The Big L: 2008 Audi A8 L
I spotted one of Audi’s big 2nd generation (D3 2002-2009) A8L luxury cruisers in the wild today and I was impressed at how modern it looked. Compared to the competition from Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, or BMW, I think the long wheelbase Audi looks modern and sleek. Perhaps it is because Audi hasn’t changed much in the design language of their executive car in the years since, but whatever the reason I feel like I would enjoy being chauffeured around in one of these. Find this 2008 Audi A8 L offered for $7,500 buy-it-now or make-offer located in West Chester, PA.
From the seller:
Flagship German long-wheelbase sedan for sale! Metallic Blue 2008 Audi A8 L Quattro (AWD) with 116,135 miles. I just inherited this car and drove it from Michigan to the Philadelphia area. It’s an excellent highway cruiser – smooth ride, quiet, and stays glued to the pavement in a straight line at 70 MPH. I don’t need another car so I’m selling it. The vehicle has been in my family since 2012. I believe the previous owner was from Virginia and sold it to us with 39,222 miles on the vehicle.
I would describe the appearance as good, with some cosmetic flaws here and there. I had the Audi dealer near my house look at it and will list the results below. This vehicle is finely engineered and a pleasure to drive. The amount of technology packed into this 14-year-old car is impressive. It would make great luxury sedan for someone who wants to do to some work to it! Make me an offer!
Cosmetic and mechanical items for buyer’s review.
Cosmetic:
Cupholders broken
Sunroof non-operational
Small plastic chevron piece missing from driver’s seat
Bose speaker, driver’s side rear by footwell looks like it was accidently kicked when exiting car
Slight scratch on top of trunk, about an inch or two
Mechanical:
Rear brake pads 4mm
Rear brake hose cracked
Upper control arm bushings torn
Small amount of oil leakage on ground
PS front muffler damage
DS intermittent running light; code on dash
E-brake code on dash
PSF window makes a funny noise; needs window regulator or motor
DSR door doesn’t unlock when hitting the unlock buttonThanks for looking and let me know if you have any questions
See a better way to drive a German battleship? tips@dailyturismo.com
As an owner of a 2006 non-L Audi A8 I am dying to know how much this buyer gets for this car. My KBB value with 125k miles is under $3k. With the list of broken bits on this car it seems overpriced to me but I also hope the seller gets his asking price!
If this car has any issues with the air suspension, do not walk . . . RUN in the opposite direction. Also, just the PART to fix the blinking e-brake light on the dash will cost over $1,000. Because you have to replace the entire rear caliper and finding a good condition used one is becoming exceedingly difficult.
I just switched my entire suspension to coilovers and I don’t have the time or the stomach to post that information to the Audi forums. I did the work myself and it still came in around $1,500. Just the rear air struts would have cost me that in parts and would not have fixed the electrical gremlins that have developed in the air management system.
These things are amazing, but my goodness the complexity that feels over engineered into everything is crazy. We helped a friend do a suspension job and kept looking at each other going: who thought this was a good idea?
A month later the dash just lit up, seemingly every possible fault happened at the same time. The ECU had essentially had enough and just went totally mental. We found one in a junk yard plugged it in and the car was fine for another year or so.
I agree they are good looking and very nice when running, but you couldn’t pay me to take one.
In a positive light – every time we’ve complained about something being overengineered and impossible to maintain – initial FI systems versus carburetors as an example – time has passed and such things have become better understood and easier to maintain as the shared pool of knowledge has grown.
In a negative light – the skill with which Audi packages all their things and the level of techno-doodads packed into their vehicles makes even simple things on other vehicles difficult “to change oil filter, first remove front clip of car”.
I don’t know where we end up here, but I am afraid of used, modern Audis.
The A8 is the only car I’ve ever owned that I don’t change my own oil. Literally requires the removal of the air intake box and the fog light assembly.
There is a certain amount of masochism mixed with grudging wonder that goes in to working on German cars. I believe the A8 has four control arms plus the pneumatic shock tower on the front wheels. But it is (allegedly) smooth as silk at 150 mph so there’s that.
Yup…another case of pregret coming with this car!