damn.i have just completed my financing for the '06 Quattroporte Executive GT when my old "friends" at Audi tell me they have a surprise in store. upon reaching the overrated service centre of theirs,what do i see stashed out back?the audi S8. i'm offered a test drive.....just why did audi release this car NOW?!?!? it's bloody fantastic!(i've always been a blind defender of audis despite their poor after-sales and parts servicing(at least in malaysia);they treat my stupid v6 audis as if they're v12s!any jobs take many days...and not always satisfactory,either!) what do i do?the Maserati Qporte has it all;style,speed,grace,pace(also a wobbly interior,jerky gearbox and "where did it all go?"-boot.); and yet i find myself lusting after audis all over again!i try to reason w myself and tell the sales manager that "the s8 is a bit too large..."and he goes and tells me they're bringing in the even-better to drive s6(with the same GALLARDO engine) in april. with cars this GOOD,what would YOU do?
I have the S8 on order and was just told by my dealer that the first examples will be hitting US shores in October (I was expecting it this summer ). Tell me more about it and your driving impressions. Everything I see and read about it gets me more excited... BTW, the QP GT is a beautiful upgrade on the base sedan. I haven't driven the GT version but I'm hopeful that the tranny is better than that standard sedan. Congrats on your new ride...
Audi S8 video http://www.youtube.com/player.swf?video_id=JFEXjwMYDzM&l=61 it does sound like the Gallardo.
the qp gt is a fantastic car,but the tranny remains kind of awkward;it's quicker but still relatively jerky. the s8 is like a giant imprezza with the ride of a merc e-class on 17s. it's fantastically quick;the engine is muted BUT much more bassy. it's simply sublime,it kinda is exactly what an s55 amg aspires to be, but better in terms of quality;IMHO.
hmm....get both? Drive the QP for a while, wait until the S6 comes in, and see if you really like it, then trade if it's worth it.
hehehh...would love to own both these cars;but unfortunately the garage only houses 6.my missus already occupies 2;her excellent TT 1.8T tiptronic and a3 sportback see to that! i have space for only 1 saloon! the 4X4 space remains unoccupied;as i await delivery of an audi q7. the supercar duo is taken up by the maser 3200gt and the other one's empty coz my missus and me can't decide between a gallardo or the up-coming r8;or even miura,IF THEY BUILD IT. what would u guys do?i do lots of travelling each day;and thankfully the qp's gt set of improved brakes resist fade much better than the original qp's...but the gearbox feels as bad as an alfa 156's!
More to the point, I wonder how much of the noise can be uncorked with the right exhaust. Can you imagine an S8 with a Capristo? Drooooooooool.
well, maybe not both at once, but own one at a time, and you'll have the pleasure of owning both! (btw...on a side note, if they do build the muira, it's going to be VERY VERY limited production, price range of an enzo....so get an order in now, as most are hypothetically sold out already)
In the USA the S8 will start at $92k and well equipped will sell for less than $100k. The S6 will start in the mid $70k range and head up from there... This is official pricing directly from Audi USA as of last week.
Interesting the pricing is that far below the W12. I would have expected them to be in line with each other.
This is just my opinion. I would get the Audi S8 without a doubt over the very fine Maserati. My vote? Go for the Audi S8.
Im pretty sure you could hook a different ecu and gearbox up in the quattroporte, and put on a tubi exhaust, now THATS a sedan!
Here's one at the Chicago Auto Show today. Got my vote as best car there. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great picture...that's the Daytona Grey Pearl correct? I've been going back and forth between that color and the Night Blue Pearl. May have to go with the Daytona Grey...
993, either color would look great on that car. I'm shocked that it wasn't on a platform to show it off. It was just there sitting on the carpet with the other Audis. The carbon fiber interior was incredible...just enough to highlight the inside. And the sound system was the best I've heard in a while.
Man I gotta tell you how excited I'm getting about this car (which is rare for me frankly) and the anticipation that I have to take delivery in October. I would imagine that the sound system you're referring to is the B&M unit? I don't think I can justify the $7800 premium that they're charging for it but the carbon fiber interior is certainly on my short list. I have the list of options from Audi, but they have yet to be finalized. I'm thinking Daytona Grey with a Black interior and probably a light tint to set it off. I'm looking forward to seeing it in the flesh...
Looked at that car on Saturday at Audi Exchange and it really looks outstanding,I was able to start it and rev it up a bit,sounds even better then it looks...
