The November issue of Car & Driver has a 5-way comparison test of luxury sedans. Here is the order of finish:

1) BMW 740iL
2) Lexus LS400
3) Audi A8 4.2 quattro
4) Mercedes Benz S430
5) Jaguar XJ8

The A8 finished with 90 points, 3 points behind the winner and 1 point behind the LS400. The A8 had the strongest acceleration among the group, although all the numbers seem on the high side (A8 was fastest in 0-60 at 7.0 seconds). Lexus claimes that the LS400 accelerates to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Well in this test, the LS400 was about a full second slower.

The A8 lost points for harsh ride, weak brakes, excessive tire noise and lack of adequate room in the back for three passengers. The base and as-tested prices listed for the A8 seem to be about 5 grand too high. Also, the vehicle weight is listed at over 4000 lbs. It was my impression that the '00 model weighs close to 3850 lbs with the additional use of aluminum suspension components.

By the way, the revised interior of the A8 (as shown in one of the pictures) is simply gorgeous. I guess the U.S. versions get additional wood trim around the audio and climate control panels. The interior of the test car looks like opal gray and has light-colored polished wood of the Ambiente atmosphere.

Hmmm...I don´t think that the A8-brakes are "weak", they´re better than on the BMW 740iA E38, and the A8 has more room for backseaters than the BMW 7-Series (only the L-Version is has more space, of course). I really can´t understand why US-magazines ever compare the A8 with an *long* BMW 7-Series, that´s not an adequate competition. Surely the long BMW has more space, but the new long A8 will even have more Room...

Benjamin

I don't think all their criticism in this department had to do with rear legroom. Perhaps the bottom cushion is uncomfortable for the center passenger. In any case, this issue is not something that should enter into anybody's decision-making process. All of those cars, perhaps with the exception of the short-wheelbase Jaguar XJ8, have more than adequate passenger room. Frankly, I don't see the need for the L version of the 740i or the LWB version of the A8. Most of these cars have one or two occupants 98% of the time.

The harsh ride may have had something to do with those great looking optional 17" polished wheels. The other cars in the field come with 16" wheels. Perhaps the A8 doesn't have as cushy a ride as the LS400, but I would take its greater body control and better handling anytime.

At 6'5" I can't fit comfortably in the back of an A8, but a 740iL is a fine fit; even the LS400 has more space; in this price range the A8 needs to be bigger; otherwise the inside sizewise feels a lot more like a medium sized luxury sedan (such as an A6, E-class, etc. -- BMW made their 5-series entirely too small on the inside for this class).

The braking distance of the Audi is noticeably longer than the other cars (especially 740il) when I read the test.. It's a common known fact that VW/Audis have slightly spongy brakes.. A set of stainless steel brake lines, cross drilled or slotted rotors, and metalmaster pads should significantly reduce brake distances at under $1,000 installed if this really bothers any A8 owners...

I don´t know how the brakes of the US-Versions are (I heard Audi used in some countries smaller discs and other pads), but the brakes of my 1995 A8 4,2Q (I live in Germany) are really stronger than the 740i´s I drove for a few days...

If I remember correctly, when your brother was buying his 323i last year, you were also looking for a new car. Am I correct?? If so, I am just curious on what you ended up buying... I know you participate often in the BMW and Audi forums.

DrBimmer
'99 323i Sport (Sold)
'00 323i Sport Premium

It´s a very good idea to compare a long wheel-base car like the 740iL with the standard Version of the A8. Who wonders that the BMW has more room?

But if You really would do a fair comparing between an 740i (not "L"!) and an A7 You´ll see that the A8 has more room for passengers...

Benjamin