Loonstar Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Hi All, Well, this morning was the first time I have had chance to do a lengthy journey in my A8. I travelled down from Yorkshire to Berkshire, a total of about 220 miles. At motorway speeds, I have averaged a very respectable 27.7mpg!! I am shocked and extremely pleased...It used less than half a tank of fuel as well....is this about right for most people? Really chuffed with it and the journey itself was a pleasure - effortless cruising....wonderful!! A couple of completely unrelated questions though... 1) The airbag warning light has come on, but when you run the check, nothing shows up as being faulty? Do I need to worry? Any common problems known? 2) When setting off in 1st gear the car seems to accelerate normally for about a second then pause/lose power then accelerate normally again...is this anything to do with the drive? 3) Gearbox - whilst it is relatively smooth, there is sometimes some not so sooth gear changes - I won't say shunting, as it's not violent, but it's not that smooth if you kickdown etc Or in fact when changing from park to drive or drive to reverse etc... Is this gearbox on the way out or would a change of fluids help? Have read here that fluid change may help things. Thanks in advance. Jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botang Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 As far as the Gearbox goes a fluid and filter change should sort that out for you Only use the Audi fluid though this is very important Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulW Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Sounds like you have a facelift car which is drive by wire. If you put the gas on from a stop, and the car doesn't go, you have to lift on the gas, then reapply. It's actually when you're not at a stop, but when coming down in speed, then you don't fully stop, then you give it gas again....it's in the programming of the drive by wire....stupid....I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crasher Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 I get similar lumpy changes with my S8 at low revs. However when i floor it for over-taking, or use the sport-mode the changes are seamless. As for ecconomy, i've had my S8 for about 6 weeks now, done close to 4000 in it and am averaging 22.7 ! But then most of my miles are on motorways, where I can happily sit at 85 - 95 for the journey... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loonstar Posted February 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 On point 2) - i checked last night and what is happening is that at lowish rev's it's short shifting straight into 2nd gear. If I sit at the lights and floor it, then it doesn't happen - so I guess it's just changing gear extremely early. Gear fluid and filter change is going to be done - have to wait til next month as I've spent £700 on tyres this month for the wife's Voyager (4 toyo's) and 2 new contisports on the A8... Asked the stealer and they want £500+ for a fluid change...seems very, very steep....could a local garage do this? Or does the gearbox need dropping out etc? Jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlos50 Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 That is very expensive. My local dealer Mill of Sunderland want £140 to do a fluid change. Very reasonable i think.Going to get my S8 booked in soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A8_Tony Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 Jeez Carlos, that's bloody cheap for a fluid change. But make sure you get the filter done as well....daft not to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williama8 Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 120 for a fluid change and 200 if I get the filter changed, that's withHartwell Audi in Birimngham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlos50 Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Yeah same here. I am going to get mine done. Better safe than sorry even though my S8 drives fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A8_Tony Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Do it boys, otherwise you could end up with a gearbox replacement similar to what I've just had to do.....see 'What a Week!!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YiamCross Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 Blimey, I've only seen over 20mpg average briefly when driving real easy down the motorway. Maybe the 3.7 is more economical than the 4.2! So far, over the last few months I've found 17-19 mpg calculated from the mileage and how much fuel I put in, the average on the computer is always 1 or 2 mgp better. Which to believe? I don't drive it hard, either. If I were to drive it like it begs I'd be lucky to see 15 in the brief time I'd have my licence. What the heck, I don't really care. It's just such fun to drive. I haven't looked forward to getting into the car so much since I passed my driving test far too many years ago. In fact I popped out to get something from the boot the other night and ended up driving around for half an hour. To be honest, if I won the lottery I'd just go out and get the best S8 I could find. What more could anyone want from a car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huss Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 Yiamcross That just about sums it up - you're spot on. My finances currently won't allow for an S8 and can't see it changing for a few years yet. However, I've thought about this before. If I could get hold of one of the last S8's - fully loaded and in perfect nick then I really can't think of another car I would truly want. AND that includes exotica! Doesn't stop me looking at Audi UK's website every other week to see if some stealer's caluclator has had an 'off day' and accidentally marked one of the down by £15K! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loonstar Posted March 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 Checked with the local stealer again - 4 hours labour to do a gearbox oil change and filter - £500+ inc. VAT - feckin outrageous...won't be going there...cheeky twats... popped down to Somerset last night from Yorkshire - averaged about 95mph and got 24.5mpg - again - surprised and pleased!! Anyway - thanks for all the advice - I might go to Audi in Birmingham - just cause its so much cheaper. Jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiddy Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 down in somerset? what part? could of popped in for a cuppa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loonstar Posted March 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 I was dropping the wife and kids off in ilchester (nr Yeovil) at her Ma and Pa's. Then I went off this morning to the office in Bracknell! We didn't get there til 11pm last night, so cup of tea might have been out of the question!! We are moving down to that area in the next few months - probably to Gillingham/Mere area - as I am sick of doing 40k miles a year up and down the motorway to Yorkshire and Berkshire. One of the reasons I bought the A8 - need a comfy, decent crusier! And its perfick!! Jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikw Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 Judging by the posts here there seems to be little or no consistency between stealers regarding the cost of a tranny service. I was quoted £380 all in by Bedford (Vindis) Audi, which explicitly included filter, gaskets and a predicted 8 litres of the amber nectar. I suppose I should consider that good value compared to £280 for a glorified engine oil & filter change though. Those of you with facelift cars on variable service intervals should consider yourselves lucky! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crasher Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 I'll consider myself lucky then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyMcC Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Judging by the posts here there seems to be little or no consistency between stealers regarding the cost of a tranny service. [/ QUOTE ] at Bexley Audi but someone else paid £109? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 I think that was me at Parklands Audi; to be fair they didn't charge me for the second bit of ATF in the tranny... SUCKERS That would have been an extra £46 on top still relatively cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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