Audi A8 Quattro 2004: The Weekly Driver Review
By James Raia
Value is an integral purchasing factor for many car buyers, and
it's often a simple equation. If a consumer has $2,000, $20,000
or $200,000 to spend on a vehicle, what can they fairly expect
get for their dollars?
But as the price increases into the luxury vehicle category, is
there a point of diminishing returns?
If a consumer has $75,000 to spend on a vehicle, the Audi A8 L
Quattro, for example, do they care if it requires premium fuel?
Do they care in that some consumer guide tests it fell far short
of its touted 17 mph city driving estimates?
Or does the purchaser of the Audi A8 L Quattro prefer to revel in
its extreme quietness, its front and rear seat spaciousness and
comfort and its superior ride quality as the flagship sedan in
Audi's fleet?
If the latter is a priority, then my weekly test drive was as
good as it gets.
A redesign for 2004, the Audi A8 includes a 2.5-inch longer
wheelbase, an inch more leg room and and increase of 20
horsepower to 330 horsepower. The engine remains the same, a 4.2
liters with five valves per cylinder. A 6-speed automatic
transmission with a manual shift gate replaces a 5-speed
automatic. Other changes include optional 18 or 19 inch wheels
instead of standard 17-inch wheels from the previous generation,
and optional heated front and rear seats and steering wheel.
Having not driven an Audi Quattro in its previous edition, I
obviously couldn't make any comparisons. Nonetheless, it was hard
not to be impressed with the vehicle from its platinum beige
pearl exterior and perfectly matched leather beige interior to
its elegantly designed and positioned birch wood trimmings.
In short, the Audi A8 exudes elegance and drives accordingly.
Steering and handling and ride quality were all extraordinary in
city and freeway conditions. It accelerates well and seemingly
commands respect on the road.
The vehicle also has the OnStar emergency contact system and
HomeLink system to remotely engage houselights upon near arrival.
Plus, the Quattro also features the Parktronic system. It
provides a beeping noise when one backs out or enters parking
spaces. The feature seemingly was engaged whether anything was in
front or behind the car.
But with a base price of $68,500, a vehicle should have a lot
more to offer, and the Audi does. The standard feature list is
long, not the least of which ia permanent all-wheel drive, 16-way
front seats and eight airbags, powerglass sunroof (tilt and
glass) and a 12-speaker sound system.
But my vehicle also included various options that added nearly
another $6,000 to the price. Those features included the
aforementioned 19-inch wheels ($1,900), a Launch Convenience
Package (electronic rear sunshade, rear vanity mirrors and tire
pressure monitoring system, $1,200) and Cold Weather Package
(heated front and rear seats, ski rack and heated steering wheel,
$1,100). Two other options and a destination charge brought the
car's price to slightly more than $75,000.
A buyer interested in purchasing two vehicles, could do well
while spending $75,000 or even considerably less. But as the
adage goes, if money is not an object, the Audi A8 L Quattro is a
fine luxury car with little, if anything, not first-rate.
2004 Audi A8 Quattro
Safety features -- Driver and front-seat passenger front-seat
airbags; Two rear-seat mounted side airbags, two front knee
airbags, headlight washer system, front and rear fog lights.
Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 17 (city), 24 mpg (highway).
Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 4 years/50,000 miles; Corrosion, 12
years/unlimited miles; Roadside assistance, 4 years/ 50,000
miles.
Base price -- $68,500.
James Raia is a Sacramento, Calif., journalist who writes about
sports, travel and lifestyle topics as well as the automotive
column, The Weekly Driver Review.
Samples of Raia's writing can be viewed on his web site:
www.ByJamesRaia.com . His car reviews
and newsletters can be
viewed at The Weekly Driver, Endurance Sports News and Tour de
France Times
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