2007 Audi S8 Review

Audi S8 – Review: Pronounce the name of Audi’s flagship sport sedan as one word, “sate,” and the resulting utterance is a verb meaning to “satisfy a desire or appetite to the full.” With ten cylinders of Italian-sourced power – yep, the V-10 in this car is essentially the same engine found in the Lamborghini Gallardo but tuned differently – combined with handling upgrades, a sumptuous cabin and plenty of gadgets, it stands to reason that the Audi S8 would more than sate just about anyone lusting for performance, luxury and technology. We didn’t quite get our fill, but only because we had to give the keys back.

What We Drove

Audi loaned us a $110,170 version of the S8, and that sum included a $1,700 gas guzzler charge and a $720 destination fee. Painted Daytona Gray Pearl Effect, our car added to the $92,000 base price a wonderful Bang & Olufsen audio system ($6,300); a leather appointment upgrade that coated the dash with stitched hides ($4,900); and a Premium Package with features like keyless ignition and locking, heated rear seats, an advanced parking system, a power rear sunshade, and power assists for the trunk and doors ($3,500). We also had Sirius satellite radio ($550) and carbon fiber trim ($500). We spent a week driving the Audi S8 on the highways and byways of the Los Angeles area.

Performance

Great expectations frequently lead to dissatisfying realities, and so it is with the Audi S8’s 5.2-liter, 450-horsepower V-10 engine. We knew it was a gas guzzler, and it proved so with an average of 13.9 mpg during a week of spirited driving, but in return we expected the S8 to accelerate in a decidedly quicker fashion than the A8 4.2 we drove a few weeks prior. By the seats of our pants, it did not. The 6-speed Tiptronic transmission usually behaved itself, but sometimes during city driving delivered a bigger dose of off-the-line power than requested. During hard driving on back roads, manual shifting produced fast gear changes using the selector or paddles mounted to the steering wheel.

Handling

When it comes to outright handling capability, Audi has cured what ailed the A8 upon which the S8 is based, and this large luxo-sedan is now an official thrill to drive once it has broken free of urban gridlock. The brakes are flawless, grip is extraordinary, and the Servotronic steering provides added feel and feedback. The adjustable suspension offers varying levels of stiffness, with “comfort” best for normal driving and “dynamic” suited more for twisty two-lane roads. If there’s a flaw here, it lay with the occasional shudder coming up through the steering column when slamming around a tight turn. Based on our evaluations, the Audi S8 is the enthusiast’s car of choice in the super luxury class.

Visibility

Since the Audi S8’s rear headrests don’t collapse or nest into the rear seatbacks, and because the side mirrors are on the small side for such a large car, outward visibility is not as good as it should be. Our test car had Audi’s advanced parking system, a rear-mounted camera that shows what’s behind the S8 as well as trajectory lines displaying the path the car will take, and this helped immensely when parking and reversing. Bi-xenon adaptive headlights also improve visibility by illuminating corners when negotiating turns after dark.

Fun to Drive

In the city, the Audi S8 can behave in a brusque fashion, lurching from lights with enough speed to snap your neck and coming to unexpectedly abrupt stops. The car is a bit difficult to drive smoothly, and in urban elements we prefer its more docile fraternal twin, the A8 4.2. At speed in the countryside, however, the S8 is right at home, a thrill to drive hard and fast, unflappable and composed at all times, a serious speed machine that loves to have a good time. Yeah, the S8 is definitely fun to drive in the right surroundings.

Front Comfort

Comfort is king in the Audi S8’s excellent front seats. They offer 16-way power adjustment to ensure custom tailoring to a wide variety of body sizes and types, as well as multi-stage heating and optional cooling. However, heating and cooling is hard to operate without referencing the owner’s manual at least once. Other comfort features include a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel with available heating, an optional seat massage feature, and height adjustable center armrests. Larger seat bolsters can hamper entry and exit, so reconsider if your S8 purchase is more about impressing others and less about daily comfort.

Rear Comfort

Audi bases the S8 on the regular wheelbase version of the A8, and while foot room is plentiful, leg space is almost snug for a car this size. Hard seatbacks with bulging storage pockets don’t help matters, especially when entering or exiting. Plus, the bottom cushion is too low and flat while the backrest is too reclined. The S8 does, however, contain better bolstering than the A8 to keep passengers properly placed during enthusiastic driving. Nevertheless, despite rear seat heaters, rear and side window shades, and a large center armrest, the S8’s rear seat is not particularly hospitable.

Interior Noise

At speed on the highway, there’s a hint of wind noise and the occasional of pavement from under the tires. While neither is intrusive, the Audi S8 is not as utterly silent as one might expect. Open the sunroof and interior noise obviously increases, but the S8 arcs through the atmosphere cleanly enough that the opening in the roof creates little turbulence in the cabin. In any case, it’s easy to fully immerse oneself in the rich sound emanating from the outstanding Bang & Olufsen audio components.

Loading Cargo

The Audi S8 is equipped with a commodious 14.6 cu.-ft. cargo area, usefully shaped and complete with a power opening and closing lid. The trunk floor has an odd recess with a lip that makes it hard to stow roll-away bags, but a low liftover height and large opening help make loading easier. Audi includes an almost full-size spare (255/45R18) under the nicely finished compartment, and there’s a pass-through to the cabin for longer items. Closing the lid is easy thanks to a button that powers the lid down and latches it shut.

Build Quality

Though we discovered no egregious problems with our Audi S8’s build quality, neither was the car as flawlessly assembled as one might expect in exchange for $110K and change. Inside, the MMI screen cover and glove box door displayed minor gap inconsistencies and the rear headliner exhibited sloppy fit at the edges. Outside we discovered disparities in door fit through variable gaps and minor issues with regard to lower front fascia, headlamp, and beltline trim fit.