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Just bought a S/H Audi S8 for £45k which had all the option boxes ticked costing the previous owner a tad over £82K when new last year. 

I traded in a Disco3 HSE and a Jag XKR conv (2001) against the S8 with my logic being that the S8 would give me the best of both worlds..ie 4x4 and performance. However after a week of the S8 I just can't make up my mind whether I have done the right thing???

The S8 drives very well and has plenty of shove when required.........but just seems a bit souless and I wondered if any existing S8 owners feel the same or does love blossom after a period of time??? 

I have always said this is the problem with buying any car.  An extended test drive on any car would be a great idea but there isnt anyone that offers it especially on second hand stuff.

A good idea would be a company that specialised in hiring a range of cars one model from each range.  All the cars would be for sale, so if you hired it and liked it, you could buy it.  Anyone purchasing would get the cost of their hire refunded and the turnover of cars mean that the company could invest in newer and more models.

Wackyjim, I like your honesty - nothing like splashing out 45k and not knowing if you've done the right thing or not.

Give it a while, warm to the ownership and you may grow to love it.

Although you did just trade two cars of greater character, if lesser ability. The S8 may just be too adept........if you know what I mean.

I just bought my 4th MX5 and kicked myself the whole (600mile) way home at what rubbish it was. I now love it.

Time will tell.

Wow, you bought an Audi and found it soulless, what a surprise!

Have you been living in a cave on Sark for the last 20 years? 

Macaroni

No...I have been living in a tree in Tayside for 21 years!!!

 Anyway its good to see that someone like yourself that drives a volvo knows all about things that are souless!!!

You'll grow to respect it enormously, which may even blossom into love. I have a new A8 3.0 diesel and, while it's not as much fun as its predecessors, it's exactly what I need for my typical journeys.

The S8 is a fabulous car, and I'd dearly love to be able to justify the fuel bills. Enjoy it - I'm sure you will. It really is close to perfect - able to play when you want, then blending into the background when you don't.

I've had nagging thoughts like this before with cars I've owned.

I find that if you just suck it up and allow the car to grow into it's role - 6 months down the line you'll understand why you did what you did.

Or you'll sell it. 

I'd sooner have this than a BMW or a Merc.  

WackyJim,

Ha, well spotted, although the Volvo is well gone now, replaced by an Alfa 156 v6.

I suspect you'll grow to respect the Audi's abilities and integrity enormously. They are without doubt awesome cars. However, there is a world of difference between that and love for a car. I guess that as you've asked this question, this is important to you.

I've had cars that have been fantastic but have left me cold. My old Citroen Xantia Activa had unreal cornering abilities and was pushing nigh on 200bhp, but sat on my drive whilst I had a great laugh in a £150 205xs which I adored.

Give the Audi a chance, but I bet you don't get the same feelings as when you approached your Jag for a drive...

Sorry if that all sounds a bit pervy!

I drove a, previous incarnation, Audi S8 around 2001. That car was described 'pointless' by a major motor magazine. But I had to disagree, it was a marvellous buy that quietly out performed many other cars of the day.

The closest I've come to driving the new S8 was when I test drove an A8 W12 about two years ago. It was a pleasing car to drive. I'm sure you will discover it's quietly dignified, yet powerful soul in the months to come.

That's the Audi S8's endearing quality. It looks nothing special, but pulls most others cars trousers down when they least expect it....so to speak.

Stephen

I must say having had the car a couple of weeks now it is slowly turning into the machine I had always hoped for. OK the fuel consumption is not great despite a 180 mile round trip to Glasgow returning a respectable 22mpg local jaunts around town is much nearer the 15mpg mark!!

However the upshot is that the performance is utterly awesome, the beat that comes off the V10 on full throttle is truly intoxicating and in Daytona grey it certainly turns heads when cruising through town. I asked the question whether I could ever fall in love with a car....well lets just say at the moment things don't look too bad and this story may yet have a happy ending!!!!

I'm a long term S-Class fan so you'd not catch me in any Audi. Always amazed at how poor the ride is each time I test one, how often this is highlighted in road tests, and how people in this country - which must have some of the worst quality roads in the developed world - still buy them.

However, if you really had to have a big, solid car with all-wheel drive then the A8 is the only obvious choice - the Americans get 4matic on their Benzs - and the V10 must sound bloody amazing. Probably worth it for that alone, no?

I had the W12 in a Phaeton a few years back and despite being fearsomely quick it had all the character of a washing machine. As Autocar said at the time, it's "very nearly a very good car", and now the 6.0L versions are tuppency ha'penny. That is if you really want a monster that costs £120 to fill up and is empty three hours of motorway later..!

The real problem with the S8 is that it has inherited the Audi DNA of a dead chassis.

On paper they are technically brilliant, and in reality they are beautiful made with sharp looks, but if you like to get involved and drive a car it’s the wrong choice.