2001 Audi S8 Road Test

[NFS4]

Ahhhh, this car was great in Ronin (my first DVD). Some may prefer the M5, but I prefer the understated looks and AWD of the S8.

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/roadtest/48122/article.html

 

[yakko]

I prefer the S8 also.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I love my Passat, and of course the Audi (made by the VW group as I'm sure you know). These cars arent going to get the respect and recogition they deserve, yet. Soon though. The W series of engines are breaking all sorts of long standing records. In a year or so, I predict that BMW and Mercedes will be scrambling to catch up. Be nice to see.

 

[NFS4]

<< I love my Passat, and of course the Audi (made by the VW group as I'm sure you know). These cars arent going to get the respect and recogition they deserve, yet. Soon though. The W series of engines are breaking all sorts of long standing records. In a year or so, I predict that BMW and Mercedes will be scrambling to catch up. Be nice to see. >>


I think that putting the W8 in the Passat is a big mistake. Who is going to pay $40k for a Passat? I mean COME ON!!! Hell, I'd take an S4 for that money, or maybe even a loaded IS300, or better yet a fatty daddy BMW 330xi. The S4 and 330xi would thoroughly r@pe the W8 Passat.

 

[SyahM]

i dont really like S8, too big for asian guy like me .. S4 is my dream car ... put a bigger turbo and chipped, man, it'll be so much fun having a 400hp AWD car in winter .

 

[ander]

Hot Rod sedans...that's what we all want...straightup.

 

[geno]

Is it available with a standard?

EDIT - by that I mean a real standard, not a boring Tiptronic setup... That's one thing I love about the M5, the 6 speed....

 

[vi edit]

<< Is it available with a standard? >>



Negative ghost rider.

As for me, I'll wait for the new S8 w/ the twin turboed W12 engine

 

[Adul]

<<

<< Is it available with a standard? >>



Negative ghost rider.

As for me, I'll wait for the new S8 w/ the twin turboed W12 engine >>



I wonder what the price tag on that bad boy will be.

 

[geno]

<< As for me, I'll wait for the new S8 w/ the twin turboed W12 engine >>


I think I heard something about that...pretty sick if you ask me... Sign me up for one, I'll have the cash for it in about 15 years

 

[LittleWolf]

Ofcourse a M5 is also quite fabulous, but S8 rules. I just saw one the other day on the road and I was all drooling over my steering wheel...

About putting a W8 in a Passat, you gotta realize, it's just a first step for VW in it's process of moving up the luxury hierarchy. It's kinda a stop-gap model before the VW D1 (Phateon) hits the market next year. Also, the W8 acts like a guinea pig. While the W8 by itself is a cool engine, it is purposely under-rated and also a crappy auto-transmission lets it down. But I gather VW is going to improve the gearing to make it perform much better.

Also the W8 does not compete with the likes of sporty 330 or the S4. It's more as a competition for the 530s, non-sporty E-classe MBs, Jaguar S-type, Infiniti Q, Acura RL etc. More luxury than sport. I am sure in it's next iteration of the Passat, it's gonna really shine. Right now VW is just taking baby steps, so as not to tread on anybody (including Audi) before it gains speed late next year and 2003.


BTW, as a side note the next S4 (slated for next year) is gonna have a V8 putting out maybe some 340+ HP. Gotta cream that new M3.


-j

 

[WickedMotorcar]

Too bad none of you can afford one. I used to have an Audi A4. They're nice but too damn slow. Too bad Audi will always be a step behind BMW and Mercedes.

 

[Mister T]

<< I used to have an Audi A4. They're nice but too damn slow.>>

The 1.8T w/ chip and 5 spd is not slow. It can easily stay with a bmw 330, if not beat it.
And for about 8K less

 

[CraigRT]

I can't believe some people prefer an Audi S8 over a BMW M5... good lord! :Q

 

[WickedMotorcar]

<< << I used to have an Audi A4. They're nice but too damn slow.>>

The 1.8T w/ chip and 5 spd is not slow. It can easily stay with a bmw 330, if not beat it.
And for about 8K less >>



Believe me, it's still slow with the chip. I'm used to 400 hp cars and my Audi was like driving a barbie power wheel.

 

[Flat]

<< i dont really like S8, too big for asian guy like me .. S4 is my dream car ... put a bigger turbo and chipped, man, it'll be so much fun having a 400hp AWD car in winter . >>



haha no bigger turbos!!! unless of course you want uber turbo lag, like the old Quattro

 

[Flat]

<<

<< << I used to have an Audi A4. They're nice but too damn slow.>>

The 1.8T w/ chip and 5 spd is not slow. It can easily stay with a bmw 330, if not beat it.
And for about 8K less >>



Believe me, it's still slow with the chip. I'm used to 400 hp cars and my Audi was like driving a barbie power wheel. >>



Chipped A4s run easy 4.8s-5.0 to 60. Very impressive. They smoke my 390hp Tuscan up to about 40mph. And unless your 400hp cars are AWD they will have an extremly hard time keeping up with the Audi on slick tracks, or certain corners where exit speed is everything.

 

[GT578]

S8 is more 7-series size than M5 size....but I guess they compare since the price is similar...
S8 looks mean in real life......intimidating.....especially when you see it on the highway....M5 looks nice too....especially the fenders flaring out and the big wheels......I like them both!~

 

[BigSmooth]

<< They smoke my 390hp Tuscan up to about 40mph. >>


Cool, you drive a Tuscan S? Do you know if TVR is planning on distributing their cars in the US anytime soon?

 

[Flat]

<<

<< They smoke my 390hp Tuscan up to about 40mph. >>


Cool, you drive a Tuscan S? Do you know if TVR is planning on distributing their cars in the US anytime soon? >>



Yes, well I try to drive it, its a beast.

As far as I know TVR is planning on coming to the US. TVR is the greatest, making cars faster than Ferrari for the same money as a plasticky Corvette

 

[Mister T]

<<Chipped A4s run easy 4.8s-5.0 to 60>>

maybe you mean to say chipped S4.....

A chipped A4 will get you to about 6 seconds on a 0-60, while a chipped S4 can pull a low 5.

 

[RedRooster]

Sweet S8! That's always been my favorite Audi model since I saw the S8 in Ronin as well.

 

[Flat]

<< <<Chipped A4s run easy 4.8s-5.0 to 60>>

maybe you mean to say chipped S4.....

A chipped A4 will get you to about 6 seconds on a 0-60, while a chipped S4 can pull a low 5. >>



no... A stock S4 will run 5.0-5.5, I should know, I owned one for 2 years. A chipped S4 will run 4.4-4.8, a chipped RS4 will run 4.0-4.5

The only difference between a chipped A4 and S4 is the A4 has much more turbo lag. thats about it.

 

[Noriaki]

BMW is great, all props to them....the Inline 6 3.2L in the M3 is insanely fast...and the 400HP in the M5 is a likewise impressive engine...

But for me, you just can't beat Audi. They are fantastic. I love the sleeper look, and no one suspects the Audi Even if they aren't quite as fast as the BMWs...but hey the AWD makes up for that in my books.

And I dunno about Audi's being slow...get out the GT series races sometime...there is a little Red&Silver Audi S4 that runs around the track slapping those silly little Porsches and "Bimmers" around like they were Civics with Bumble-bee exhausts

Now that's not quite an S4 you can drive, but those Porsches aren't quite Porsches you can drive either



Too bad I can't drive But if I could I'd be trying to get my hands on some sort of newer Audi...love 'em.

 

[LAUST]

<< no... A stock S4 will run 5.0-5.5, I should know, I owned one for 2 years. A chipped S4 will run 4.4-4.8, a chipped RS4 will run 4.0-4.5 >>


If they are AWD whats the broad range for? I can get RWD to hook up good enough to keep my entire 1/4 time within .1 sec :/ Hmmm