02 Max GLE vs. 98 Audi A8 4.2 Quattro
03-05-2007, 02:33 PM
#1
02 Max GLE vs. 98 Audi A8 4.2 Quattro
What do you guys think? The audi I'm looking at is a 98 and has the 4.2L 300HP V8 with the quattro AWD and a 5 speed auto with autostick..Worth the trade? Audi is 12,000 trying to sell max for 13,000.
03-05-2007, 02:55 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 601
gorgeous car but pray to god it does not brake down. Anything for an audi is mad dollars. But for an a8 don't even think about it,(and it's a 10 year old car-since they sell 98 model in 1997) provided you do find parts for them.
Why do you think 745s and a8s are so cheap 5-7 years later. Electrical nightmares too. A budy of mine just paid $380 for a little aluminum link on a 96 525 i think
Why do you think 745s and a8s are so cheap 5-7 years later. Electrical nightmares too. A budy of mine just paid $380 for a little aluminum link on a 96 525 i think
03-05-2007, 03:17 PM
#4
The A8 is a sick car, but I did some research on the 99 A6 because I found one for $4400 and it sounds like the older audis can be kind of a nightmare, like the little things are expensive such as window motors and power locks that stop working etc.. check on edmunds.com and you can see what other owners of the 98 A8 have to say about it
03-20-2007, 02:28 PM
#9
Originally Posted by foxbat
run like hell from audi/vw/saab
Dont do it - Audi is no bueno - boss has an A8 and paid 600 for just the high note on his HORN. He can afford it so he didnt care - I almost sh*t a brick when he told me that. He is getting a lexus now - he has learned his lesson
03-20-2007, 03:00 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 258
audi's are great cars, I love them german vehicles I my self had a 00 mercedes, but had to sell it coz the parts are too expensive and as i remember the audi parts are more expensive than merc. and don't believe the hype if the audi is well maintained its going to be ok, but I think the price it little too high it is a 98 my uncle bought a 2004 with 76 000 miles for a little less than that price but it was an a6 so be patient and look aroud a little more, But i have to say nothing can beat the japanese cars they got the style almost all the features on them lux cars and parts are much much cheaper
03-20-2007, 05:27 PM
#16
i like audi, (my first car was an audi), but i love Maximas, IMO there is no comparison between a 98 a8 and 02 Max, MAX WINS ALL THE WAY. Think of gas millage too, plus the audi is old. But, its your call. good luck
03-20-2007, 06:49 PM
#17
Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Aurora, Ohio
Posts: 200
Maxima Only
I don't understand why you would go with a car that is four years older than the max, more expensive for repairs and a nightmare to get parts for.. Listen to the majority of the people on here and go with the MAX...You won't regret it....
03-21-2007, 05:45 AM
#18
I've been selling cars for several years now and have a lot of experience with used German cars. I sold Acura for a few years and we got a lot of them on trade for all the reasons stated above. I hated to deal with them as used cars because of all the issues. Every time I'd show one there was some issue. CEL on, rough idle, cutting out a certian RPM ranges etc...
Right now I sell at a dealer who sells a Japanese brand and a German brand side by side. I see the German brand coming in on flatbeds all the time. I'm talking about very new cars too like 1 or 2 years old. I can tell you from experience to pass on the Audi.
Right now I sell at a dealer who sells a Japanese brand and a German brand side by side. I see the German brand coming in on flatbeds all the time. I'm talking about very new cars too like 1 or 2 years old. I can tell you from experience to pass on the Audi.
03-21-2007, 08:50 AM
#19
Don't you know who I am?
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: East Granby, Connecticut
Posts: 945
I think people who have driven certain cars for a long take little things for granted. I have a friend who has had German vehicles in her family all her life, and it's kind of weird, they expect to have the car in the shop four times a year. They budget for it and everything. They think all cars are like that. I was shocked, the CEL would come on and no could figure out why, the wipers stop working, the windows roll down but not up, etc. Then people who have owned more reliable cars for a long time forget about those kinds of problems, and also assume all cars are made equal. And for the first year or two of their lives, this is true. But our cars have the distinct quality of being reliable in their older lives too.
When comparing a brand new Japanese car to a brand new German car, I think most of the time the German will nudge out the Japanese cars. But take the same comparison ten years down the line, a ten year old Japanese car will generally be a much better machine than a ten year old German car.
just my thoughts.
When comparing a brand new Japanese car to a brand new German car, I think most of the time the German will nudge out the Japanese cars. But take the same comparison ten years down the line, a ten year old Japanese car will generally be a much better machine than a ten year old German car.
just my thoughts.
03-21-2007, 12:52 PM
#23
I kind of understand why the Audi looks tempting.....I have driven a few A8s and some A6 with V8Q. Long time Audi fan. :$
When you are inside the A8 and when you drive it....it's day and night difference when compared to the Maxima. The materials in the interior, the solid feel, the nice handling, all the features (if they works), the Quattro traction, the amazing high speed stability, German V8 power...these are all qualities that NO 5.5Gen Maxima has - modded or not. The Maxima is a CHEAPER car and it feels and drives as such. Cheaper interior, less features, less stable/safe at high speed, cheaper materials inside, not as safe, more noise - road and engine, basic suspension(rear), smaller car.... we all know the story. Don't get me wrong, i like my 2003 Maxima SE and it is a great car for its price, however, it cannot be compared to the A8 when it comes to features, road behavior and fun to drive! Two very different cars in a different class with very different sticker prices. ($30k vs. $70k+) They both have pros and cons. Reliability is not everything....at least for some people. (if it was, BMW, Benz, Audi would be out of business long time ago)
Everybody here is right - an old Audi is VERY expensive to maintain. This is true for every HIGH end German car. This car is "over engineered" and when it gets old - it costs $$$ to maintain. Not reliable at all. On the other hand, the 5.5G Maxima is VERY reliable but with a lot less toys and luxury.
If you like all the features and the toys of the A8 and you don't have a problem with the poor MPG and frequent repair bills, get the Audi A8. Make sure it has ALL maintenance records and that it was services in a true Audi shop - regularly. These cars are VERY picky when it comes to fluids, parts and etc. Stay away from Audi dealers when it comes to repairs. If the car has no records - RUN away from it!
When you are inside the A8 and when you drive it....it's day and night difference when compared to the Maxima. The materials in the interior, the solid feel, the nice handling, all the features (if they works), the Quattro traction, the amazing high speed stability, German V8 power...these are all qualities that NO 5.5Gen Maxima has - modded or not. The Maxima is a CHEAPER car and it feels and drives as such. Cheaper interior, less features, less stable/safe at high speed, cheaper materials inside, not as safe, more noise - road and engine, basic suspension(rear), smaller car.... we all know the story. Don't get me wrong, i like my 2003 Maxima SE and it is a great car for its price, however, it cannot be compared to the A8 when it comes to features, road behavior and fun to drive! Two very different cars in a different class with very different sticker prices. ($30k vs. $70k+) They both have pros and cons. Reliability is not everything....at least for some people. (if it was, BMW, Benz, Audi would be out of business long time ago)
Everybody here is right - an old Audi is VERY expensive to maintain. This is true for every HIGH end German car. This car is "over engineered" and when it gets old - it costs $$$ to maintain. Not reliable at all. On the other hand, the 5.5G Maxima is VERY reliable but with a lot less toys and luxury.
If you like all the features and the toys of the A8 and you don't have a problem with the poor MPG and frequent repair bills, get the Audi A8. Make sure it has ALL maintenance records and that it was services in a true Audi shop - regularly. These cars are VERY picky when it comes to fluids, parts and etc. Stay away from Audi dealers when it comes to repairs. If the car has no records - RUN away from it!
03-21-2007, 12:54 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 143
Ummm...this thread is 15 days old and the original poster has not returned to participate in it. I am assuming he has already made a decision on his own (whatever it was) so please ppl give it a rest and stop posting.
BTW, '02 Max > '98 A8
BTW, '02 Max > '98 A8
03-21-2007, 04:55 PM
#27
my sister had a 98 or 99 A6 and it was trouble all the way, the simplest things cost big bucks, even a simple oil change is 50 bucks, we knew a machanic that did the work at low cost and it was still crazy how much it ended up costing for parts
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