gone bad 😅
Wow that’s a whole lot of car for a reasonable amount of money Matt! It really has presence and has nice clean lines,gorgeous. It looks awesome in black 😀
Macclesfield Audi 😢 had my RS3 serviced there before Xmas.
Brake fluid left on the front calipers / pollen filter wasn’t changed / oil filter housing was weeping from the bleed nipple and kept me waiting 1 hr 20 mins even though the car was finished and parked up outside.
Never again.
Another great video. It is the only large executive car I would have if I could afford one. Keep up the good work love your honesty on the cars you review x
The puns are coming thick and fast on this one and they’re actually quite good for once 😂
New theme music is a cross between HPA and a modern Casualty intro.. love the content as always 🙂
"Fingerprints like the window of a cake shop next to a weight watcher's meeting room". One of your funniest lines so far. Great car and great video as always
Love the cake shop line Mat, you just can't beat Manc dead pan humour. Happy new Year mate.
Absolutely correct Matt. Start a new pressure group "Cars With Knobs On".
I've just played the 'What can you find for the money on AutoTrader?' game (£25-30k, diesel/diesel hybrid/diesel plug-in hybrid, from 2018) and you could end up with a Vauxhall Astra...
When you could get a Skoda Superb (Laurin & Klement spec) for the same kind of money, the Audi looks like the only truly desirable option (but would *you* have it over a high-mileage Range Rover Vogue SE?).
Completely agree with the buttons!!! I've had a few near misses fiddling about with it!!!
Thanks for the review Mat. I couldn’t agree more about VW group infortainment systems. I will never buy another car that doesn’t have buttons. Screens and sub menus are distracting and dangerous.
Use the voice feature.
@@sassasins031 Why? I’m perfectly happy using the dials and buttons in my 2016 Golf. (which has the voice feature).
Thank you for that Phaeton recognition...so much of modern Vw/Audi comes from that car....down to the current centralized place of Vw model decals
I remember when I first saw this I thought the amount of chrome made it look like a Middle-Eastern dictators car from 1998
I drove Madonna and Roy Keene's long wheel base A8s back in 2006 when they arrived in the country.
My first ever Audi bought in the Summer last year has been a revelation - it has the head-up display, laser lights, all the safety tech inc self-driving assist & the quality of materials is just fantastic. It's a 2023 RS5 Vorsprung coupe....& you think you have trouble not getting speeding tickets in that A8?! I had 6 points after about 2 months & it could've been a lot worse - those hidden motorway cameras are a B! 😁
Great to see an audi interior that isn’t black on black on black
Audi A8 in the D4-D3 format was just fantastic, this isn't what collectors or today's drivers are looking for.
remember the movie ronin with robert deniro, i’ve loved audi A8s ever since.
I think the value in this class is the BMW 840i Gran Coupe. £30k for a 2020 model. Preferred styling although the A8 may be slightly more practical
I love Audis, I have the A6 C7.5 (2017) SLine Quattro Black Ultra edition, absolute beast of a car and timeless. Stick her into Dynamic and enjoy 😀
Hey Matt, I love your videos. I noticed you changed the introduction slightly. The original introduction music was better. You can't improve on perfection. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! I'm looking forward to your great original introduction returning!
Compared to the beauty of the Daimler you had recently, handsome is the correct adjective for this car. Also agree on this grill, it is a bit shouty, but at least it doesn't have quilted leather everywhere.
The reason they have gone to LCD for all the controls is cost and design, the LCD and software is interchangeable between all there cars whereas the button must be designed and made for each individual car ( a lot more cost ) it’s annoying I know but I’d say this is the reason and it makes sense on there part.
With you all the way with the buttons Matt
Smart, stylish, understated, functional, svelte, purposeful, businesslike, even classy. German cars are, often, all of these but, rarely, are they beautiful. Jaguars used to have the march on them all - sadly, no longer. Are there any beautiful saloons left? Can you imagine Jaguar placing anything so tasteless as that grill on one of theirs?
Fantastic, Matt! Thoroughly enjoy every aspect of your videos, especially those moments where you'd dress up for the car and share captivating stories (bring these back once in a while!). It's a real dilemma choosing between this, the S Class, BMW 7 Series, and the Lexus LS, as each has its unique strengths. Personally, I have a penchant for luxurious German engineering, which is why I ultimately decided on the A8. The A8's irresistible combination of elegance and performance sealed the deal for me... Keep up the great content!
I picked up my only speeding points and £100 fine in an A8L.. was doing an effortless 87mph.. At first it didn't occur to me that the X5 was wanting to pull me over.. It's hard to imagine how quiet and refined these Audis are .
The officers were very nice about it, but couldn't really let me off with a wagging finger .
Great cars...
Thank you Matt for another very informative video. I always enjoy them. I've been looking to change my car (a second car and I do very little mileage in it) for either a BMW 7 series, an S- Class or an Audi Q8. I've decided to get the Audi A8, 3 litre diesel. But, I'm running a 10 year old BMW 5 SE GT which I absolutely love with 58k miles on the clock. It's in immaculate condition but probably not worth a lot of money. The main thing for me though is it's got switches, buttons, levers, knobs so everything is a doddle to use. So, I'll wait until a lovely, low mileage A8 comes up, without fiddly touch screens and have another think. 👍
What do you consider a safe colour ? I agree with the grill , I believe its styled for the american market and they couldnt be bothered to put a little less aggressive grill for the European and rest of world market . Good vid to start the new year 👌
I have it's baby brother, a 2017 a4 3l diesel. Only issue has been AdBlu pump or controller.
Did 6hrs in it Sunday, averaged 60 miles an hour and 45mpg. Surprised the a8 does 50mpg on motorway but the 8 speed likely has a taller top gear compared to the stronic 7 speed in mine
Love the look of this car, and the dashboard. Less thrilled with the colour of the leather seats- would prefer non-leather and grey, and the lack of physical switches. Also I worry about the reliability of second hand German cars, having had lots of bad experiences.
Happy new year Matt. I read somewhere that VAG are going back to physical buttons for heating etc.Everyone hates touchscreens.I still reckon the BMW i drive is the easiest to use whilst on the move.
I have the A7 version of this car - same engine, dash and equipment but a hatchback. once the seats go down it makes a great van for getting my gear to gigs! But totally agree on the fingerprint display, you need to keep a bottle of windolene in the boot.
the a7 slightly smaller and based on the A6 I believe. Still a great car.
Yes absolutely - when I bought the A7 there was also an A6 and A8 available - you could see the family line through the 3 models!
Just get a microfiber cloth
@@MagicMusicAdam The A7 is the fanciest of the three. It looks great and has a timeless design 👍👌.
@@zsb707 I agree - I did look at the A8 when it featured on here recently, but I need the practicality of the hatch - and yep it looks great!
I have an a6 2 litre diesel quattro s line so the baby brother to the a8. I get 34 mpg driving around town, I also have a 1.6 litre mini Cooper and I get 33 mpg around town, work that out. Great video as always Matt.
Another great and incospicuous car is, I dare to say - the current generation VW Touareg. My friend has one from 2019 with the same engine as this Audi, but his Touareg is like rental spec to the core 😂 doesn't even have air suspension, but I think that makes it more simple and thus even better. And still so stable and sooo quiet. I even read somewhere that Clarkson praised it as Bentayga for 1/3 of the price.
Had one myself. Definitely quiet. Air suspension very comfortable. But the sunroof leaked, apparently a common issue, filling the rear passenger door with water. A grand to fix (was just outside warranty) and 6 months later symptoms returned. Flogged it before I had another big bill.
With the current situation with Range Rover might be a good option to choose the A8
Good video Matt
I am sure Matt can afford both 😉
Among the lavish technology, I think the A8 has one feature which I have never heard of on any other car. The headlamps are linked to the satnav so that, for example, if you cross the Channel to France the headlamp pattern will adjust to driving on the other side of the road. One more thing to go wrong.
That 3.0 TDI is a real beast! I had a ride in the previous generation A8. Quite a subtle growl and sounds quite docile. Guy put his foot down and I was pinned into my seat. Makes some sports cars look slow. Same with the A6 BiTdi. I prefer the previous generation because the interior is just lovely. Very much put on The Brabenburg Concertos and enjoy the ambience and luxury 😊 😊
Its funny how you've posted this video...because only today i was looking at a 2020 Audi s8.
I actually really like these, I’ve been in one myself and they just are really good cars.
As a merc man (on my 9th e class) I could be tempted into an A8 my son bought a 2020 A6 diesel recently and I was impressed with the looks and the drive albeit front wheel drive. As a seasoned biker I like my speed and my heated grips too. I have looked at other reviews of the A8 but yours was the most relatable (probably because the car was second hand in my price range 🤣)
Keep up the good work happy new year.
Fellow merc man 🤝🏽.
For that much money the FWD architecture is a deal breaker for me.
@@tungstencarbide7255 however the A8 is quattro
@@bernardkavanagh3528 quattro isn't bad at all.
@@tungstencarbide7255arguably the best 4wd system
Thanks for the info. I was ignorant of the fact that Mercedes make motorcycles.
In Europe (Germanay, Switzerland, Austria, partly Italia) the 4.0 TD, called the 60 with 425 HP and a V8 is quite popular. It is the strongest Diesel which was available until ca 2022.....Almost a perfect car, whith the same engine as the Audi SQ7....I know some owners of those w/ those engines. Very, very few problems, enormous power and very economic. You could say a viable alternative to the Merc S 400 D 4Matic.
I love your analogy of the state of the UK roads in all fairness I the the moon might have a smoother surface 😅
A quality review of a great looking car!
I love the look of the interior👍🏼
Love these videos! Super informative and unbiased
Thanks so much!
Spot on with the buttonless dilemma.... Please review a BMW 7 Series of the same years please.
Hate the bottom touch screen but I love the a8
Wasn’t expecting guest appearance from Matt Watson of Car Wow ! Is he a mate of yours? Quite agree about touchscreens epidemic, if they were higher up the dashboard you wouldn’t need to take your eyes quite so far off the road. Great video.
Had an absolutely lovely D2 3.7l V8 petrol in British Racing Green with tan interior that was a real pleasure to drive on all types of roads - quite agile for a largish car. Also had a D3 A8 with the 4.0l V8 diesel which made a typical V8 rumble and had fantastic torque. However, I found it too large and too heavy to push down a narrow country road with gusto - probably the weight of that big engine! It was definitely more of a motorway cruiser. Decided to downsize to an A5 2.0 quattro, but the now-adult kids complained about the lack of rear headroom and my old bones didn't like the low seats.
My driving is more restrained now and have an A6 Avant BiTdi (same diesel as SQ5) on soft SE suspension and 17" wheels and I think it rides almost as well as the air-sprung A8. It has a tan interior with Audi exclusive light wood trim and plenty of buttons. Much more opulent inside than your particular D4 A8 even if it has no toys at all.
I think the A8 - and I suspect the other cars its its class - are more about relaxed pleasure rather than fun - and there is nothing wrong with that.
Stunning car, great review Matt. If you can use Alexa then you can operate the tech, Also, most of the tech can be operated via the steering wheel controls. Once you get to learn it you won't want to go back, it's like trying to use a Nokia 3020 after using an Iphone.
When I was at the RAC we really didn't like Audi A8s if they had to go back to the dealer you had to find a covered wagon or covered trailer to take it.
The S8 model from the movie Ronin was always my favourite but not a fan of Audi overall I prefer bmw but each there own, I’ve raced the r8 round a track that a special car, enjoyed the vid as usual Matt 👍
Thanks for the review Matt. Informative as always and presented without the “over the top” style of some US reviewers. I have a 2015 S8 in black with the 4.0TT petrol. it’s a beast. Whilst a bit thirsty in town, on a freeway run I can get 30mpg, and that’s with 4 people on board and a boot full of luggage. It’s also very easy to go too fast without realising it. The car’s sweet spot for cruising is 130 - 150 km/h, however we have a silly 110km/h limit in Australia, even on 6 lane freeways with middle barrier separation. I prefer the D4 series as the D5 looks a bit lardy from some angles and the grille on the D5 doesn’t quite look as integrated. Further I prefer analogue dials and the switches of the D4 over the touch screen of the D5. The interiors are the best this side of a Bentley.
Matt. It has air suspension as standard! BTW. Matt. I read that if a diesel has less than 1/4 tank it will not regenerate its dpf, so driving around in town on a low tank is not great idea for the long term health of that filter.
It's a gorgeous car. If I had a bigger parking space, I'd definitely get a very good secondhand one.
You quickly spotted the elephant in the room....it's size
digital dash and switchery is all very splendid…..for at least 3 days……and then for some bizarre reason most people yearn for good old fashioned analogue dials and buttons to press.
Excellent review and on a proper day out in the rain.
My frie3nd was a tanker driver. Supermarket fuel comes from the same suppliers as anyone else's.
I've covered starship miles in diesels since 2007, no DPF/egr issues ever....including Audi, BMW, Volvo
Because you did the starship miles. Numpties driving 5k miles a year in a modern diesel are asking for trouble