AUDI A8 3.0 TDI Quattro 4dr Tip Auto (2004)

Good solid reliable engineering from Audi, well done

My Audi A8 arrived new in the spring of 2005 and I've scarcely a complaint about it in all this time. There was a minor hiccup with one of the ignition components but the warranty saw to that. Otherwise it's needed nothing but tyres.

Personally I've always appreciated that, despite being an Audi, the A8 has never been overwhelmingly common on the roads, and certainly less than its rivals. Perhaps it looks a little old fashioned but that suits me.

The insurance is perhaps the main gripe; it is rather high even for a gent of my advanced years. It costs £260 a year to tax as well, which I thought was fairly normal until I saw my youngest daughter's car tax bill at a fraction of the cost. I fear that I've got a vehicle which was born just as a raft of clever mechanical technologies came along which dramatically reduced fuel consumption. Still, the A8 doesn't do too badly. She ticks along at about 40mpg on the motorways.

Now, it's inside the car where the real pleasure is to be found. First and foremost this is a luxurious vehicle. To behold it is a magnificent car, with a traditional trim inside and curving wooden surfaces. I do enjoy music in the car and the sound apparatus is superb, you really feel you're in the auditorium. That can be a little distracting as there's so little other cabin noise you can sometimes miss important noises from outside the car, but I'm a careful driver. At the time of sale I was offered DVD players to be fitted into the back of the front headrests, I assume for little ones to sit transfixed at. Well I wasn't interested in that as mine have long since outgrown squabbling over their toys, but it did seem an innovation in keeping little darlings quiet. It's extremely spacious in the back as well, plenty of head and leg room for all three of my (now adult) little darlings. The boot space is also just cavernous. We go on family golf trips every few months and we slip the five sets into the boot without too much trouble.

The A8 also has a neat little parking assistance mechanism to guide you into your space. I found that a little intrusive to begin with but I wouldn't be without it these days. Again apparently that's a little more common in cars these days, but I was impressed when I bought it.

I have to admit I have only once used the 'sport' mode of the car, and that was shortly after I bought it just to test it out. I was certainly thrilled at the experience, but I simply haven't had a reason to engage it since then. I may try it again now that I've remembered it.

Apart from the minor ignition problem I've had no reliability issues. The on board computer system sometimes gets itself into a bit of a muddle, but if you reset it then things return to normal.