A few aluminum cars are hitting the market these days and
the A8L surely feels light on the open road and on city
streets—despite its hard, German-style ride. As well,
you can adjust the suspension mode and even raise the
car to get more ground clearance while inspecting the
vineyard. It reminds us of the oleo-pneumatic system found
on Citroëns. Yes, it is a great light and agile car,
not like what you'd expect a big sedan of its type to
be.
In
fact, we admire the roominess for passengers especially
in the back. That coupled with a huge trunk makes this
a great sport sedan, as well as an outstanding limousine
and a pretty nice family car.
Everyone
gets their climate-controlled space, in-door light and
fully adjustable heated seats and sunblinds. We respect
the placement of the CD-changer in the glove box, rather
than in the trunk and, of course, the onboard computer
(MMI—Multi Media Interface) would put the space
shuttle to shame. As with any electronically powered
system, you do have a learning curve, but once mastered
it is a marvelous delight to use.
The
quattro permanent all-wheel drive system coupled with
enhanced braking and an armada of safety sensors and
airbags make this a very safe car in which you'll feel
cocooned.
A
few observations on the downside: The small dual arm
rests that double up as storage units are too small
for storage and a bit tricky to use. Very annoying is
the third brake light that reflects inside the rear
window at night. Only the driver can read the digital
clock deeply recessed in the gauges.
Warranty/Service: Covered by the Audi Advantage program, which includes
a Four-year/50,000-mile no-charge scheduled maintenance,
a Four-year/50,000-mile limited new vehicle warranty,
a 12-year limited warranty against corrosion perforation
and 24-hour Roadside Assistance for four years.
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