The Audi S8 is the best sedan I have ever driven. And I am astounded.
Maybe I shouldn’t be, a lot of people love Audi, I just haven’t been one of them. Having lived in interesting times with an old Fox, I have some irrational prejudices against the marque.
Full disclosure; past comments about Audi have included slams against styling (body looks like it was lifted from last years Mercedes line-up), interior design (awkward, clumsy and easily bruised) and power (too-little-too-late turbo).
While I bow to Audi’s superior all-wheel drive engineering, even that system results in a subtle but constant nagging steering wheel vibration.
Whatever – All that is so yesterday. Today I am totally in love.
The normally aspirated 10-cylinder Lamborghini Gallardo engine doesn’t roar, too sophisticated. The car gets you to where you were planning on going before you decided to get there, with 450 hp, 398 lb-ft of torque I was moved like digital information.
Extraordinarily smooth shifts through the automatic transmission are so refined I had to verify the S8 is not equipped the twin-clutch DSG system.
And the interior! Ergonomic heaven, everything is in its best place. The driver’s seat is so comfortable I thought it may be no good for a full size adult. Checking in with John, he confirmed that his 6’3” frame fit just as beautifully. Driving in varying traffic conditions for over three hours from the burg to the village to the city and back didn’t even begin to work my body.
I particularly love the extra thigh support, an old knee injury normally aggravating after a couple of minutes in stop and go traffic never even checked in. And the leather didn’t fall apart under the stress of fashionably adorned denim.
The leather steering-wheel finished with subtle contrast stitching looks good and feels better. An expanse of warm wood the dash is clean and reassuring with classic chrome gauge bezels. And everything that isn’t covered in leather is covered in a yummy sueded fabric.
Dear S8, thanks for the memories. All my love, H
