A45 or Audi S8
 

Ive remapped Audi A8 tdi now its around 400bhp very high spec , just 3 years old, but as always im swopping soon may try the merc, But will it be worth it over the grown up S8 ;)

I'm not sure you'd fit in the little Merc!:D

lol Maz thanks :D

You own a diesel powered barge.... You'll have to lose your pipe, slippers and thermos if you're considering an A45!!

erm i dont smoke dont own any slippers , never used a flask :wonder:

Alan you have PM, might sell my 63 plate S8 with options of massaging seats, sunroof, rear tints, rear blinds, 21s, winter 19s. Love it, but giving up my job in September and could do with less expensive cars for a little.

I did 11.38 at 125.9mph at Crail in the damp. Makes four cylinders seem like a toy.

I think only you and I get these A8/S8 models LOL.

Yes John re understanding A8/S8 you have to drive/ own one to comment really, As you and I have both had very sorted fast Subarus and other high end cars , But from my A8 I think it must be a S8 .pm you back soon John.

Going toGC motors in Harrogate to day to testdive there A45 ,

Expecting full review. After I offered to sell my S8 I felt sad lol. Have you tried an S8?

Surely an S8 is the right car?!

Ballistic eight cyclinder luxobarge vs 2.0 4 pot hatch. No contest!

Alan whatever deal you get nudge me I,ll give you my guy in Leeds he will most probably beat it.

An your welcome to come to me and I'll take you for a spin in a 420bhp version.....
I see your Closeish to me...

Don't forget the 19inch wheels.....

Yes your right :thumb:

I had a time slot of three hours for the little merc, We went out for 1/2 hour then took it back , not for me (or wife) good luck to you who like them. My 4.2 D4 Audi felt faster than the little merc, The Audi is a TDI :confused:

you have pm John :D

Apart from both being supposedly luxury offerings and more than 2 wheel drive they appear to be 2 totally different choices :wonder:

yes your right, thats why i chose to try the a45 , since i sold my road legal 510 bhp scoob , ive had a few :D Audi,s A5 A6 S6 RS6 A6 again then the A8 I have now (i do like Audis) >> next car for me S8 :thumb:

I find the lines rather blurred against expectation with respect to weight, driven wheels, car class etc.

I get in my M3 and find it scrabbles less for traction than my S8, yet the steering and body control are worse in the M3.

It's no great surprise Alan. You've long been out of the chav wagons.

John,
I'd gaurantee my A45 would leave your S8 for dust down a twisty B road.

It's all about relevance and what you want your vehicle for.

Have you driven Litcho's tuned RS6? The S8 is similar weight, similar engine and a little softer, but I found that softness an advantage over the GTR which is not quicker down my local B roads or single track with passing places roads I drive daily with 90 degree bends, undulations and surface changes galore. The track times suggest the GTR should monster it, but it doesn't.

There would have to be dry roads where the A45 would also leave a GTR for dust for me to believe your assertion.

I have not driven an A45, but do you think it has a better chassis than an Evo?

Away from track times I'm finding the S8 shines above every car I've had on a B road except the Evo IX. On a B road it monsters my M3.

Sometimes comparisons are difficult when you don't own the cars at the same time, but a Golf 7 R is considered very competent on a B road but did nothing for me.

And I gaurantee you could not pass me in one of my vans on a twisty b road :hjtwofing :D

As great as the GTR is, it's no B road basher. Track and B roads are totally different.

My A45 is measurable quicker down the B roads where I live, and much easier to drive than my previous Scooby. The performance is so easily accessible, and you can exploit so much of it.

M3's and C63's.... They wouldnt come close down these roads imo.

Whether a car does something for you, doesn't make the car any less of a performer.

I can't remember how the EVO drove tbh John, it's been so long since I've given one a punt. The chassis on the 45 is very good though. Suspension works really well, especially when you really start to push it. Brakes are phenomenal for this class of car.

:D

Vans are the quickest vehicle on earth - FACT!

I reckon I could stay with most things in the dry on a decent, challenging B road too; there's "quicker" cars but they're usually bigger and heavier.
Pretty certain I'd be level with an A45, maybe even ahead on some sections; better tyres, serious brakes, less weight, more accessible powerband.
It would be fun to give it a go!

Matt,
As with any RWD car, you've got to know how to drive to exploit the set-up. Not many can.

Even if you're sweating like a rapist (and you will be!) trying to keep up with an A45 that is being peddled, ultimately you will fall off Matt (imo) when the A45 is really pushing it.

However, if this was down a B road like some of the ones round by me..... really undulating, camber all over the place, lumps and bumps, rapid and sharp change of direction........... a proper road where you have to work. I think you'd need balls of steel and talent to match, to even contemplate keeping up even with an average driver in an A45. Again imo.

Now..... if the M2 ever see's the light of day, that will be something I would certainly consider. But..... it's still the same RWD thing, and I just don't think on a like for like basis, they're as fast most of the time.

John,
As above though - you need to be able to drive to exploit RWD. I'm not sure many people can tbh. He must have been driving like a fag...... your car is over 2000 kg's! Either that, or your B road is more straight than anything else. :D

Maybe I need to take one for a drive.

It's taken me a while but I reckon I've totally nailed the M135i and can drive it as hard as it can be driven.
Yep the A45 has more bhp but it also has more weight. I reckon it would be close. Not saying I can drive any RWD car fast; it takes me a while to really suss out any car; but I now have this one nailed.

No understeer, less weight, superior tyres, probably more torque (every M135i a tuner mate has tested has been 350lb-ft standard. He's done over 20) from much lower down all evens it up. Plus Evo reckons the M135i punches harder ;)

That the A45 has more accessible performance than a Subaru is a given, most modern turbo stuff with automatic gearboxes is like that and implies nothing about B road performance relative to other modern turbo stuff. What is its USP to take apart a B road that a Golf R cannot do apart from slightly bigger turbo that I probably wouldn't notice as coming from 690lbft? I thought the guy tuning the Golf R was taking the piss and using half throttle. It accelerated much like my M3. Noise but no meaningful thrust, these four cylinder engines are like food mixers.

Try Litcho's RS6 and I will see about trying A45. If they made an AWD version in RHD of the C63S which is about 1600kg RWD it would probably be 1700kg and more my thing. S8 is 1975kg. 4.0V8 twin turbo similar.

John; I still think Subaru's steering and drivetrain are better; they're just too thirsty and everyone seems to favour cabin trinkets over a totally sorted chassis.

Imagine a Subaru with N55 and ZF 8HP for £25k!

I'd have one in a flash!