Used Vehicle Review: Audi A8, 1997-2003

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Photo Gallery: Audi A8, 1997-2003

Writing about cars is a fun job, assuming of course that you’re doing it because you like cars, and not because it’s what your editor told you to do. For an admitted car nut like me, some of my most memorable times have been those when I’ve driven the kinds of cars most would only be able to daydream about experiencing.

I had a week like that last year, when I had the opportunity to drive an Audi A8L to southern Ontario for a wedding I was invited to. That car was a second-generation A8, and while it’s a gorgeous car, many fans prefer the cleaner lines of the first-gen car.

When the A8 arrived in North America for the first time in 1997 (it had been sold overseas since 1994), it came with a 300-horsepower, 4.2-litre V8, a five-speed automatic transmission and Audi’s ubiquitous Quattro all-wheel drive system. In 2000, power was bumped up to 310 horses.

In 2001, a long-wheelbase version, called the A8L, was added, as was a higher-performance S8, which used a 360-horsepower version of the regular car’s V8.

The A8 was offered in front-wheel drive form with a 3.7-litre V8 that made 230 horsepower, but I couldn’t find any evidence that this one was ever sold in Canada, though it was in the U.S. My suspicion is that the A8’s small sales volume coupled with our smaller market and harsher winters meant it made more sense to only offer the Quattro version here.

1997 Audi A8; photo courtesy SplendidAuto.com. Click image to enlarge

You don’t buy an A8 if low fuel consumption is at the top of your must-have list. However, while city consumption for a 1997 model was a bit thirsty at 14.1 L/100 km, the highway figure of 8.6 L/100 km makes this a great highway cruiser. By 2002, the numbers had morphed to 13.8 L/100 km (city) and 9.8 L/100 km (highway). The S8, by nature of its punchier motor, was the real guzzler, with ratings of 16 L/100 km (city) and about 10 L/100 km (highway).

While German cars have their reliability quirks, it’s especially important to pay attention to what might go wrong in a car like this: big, expensive German cars will generate big, expensive repair bills if you’re not careful. For an idea of what to look out for in a used A8, check out the buyer’s guide at AudiPages.com. Many of the items noted here are pretty standard stuff (look for oil leaks from engine valve covers and cylinder heads and leaky power steering pumps); others are issues common to the A8, like transmission fluid leaks from where the driveshaft attaches to it and leaky rear differential seals. Outer front constant velocity boots often tear on A8s, too.

1997 Audi A8; photo courtesy SplendidAuto.com. Click image to enlarge

Other important stuff to look for is whether the many electrical accessories, like heated seats, steering wheel, electric headrests and power window sunshades, for a few examples, work properly. There’s little point, in my opinion, to buying a luxury car if half the goodies don’t work. Check the buyer’s guide linked above for what to check for. Note the handy checklist that can be printed from the site.

Be aware that no matter how sound a used A8 is when you buy it, having even routine maintenance performed can be expensive, never mind major repairs. If you’re handy and not too proud to get your hands dirty, get familiar with the car’s mechanicals and at least do the simple stuff yourself; this will save you a chunk of change over the time you own the car.

1997 Audi A8; photo courtesy SplendidAuto.com. Click image to enlarge

The A8’s crash safety ratings are excellent: in front impact tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the big car scored five stars for driver and front passenger protection. That organization didn’t conduct side impact tests, but all A8s were equipped with side airbags. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has never crash tested an A8.

The interesting thing about big, over-the-top cars like the A8 is that despite their high price-tags when new, their resale values tend to tank in their first few years on the road. So, while you could have bought a $23,000 Honda Accord in 2002 with the expectation of getting almost half of that back five years down the road, a 2002 A8 or S8 is now worth about a third of what it cost new. Used values top out at $38,225 for a 2002 A8L, while an S8 is worth $42,825, according to Canadian Red Book. A 1997 model is worth about $8,000, which seems ludicrous for a car as nice as the A8.

1997 Audi A8; photo courtesy SplendidAuto.com. Click image to enlarge

I found a 2001 A8 listed on AutoTrader.ca with about 85,000 km on the clock. While there was no asking price listed, Canadian Red Book suggests $19,000 as a reasonable sum for a nice example like this one. That’s a screaming deal for a car with this kind of luxury and athletic ability. As the buyer’s guide at AudiPages.com suggests, get any prospective purchase checked thoroughly by an independent mechanic who knows these cars inside and out; they’re complicated and require more know-how than the average car does. If you find a car that checks out and are prepared for the car’s quirks and the financial hit that repairs will incur, a used A8 will bring you loads of driving pleasure.

Special thanks to Robert Voytcheff of SplendidAuto.com in New Westminster, B.C. for supplying the photos used in this article.

1997: The discharge of static electricity under low humidity conditions could activate the driver side air bag when the driver enters or exits the vehicle and forms an electrical short circuit by touching certain areas of the steering wheel. Activation of the air bag under these conditions could cause injury. Correction: a ground wire will be installed on affected vehicles.

Transport Canada Recall Number: 1999195; Units affected: 4,900 (includes other models)

1998-1999: On certain vehicles, the steering assembly tie rod seals do not seal properly. If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel bearing may wear over time to a point where the steering begins to feel “loose” and could diminish the steering control of the vehicle with the potential for a vehicle crash. Correction: Tie rods will be replaced on affected vehicles.

Transport Canada Recall Number: 2002104; Units affected: 2,853 (includes other models)

1999: On certain vehicles the tie rods of the steering assembly may be inadequately sealed to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mechanism. If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel bearing could wear over time diminishing the steering control of the vehicle. Correction: Dealers will replace the tie rods.

Transport Canada Recall Number: 2002101; Units affected: 75

2000-2001: Certain vehicles equipped with a fuel and vapour leak detection system. A “blind cover” at the filler neck of the fuel tank may not seal properly allowing fuel vapour to escape. Should this happen, the fuel tank pressure will be reduced, which will activate the leak detection system and alert the driver of a system’s fault indicated by an instrument panel light. Fuel vapours in the immediate vicinity of an ignition source could result in a fire. Correction: Dealers will replace the fuel filler neck/expansion tank assembly.

Used vehicle prices vary depending on factors such as general condition, odometer reading, usage history and options fitted. Always have a used vehicle checked by an experienced auto technician before you buy.

For information on recalls, see Transport Canada’s web-site, www.tc.gc.ca, or the U.S. National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA)web-site, www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

For information on vehicle service bulletins issued by the manufacturer, visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

For information on consumer complaints about specific models, see www.lemonaidcars.com.