If you’re shopping for a new car, and you have a budget of close to $30,000, you have a couple of choices. Either you can buy something new and mainstream, like a Honda Accord, or you can take a bit of a risk and get yourself a slightly used ultra-luxury sedan.
While there are a number of factors that you should consider when making this choice, such as reliability and maintenance costs, you can definitely make your dollars work for you on the used market. For the price of a new basic sedan, you can net one of the most opulent sedans to have ever hit the market.
Taking a dive into the used market, we have found one such example of a full-size luxury sedan that has depreciated to a point where it costs less than a new Honda Accord. We explore how much you’ll end up paying for this high-end sedan, what kind of features you can expect it to have, and what engine lies beneath the hood.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Audi websites and other authoritative sources, including CarEdges, RepairPal, J.D. Power, Cars.com, Edmunds, and TopSpeed. Average used pricing was sourced from Edmunds.
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A 2018 Audi A8 Offers Modern Luxury at a Fraction of the Cost
Compared to its rivals in the luxury full-size sedan segment, the A8 has always been criminally underrated and much less popular. Thanks to it not being particularly popular and the steep depreciation we generally see on large luxury vehicles, you can pick up a 2018 Audi A8 at a ridiculous bargain. In fact, it is even more affordable than buying a brand-new Accord.
Average Used Price
|
Model |
Average Used Price |
|---|---|
|
Base V-6 |
$23,055 |
|
Sport V-8 |
$29,647 |
The average used price of a 2018 Audi A8 currently sits at $25,527. This is beyond a bargain for a full-size luxury car. There are a number of reasons for the A8 being so affordable on the used market, starting with aggressive depreciation. Large luxury cars depreciate at an absurd rate, as does any car wearing an Audi badge. CarEdge estimates that when bought new an A8 will lose 47 percent of its value in its first five years on the road.
Another factor to consider is that the 2018 model is from the previous generation of the sedan. The 2019 model year was the start of the current generation and comes equipped with more modern technology, making it a slightly more attractive option. However, the 2018 model still comes fitted with plenty of features and modern amenities, and it’s certainly worth the drop in price. A 2019 A8 goes for an average price of $33,377, close to $7,000 more than the 2018 model. When new, the 2018 Audi A8 had a starting MSRP of $83,475.
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Past Owners Love the A8 and Applaud Its Reliability
Front 3/4 shot of a 2018 Audi A8
As a brand, Audi is not known for offering particularly good levels of reliability. However, the best way to understand a car’s reliability is to look at the reviews of owners. In this regard, the Audi A8 passes with flying colors. It is rated exceptionally high in just about every area and finding an owner that had a bad thing to say about this full-size sedan was difficult.
Owner Testimonials
This is a remarkable vehicle in all aspects, from beauty to reliability. The comfort and softness of the ride is out of this world. This is a magnificent driving machine.
When looking at owner reviews of the 2018 model year in particular, it is hard to find a negative review. Owners had nothing but positive things to say about the car’s looks, ride quality, and interior comfort. Many refer specifically to the reliability of the sedan, claiming that they haven’t come across any major issues. The 2018 model year received 4.8 stars out of five for reliability.
Often, it is best to look at the whole generation of the sedan to get a better picture of its long-term reliability, specifically looking for owners who claim high mileages. Looking at all the reviews, from the 2018 model back to the 2011 model, the A8 never received an overall reliability score lower than four stars out of five. This is despite RepairPal claiming the sedan’s reliability to be average.
Common Problems to Look Out For
If you’re buying a second-hand Audi A8, there are a couple of things you should look out for to avoid getting a dud. The most common problems on an A8 are bushings that have deteriorated, oil leaks, and faulty water drains. These issues can be easy to look out for, though. When taking the A8 on a test drive, listen out for creaks or other noises. Audi’s sedan is meant to be particularly quiet, so take note. When looking under the hood, look for any oil where it shouldn’t be.
Audi also issued two recalls for the 2018 Audi A8. One was due to the seal around the engine compartment, which may come loose and contact hot engine components, the other was due to leaky fuel rails. Ensure that the model you are interested in has had these issues seen to.
Maintenance Costs
This is perhaps one of the biggest caveats to buying a used Audi, particularly an A8. While the maintenance costs on this luxury sedan aren’t that much more expensive than the average luxury sedan, you are buying it late into its life, meaning costs are going to be higher. CarEdge estimates that by its seventh year on the road, the A8 should cost around $1,373 to maintain annually. RepairPal estimates a similar number at $1,298.
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The 2018 Audi A8 Features a Downright Opulent Cabin
The executive rear seating in a 2018 Audi A8
The A8 is the German brand’s flagship sedan, meaning that it comes equipped with the finest materials and the best technology. While it may not live up to the latest generation, you get a lot for the money that you pay. If you find a model that has been treated well, it will deliver you a driving experience much better than most of the new cars on the market.
Comfort and Cargo
The interior quality of the Audi A8 is exceptional, with high-quality soft-touch materials covering just about every surface, from the dashboard to the door panels. Premium leather upholstery covers every seat, with all seats having heating and the front seats having a massaging function standard. Four-zone automatic climate control is standard in the A8, as is genuine wood trim and refrigerated compartment.
The A8 used to come with either a short or long wheelbase, but by 2018 only the long wheelbase was on offer. This means that interior space is exceptional, particularly in the rear. Depending on how the original owner specced their A8, the rear seats can either come in bench form or with an executive two-passenger layout that adds another layer of luxury.
Infotainment and Technology
While the 2018 A8 is seven years old, don’t expect its technology to feel totally outdated. It comes fitted with an eight-inch infotainment screen that can be controlled via touch inputs or a mouse-like controller on the center console. The only real downside is that it doesn’t feature Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility, but with built-in navigation and Bluetooth functionality, you don’t really need it.
For audiophiles, the A8 comes standard with a 14-speaker premium Bose sound system, which could be upgraded to a 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen system instead, which includes two speakers in the headliner.
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Choose Between a 333-Horsepower V-6 or a 450-Horsepower V-8
Rear 3/4 action shot of a 2018 Audi A8
When it comes to a premium sedan like this, the cherry on top is usually the powertrain. That is certainly the case with the Audi A8, offering you a choice between two fantastic engines. These refined powertrains both put power down smoothly and offer a level of refinement you wouldn’t be able to find in a new mainstream sedan.
Performance Specifications
|
Engine |
3.0-Liter Supercharged V-6 |
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbocharged V-8 |
|---|---|---|
|
Transmission |
8-Speed Automatic |
8-Speed Automatic |
|
Horsepower |
333 HP |
450 HP |
|
Torque |
325 LB-FT |
444 LB-FT |
|
Driveline |
AWD |
AWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
5.4 Seconds |
5.8 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
155 MPH |
155 MPH |
Regardless of which model you opt for, you get Audi’s signature Quattro all-wheel drive system and a silky automatic transmission. Despite the fact that the V-8 comes with significantly more power, the V-6 only takes 0.4 seconds longer to get up to 60 miles an hour. What the V-8 does have going for it, though, is the absolutely beautiful noise it makes when you put your foot down.
While speed is great, a full-size luxury sedan needs to be comfortable more than anything else. The A8 delivers an exceptional ride, especially when equipped with the optional adaptive air suspension. It is also more agile than you’d expect, able to navigate backroads with confidence. The only negative mark we can give it is for its understeer due to its forward weight bias.
