2008 Audi A8 Review
Price Estimate: $2,533 - $4,000





+134
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Handsome and spacious cabin, superb driving dynamics, standard all-wheel drive.
Cons
- All-important prestige factor still not equal to chief rivals.
What’s new
For 2008, the Audi A8 receives a host of updates. Exterior freshening includes distinct grilles for each trim -- the V8 model features a horizontal theme while the W12 has a vertical theme. Restyled foglights and taillights, along with side mirror-mounted turn signals and new wheels complete the mild face-lift. The cabin sees more sound insulation, more aluminum accents and the addition of satellite radio and heated seats (front and rear) to the standard features list.
Edmunds says
Although it may lack the snob appeal of some of its fellow Germans, the 2008 Audi A8 gives absolutely nothing away to them in terms of luxury, performance or craftsmanship.
For sale near El Paso, TX
7 listings
- 91,587 miles
- 2 accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 16 City / 23 Hwy MPG
- Royal Direct Auto (577 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Dallas, TX
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
18 Combined MPG (16 City/23 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WAUMV94E58N010869
Stock: 010869
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-07-2025- 145,000 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 16 City / 23 Hwy MPG
- RN Auto Sales (959 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Sacramento, CA
This is a CLEAN TITLE Luxury and this Luxury has been well cared for by the Two Previous Owners.This Luxury was driven only 8,529 miles/year, currentl...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
18 Combined MPG (16 City/23 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WAUMV94E98N010468
Stock: 010468
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 06-20-2025
Vehicle overview
Choosing the 2008 Audi A8 as your premium luxury sedan is sort of like buying a pair of Brooks running shoes. They may not impress most of your jock friends as much as Nikes, but you (as well as serious runners) would have the smug satisfaction of knowing you chose a product built with an unwavering dedication to its purpose.
With Audi's flagship, it's the same deal. Unlike the status seekers who automatically go with the status quo, true car enthusiasts know all about this dark-horse candidate. In fact, the Audi A8 has consistently been one of our staff's favorite luxury sedans for the past half-decade. A few reasons for our Audi adoration include a roomy, impeccably finished cabin, powerful performance and a polished demeanor on the road.
Compared to the somewhat busy styling of its chief rivals -- the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Lexus LS 460 the Audi A8's crisply tailored sheet metal exudes a subtle yet powerful confidence, much like an athlete in a custom-made suit. The cabin exhibits the same handsome, elegant theme along with top-grade materials and many thoughtful features.
A couple of other attributes are typical A8: all-aluminum construction and the standard Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Contributing to its serene ride quality and composed handing is the A8's adaptive air suspension that provides a plush freeway ride as well as buttoned-down handling when the car is being pressed on a twisty road. For power, there is a pair of very capable engines: a 350-horsepower V8 and a 450-hp W12. Either powerhouse will swiftly bring the A8 up to speed and easily show off its autobahn breeding via effortless cruising at seriously illegal velocities.
Although the 2008 Audi A8 is certainly impressive in terms of design, performance and build quality, it still lags behind some of its fellow Germans (as well as the Lexus) on the sales charts. We're betting that's due to Audi's perceived lack of prestige. Let's face it. Most folks want it painfully obvious to their friends and neighbors -- via a three-pointed star or blue-and-white roundel -- that yes, indeed, they drive a premium luxury sedan. Sadly, these people probably never even test-drove the fully competitive A8. We strongly urge you to do so if you're shopping this segment.
Performance & mpg
Both the A8 and A8 L come with a 4.2-liter, 40-valve V8 that makes 350 hp and 325 pound-feet of torque. Named after its special engine, the W12 model has a 6.0-liter 12-cylinder engine that makes 450 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque. The W12 actually consists of two narrow-angle 15-degree V6 engines joined at the crankshaft, which makes it more compact than a conventional V12. Both engines are matched to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission that drives all four wheels through Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
With either engine, this is a quick luxury sedan. The 4.2 V8 version can hit 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in 14.2 seconds, while the W12 betters those stats by about a half second in each case.
Safety
Standard on all A8s are antilock brakes, stability and traction control, full-length side curtain airbags, front- and rear-seat side airbags and active front headrests.
Driving
Regardless of which A8 you're piloting, throttle response is gratifying. Whether taking off from a stoplight or jetting up to cruising speed on the freeway, a solid rush of power is always on tap. Powerful and easily modulated brakes have no problem reining in the A8. The air suspension is well sorted; left in automatic mode the system works just fine, providing a soft but not mushy ride and solid composure through the twisty bits. Select the "Dynamic" setting and body lean is kept to an absolute minimum, making the 2008 Audi A8 feel more like a compact sport sedan rather than a large flagship luxury car.
Interior
All passengers should find comfort in the A8. This is particularly true with the L version, as it boasts 42 inches of limolike rear legroom. Fit and finish throughout are superb, with generous amounts of wood, Alcantara and aluminum accents lending a luxurious ambience.
With 16-way power adjustment (including upper seatback angle) and a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, finding a comfortable driving position is easy for folks of all body types. The dash is uncluttered by buttons thanks to Audi's Multi Media Interface (MMI), which handles everything from the navigation and audio systems to the adjustment of the driver-selectable air suspension. Mounted in the console and operated via a simple twist-and-press knob and four large surrounding buttons, Audi's MMI may draw comparisons to BMW's iDrive system. But unlike iDrive, MMI is simple and intuitive to operate once one gets past the initial learning curve.
2008 Audi A8 models
The 2008 Audi A8 comes in three trims: A8, A8 L (the "L" signifying a long wheelbase for increased rear-seat legroom) and A8 L W12 (the "W12" indicating that it's powered by a W12 engine). The A8 and A8 L come with virtually every luxury feature as standard, including a navigation system, leather upholstery, 16-way power front seats, heated seats (front and rear), xenon HID headlights and a 12-speaker Bose audio system with satellite radio and a CD changer.
The W12 adds keyless startup, power door closers, parking sensors, four-zone climate control, ventilated/massaging front seats, four-way lumbar adjustment (for all passengers), an Alcantara headliner and a wood steering wheel. Most of the W12's features are optional on the other A8s. Other options include a 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system, adaptive cruise control, a personal refrigerator, a sunroof and a Sport package for V8 models that includes a sport-tuned suspension, 20-inch wheels and steering wheel shift paddles.

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Compare 2008 Audi A8 trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas
$232/mo for A8 quattro
A8 quattro
vs
$175/mo
Avg. Large Car
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
2 out of 5 stars2/5Average
#38 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$824/yr
vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
Frequency
2.23x/yr
vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
Severity
21.6%
vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
powered by RepairPal
Audi A8 Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Best car I've ever had
4.88 out of 5 starsJustin Fontaine, 05/24/2010
2007 Audi A8 quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (4.2L 8cyl 6A)
I've had the privilege of owning/leasing BMW's ( 5 series ) a couple of 911's and a Mercedes S class and I have to say that this A8 is tops for performance, class, reliability and most of all individuality. In LA there are thousands of S Class and 7 series. I can honestly say I've not seen one other dark blue short wheelbase A8 with the performance 20" wheels in 3 years of driving here. … The car is special in every way. The handling for a large sedan is spectacular due to the aluminum body and quattro. The fit and finish inside of the amaretto interior are awesome. Power is smooth and refined. Great Bose system. Biggest issue will be whether or not to buy it after the lease! Not one problem
Best Luxury Value
5 out of 5 starsJerry R, 02/20/2010
2007 Audi A8 L quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (4.2L 8cyl 6A)
After selling my 06 A8L I realized what a wonderful car it was and found an 07 A8L with an MSRP of $90K, with 12k miles for $50K. New was out of the question due to initial loss. These cars are an absolute remarkable value (used). I don't know how Audi is able to get the mileage out of a 4000+ lb. car with all wheel drive. Both comfort and performance are unsurpassed. B & O radio is a … must . Rear seat leg room is better than a new Rolls- Royce Ghost @ $300K, and anyone who rides in it (who doesn't know Audi) is amazed.
Audi does European delivery
4.88 out of 5 starsBrian Sonnenberg, 11/25/2007
2008 Audi A8 L quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (4.2L 8cyl 6A)
After years of Mercedes ownership (and a brief BMW period) I finally got over to Audi. This car is everything that Mercedes used to be. Understatedly elegant, fantastically finished and user friendly. What a true pleasure to drive. In fact, what a pleasure to just sit in. Nobody does interiors like Audi. It is just beautiful, comfortable, and functional. We took delivery in Germany at … Ingolstadt, which was a once in a lifetime experience, and did use it on the Autobahn. 130 mph is like 60 mph. wonderful road car! While I think Mercedes has lost their way, Audi seems to have really found their's. Some people are put off by the conservative styling of the exterior. I find it refreshing.
120K miles retrospective
5 out of 5 starsboyracer3, 12/07/2014
2007 Audi A8 L quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (4.2L 8cyl 6A)
Finally retired my 8 a few months ago. Absolutely beautiful car. Loved driving it. And still miss it greatly. The expense of repairs quickly exceeded the residual value of the car. The car was very reliable and honestly the issues that I had with it were worn part maintenance issues. But items like the suspension repairs @110K for $7400. Other small issues for another $7500 soon … followed. $15K for a car I then traded for $12K. But I did get a new S7 so obviously I still think they are great cars. Really had no problems at all until 100K. I don't really think Audi's are that expensive to maintain, either, nothing like Porsche or BMW in my experience.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2008 Audi A8, so we've included reviews for other years of the A8 since its last redesign.
2008 A8 Highlights
quattro
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $70,690 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $232/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 14.6 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the A8 include:
- Back-up camera
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
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