Audi A8 dominating BMW 7-series in magazine comparison tests

GermanNut submitted on 09/29/2006 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 5:22 PM
from: www.autospies.com

[45] user comments | category: Spy Shots

Tags: BMW, 7-series, A8, comparison, tests, reviews

Tag Links:

BMW

7-series

comparison

tests

reviews

Audi A8 dominating BMW 7-series in magazine comparison tests

People say the Audi A8L is inferior to the BMW 7-series because it lacks the driving dynamics and name recognition. Not to mention that the Audi doesn't sell nearly as many A8's as BMW sells 7-series.

If we look a little closer we can see that the Audi A8 has dominated the BMW 7-series in comparison tests where the two cars are involved.

The 7-series usually earns praise for its driving dynamics and handling.

The A8 gets positive remarks regarding its incredible interior furnishings along with finish and an easier to use/more intuitive MMI system. It's striking but conservative exterior design doesn't take getting used to.

In conclusion, some on this site may say the 7-series is a better car only because it sells more and has a BMW badge on it.

Actual car enthusiast insiders on the other hand know that the Audi offers cleaner exterior design, an arguabley more luxrious interior, the best materials quality, easier to use ergonomics with MMI and pretty decent handling.

The public may think they are driving the better luxury sedan with the BMW 7-series, but according to car magazine reviews and comparison tests the fewer number that drive the Audi A8 will probably not go as noticed, but they are driving an all-around better luxury sedan if looked at from the car magazine tests/reviews perspective.

Comments:

Images hosted in your AgentSpace can now be posted in the comments section using the following syntax (case matters):
[img]IMAGE URL[/img]
Example: [img]http://agent004.myautospies.com/users/150/Sample-Gallery/sample1.JPG[/img]

TauronLB - 9/30/2006 9:28:11 AM

0 Boost

Personally if it weren't for the front end of the Audi it'd be the nicest and best looking luxo sedan out there for me.
T

reply to this comment

S4cabriofox - 9/30/2006 10:51:05 AM

+1 Boost

The A8 doesn't lack much ground in terms of driving dynamics on the 7 Series, either, GermanNut. WIth its incredible ASF space-frame and ample power (now 350hp), it is a very nimble and quick car.

The design, inside and out, speaks for itself.

reply to this comment

GermanNut - 9/30/2006 12:33:58 PM

0 Boost

Larry please provide me with the article I requested. For the 3rd time.

reply to this comment

crackityjones - 9/30/2006 12:48:06 PM

+2 Boost

An acquaintance who works in the car industry had the recent opportunity to drive the A8 W12 on a banked track, as well as the BMW 760i, Mercedes S-class and the yet-to-be-released Lexus 600h.

He was able to get each of these cars up over 120 mph. He said the Audi was the least impressive of the group, due to the steering feel and overall dynamic response. He has nothing against Audi. That was just his feeling on the car.

Forget BMW. When Mercedes and Lexus beat you on the track, you have to feel humbled. It doesen't appear from this person's experience that he would buy an A8 over these other vehicles. He was certainly able to view each car's build quality and interior design. He didn't dislike the Audi. There were simply 3 other cars that held his interest more than the A8.

This comment reflects what I've read about the A8. It's a car that gets great marks on paper and in the parked position. Te car mags rave about its features and ideas. But put the key into it and it doesn't drive all that remarkably.

reply to this comment

EvoAudi - 9/30/2006 10:44:43 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

the thing is is that the W12 is not meant for speed it is an engine of elegance and power if you want speed try the S8

Neverfollow - 9/30/2006 12:49:24 PM

+2 Boost

I have driven both cars back to back for several hours on both challenging technical drives and highway drives and I can report without question, that both cars are well sorted out. When I was "chasing" the BMW in the A8L I could not gain enough advantage to take the 7 or vica versa. Both cars stayed glued to each others bumpers at even warp speeds. All of the racey driving techniques of late braking, trail braking, you name it, could not produce a definitive result. Even negative camber and decreasing radi turns that critics of Audi will often complain of understear, did not upset either car. There was even a turn where the pavement sort of dropped out from underneath the cars and then made an immediate left turn. Both cars went airborne but gathered themselves up and muscled through with no drama. Top speed passes were made but could not be sustained long enough to tell anything. Either traffic or road conditions broke off the attemps. This was not just an hour or so of having fun, this went on for over 6 hours. Say what you want about test reports, specifications, or advertising hype, in the real world there is no dramatic difference between the cars. If you drive a 7 and think that you will be able to simply out-drive someone in an A8L, think again. In fact, the most likely result will be the wadding up of both cars along with some very bruised egos.

reply to this comment

Hyundai - 9/30/2006 1:27:26 PM

+1 Boost

So, they both have the exact same driving dynamics, you are saying???

No differences at all?

Ojective/subjective?

chewy - 9/30/2006 1:40:21 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

And in sales in Germany.

reply to this comment

iown1 - 9/30/2006 2:04:50 PM

+1 Boost

Neverfolllow

Well said. The differences in handling are only visible under a microscope. As far as luxury sedans go these two are just about as good as it gets. Considering they're both on the long end of their cycle, that's pretty impressive. Personally I can't wait to see what they come up with when they're released head to head in 2009.

reply to this comment

JUGNU - 9/30/2006 2:27:48 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

BMW is very majestic.Have a bigggg presence on the ROAD and no one can deny that.

A8 is a good all-rounder,very decent and ELEGANT.

EACH have there pros and cons.IT's just matter of taste and which feeling u prefer.

BMW 750i for me,if atall choosing between the two.

JUGNU

reply to this comment

528i - 9/30/2006 2:45:07 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

In this one I have to go with the A8....

reply to this comment

MunichRob - 9/30/2006 2:48:46 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

GermanNut you've got no life...Well I shouldn't say that you've got no life at all, because your life seems to be writing articles to this website boasting about how great Audi's are, and then hoping they'll post it.

I clicked onto this site, saw this article, & shook my head knowing GermanNut is at it again. Then I thought to myself, isn't this the same guy who made a big deal on this site a couple months ago about leaving the Audi camp for the Bimmer camp? What Happened?

Get over your obbsesion with Audi GermanNut, most of all though...Just get a life!

reply to this comment

S4cabriofox - 10/1/2006 10:41:32 AM

+1 Boost

And what, you want him to become obsessed with BMW now?

I would pick both if I had the choice, but there's something about the A8 that draws me closer. It just has a better overall package for me, and those 19" polished 12-spoke rims are absolutely gorgeous. It comes in some amazing colors, and the interior is beautiful, and it's no slouch around the corners, either.

However, if I had to choose between an A8L 4.2, a 750Li and an S550, I'd probably pick the S-Class. If it were a comparison between the 12-cylinder sedans, I'd pick the A8. The W12 just has some cool factor about it.

ToyotaLexus - 9/30/2006 3:46:11 PM

+1 Boost

I would go for the Audi however the bad thing about the Audi is the power, as for handling the Audi handles well enough and as it was said in the article the exterior is nicer and more conservative + interior is nicer. One reson i love lexus is that they r really conservative

reply to this comment

S4cabriofox - 10/1/2006 10:43:15 AM

0 Boost

The A8 has 350hp for the 2007 model year. Not much shortage of power there.

Larry-

Really? I've never read that article. I'd like to see a site, please, because in every "other" comparison I've read, the A8 is very close to the top, and I've never seen the 7 Series beat it.

GermanNut - 9/30/2006 5:56:49 PM

0 Boost

MunichRob, I have a life and a great one at that. Why do you keep posting on this website, perhaps you have no life?

reply to this comment

Larry - 10/1/2006 1:46:44 AM

+2 Boost

The Article is Car and Driver Dec. 2003 Audi A8 came in 4th behind the BMW 745i, Lexus and Jaguar. Secondly what difference does 0.1, 0 to 60 make for choosing the BMW coupe or sedan, just buy the damn car. factors such as amount gas, road conditions, transmission can play a apart in 0 to 60 times. I have agree with MunichRob and must avoid these childlish, time wasting post, Audi interiors??, 0.1 BMW coupe and BMW sedan, I will just enjoy my 750i, and Ferrari Superamerica.

reply to this comment

GermanNut - 10/1/2006 1:56:43 AM

+1 Boost

Larry do you live in Boca Raton, Florida?

reply to this comment

GermanNut - 10/1/2006 2:29:04 AM

+1 Boost

actually, Highland Beach? sorry

reply to this comment

SpikeM5 - 10/1/2006 3:25:32 AM

+1 Boost

I think they are two brilliant vehicles in their class, more emphasis should be put on the magazine giving the review. There are outside factors, look at what is the most advertised brand in the magazine, that is normally the vehicle that gets the bette review. Me personally, I stopped reading car magazine a long time ago, not objective enough for my liking.

reply to this comment

AUDIMAN4 - 10/1/2006 4:37:25 AM

+1 Boost

The A8 is simply phenomenal--anyone who doubts this need but sit in one. With the optional Bang & Olufsen sound system (which trumps Levinson), this car has it all.

In Europe this car is one of the hottest in it's segment and very well respected, unlike the Lexus brand in general.

reply to this comment

ATrain - 10/1/2006 9:29:45 AM

+1 Boost

Audiman4,

Do you mean that the B&O sounds better that the M/L or that B&O is a superior brand in general? I ask because I have not had the opportunity to compare the automotive versions of either brands.

However, in the audiophile world, M/L is light years ahead of B&O in terms of musical reproduction fidelity. (I make that statement not based on mag reviews but personal experience owning both brands and having spent countless hours in various listening rooms.)

If you are talking about in-use experience, then I will add that to things to look (listen?) at.

Neverfollow - 10/4/2006 8:13:25 PM

+1 Boost

I'll take this one Audiman:

While I would agree with ATrain about ML home systems, the B&O system in the Audi A8 is much more than anything any other audio manufacturer has attemped before in a factory offered system. The ML systems that Lexus offers is more or less branding only. The system does not represent anything anywhere close to what ML produces for home use. The B&O system however, is a very very good car system. I'm not a huge fan of B&O's work in home audio systems asside from the fact that they look really cool. The sound has always sort of dissappointed me, especially for the price. I can not say that about the A8 car system. It is BY FAR the best factory car audio system I've ever heard.

ATrain - 10/1/2006 9:15:22 AM

+1 Boost

skarimian,

I can appreciate your comment. You are correct that the Audi isn't destined for track use. However, crackityjones' acquaintance didn't compare the Audi to M- or AMG-badged cars either.

Cars in that segment are evaluated on more fronts that pure track prowess. However, the car still has to 'feel' right. Being an A8 fan, I was disappointed to read this but it does make me ponder whether Audi got this one right.

I'll have to do my own comparo.

reply to this comment

TheGenius - 10/1/2006 12:44:48 PM

+1 Boost

A few years back, I had narrowed my list down to either the 745 or A8 4.2L and I would agree with most of the comments above.

- Performance.. they were basically the same with no perceptible differences..

- Handling - Basically the same - the BMW gave slightly better steering feedback, but the Audi felt marginally easier to hustle around..

- Interior / Ergonomics - Even if you took out the poorly designed I-drive, the Audi won this hands down.. suberb materials all round and everything seemed to be perfectly positioned
- Exterior styling / design - While I wasn't crazy about the rear of the BMW, I thought it was still great looking, and well styled overall. However, the - Audi won this category. I like the slightly understated elegance, very classy, beautiful.. very clean...

Features / Equipment - basically the same..

In the end, I bought the A8L not only for the reasons above but also because the car was very good or great in every single category, and weak in none.. Whatever you throw at it, grocery shopping, race tracks, long distance cruising, blizzards, you name it and it excels.. The BMW is very good a lot of situations, and just fair in others (bad roads, bad weather, ergonomics). In snow, I've driven around stuck cars simply by raising my suspension (lift mode) and creating my own track cutting through snow. Years later, I still get very excited just thinking about driving it. The A8 is the one car you need that balances everything single thing you need as a car owner incredibly well!! Buy it and you'll love it. FYI.. my friend who's 745 was one of my test mules, and was very impressed when he checked out my A8, is now seriously considering an S8..

reply to this comment

GermanNut - 10/1/2006 3:17:16 PM

+1 Boost

Larry do you drive a silver on black interior BMW 750i and red on tan interior Ferrari Superamerica and reside in Highland Beach, Florida?

reply to this comment

S4cabriofox - 10/1/2006 10:31:34 PM

+1 Boost

I wouldn't believe that he had a Superamerica, even if he showed us a picture. The car is so exclusive; I don't think it would be sold to mere 750 owners.

1995e34 - 10/1/2006 11:22:33 PM

+1 Boost

why was this posted? there are no references or data showing the tests won. i like both cars, but this post stating the a8 is better than 7 cause tests say so is crap. at least give some pictures/data comparing style, performance, driver's observations, long term testing...whatever.

this just seems like a 2nd grader's essay on cheese sandwhiches vs. peanut butter sandwhiches before naptime.

germannut, i think you could've done better.

i think this site has lost a step, or two, or three. within the past year it has gone from a steady stream of auto industry spyshots to a whole lot of bickering and arguments.

i only bring forth this statement in an effort to improve the content of this site.

reply to this comment

awsomeaudi - 10/2/2006 12:01:57 AM

+1 Boost

Ok The top 5 Best Sedans
1.Aston Martin Rapide (come on people)
2.Audi A8 The Bimmer 7 series is old outdated and over
3.Benz S class priced
4.Lexus Ls
5.Bentley Flying Spur
9990. bimmer 7 series (right after the ford pinto)

reply to this comment

S4cabriofox - 10/2/2006 3:33:56 PM

+1 Boost

Logical-

WOW! Shut UP already, would you? Do you know how annoying you sound, ALL THE TIME???

"1995.. you will usually get this with nut, chewy, s4 etc. Unsubstantiated one liners tht go into the headline as if they are true. the a8 has a standard FRONT wheel drive architecture as do all crappy audis. They throw in AWD Quattro, becasue they have to , and then claim superior traction as a key differentiator"

Oh really? When is the last time I or chewy posted an article of this stature? When have I gone and blatantly stated that Audi is better than BMW? Oh, that's right, I haven't. If you had cared to look at a certain article I posted last month, I showed all of the best parts of all luxury manufacturers on sale today, and that I am open to all of them. You, in your BMW-obsessed world of bull$hit, can't seem to grasp that there's other cars that are just as good in different ways.

Shame on you, really.

reply to this comment

GermanNut - 10/2/2006 10:32:55 AM

+1 Boost

Ubsubstantiated? Logical, The Audi A8 has defeated the 7-series in more comparison tests/reviews than the 7-series has defeated the A8. Catch up on your auto magazine subscriptions.

Again, what is with you and these characteristics?

We know Audi has the characteristics you state and so do the auto magazine reviewers. It hasn't done anything to deter them from picking the Audi over the BMW.

Let me put it to you this way Logical. Audi puts the L in luxury. BMW puts the S in sport. When you drive a BMW what you are driving is a sports car first and a luxury car second. It is a sports oriented car with luxury features, etc...

Now if we want to talk about actual luxury cars, BMW is not one of them. The driving dynamics are too sport oriented and the interpretation of luxury is too cheap in terms of materials quality.

So what if the Audi is FWD, it has defeated the RWD BMW 7-series in more comparison tests than the BMW 7-series has defeated the Audi A8.

That is a fact.

reply to this comment

S4cabriofox - 10/2/2006 3:36:06 PM

+1 Boost

"So what if the Audi is FWD, it has defeated the RWD BMW 7-series in more comparison tests than the BMW 7-series has defeated the Audi A8."

Actually, I've never seen an article in which the current 750/745 beat the current A8. It is widely known that the A8 was the best in class before the S-Class came out; now the S-Class is the king of the car industry once again.

Neverfollow - 10/5/2006 12:00:31 PM

+1 Boost

Ah-hem, Bull%hit!

reply to this comment

GermanNut - 10/2/2006 4:43:51 PM

+1 Boost

Thanks, Logical. Your new nickname is Captain Obvious.

Logical, the whole damn world knows Audi will win because of its cleaner or "less-curvy" styling if you will and the nicer interior.

Just like the Audi doesn't hold a candle to the BMW in terms of driving agility and enthusiasm, the BMW interpretation of luxury and materials quality along with ergonomics doesn't hold a candle to Audi.

Logical, since when was a luxury sedan supposed to be mainly sport-oriented. If you look a bit closer it's called a LUXURY SEDAN NOT A LUXURY SPORT SEDAN.

reply to this comment

GermanNut - 10/2/2006 4:50:01 PM

+1 Boost

Therefore Logical,

1. the car with a cleaner or unexciting exterior (whichever you prefer)
2. Better materials quality
3. Easier to use ergonomics with MMI as opposed to i-Drive
4. The feeling that you are sitting in a luxury car first and sports oriented car second will win.

That is why the Audi wins. The 7-series, A8 and S-class are in the luxury sedan category.

Notice how the word sport is not even mentioned in the category.

That is why the Audi A8 has defeated the BMW 7-series in more comparison tests than the 7-series has defeated the A8.

Audi understands the category and the things prospective buyers look for in that respective cateogry and therefore wins in terms of comparison tests.

Once again, as I've shown, sales are not an indication of the "better car". Even though the BMW 7-series outsells the Audi A8 by a wide margin, the Audi A8 has won more comparison tests against the 7-series.

reply to this comment

528i - 10/2/2006 5:52:27 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

the s class is way better than both of them, its sporty and luxury.

reply to this comment

GermanNut - 10/2/2006 9:37:21 PM

+1 Boost

my tricycle? No, but I'll gladly send you pictures of my lineup of cars that is better than yours.

Tell your managing director to stop making you the office's coffee boy and you might be able to play in big-boy BMW territory the way I do.

Why don't you go and post more lies about how BMW owners are wealthier (even though they aren't), more accomplished (even though Audi owners on average have attained a higher level of education) and good looking because if you can't get your cock off a badge how are you supposed to look at people for who they are not what the outside labels them as.

No wonder you'll never be able to play in real man's BMW land (when you have owned at least 7 BMWs) your too dumb to achieve the financial success that is required to do so.

Do you like the fact that I, who supports Audi will be on BMW number 9 before you get your sixth. Keep talking the talk...your stereotypes and badge snobbery will keep you from walking the walk.

reply to this comment

MPowerDK - 10/3/2006 5:52:31 AM

+1 Boost

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/test_technik/vergleichstests/oberklasse_ikonen_e_klasse_a6_und_5er.122022.d_ams_vtest_wertung_cars.htm

reply to this comment

Neverfollow - 10/5/2006 12:07:46 PM

+1 Boost

Daaaaanm GermanNut. That was good!

reply to this comment

To post a comment for this story, you must first Login.

If you do not have an account, you will need to Register (It's Free!).