[Dom]

I have the opportunity to move to a 2010 Audi A8 3.0TDI (not new model) in immaculate condition with 10k miles. What I like about it is the 4-wheel drive, Satnav, Xenons, heated rear seats, extra space and power. Not so keen on increased fuel consumption and road tax.
Would I be mad to think about it?

[Captain Chaos]

No, but it depends entirely on what you want from a car as they're very different when you're behind the wheel.

You also left out a very big consideration - price. The A8 starts life a lot further up the payscale...

[crowdedhouse]

From an Irish perspective I think you'll have to write off most of the price of it when you buy it 'cos it will be very hard to sell on(for anything like what it should be worth).

The average Irish driver has a fear of 'big' engined cars. I was trading an 09 330d MSport (in excellent condition with 10K worth of extras, only 19000 km on the clock) for an F10 520d - I struggled to get an offer much more than a bog standard 320d

[The Mewster]

My last two cars were Audis, an A3 and then an A6, both brand new (company cars), and both plagued with problems. They ended up back at the dealer to fix faults at least once between each scheduled service. I take good care of my cars and I'm quite a relaxed driver, so I wasn't thrashing them.

Before getting the F11 I was actually quite anti BMW, really didn't like the brand image at all, but there was no way I'd get another Audi, and certainly would run a mike from a used one personally.

Looked at the new E-class estate, but it was quite expensive to lease because of the way Mercedes handle their price lists, didn't really like the styling, and actually the interior felt a bit dated after sitting in the F11.

Over the moon with the choice I made, certainly in love with the F11 both inside and out. Admittedly there are some budget plastics and fittings inside that you'd never see in an Audi, but not that you notice every day.

[ipso_facto]

Originally Posted by Dom

I have the opportunity to move to a 2010 Audi A8 3.0TDI (not new model) in immaculate condition with 10k miles. What I like about it is the 4-wheel drive, Satnav, Xenons, heated rear seats, extra space and power. Not so keen on increased fuel consumption and road tax.
Would I be mad to think about it?

Seeing as you have an F10 520d at the moment, my 0.02 Euros is to answer "yes, you would be mad to think about it" (all due respect!!). Beyond the prestige (and that is debatable, as the F10 is a highly desirable and respectable car), I would say that you need to ask yourself: What is the A8 going to offer me, that my 5 Series can't provide? Are these things really important to me?

If you are thinking of the fuel consumption even before you have bought / leased it, then forget it already, as this is clearly an important point of value to you. A 3.0 TDI on the A8 is going to cost you approx. 2x to 2.5x the cost of your 2.0 TDI on the F10 to run. If you can sustain this cost, without concern, and the A8 is more desirable to you, then it is a good choice. If you can't sustain this, without it effecting other elements of your life, then it represents a bad choice. IMHO.

Cheers and remember, in the big scheme of things, there are worse decisions in the world !!

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by Dom

I have the opportunity to move to a 2010 Audi A8 3.0TDI (not new model) in immaculate condition with 10k miles. What I like about it is the 4-wheel drive, Satnav, Xenons, heated rear seats, extra space and power. Not so keen on increased fuel consumption and road tax.
Would I be mad to think about it?

I bought two of these brand new in diesel form.
The 3.0TDI which was total crap very poor MPG and the 4.2V8 TDI sport with was much better all round and more economical, BUT not as good as the BMW.
I also had two more the S8 2000 model and the S8 V10. Both were good cars but very large, the later drank fuel like it had a hole in the tank it had to go.

[Dom]

Thank you all for your input. It will cost me 10k to change. I reckon this is pretty good seeing as how the A8 was twice the price of the F10 when new - one year ago. I'm attracted mostly by the extra space and the 4-wheeel drive. However, I do like the F10 and have no complaints about it.
Johnbmw6, whwn you say your A8 3.0TDI was total crap, what exactly do you mean? How bad was the consumption?

[barney1]

I had a A8 3 litre TDI from new in 2008 on a 2 year lease. MPG was 25 around town and 40 on a motorway run if you kept to 70/80 mph.

Car was fault free but it is expensive to service and 4 tyres only last 10k miles. RRP was over £53k and the lease company wanted £25k for it after 2 years/25k miles

[roho3323]

Personally, I like the look of the last generation A8...but you really have to consider that a new F10 is completely new...new technology, design, etc. 2010 A8 is an 8 year old car (on the market since 2002), and was designed 10 years ago...of course it is going to be heavily discounted. I was shopping around for a 2008 S8, but I just couldn't pull the trigger knowing that this design is a decade old...though it is still a magnificent car.

If you really need the extra space, then go for it...but the F10 should be large enough for almost everyone.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by Dom

Thank you all for your input. It will cost me 10k to change. I reckon this is pretty good seeing as how the A8 was twice the price of the F10 when new - one year ago. I'm attracted mostly by the extra space and the 4-wheeel drive. However, I do like the F10 and have no complaints about it.
Johnbmw6, whwn you say your A8 3.0TDI was total crap, what exactly do you mean? How bad was the consumption?

From day one out of the bag it gave 34MPG being "Nursed" I took it back 3 times for poor fuel consumtion and was told it would get better, from experience I new this was B*llsh*t.
I dumped it after 6 months and got the 4.2TDI Sport A8, that gave 38MPG all day long.
I have had the S8 V8 and the S8 V10 along with the B7 RS4, all off these were bad on economy the S8 V10 was worse than my M6

The 3.0 TDI A8 is a poor economy car so be prepared and take a long test drive,Set the MPG trip before you leave NOT on the motorway as this will give the wrong impression of fuel used. Good luck