My soul for an S8
Everybody has a job to do. Some people like what they do, others that are not so lucky, do not. I love my job and I have been working at it for over 12 years. Even so, there are good days and there are bad days. Once again, I next to never have any bad days. Some days though, are simply out of this World. Although it may seem that some car evaluations are superfluous, all are required because we not only cater to the general public, we also create content for enthusiasts. This is why we write on cars such as the S8, LS600hL and any other expensive automobile; manufacturers and our web-users want it.
Now that the foreword is taken care of, here is a sample of a very brief conversation I had with someone asking me about the S8.
Nice car
"Nice car, looks expensive."
To which I replied: "Thank you and, it is."
This just about sums up people's vision of the S8; it looks expensive. Certainly it is however only a discerning few noticed the S8 and V10 badges, the quad tailpipes and that the grille is different. As far as I am concerned, I think this is the perfect combination of "look at me and my fancy car" and "only I know how special the car really is".
The S8 is fabulously delicious any which way you slice it (I might repeat myself a few times throughout this review). Right off the bat, the A8 is the hottest looking mega flagship car in the ultra-elite gang that includes the BMW 750i, the Mercedes S550 and Lexus LS460. The Maserati Quattroporte and Bentley Continental Flying Spur are at the same aesthetic level as the A8 however one is very peculiar and the other is painfully more expensive.
The S8 visuals include the aforementioned logos, tailpipes and grille but we must not forget the joyously large 20" multi-spoke alloys and the chrome-capped side-view mirrors. The S8's physical enhancements are more subtle than the S6's, S4's and certainly the RS4's which make the S8 fly that much lower under the radar.
Move in condition
Settling on board the S8 is like being catered to by a professional waiter at the finest restaurant. The seats, regardless of the position, cajole comfort and cuddle the occupants. As the S8 is based on a regular wheelbase platform, rear legroom is good but not great. Up front, space is more than adequate for any body type. The dashboard seems to empower the driver with its multitude of gauges, information sources and nearly endless options. The thick supple leather is baby-bottom soft and there is sweet alcantara almost everywhere else. The HVAC controls, including the heated seat settings, are fancy-looking but can be a little trying when climate adjustments need to be done. The steering wheels mounted rotary wheels are extremely simple to operate and thankfully allow the passengers to avoid using the MMI system too often.
Everybody has a job to do. Some people like what they do, others that are not so lucky, do not. I love my job and I have been working at it for over 12 years. Even so, there are good days and there are bad days. Once again, I next to never have any bad days. Some days though, are simply out of this World. Although it may seem that some car evaluations are superfluous, all are required because we not only cater to the general public, we also create content for enthusiasts. This is why we write on cars such as the S8, LS600hL and any other expensive automobile; manufacturers and our web-users want it.
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| The "S" grille has a plaid-style design that differentiates it from the non-"S" fascia. |
Now that the foreword is taken care of, here is a sample of a very brief conversation I had with someone asking me about the S8.
Nice car
"Nice car, looks expensive."
To which I replied: "Thank you and, it is."
This just about sums up people's vision of the S8; it looks expensive. Certainly it is however only a discerning few noticed the S8 and V10 badges, the quad tailpipes and that the grille is different. As far as I am concerned, I think this is the perfect combination of "look at me and my fancy car" and "only I know how special the car really is".
The S8 is fabulously delicious any which way you slice it (I might repeat myself a few times throughout this review). Right off the bat, the A8 is the hottest looking mega flagship car in the ultra-elite gang that includes the BMW 750i, the Mercedes S550 and Lexus LS460. The Maserati Quattroporte and Bentley Continental Flying Spur are at the same aesthetic level as the A8 however one is very peculiar and the other is painfully more expensive.
The S8 visuals include the aforementioned logos, tailpipes and grille but we must not forget the joyously large 20" multi-spoke alloys and the chrome-capped side-view mirrors. The S8's physical enhancements are more subtle than the S6's, S4's and certainly the RS4's which make the S8 fly that much lower under the radar.
Move in condition
Settling on board the S8 is like being catered to by a professional waiter at the finest restaurant. The seats, regardless of the position, cajole comfort and cuddle the occupants. As the S8 is based on a regular wheelbase platform, rear legroom is good but not great. Up front, space is more than adequate for any body type. The dashboard seems to empower the driver with its multitude of gauges, information sources and nearly endless options. The thick supple leather is baby-bottom soft and there is sweet alcantara almost everywhere else. The HVAC controls, including the heated seat settings, are fancy-looking but can be a little trying when climate adjustments need to be done. The steering wheels mounted rotary wheels are extremely simple to operate and thankfully allow the passengers to avoid using the MMI system too often.
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| The S8 caters to its passengers: All the bells and whistles including an insane Bang & Olufsen audio system. |