carlos50 Posted January 8, 2005 Report Share Posted January 8, 2005 Hi i am new to the forum and i need some help choosing my A8. i WANT TO KNOW IF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 3.7 & 4.2 QS is all that much as i have the chance of a nice 3.7 but there are no good 4.2 at the moment. Please help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted January 8, 2005 Report Share Posted January 8, 2005 I have a damn fine A8 4.2Q Sport for sale. On eBay at the mo! 4.2 is 4 wheel drive, and fuel wise, the 4.2 does not use any more fuel (in real terms) There is a previous post about these differences. Go for the 4.2 Q Sport - you WILL not regret it (lowered suspension, 18" allys, sports wheel, electric Recaro front seats. Check out my gallery album! Cruisers A8 Later in the models life, ALL engine sizes got the Quattro set-up. Just beware, BEFORE going to see an early 3.7 if the geezer says it is a Quattro.............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted January 8, 2005 Report Share Posted January 8, 2005 Could quite fancy one of these myself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A8Mark Posted January 8, 2005 Report Share Posted January 8, 2005 I never driven a 3.7 so i cant really help out on that score,but i own a 4.2q sport and the feeling in the A8/S8 forum imo is the 4.2q sport is always the one to go for! Good luck with your search. And welcome to TSN... Mark... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlos50 Posted January 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2005 The 4.2 Q S is my prefered choice but the only dark coloured one i can find has 143k on the clock.It does have Audi history do you think the milage will be a concern. The dealer is asking 7k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted January 8, 2005 Report Share Posted January 8, 2005 143K miles. Should not be a concern. Miy 1997 A8 4.2 QS has 200K on it. Mostly motorway miles. I shy away from low mileage cars - it has never been used properly! A big lazy engine like the 4.2 - miles are no problem! Service history is good. Cam-belt (plus oil pump/water pump whilst in there) need doing every 80K (£600 at Audi dealer) Make sure you get them to do a gearbox fluid service. This is MOST IMPORTANT!!! AND get the lower front suspension checked out by Audi (recall notice - dependant upon cars age) What age is it? Any additional options? Colour? There are plenty out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted January 8, 2005 Report Share Posted January 8, 2005 Hi Carlos50! Welcome aboard the good ship TSN Funnily enough, my wife had a lay in this morning and when she got a lazy a$$ out of bed, came doiwn stairs and said "I dreampt you sold the car" I have a 3.7Ltr Sport I'm am a petrol-head and as such would say get a 4.2 Sport (I know, my mistake). the only real fuel difference would be stuck in traffic, but generally, there as evens that the extra grunt would easily out way the fuel consumption. With the Sport you get ab/fab Recaro's bigger wheels lower/stiffer suspension. To test whether you are in a front wheel drive (fwd) or 4wd, look for the "ASR" button top row of switches centre consol and press it ("ASR" light will come on in the dash). Put steering on full look and gas it hard. I would imagine that in a 4wd you'll get no wheel-spin (is that right you 4wd guys? ). In my fwd you wheel spin up to about 50mph So here it is - you go get a 4.2 Sport and stop your messing about, ya'hear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YiamCross Posted January 9, 2005 Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 I looked long and hard at lots of vehicles. I'm not sure if there are any 3.7 sports out there but all those I have seen had 17" rims & no electric seats. I had assumed they were quattro, believing it was only the 2.8s which were front wheel drive but have since discovered this is not the case. If it's 4x4 it will say quattro on it (and it will have a rear diff!!)I don't have as "ASR" button on the dash, I guess my 4.2 QS must be too old, but I'm sure any seller would prefer you to just look at the rear axle rather than try to light up his tyres! I'm sure there must be lots of happy 3.7 drivers out there but maybe the most important difference will be when it comes time to sell. If the world believes the 4.2 QS is the one to have, that's the one everyone will want to buy. Good luck and be patient, the right one will come along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlos50 Posted January 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 I have a choice of a 97 4.2 Q S in Ming Blue with cream leather. Not too sure it has may additional extras above the already nice spec. The car has covered 143k with audi history (doesnt have service book but does have receipts. Belts done at 85k. The car is on nice condition for its age / mileage. The dealer is asking £7k i will offer £6.5k. Is this a good buy ?. The other choices are a 2000 W 3.7 Q S again Ming Blue 88k milkes full documented Audi history. It hasd rear & side blinds, telephone & bose. The dealer wants £11K. My last thoughts were a 98 S8 in silver with 56k genuine documented miles with full Audi history. It has full S8 spec and the dealer wants £13k or a black one with 116k miles and full Audi history. Loads of bills but had a new gear box ( scary thought ). this is £13k also. What do you guys think. I would have bought the silver S8 but not keen on light colours. I think dark A8,s look beautiful. Whichever one i choose i am thinking of putting 19" RS6 wheels on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted January 9, 2005 Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 Hi, I am not too sure, BUT I think the 3.7 of that yr, will have the 40 valve engine (5 per cyl) - and should be a facelift model. (Bigger headlamps with integrated indicators, Xenon???, updated dashboard and fascia) A few more differences too. Tony (ttandka) might be able to help here...... The 97 4.2Q S is slightly over-priced (IMHO) especially with no book - but just reciepts - check they match the car!!! Are both the S8's pre-facelift (does not matter), then they will have 340 BHP!!!! Dealers can charge what they want for the S's Check the gearbox is NEW and not a recon one at that price..... The other A8 is very low mileage for a 1998 car - must have been either a weekend car or wheeled in/out of the chaps garage for washing/polishing! IS the 13K S8a newer one? If it is a post facelift, then you will have 360 BHP and 5 valves per cyl too! Colour wise - the only colour I do not like the 8's in is silver. I think it spoils the shape by hiding the fine lines.......IMO!!! Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlos50 Posted January 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 Both S8,s are pre facelift cars with 340 bhp. The 3.7 is indeed the facelift car with the 40V engine. Thats the reason i am considering this car (new interior / exterior ).I dont feel confident about the 97 4.2 Q S so might leave that one alone. I agree silver A8 looks no where near as good as dark colours. Balck is the ultimate and you guys who have them are lucky f****rs. I have just test drove a 51 plate S8 in black with RS6 wheels ( my dream car ) but its £24k. Maybe is should just go for that one. 2001 S8 Ebony Black, Sat Nav, Phone, Blinds, Bose , 52k miles FASH. mmmmm. But i cant help thinking at £11K the facelift 3.7 Q S with same spec minus sat nav will give me just as much pleasure for a lot less money. Wheels can be added later. I probably wouldnt use the full performance of the S8 anyway. I read on the forum somewhere that the 3.7 Q S has 300 bhp, i thought 260 was correct. Decisions, decisions !!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted January 9, 2005 Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 260 Strong German Horses. I think the Pre-facelift ones had 250 of 'em. The original A8 4.2 had 300 Horses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted January 9, 2005 Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 The W reg 3.7 will be 4wd I am sure (only did fwd 3.7 for a short time). £7k-£24k is a very big difference? The S8 doesnt feel fast, if you can afford one, get on with it man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulW Posted January 9, 2005 Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 If you haven't see it already, check out the used buyer's guide on audipages.com.....get a 4.2, you'll never regret it!!! http://www.audipages.com/usedA8.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlos50 Posted January 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 I would love to get a 4.2 Q S but there isnt one that suits ie spec,colour,mieage and availability.Every car that made an enquiry about has been sold. £24k for the S8 is a lot. Yes i can afford to buy it but i just cant help think that £11k for the 2000 3.7 40V Q S is a much better buy. I am still stalling on this car because i want a 4.2 Q S like you guys recommend but there isnt a facelift one on Autotrader at all. I need a new car very soon and the A8 is my choice above an S class Merc.I havent driven the 3.7 yet so i dont know how it will compare to the S8 that i have driven.I like the smooth acceleration and comfortable drive as much as the performance. Would the 3.7 Q S offer the same smooth drive but with a bit less oomph ?.I didnt know if a re map of the ECU and a K&N filter might let the 3.7 perform better. I have read some 0-60 times from official technical data and from this forum. There is a difference. S8 is 6.6 according to Audi but early 5 seconds here. I am hoping that the quoted 8 seconds for the 3.7 Q S is actually a lot quicker. Can anybody advise on this. If it it quicker it could make my mind up about the 3.7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 Sorry for questioning you, but the 0-60 time is NOT that important, unless you are drag racing. More important is the rolling start time ie, 30-50, 60-90 etc. This is where the 4wd and V8 with plenty of torque come into it. The S8 engine is a COMPLETELY different engine to the 'lesser' V8's in other models. The 3.7 will be good, the 4.2 better, the S8 phenomonal! I don't think you will regret the 3.7, but you will alsways wonder 'what if'. If the 3.7 is the Quattro, then you won't loose too much in performance compared to the 4.2. (260Bhp - 310 Bhp). You can chip it/filter it/exhaust it and tune it, but from what I have heard Audi engines are already well set-up. Find a 3.7 and drive it, see what you think. Debadged, people won't know if it is a 2.8/3.7 or 4.2 anyway. As I have said before - DO NOT WORRY ABOUT MILEAGE - common 2ndhand car phalaccy - 'Oh no, my car will blow up at 100K miles, arrggghhhhhh!!' If you are going to put many miles on a car - DO NOT GET A LOW MILEAGE ONE! It won't know what has hit it! The same works vice versa. My old man used to drive a brnad new Golf GTi (J-reg last of the classic shape). He put 110K miles on it before he retired. Mum and dad then used to potter around town in it and done a major trip every now and then - things started to go wrong with it then. Hope this helps a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlos50 Posted January 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 Thanks yes that does help. I know 0-60 times are not really important it was the only way i could assess the performance comparison of each car.I have already found a nice 3.7 Q S facelift 40V car 2000 year with 88k miles full Audi history etc etc.I havent drven it yet though. I probably did the wrong thing in driving a facelift S8 first. I can get a pre facelift 97 year 4.2 Q S with 143k miles and Audi history.From the pictures it looks in nice condition.I am tempted to go and look at this car now from what you have said.Im beginning to think either 3.7 or 4.2 will be a very nice car but the facelift 3.7 with the 40V engine will be nicer.Thanks for your advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulW Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 I think you would be hard pressed to find any car on the road faster than a facelift S8. In all the time I've owned my A8, I've raced about 10 people at lights.....and I think I won every time! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlos50 Posted January 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 The 2001 S8 i drove was amazing i loved every second and considering i am trading a 996 Porsche that is a good sign.The S8 just went and went. It was so smooth i had a grin from ear to ear the minute i got in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlos50 Posted January 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2005 Hi Guys. I think i will go for the 2000 3.7 Q S for £11k. the car has a phone fitted but its not a factory fit option, does anybody know if i could get the factory phone put into the arm rest or fit the after market one into the arm rest as if it was a factory option. I would also like to fit Sat Nav Plus. Is this possible ?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted January 12, 2005 Report Share Posted January 12, 2005 www.audipages.com is always you first port of call! Good luck, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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