not italian but....

I would definatly go for the A8L. Have you been in both cars yet?

 

A8L, all the way. Or, if that is still a bit rough, get a Jag XJ8L.

 

Unless you got the S8, I would get the S55 AMG. Though in CA S classes are dime a dozen compared to the A8, I would still get the S55. There is something about an AMG car that can't be quite put into internet words.

Tell your wife, there is no such thing as too much power. That is like saying a ring or a purse is too expensive. How would she know the difference anyways? Get the S55 and take the rear badging off, and tell her its a S500.

Problem solved.

 

Ahh, looks like your wife will know the difference. Well to me "the stupid grin" is the answer for the car. A car should be fun and not just transportation. Mercedes and Audi are neither known for their reliability. If you wanted reliability a LS430 would be the best option.

I say go for the S55, and tell your wife to drive slow. Good luck.

 

S55 hands down gorgous interior and exterior and plenty of power AMG handbuilt engine. The A8L is nice but a little boring for its price and bold looks.

 

What answer do you think your going to get in a Ferrari chat site? Performance is the primary issuse for most here. You would have to give us more to go on about what your looking for to give you any other answer. I have driven the S500 and S55 not the Audi. The S500 has plenty of power for your wife. That said, it isn't enough for me. I have a suggestion, since your wife is savvy on the dif between the S500 and S55. Go with the S600.... I have driven this also and it has more power, better feel then the S55, more torque....IMO. Just tell her your sensitive to her issues and you think the S55 is to fast. But, the S600 has the comfort features in the rear seats your looking for. You should be able to find an '03 for around $100k. Also, I was told when an S600 goes in for service it goes to the front of the line.

Good luck

E

 

That's great, if it comes off the line first too! S600 would be very, very nice.

Although I would try LAFun's recommendation and check out the Lexus LS; your wife might be happy enough with it, it won't break (least defects in auto industry) and you can pocket the other $40k for more toys.

 

Hey now! I didn’t recommend the LS430. Its a great car, and should be considered if reliability is a concern. However, I don’t have 100K to drop and that is probably the car I would get. My personal recommendation would be the S55/S600. To me these two S classes are the sluts of the sedan world. They are hot, good looking, high maintenance, and b i t c h y. They are fun to be around, depending on their mood, but always pleasurable company. The LS430 on the other hand will do everything well but without a flair. No one sleeps at night and lusts after the LS. Its more like what you want your wife to be. Its good overall, but packs 20-30 extra pounds, and is not the ultimate looker.

Also remember this is Los Angeles, and german/italian are considered luxury cars. People here look down upon Japanese stuff.

I won’t forget last year when my boss was shopping for his 996TT. He has a boxter S, e55, and couple of other toys. I suggested looking at an NSX, and he looked at me straight in the face and said “successful people don’t drive Japanese.” Lol.

So you gotta take many things into account. I still say S55/S600 >Audi A8 all day long.

 

Scott,

I'm out...... going on unpaved snow covered roads. That's what my Grand Cherokee is for. You might want to consider the 4-matic E500 or S class

 

I've had my C36 in snow . I assume you could have an S55 in snow, just be careful with the extra torque and leave the traction/stability control on. In fact, with the ASR, it was pretty much a walk in the park in 3-4 inches of snow. Hardest part? Getting it moving.

As for living with an AMG on a daily basis, I definitely like it. It's gonna ride tougher than it's non-AMG counterpart (though I've been in a new S600 several times and it's not that great either), plus it sets a bit lower so watch those dips and bumps.

 

Get an S500 4matic if you need the traction in the winter to go up to your cabin. The S600 is a beast when chipped it can easily put down 600+HP it is a very fine car extreamly smooth looks everything is perfect about it.

 

Have you considered the Maserati Quattroporte? I am not sure if your wife would like a F1 transmission. They should be available very soon and it has received great reviews. They start at less than $100K and I think it looks better than A8L and an S500. I have been in A8L and the interior is beautiful. I think if you go with the Audi your wife would be very happy. Someone else mentioned that if reliability is what you are looking for than definitely go w/ an LS430. It does everything well. I am not a fan of the S500. I think it is too much money for what you get and it is due for a restyle next year. That should cause the depreciation to be even more than usual. Let us know what you decide.

 

You can get a speeding ticket on a 3 cylinder geo, so that should not be a concern. Heck you can get your license suspended without a car. My college roomate got 2 moving violations on his bicycle and one on his skateboard, so no license for a year.

Get a Range Rover 4.6 HSE or put snow chains on the S class. No biggie.

Get the s class, whether it is 500, AMG55, or 600, you will be happy. Just dont get the S430.

The MB, especially the S class, isn't the most reliable car out there. THen again it is more reliable then those engine failures that the Boxter S' have.
Its a lease, who cares about reliability. Get the S class, and be happy.

The benz is worth 40grand over the Audi.

BTW your screen name is the exact one I saw on a plate in Carmel about a year ago, on a then new M3.

 

Does the A8L have Quattro AWD?

What about an RS6? Gives the camping/cabin hauling with the wagon and some gitup'ngo. I'm sure it would tear through a lot of snow. Maybe your wife wants a more elegant cruiser though.

Has she written off the Lexus yet? I am not a Lex fan, but it is bulletproof and looks like the old S class, which I really like. Black on black LS with tinted windows would be posh looking.

This just made me think about this nice '04 azure on cream S500 down the street from us... it has caught my wife's eye and now her tastes are slowly moving from VW to MB, which is good and bad .

 

Yes I believe an A8 can be had with a quattro but don't quote me on that.

RS6 is in a diff class than the A8/S class. That is more in the 5 series/E55 class and much smaller, thus I don't think its a good comparison.

Black on black LS with some 19 inch wheels and a tad lowering, does look mean. Called the VIP look in Japan. Look up waldusa for pics.

Ryan,

I can picture your wife in a SL65 AMG, yummy photo that is

 

Depends on how much you want to loose on depreciation. I've been there, done that with the S class. Plan on it being worth about 1/3 of original sticker after about 6 years. These things are keys out of a Lear jet. Audi's are worse in that I've seen plenty of the first generation (read 98's) in the low teens now. Don't expect the AMG model to hold its value much better.

The service from the last three MB dealers I've used has turned me off of the marque forever.

But at the end of the day, its your money...

 

Don't chose a S500 or 430 over the LS430, it's not a good financial move, I don't understand why people do it.

The LS430 is faster or just fast as, cheaper, and more comfortable!

Audi's are and will always be the weird guys car to me.

AMG's are god cars. Nuff said. 600.. that fast.. should be an AMG.

 

If you are willing to get a Quattroporte from an out of state dealer I bet you could find one somehwere for MSRP and get it by Sept./Oct. The Quattroporte is a relatively unknown car to most of the public . I bet that there are still some new Quattroporte being shipped that do not have a buyer yet.

 

The A8 only come in all wheel drive. Not sure if this matters to you but thr current S class in nearing the end of its model life and the new cross between the E class and the S class CLS I thinks its called is right around the corner. I have been doing the samething with my wife, we had a spot on the Maserati list (wife is having twins not enough trunk space) so be are looking again. The new XJR is alot of car for the money, I am not a Jag fan (wife has a VDP now) but it was not a bad drive. she is leaning towards the 7 series or waiting for the new Mercs