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Audi A8 L W12 Road Test: How Does It Measure Up?
Here's the thing about executive sedans: Although they could speak to the wisdom of the owner - a captain of industry, perhaps, an inventor or a Microsoft millionaire - they often just speak to wretched excess.

But the 2007 Audi A8L W12 is a breed apart. This elegant car offers all of the amenities of the "traditional" executive sedan, but brings with it an added bonus: understatement.

Upon first glance, the long wheelbase Audi is clearly an expensive car, but the average observer would likely not think that it starts at $170,800 (Canadian).

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Audi A8 L W12 Road Test: How Does It Measure Up?



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BenzW124BenzW124 - 8/23/2007 10:09:40 AM
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This big VW is nothing compared to the tru winners in this clas, the 5-Series and E-Class, whic sell beter rightfuly so.

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AdmiralT20AdmiralT20 - 8/23/2007 10:11:56 AM
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I am not sure if the A8 is in the same class as the 5er and E-class.
I think it is highly probable that it is in the same league as the 7er, S-Class and the LS460.


KingerKinger - 8/23/2007 10:38:09 AM
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Correct, this car competes against the 7er, S-class and LS. Not the 5er, E-class and GS.


IamEvilHomerIamEvilHomer - 8/23/2007 11:40:47 AM
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benz the W12 outsells the V12 from BMW and MB combined internationaly


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 8/24/2007 12:51:05 AMView My AgentSpace
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Rightfully so. 760Li is overpriced and underpowered (no reason to buy it over the 750Li or Alpina B7). S600 is overpriced and overpowered. A8L W12 strikes the perfect balance of price and power, LOL.


EnnNorakEnnNorak - 8/24/2007 10:57:41 AM
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Where do you get the idea that this is a big VW? The A8 is all aluminum and VW does not make aluminum-bodied cars. I am not sure about the inherent balance of a W-12 vs. a traditional 60-degree V-12. I think that the W configuration makes this 12-cylinder engine needlessly complex. I'd rather have the more cost-effective V8 any day.


SSP350SSP350 - 8/23/2007 10:42:01 AM
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For a car of this stature, the transmission needs to be more refine. A clunking noise when in manual mode is not good. Other than that, the car sounds phenomenal.

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GermanNutGermanNut - 8/23/2007 10:57:12 AM
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BenzW124 is showing his clear lack of automotive knowledge yet again. Anyone that is an educated car enthusiast knows that no $120K+ Audi is in the same class as a Mercedes E class or BMW 5-series.

For Audi, the A6 lineup would obviously be the best competitor to the BMW 5 and Mercedes E.

A pure lack of the most basic automotive knowledge by BenzW124

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BenzW124BenzW124 - 8/23/2007 11:00:47 AM
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No, Im smarter than all of you obvisly since noone can see that this isa big overpriced stretched Passat-Phaeton S-Class wannabe. Why woul anybody buy this over a S-Class or 7-Series?

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IamEvilHomerIamEvilHomer - 8/23/2007 11:42:08 AM
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benz are you amazingidiot under a new screenname?

sounds like it


MonkMonk - 8/23/2007 2:18:24 PMView My AgentSpace
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no he might be RobertFrisk reincarnated from formula1


EnnNorakEnnNorak - 8/24/2007 11:03:52 AM
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You are not smart at all. The S-Class is grossly overpiced compared to the A8 and the only advantage it has is a fully independent seat cushion length adjustment on very comfy front seats. The A8 gives you almost as comfy front seats but adds a rust-free aluminum body and superior AWD sytem however. I guess a fool and his money are soon parted.


BenzW124BenzW124 - 8/23/2007 11:00:48 AM
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No, Im smarter than all of you obvisly since noone can see that this isa big overpriced stretched Passat-Phaeton S-Class wannabe. Why woul anybody buy this over a S-Class or 7-Series?

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CzelinskiCzelinski - 8/23/2007 12:00:10 PM
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BenzW124,

Please STOP! I am a huge Mercedes Fan, and prefer German cars. But please...you are making yourself look like an idiot, whether this is fun to your or not i don't know, but please just stop it.

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MonkMonk - 8/23/2007 2:14:03 PMView My AgentSpace
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I agree with Czelinski...German cars are my favorite, but if stupid fanboys plug up this site, please ban them!!!


EnnNorakEnnNorak - 8/24/2007 11:05:45 AM
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Yes, he sounds like a stupid teen-age punk who just does not know when to quit.


JUGNUJUGNU - 8/23/2007 12:17:02 PMView My AgentSpace
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why do u guys bother replying to idiots like BenzW124.

JUGNU

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 8/24/2007 12:52:15 AMView My AgentSpace
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I have no idea. david989, benzW124... all the same.


AUTO_UNIONAUTO_UNION - 8/23/2007 12:41:08 PM
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BenzW124 is just a retard. Ban him! Idiots like him make this site look stupid.


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david989david989 - 8/23/2007 2:32:21 PM
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I am not convinced by this car. It's a cheap way of creating power at the expense of the environment.

Put it next to a Lexus LS600h and it get's destroyed. The Lexus LS600h is faster, quieter and consumes less fuel and emits fewer emissions. Basically you get V12 performance and V6 fuel economy. The LS600h is the true benchmark in this class, not these overrated German cars.

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david989david989 - 8/23/2007 3:05:10 PM
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Caltrans,

LS600h > A8 W12

Live with it.

The A8 is a gussied up VW Phaeton and nothing more. Only stupid people buy this rip off. I'd rather spend my money on a real luxury car like the LS followed unwittingly by the BMW 7 series and Benz S class.


LarryLarry - 8/23/2007 3:23:15 PM
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I Audi can only manage to sell 200 a8 per month, who many w12 are they selling per month 2? Audi could stop selling the a8 here in the US it will not be noticed or missed.

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 8/24/2007 12:55:29 AMView My AgentSpace
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Oh, SHUT UP!!!

I DON'T CARE HOW MANY A8S AUDI SELLS IN A MONTH!!! IF IT SOLD 2,000,000, GOOD JOB!!! But it's an amazing sedan and THAT'S WHY IT SELLS BETTER THAN THE S-CLASS AND 7 SERIES WORLDWIDE.

Let me repeat that: I DON'T CARE ABOUT SALES. If the BMW 7 Series sold 1 unit a month, that wouldn't make it any less of a vehicle. I don't buy a car based on how many other people own it. In fact, I avoid that altogether- I want a car that NOT a lot of people own.


BMW4me4everBMW4me4ever - 8/23/2007 4:10:39 PMView My AgentSpace
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that is true Larry and I dont really understand why it does not sell in the US at all? I think some of it has to be blamed on VW for creating the Phaeton. I am sure alot of people then looked at the A8 as a guessied up VW. The A8 is a nice car, but for the money I would be buying the 760LI, S600 or Masserati ...

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bulldogzbulldogz - 8/23/2007 5:00:45 PM
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then check out the A8 Executive Car of Year thread where I made this assumption and they cried like schoolgirls complete with pie charts explaining the superiority of the A8 over the Phaeton.
You'd have thought I was insulting their mothers!


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 8/24/2007 12:58:00 AMView My AgentSpace
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I don't know. For $120K I would definitely look at the Quattroporte, but you'd have to give another $25,000 to get an S600.

I would definitely NOT look at the 760Li. It's worthless- 750Li is just as fast. And then there's the Alpina B7 complicating things.

However, I would probably look at the S8 over the A8L W12. That's not a "probably," now that I think about it. It's a "definitely." And a very well-equipped S8 barely runs $100K.


huu76huu76 - 8/23/2007 9:08:43 PM
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Here's a 2005 test. A bit slower and lower mpg than the LS600hL.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Followup/articleId=106174/pageId=64463

Anyway, those 20" rims would give me a headache, my bro's 18" wheels are rough enough as it is. Also, the interior doesn't look any different than the A6's.
Even on the outside, the A6 and A8 look too similiar unlike MB's S and E.

Not sure if I'd buy the W12 for 2x the price of a loaded A6, I'd rather get a faster S8 that probbaly has better mileage and costs less.

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 8/24/2007 1:00:57 AMView My AgentSpace
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Wow, what a stupid comment.

I love how you found one test where the A8L W12 was "slower" than the LS600hL. According to everyone else, it's faster, but okay. LS gets better mileage, definitely, but it can't keep up.

Interior is so completely different from the A6's. That's like saying, "the LS interior doesn't look any different from the GS's." But even the two Lexus sedans have very similar layouts, while I believe the A8 and A6 interiors were designed by two different people.

As for the outside. I love how the A8 looks; I don't care how much it looks like the A6 to you. And you know the E-Class will look more like the S-Class when it gets redesigned.

I, too, would take an S8. That's the one place where I agree with you. But don't expect miracles in mpg.

BTW, loaded A6 is more than $60K. A lot more.


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 8/24/2007 1:01:51 AMView My AgentSpace
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Don't start now...

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ToneeTonee - 8/24/2007 12:32:33 AM
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The Audi A8L W12 Quattro is a great car. In my opinion I would choose this car over a BMW 760Li or the over-rated Lexus LS600hL. Audi makes some of the most it not the best interiors and exteriors. I terms of styling this car wins for its class. Hey I rather be ser apart b/c not many people drive A8's they only sell like 1000 a month if that. But yeah its a good car but too bad it's still not good enough to dethrone the might Mercedes S600.

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 8/24/2007 1:02:55 AMView My AgentSpace
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A8L W12 came out in 2004... I would say that since it was out three years earlier, it would have been hard for it to "de-throne" the new S600. Anyway, you have to pay $25K more to get the Mercedes. To some, it's worth it, but I say, while I'm up there I'll just get a Bentley.


titsmageetitsmagee - 8/24/2007 2:53:19 AM
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The A8 is fantastic.

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EnvyofyouRS5EnvyofyouRS5 - 8/24/2007 4:44:18 AM
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The S8 doesnt offer some of the things that give the A8L that executive and classy feeling. The s8 is the sexier car given the carbon fiber trim and recaro seats. Audi needs to make rear seating a little more creature comfort friendly like the Japanese a6's with tables and refrigorators in stock executive models. Other than that, If anyone can cash up 140 there money would be well spent, and could easily afford modding the seats to recline and build a fridge or get tables set up. But thats when money isnt an issue and for the people buying these cars, it wouldnt be a problem.

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huu76huu76 - 8/25/2007 12:14:27 AM
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Foxy,
My brother's A6 was $75,000. The W12 is $170,000. Don't be jealous because you don't know what you're talking about. The only visible difference between the A6 and W12 is that the 6 has a stationary display while the W12 appears to have a pop-out indash screen. Everything else is the same.

Would you like me to tell you all abou the ambient lighting? How about how many clocks are in the car? Where all the A/C vents are? How many vanity mirrors there are (it's not 2). Maybe what the bottom of the engine looks like? Would you like me to tell you how it drives and handles?

Better yet, you pick a question about the A6 and I'll answer it. Might as well toss in a few about the Boxster.

Yeah, just like how the last S and E looked "alike"?
The IS, ES, GS and LS don't even have similiar silhouetts. The A6/A8 have the same long egg shaped outline.

Envy,
The A6 rear leg room is great, but the cushions are too damn low for my tastes. Yes, even the A6's rear feels executive, but for someone who prefers to drive, I'd take the $130,000 S8 over the W12.

Caltrans,
VW/Audi. MB/Chrysler. BMW/pile of crap. Shall we continue?

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huu76huu76 - 8/25/2007 12:22:33 AM
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Two things I overlooked. The A8 has split armrests while the A6's is one big one. The A8's HVAC switches are tilted, the A6's are vertical.

Foxy,
Would you like to know how to turn on the ignition and where the change box is? Maybe the cruise control switch or the feedback you get from the steering wheel volume control.

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