Touchscreens and to some extent mouse controllers are one of if not the biggest complaint about modern car interiors from consumers. Reviewers and consumers are now considering it a favor and taking mercy on them when car companies add buttons back to interiors. Polished wood is not out, it is still offered and still popular, matte/open pore wood is just being offered more now. I like them both, probably prefer matte/open pore more though. Cellphones/smart phones are totally different then vehicle interiors where drivers should have to go through a minimum of steps/difficulty to quickly operate features.

 

New A8 is not faring well against even the current 7-series.

 

The new Audi A8 beats the current 7 Series and MB S-Class in the carwow review.


My point is that different reviewers will say different things.

Note: Isn't the AutoCar review specifically reviewing the "best one to drive" rather than "just the best one"? Not sure if I agree with the AutoCar review if it focus on the driving aspects of these cars too heavily, no one buys an S-Class, A8 and 7 Series to drive it. Usually people get driven in these. And the people that do want to drive it themselves don't really care all that much about how well it drives - its the comfort that matters.

 

Exactly......so go to Alex (Dykes) and get it right the first time.

 

I agree. Sometimes having more tech isn't likely to make the car better.

While we are on the subject of tech, I also want to point out because of the era we are in of technological advancement that happens almost every minute - I feel like tech equipment within a car plays a smaller part in way a car is luxurious.

A good example of this is - the G20 3 Series, A-Class and every "lower-tier" luxury car that comes out 1-2 years later. The G20 3 Series has "Hey BMW" and digital gauges (basically a few new techy goodies) that the 5 Series and 7 Series don't have. Similarity - the A-Class holds the new MBUX system that the E/S don't have.
Its literally surprising that the 5,7,E,S probably won't get these new features found on the G20 and A-Class till their new generation comes along. If MB and BMW really cared about keeping their upper level cars to be on-par with these extra features, they would add them to their higher-end cars while the "lower-tier" cars get released.

This is literally why - I believe tech advancement within cars plays a smaller part in why a car is luxurious now.

 

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Tech is most important to younger buyers who buy at the bottom end of the price scale. So, it makes sense for them to bring tech advancements out there.

 

Not even touchscreens, but electronics, such as climate controls, used to be worrisome. Some would go out of their way to avoid. I didn't want iDrive on my 2007 BMW, and ordered it without.

My 1998 Nissan Maxima has electronic climate control, and hasn't failed, not ever, in 20.5 years on the road. My wife's 2011 GM? Failed 3X. But I agree, few are concerned anymore as it has to be at least half of the drivers will never drive a car out of warranty anyway.

 

i'd bet 90% of a8's are leased and those who lease them couldn't care less what happens after 3 years and with typical included maintenance, they don't care about long term reliability either.
this new a8 looks like a luxurious spaceship inside, and has a ton of tech to provide a quiet, effortless, and very comfortable ride to wherever one is going. it will appeal to some looking for a large luxury sedan for sure. but it's tough to make a dent against the s-class, 7-series and others...

 

Very true.

Example: It makes sense for them to introduce the new MBUX on the A-Class. The newer and techy features are more of good selling point among the young and masses.
I think its just a little off putting that the more expensive cars (C,E,S Class) don't even have these features. Granted - they'll have other features the A-Class don't have though. But it just feels a bit weird, the more expensive cars will lack that few special features for like 3-4 years till the next gen.

Well. Majority of luxury cars are leased anyways. I believe the statistics are somewhere between 60%-70% of luxury cars leases.

Financially speaking; if you can afford to buy the car in full, is better to buy the car and resell it in 3-4 years to get a new car instead of leasing. You spend less money that way.

 

I'm not so sure about the A8 given Audi's traditionally terrible lease rates...

Thats not the case if the money you would use to buy it is invested earning a return, and not the case if you can deduct a vehicle for business.

 

maybe 60-70 when you take into account c/e/a4/3/4 series etc., but i bet on the high end stuff s/7/a8 it's closer to 90%.

that is highly highly debatable. i leased my g90 and the money i didn't shell out to buy one is probably up 50-70% in the stock market. with those gains and not much more i could buy the car at the end of the lease making this a very cheap (awesome) car. but i almost certainly won't and will lease something else and do it again.

 

That assumes that the money you invested in stock WILL give you the return you want....especially after Capital-Gains taxes. There is no guarantee that will happen. Look, for example, at what happened to Sears just a couple of days ago.

I know there are people in Car Chat who disagree with me (and I respect their opinions)....but I am not convinced that it is better to be in debt than out....especially if one does not have the funds to cover the purchase if necessary.

 

Well - if you are well off enough to buy a car in full, you'll have money for investments as well.

You can also deduct a vehicle as business use regardless of lease or not.

Possibly. Too bad there isn't a chart for high-end lease cars. I would be curious to see the percentages.

Well - like I said above - if you have enough money to buy an Audi A8 in full, you have enough money to invest in the stock market or housing market. Hell - if you have enough money to buy a 40-50K plus in full, you are pretty well off and probably have enough to invest as well. Think about it this way. In SF Bay Area, where an average 1300 sq ft house is sold for 1.6 million (that is not renovated and built in 1920s) and you still can buy a 50K car in cash - you are well off.

Of course highly debatable because it depends. But if you have the money to do it - you'll end up saving money in the long run. Leasing cars more often than not loses money in the long run.

 

Smart individuals with wealth learn that the best way to acquire items and assets is the method that is least costly. Of course buying the car with cash is usually #1, however if a car company was to offer the same car with 0% percent financing, then the 0% route is the way to take, but if that shiny GM car is being offered with 25% off (they do it) for cash customers, then buying it cash is absolutely your most preferred. Acquiring cars like a G90, or an A8 or perhaps a V12 S-class, leasing is probably the least risky and easiest form of doing it, you get the new tech more often and the new trend setting style more often, but at those $100K price points, you are going to need to pass an income verification and very likely you are going to have a good steady income etc etc. My comments about buying cash or 0% are more for the every day person who has a lot to lose if they mess up.

 

It will, over time if its properly diversified. Its a long term game.

If you were long term invested in Sears you are a moron lol

If the money used to pay for something in cash is invested, then by definition the money exists to cover the loan. If it isn't, then you have a monthly payment that is a comfortable percentage of your income. If you loose your job and all your assets, then well you might loose the car. But, we can all be hit by a meteor tomorrow and killed. You can't look at really unlikely doom and gloom scenarios to plan your life...thats no way to live.

Given our previous conversations about leasing, I can't believe you wrote this (I agree with it...)

This isn't true though. If you have good credit you're never going to be asked to verify income, and in fact many people who lease these cars have hard to verify income.