Doink

Howdy guys.

Just picked up my 96 Audi A8 4.2 Quattro as I needed a bigger car for family duties. What do I need to know or do to the car to get the most out of it..

Remap @ AMD..?
Sports suspension set up..?
Exhaust..??

Dont want to turn it into a chav mobile, just airing some ideas.. What do you lot reckon?

Ta
Steve

Cupramax

Fear the fuel consumption... remap is a waste of time, zorst for definate... not sure what the standard suspension is like.

Doink

what are we talking MPG I had heard that is was around 21 combined?

The suspension is very comfy but a tad high and rolls slightly in the bends. The sport model has been lowered 20mm so I was thinking about getting that done.

ta.

Andy M3

21 is a little optimistic unless you avoid the city centre's. Mid to late teens i would say

Pumpkin

my father in law had an A8 with the sport suspension. Was great, the difference between that and standard is very noticable. He replaced the car with an S8 in the end.

cat7

i would imagine, brakes and suspension would be a good place to start.

mrtheedge2u2

I dont think I see that many burberry wearing, scooby drivin chav´s also drivin A8 quattros.....so no fear

AudiLover

it can handle over 1000hp

tony95

the revo remaps on the turbos seem very worthwhile
mates s3 a lot more torque afterwards
is it a na 4.2 or turbo(s)

Doink

What makes you say that, Rather How do you know that..?

NA mate,

and it's fecking quick for a big car.. Feels wweird going so fast in such a big car

I was thinking about the remap more for slightly better fuel economy but I can live with it now so no worries...

I reckon some Wheels like these...


Some brakes like these...


and H&R coilovers along with an Exhaust and that would be just about it..

CrisPDuk

I had a bit of a 'do' against one of these once with my scoob over snake pass I was seriously impressed with it's ability, both on the straight bits and through the twisties

If I hadn't been in a big hurry to get back to Glossop, it would have left me in it's wake

ScoobyDoo555

get yourself over to audi-sport.net

Be careful with the REVO stuff, haven't heard many favourable things..... (just to give you the flipside opinion)

Big brakes and decent suspension are a must. Get yourself over to AMD for a health check they're great from all accounts (sourced @ rs246.com)

Gonna be taking my S4 over there this Summer hopefully

Dan

big MO

Wonder where you gone to Dan!!! Think MRC are a lot closer and well versed with S4.... if you can get them to return your calls and emails. Very busy I hear. Still waiting for my box of goodies and the Ring trip is getting near too!!

ScoobyDoo555

THAT's the otehr lot I was thinking of!!

Been a tad busy (about time I did some work )

You going to the BBQ?

Dan

James Neill

iTrader: (1)

I was almost got one of these recently (S8 though) but went for another scooby instead. I blame going on the Richard Burns memorial relay - how could I not get another scooby

Keep us up to date on how it goes. Might learn something ready for the next time I change my car.

big MO

I should be there with the remap and new Xhorst.

sgcooby

Sorry cant give any advice but i be interested to know how you get on with your A8 as ive seriously considered one several times as second hand it just seems so much car for not a lot of cash. Personally id change the exhaust to really appreciate that V8 noise. Lush.

The Chief

I always though REVO were pretty good - it was the last time i checked which was about a year ago - go on mate spill the beans

ScoobyDoo555

Can't speak from personal experience, as I've only had my Audi a few months (still doing the homework ) but got told a few bad things that made me think of alternatives, MRC in particular.
However, get over to Audi-sport.net and rs246.com

There's a WEALTH of info about it

Dan

Doink

Allright Fellas..

Had the car about three weeks now so It's about time for an update me thinks

Ride/Comfort...

Cant complain in this department, Luxury all the way from the great quality leather seats with have so many adjustments you could spend a week getting comfy.. (I Did)... to the double glazing which shields you from the early morning rush hour madness and lets you just enjoy the drive no matter how busy the roads are.

The stereo is another bonus although it's not the full "Bose Symphony" system it's still pretty good and the double glazing helps keep other noise out so you can relax and chill, or turn up your favourite Classic Euphoria (sp?) track and feel your insides bouncing along...

Transmission...

I thought I would never buy an automatic car for as long as I lived but after spending time with this Audi I dont miss the manual gearbox at all.. The automatic suits the car perfectly and the drive is effortless....

There is a slight hesitation when you put your foot down while it selects how aggressively you want to acclerate based on pedal position but you get used to it and it doesn't really get in the way during normal driving.

However if you really want a spirited drive then Triptonic is the way forward. As you would expect it lets you use more of the rev range and more of the power of the 4.2 V8. In this mode it can be a very quick point to point car in the right hands.. (I'm still getting used to it)

The only thing I would change is the orientation of the box. When changing gear in Triptonic you push the lever forward to go up the box and back towards you to change down. It seems more natural to do it the other way round.

Handling...

This is a big car make no mistake, A whale on the roads compared to most other cars you come across but having said that the handling from the Quattro system is pretty good.

The grip and traction is emmense with all four wheels working together and even if you over-cook it into a corner and you think this tank is never going to turn in, with a flick of your wrists the car darts into the corner and holds it's line and while in the turn you forget how big the car really is which says alot for the handling.

There is some room for improvement and if i was keeping it I would lower and stiffen up the suspension a little and put some bigger wheels on 19/20" as the 18's on it now look tiny.

MPG... Da Da Daarnrn...!!!!

I havn't reset the computer since I bought the car and after three weeks it says i'm averaging 19.6 MPG at an average speed of 24 MPH.

Not bad for a 4.2 Quattro and comparable to my last two cars, STI V-Ltd & and the EVO.

Power/Speed...

The standard figures state that it produces around 300BHP and it does go some when you want to... however it is a very comfortable car and you don't get the same sense of speed as my last two cars although it's not far off there pace in a straight line. There isn't really a kick in the back.. More of a gentle push.

The bottom line is after a few weeks I have gotten used to the power quicky and with such a big car under your right foot I would say that another 100BHP or so wouldn't go a miss. Trouble is there is very little out there to increase to power on these monsters.

Summary...

After three weeks I can honestly say that I now wonder why I bothered with getting a Scooby & an EVO when you can get so much more for similar money.

Yes it doesn't have the same rally bred agility and Rawness but for an everyday car you cant beat it, I really wont consider anything else in the future when I could get another one of these.

Or What I really mean is I am currently saving up to trade this in next year for a newer S8 in black with every extra possible and a set of 19" x 10J BBS Le Man's. Oh yes you will be mine... Oh yes!

Steve

Andy M3

Nice write up - glad you are enjoying it

ScoobyDoo555

Another one who's "seen the light"

Dan (loving his S4)

Brendan Hughes

That'll be this yellow light, then?

Doink

No not again, Not already. It can't of used that much petrol so quick...

Jeff Wiltshire

I've driven the new A8 with the 3l TDi engine and that was very very good...I just prefered the V10 5.2 S6 which I also drove on the same day.

TopBanana

Funny that!

ScoobyDoo555

Nah - got pretty similar MPG to the Scoob (considering it's bigger, faster and heavier )

Audi - the way forward

Dan

Mick

iTrader: (1)

Thanks - interesting write-up - I am tempted

James Neill

iTrader: (1)

Saw an old style ("Ronin") S8 on the motorway yesterday. I was a few cars behind in another lane. Anyway, there was a gap in the fast lane he wanted. But he would have to gain speed quickly to reach it at the right speed.

Wouldn't have thought it could move that quickly - really flew. Like watching a scared elephant bolt