Audi S8

So my inlaws have a 2001 Audi S8 with approx 100k miles. Being members of AARP, this was, and still is, the wrong car for them - they're into the luxury not the performance. My mother in law is thinking of selling or trading in. How should we find the value and list it for sale - an Audi enthusiast forum?

I don't think they're ready to move on it tomorrow, but they did just drop a bundle on misc repairs at the dealer and its stirring up thoughts of "why do we still own this?"

Thank you for your wisdom.

I'd say visit Audi World, those guys are pretty top notch!

The sobering part is the cars have tanked in value. KBB lists it at roughly $5K. Sell it to the first person that makes an offer within 75% of KBB value?

I'd run from that car as fast as possible.

Ian F wrote: The sobering part is the cars have tanked in value. KBB lists it at roughly $5K. Sell it to the first person that makes an offer within 75% of KBB value? I'd run from that car as fast as possible.

I wonder why? W220 S500's still sell for $15k easily, and they were plagued with expensive air ride problems. That's a whole lotta car for $5K.

If I had 75% of 5k I'd buy up that car in a second. Trade for 1996 Land Rover Discovery? It has leather

Figure $20k to buy a nice one and $3-5k per year in regular maintenance/repair for the non-DIYer, at 15k per year. What you don't spend one year gets rolled into the next one.

Trans R&R and rebuild is about an $8k ticket, and as a general rule, any module or assembly runs at least $600. This is also true for the heater cores, of which there are two.

I wouldn't go by KBB values too much for German cars. A lot of them get passed off as in excellent condition, when really they should be rated as poor because of all of the electrical faults. According to KBB, I should be able to buy a 1.8t Passat for under $500. That's not gonna happen either.

On the other hand, if an S8 really was worth only $5k, I'd start buying them up and selling the engines.

An S8 would be a whole lotta car for 5k. I've seen a couple for sale, but they are pretty rare. Too bad to hear the car is so expensive to have worked on.

An S8 would be a great sleeper car.

So who wants to recreate the chase sceans in Ronin? Those are some of the best looking big sedans to come around in a long time, its just too bad about the electronics.

benzbaron wrote: An S8 would be a whole lotta car for 5k. I've seen a couple for sale, but they are pretty rare. Too bad to hear the car is so expensive to have worked on. An S8 would be a great sleeper car.

Except it's not really fast enough to be a sleeper....

390Hp all aluminum engine and body, I think the S8 should be good for 180mph if delimited. Last time I looked good ones around the bay area go for around 20k so for 5k you might run into some issues.

If they want an S8, and are not gung-ho auto enthusasts, they should also look at the A8Ls. A few less horsepower, but the stock 4.2 will still really scoot that car around. All-aluminum construction really helped cut the weight down. The difference between the S8 and A8 is more of a trim level difference than the complete transformation between an A4 and S4.

OTOH, the same parts/repair expenses still apply :(

S8.. my bad.. .my KBB research was on the A8. yeah, the S version is probably worth a bit more.

Ian F wrote: S8.. my bad.. .my KBB research was on the A8. yeah, the S version is probably worth a bit more.

Dangit Ian, look what you've done?! Now you have all these people checking CL adds looking for S8s around 5 grand. Pay attention before you start making claims like that!

lol I kid I kid...

benzbaron wrote: 390Hp all aluminum engine and body, I think the S8 should be good for 180mph if delimited. Last time I looked good ones around the bay area go for around 20k so for 5k you might run into some issues.

Aluminum only means "relatively" light at 4100 lbs. 370 hp. 0-60 in 6.3 seconds Nice car, but not a "sleeper" in my books....

I'm not going to argue if the S8 is a sleeper or not but it is in the same book as the M5. Any car that will do over 150mph and look like a mild sedan is cool in my books. The new S8 is garrish compared to the understated original proving bigger isn't always better.

I just think it sounds cool that the car is made of aluminum, remember it is VW/Audis aluminum construction methods porsche wanted at when they tried to take over VW. The only thing that scares me is if you did dent the body you'd need to go to a special body shop and god forbid if you tweaked the unibody.

benzbaron wrote: The only thing that scares me is if you did dent the body you'd need to go to a special body shop and god forbid if you tweaked the unibody.

Regular filler doesn't stick to aluminum panels very well. I learned a neat little trick from an old body man, as long as you don't need much (like fixing a small ding or such), JB Weld works as body filler on aluminum panels.

njansenv wrote: Aluminum only means "relatively" light at 4100 lbs. 370 hp. 0-60 in 6.3 seconds Nice car, but not a "sleeper" in my books....

It's a HUGE FARKING CAR. 4100lb is a miracle for something that optioned-up, and so big that it could be used for boardroom meetings.

If you told me that an A6 also weighed 4100lb, I wouldn't be surprised.

Yep, my 750Li has a listed curb weight of 4552 pounds and it's not hauling around 4wd hardware either. I drove an A8L before I bought my BMW. Loved the looks, liked the way it drove well enough, HATED the seats. I spent 1/2 hour playing with the controls and everything I did made my back hurt worse. Everyone is different but you'd think that with modern luxury car multi-adjustable seats (mine are 20 way adjustable not counting the heat, vent and massage settings) anyone could find a comfortable setup.

A good friend of mine has a 2001 S8 with 300000km on it that he bought for $5K and change last year. He got a great deal. The car is wonderful. It does low-mid 14's in the quarter mile, looks and sounds great, and is a pleasure to drive. And the seats are completely different from the A8 seats. They're alcantara and leather sport seats.

Disclaimer: the car was a great deal for him, but he owns an Audi performance shop! He did a timing belt service on it when he got it because it was due, and I think there was something weird with the fuel pump(s). Since then, it's been reliable and fun.

I would buy it if I were you, especially since it has a history that can be checked out.

Just give it to me.

I had an S8 phase about a month ago. I googled the car, did the Craigslist thing, spent a few weeks dreaming about the car. Now Im over it. No seriously, I don't have any money so who am I kidding. I think there were some improvements made each year weren't there? Regardless, I've often wondered about these cars, everyone always expresses caution, same with large BMW's but is this exaggerated?

Who needs to go 180? Gear that sucker down and have much more fun...