Used Audi A8 1994 - 2002 review

What's the used Audi A8 like?

The Audi A8 was offered with three engines – 2.8, 3.7 and 4.2 – and each of these is fantastically smooth and unflustered at high speeds.

The interior is luxurious, with plenty of leg and head room, and if you opt for a post-1999 model, there's the option of a further five inches of rear legroom in long-wheelbase versions.

Overview

It's a luxury car for those with no ego to stroke. Build quality is always a strong point

Pros

• Good build quality, acres of cabin space and stunning performance

Cons

• The Audi is badge too understated for the 'luxury' sector
• Steering is imprecise, too

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There are also Sport variants, with stiffer suspension, bigger alloys wheels and electric seats.

Don't compromise on your expectations: the excellent build quality means high milers should still be in pretty good condition inside and out.

There were numerous updates during the car's life, including a 19bhp upgrade and the addition of side airbags for the 2.8 Sport in 1996.

In 1999, reworked headlamp units, a reshaped bumper, a restyled radiator grille and improved suspension were introduced.

The 4.2 quattro models also included a five-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

Our recommendations

Which used Audi A8 should I buy?

The Sport models are extremely desirable, and worth the extra if you really are after total pampering. If you don't fancy paying this premium and are happy to 'rough it', you could plump for the basic 3.7-litre quattro. It has enough grunt and is plenty smooth enough.

The 4.2 Sport is more hairy, accelerating from 0-60mph in 6.9sec and with a top speed of 155mph, which gives you more of an engaging driving experience to go with all that refinement.

Compared to these two, the 2.8-litre is something of a let-down, though. Its V6 engine produces just 173bhp, and it has front- rather than four-wheel drive. All this is very disappointing in what is supposed to be a top-quality vehicle. If you can, pay a little extra for the 4.2 quattro, with its permanent four-wheel-drive system.

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