The Audi S8 is one of the foremost super sedans that you can buy for safely under $10,000. The concept of a big body four-door with huge power under the hood is one the Germans are particularly good at, with numerous “greatest hits” under their belt. The Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 is the high-horsepower sedan that broke this mold wide open, and this D2-chassis Audi S6 shown here on craigslist is the modern incarnation of that icon. This is the one to buy, as it’s clearly enthusiast-owned with numerous upgrades and improvements made to address common Audi shortcomings.
Now, the usual catcalls about old European cars are certainly not without merit: unreliable, expensive, and not worth the investment. That’s all fair. The S8 is a car that doesn’t do well with sitting, and you cannot maintain it via your local Jiffy Lube. For many enthusiasts, a car like this doesn’t measure up in terms of being worth the price of admission, which is fairly low in this instance. It doesn’t handle like a sports car (but it’s still pretty sure-footed with Quattro AWD) and most gearheads recoil at the idea of a four-door (but remember – this one is constructed with an aluminum space frame, so it’s still pretty lithe.)
Inside, you get absolutely phenomenal sport seats covered in leather, and high-grade appointments everywhere you look. While the Germans can eat you alive with upkeep costs, you’ll at least enjoy gazing at your interior while riding on the back of a flat-bed. All jokes aside, the seller had made loads of thoughtful improvements to keep this S8 on the road, especially since he uses it for road trips himself. Some recent work includes a new timing belt, cats, 02 sensors, coils, plugs, full front suspension and axles, lower valve body with a Sonnax valve upgrade, fan clutch, battery, headliner, fluids, filters and more.
The 4.2L V8 produces a respectable 360 horsepower along with 317 lb.-ft. of torque. You can reach highway speeds in a tick over 6 seconds, which is impressive for a car this large. The seller has used this Audi on road trips between Colorado and Connecticut, which is as good of a test of his claimed upkeep as anything else. The market likely won’t change much for these high-performance four-doors, which means you should be able to hold out for a well-maintained example like this without having to pay much for the privilege. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the tip.
If the condition is as advertised, the ask is extremely reasonable for this A8.
As Jeff implies, this is not the car to go chasing after 911s on a winding road, but I can tell you from experience that it is the kind of car that will make quick work of long stretches of Autobahn, while being quiet, smooth and comfortable.
I have zero experience with problems, parts/service cost or any negatives, but if they exist, you’ll have to balance them against superb workmanship and total competence on the road. If I could, I would be on my way to Westport now.
Very nice cars, and as Ray said divine on the hwy, and comfy. I believe Audi made a 10 cylinder one and a turbo one that really moved out.. they are awesome Q-ship cruisers.
I was always told never own an Audi without an
existing warranty.
Very sharp and stately-looking Audi. The list of new parts is extensive. Could be a good buy for the right person.
Just have your AAA Premium paid up, your mechanic on standby, and you’ll be fine.
Timing belt service is a huge plus. That’s a good chunk of the asking price at dealer service rates.
The only way to safely buy a Audi, BMW, or Mercedes is to lease a new one and dump it after3 years when the factory warranty is about to expire then you don’t have to deal with the overpriced parts and keeping a tow truck on speed dial.
True statement that is destined to be applied to any/all new cars
False. I’ve purchased 12 used BMWs, and had no problems with any of them. I’ve purchased 3 used Mercedes, all of which were bullet-proof. I’ve purchased 3 used Audis, only one of which was costly. I’d say that is a pretty great track record. Those marques give you more bang for the buck than any US, Japanese, or any other supposedly “reliable” alternative. Vastly superior in every respect that matters.
If you haven’t experienced a German sports sedan, do yourself a favor and buy a used one with 60k miles on it, drive it 2 years, keep it maintained, and sell it. It will cost you almost nothing in depreciation and give you more smiles per mile than nearly any new alternative.
They say that Audis are either excellent or terrible.
I have had two of them and both have burned holes in my pocket, so I can attest to the fact that they can be terrible money pits.
There’s a great car chase scene in the 1998 film Ronin with one of these.
This has the same look as my 2000 S4. That car was a blast with the 2.7 V6 twin turbo. I had the timing belt service done by a couple of Audi experts that ran their business out of a couple of roll-up storage garages. They let me buy the parts from ECS Tuning.
Like many Audis, when they get old, they get expensive, so you either do it all yourself or you have deep pockets. I got paranoid when the car hit 120K miles and put it up for sale. All the kids wanted it because it had not been modified at all, which was a rarity.