For the wealthy enthusiast, options for roomy and lavish top-end sports sedans are more plentiful than ever, with no signs of that trend reversing — both Porsche and Aston Martin will have sleek executive cruisers by the end of the decade. Exclusivity is just as important as performance for these buyers, because who wants to be driving the same sled as that no-good lawyer down the street? But what's the best buy? Maserati's Quattroporte might be the quick answer, but that may be a little too obvious. The Bentley Continental Flying Spur? Sure, if you want it to get egged on a daily basis. And so many people line up to buy Mercedes-Benz S-classes that the company offers a downright ridiculous three models churning out over 500 hp. That leaves two elite machines that fit the bill perfectly: the Audi S8 and the BMW Alpina B7. Both are spacious, both are luxurious, both are plenty powerful, and best of all, they're incredibly rare. BMW has cut Alpina imports off at 750 units total and Audi delivers less than 1000 S8s to U.S. dealerships each year. Lamborghini sold more cars here last year — 1001 to be exact.
The thing is, while B7 and S8 have so much in common, there's a larger gap between them than a few letters and one number. Getting the two together for a day's drive made us notice how Coke-versus-Pepsi these cars truly are...
I just spent 20 minutes wandering around the relatively new Audi of Phoenix (just off I-10). Maybe its Audi of Chandler..whatever.
The A8...and I am sure, the S8 are simply gorgeous, and understated. Blows the B7 away. I also saw the RS4 in Sprint Blue Metallic...that is gum-punching amazing in person.
Oh, and the A5 - just as gorgeous in person (even moreso). Yay for late night car-lot trolling.
Well, they're not exactly building it for you. They're building it for their customer base, who all wanted a little more height and a little more rear seat room. They're not buying the ***** so that people who have no intention of actually buying one can approve of them while rolling by in their VW's
Again, this is another situation where a sidebar would be useful. Tell us more about the blower in the 7 series. Is it centrifugal? Is it fully intercooled (assuming it is)? What mods were done to the engine to allow it to reliably (hopefully) accept the charger? What is the compression ratio?
Otherwise, it was a good article. Also I wish there was a bit more on the specific handling aspects of the cars. I guess both at essentially like big boats around a turn? Does the S8 understeer significantly like most AWD Audi's?
Modified by 6cylVWguy at 9:17 AM 4-29-2008
Tom Current: 94 SLC; 08 XF LTD-6 spd Previous:06 GTI, 99.5 Jetta, 85 jetta coupe (x2), 93 Fox
Again, this is another situation where a sidebar would be useful. Tell us more about the blower in the 7 series. Is it centrifugal? Is it fully intercooled (assuming it is)? What mods were done to the engine to allow it to reliably (hopefully) accept the charger? What is the compression ratio?
Otherwise, it was a good article. Also I wish there was a bit more on the specific handling aspects of the cars. I guess both at essentially like big boats around a turn? Does the S8 understeer significantly like most AWD Audi's?
As I wrote, the BMW feels much like a larger 3-series, so no it doesn't feel like a boat in corners. The Audi kinda does. We didn't have a chance to push the S8 hard enough to induce understeer, but in the name of safety I'm sure it's there, even with the 40/60 torque split.
As for the engine stuff, those sorts of details are something we'd reserve for a first drive sort of story, but as Motive was still a baby in the VMG belly when the car came out, we didn't do one. We'd only describe all the in-depth engine mods in a comparo if both cars had similar engines. In this case they don't, but that's why having forums so deeply integrated into Motive is useful. Sorry if it wasn't clear, but a "radial-type" supercharger does mean its centrifugal. Here's a list of stuff that Alpina changed:
• Crankshaft and connecting rods strengthened. • New pistons for lower compression ratio: 9.0:1, vs. original 10:5:1. This is a customary modification for supercharged engines. • Special cylinder-head gaskets. • Additional belt drive for supercharger. • Centrifugal clutch at supercharger; clutch begins to engage at an engine speed of 1100 rpm. • Planetary reduction gear at supercharger input, which drives the supercharger at 15 times engine speed. • Fuel pressure regulated according to supercharger boost. • Higher-capacity fuel injectors. • Specific sparkplugs; heat range differs from original plugs. • Coolant-to-oil cooler for transmission replaced with air-to-oil cooler. All heat exchangers are included in a complex assembly that includes the engine radiator, supercharger intercooler; engine, transmission and power-steering oil coolers; and air-conditioning condenser. • Entirely new exhaust system that employs catalytic converters with metallic catalysts, more costly than conventional ceramic ones, to fit into the available space while allowing the engine’s higher gas flow • controls low-frequency noise via a close-off flap on the inboard resonator at the rear (turning it into a Helmholz resonator) • keeps noise to legal limits, yet also achieves pleasing high-performance sound • minimizes back pressure at high power outputs; 70-mm pipes vs. Series’ 55 mm • protects underbody components from undue heat exposure.
The B7 looks fine. I'm glad this car is spared the ghastly pinstriping Alpina tends to put on their cars but I really don't like when the aftermarket replaces any of the factory badging with their own, like so:
In the end though, I can't say no to a V10. And I find the S8 interior more to my liking over the B7 and regular A8.
Joe Rogan on Kellogg's dropping Michael Phelps:I mean, do you guys ever think about what you sell? Pop tarts? Are you kidding me? I would be willing to bet that 50% of the people buying pop tarts are stoned out of their ****ing minds ... There’s nothing quite like being stoned out of your mind at 2am watching a Chuck Norris movie and eating a bowl of fruit loops.
The article begs the question, if you choose the Audi S8 on the basis that it is a more comfy, coddling luxury sedan than the sporting Alpina, why buy the S8?
Why not the standard A8 with all the options ticked?
Quote, originally posted by Elbows »
Oh, welcome to the Lounge. You'll probably spend a couple months in the MkIV forum - realize its garbage...then spend literally the next 8-10 years of your life here in the Car Lounge.
The B7 looks fine. I'm glad this car is spared the ghastly pinstriping Alpina tends to put on their cars but I really don't like when the aftermarket replaces any of the factory badging with their own, like so:
is Alpina aftermarket or an actual manufacturer? I thought they had their own VIN like Ruf?
"Those who ‘abjure’ violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf" -George Orwell
The article begs the question, if you choose the Audi S8 on the basis that it is a more comfy, coddling luxury sedan than the sporting Alpina, why buy the S8?
Why not the standard A8 with all the options ticked?
I'll try and answer that...
A few weeks ago on a Sunday morning rolling down the A1 between Koeln and Nuerburg I witnessed something epic.
As I was passing a SMART or some other microcar, I look in my rearview mirror. I see a low slung black car with orange wing mirrors about a half mile back. I get back over quickly and continue to watch my rearview. A split second later a black/orange GT3 RS blows by us... with a blacked out S8 square on its tail. We were going around 115mph or so - they had to have been well over 150.
It was the most amazing thing I've ever witnessed. Seeing a monster car like that keep up with a street legal racecar was fantastic.
/end anecdotal evidence
"Those who ‘abjure’ violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf" -George Orwell
The article begs the question, if you choose the Audi S8 on the basis that it is a more comfy, coddling luxury sedan than the sporting Alpina, why buy the S8?
Why not the standard A8 with all the options ticked?
The music the can only be made with a V10? Isn't that enough or a reason to get the S?
Why not the standard A8 with all the options ticked?
Aside from the exclusive "S" options (exterior and interior colors), nothing. Unless you mean the 2 extra cylinders up front that the S8 has over the A8.
according to the latest european car mag...those 21" Alpina wheels are 4200. Each.
YIKES thats a lot of $cash$
I'll drive
- German Technician's Inspiration -
Quote, originally posted by RabbitsKin »
It's hard to imagine another car reaching a higher state of perfection than the F1. Others have come along, a few were even faster, but none have been so inherently RIGHT as this car.
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Yay for late night car-lot trolling.
thats a lot of $cash$
