docbob

I have ordered a 2007 Audi S8 but have been put off by the high lease rate almost $2300/mo. and low residual value. I'm looking at other options: Audi A8 Sportline $1400/mo. vs BMW 550i Sport $1200/mo. Has anyone else compared these vehicles? I am aware there is a difference i.e. 2 vs 4 wheel drive and I will have to buy snow tires, but even with these costs, it still comes out a lot cheaper.

A8inPA

i have an 05 swb A8 and i just test drove an 07 550i sport on monday afternoon. this was my second test drive of this particular car. i really tried to like this car and i could have got a killer deal but in the end thumbs down. the car drives great and is very quick. the exterior design has grown on me but the interior is still very cheap in appearance. audi interiors are much more attractive and user friendly. plus the overall materials used seem to be of higher quality in the Audi. my vote is for the A8. it is a beautifully crafted automobile inside and out.

Acceler8

If saving a buck is your primary concern, I have a hyundai dealer friend who will make you a great deal. Great gas mileage, great warranty, cheap, it cant be beat.

S8>A8>550

jago1

with the audi A8 swb you are getting better than 7 series value for a little more than 5 series pricing.
i came to same conclusion versus MB.

Inocent Bystndr

BMW is running some amazing lease deals on the 5 series inluding the 550i right now. I think it is a .00150 mf with a 59% residual right now; much better than the numbers for an A8 (or an A6 for that matter which has a 52% residual!).

Other than MSRP (550i v. A8s) this is an apples and oranges comparison. The A8 is much more car than the 550i in every way other than flat out speed.

If you want the least expensive alternative and the fastest of the 2 (not counting the S8 since that is many more $$) then get the Bimmer. It's no slouch to be sure, just not in the same overall class as the A8, imo.

Arkay

I wanted to order an S8 to replace the A8L but the lease numbers were horrendous and while I could have gotten into a new A8L for reasonable lease terms, I was pretty set on something new, so chose a Mercedes-Benz S550 for a 39 months lease.

Given your list, I'd take the A8 Sportline over the BMW 550i Sport. I wanted to consider a BMW 750Li but after borrowing my parents' 2006 model for 4 days, decided I hated the iDrive enough to give the car a thumbs down.

The BMW still drives like a BMW but the iDrive was terribly designed in terms of its user interface; I'm pretty technology savvy and if the benefit outweighed the quirks, I would overlook the iDrive's foibles - they were too huge to ignore. The MMI is a far better implementation and I would rank it ahead of Mercedes' COMAND as found on the new S-class.

As for RWD cars, I don't mind them in winter and have never had any problems driving them in wintry weeather. I live in the northeast and used to live in Toronto so winter driving is just a fact of life for 3 months or so a year. I ALWAYS use a set of winter tires during those months, even with the A8L's Quattro setup, and will do so again with the S550.

So it'll come down to the drive you're looking for and if you can live with the iDrive system on a daily basis.

docbob

To any new S8 owners who have switched from an A8: After driving both, is the difference in cars worth the difference in price/cost per month?

'01 S4 Kid

in his defense, 1200 dollars is hardly a buck

hemants

Why compare an A8/S8 to 5 series? What about S6?

docbob

Even @ $80,000, the S6 has significantly higher monthly lease rates and lower residual value compared to the BMW. The S6 is nice, but I don't like the look quite as much as the 550i sport with the M-Aero package($75,000). I do however, like the interior of the S6 better and also the quattro setup is a definite plus. Have you driven the S6? Any opinions are welcome. The weather here in Chicagi precluded my test drive attempt today i.e. the A8 Sportline vs the S6 and S8. I have driven the 550i recently and liked it very much. There wasn't any snow on the ground at the time but I'm sure it would have been scary without snow tires.