redwolf

Hello All,
I am contemplating buying a 2004 Audi A8 with 33K miles. All my research tells me to buy. Should I? Why aren't more A8's sold? I compare favorabley to MB and BMW. Any feedback is appreciated.

Wowdi

...I got rid of it because of the downtime when repairs were needed as well as the lame way Audi typically treats owners of their products.

Since the 2004 was the first year for the D3 A8, the car had more unknowns and the dealers were still learning how to service them. This meant that a one-day service might have had the car down for 3-4 days while the dealer figured out what to do and get the right parts which were almost never in stock. That coupled with the poor customer service (at least with my dealer), and the car ended up not being a good fit. I switched to Lexus.

Jeffscherer

I have a 2004 A8L serial 8170, delivered Oct 23, 2003. I have 61,000 miles and it is the best car I have ever had. I had a MB E-320 4matic (1999) before. This is a much better car. The only trouble I have had is the trunk (auto close feature) but that is fixed now. My plan is to keep it and keep driving indefinitely. It drives well in snow and gets 23MPG in the summer on a trip and 21 in the winter. Stop and go city type driving expect about 17.5 to 18.5 mpg.

totaro

Wow, that was just the opposite in our situation. Lexus offered the *crappy* service with inpersonable and at times rude staff. Wish we could have had our RX aka the Toyota Harrier just serviced at the local Toyota dealership. They have a large service operation and put on a fancy facade but it's pointless if the staff and quality of service is average-sub par.

Wowdi

...given that Lexus corporate requires a certain level of dealer service unlike AOA which leave it up to the individual dealers.

Service was the main reason I switched and I have not been disappointed.

I guess you can had a bad apple even with Lexus although I suspect it is more rare to find a lousy Lexus dealer than a lousy Audi dealer.

slvra8laudi

You should have taken it to Toyota dealership. My 03 LS430 has never seen the Lexus Dealership. All the parts are stocked at Toyota so its not problem and they recently changed the belts and the timing for me. I have just started taking my Audi to Volkswagen to do service as they have more dealerships here in Jacksonville and they are cheaper on the labor and the parts which seems odd to me but its true. They can do everything but the recalls.

greenie

Ditto with a switch to BMW.

ittazvic

They charge outrageous amounts of money for it. I leased an IS300 for my daughter several years ago and the the first service was $460.00 for what was an oil change and a list of check this and check that which was completed so quickly that no loaner was necessary! The only good thing was that after that one time I just went to quick oil change places as no other service was required.

In addition, Lexus interiors, IMHO just seem like gussied up Camrys.

totaro

Indeed. Their prices are absurd. But... it comes with a smile! Whatever...

sislam

lets all get in a room together and fight Lexus Vs Audi then BMW.

Cat fights are hot.