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There’s a famous exchange between F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway.
Fitzgerald is quoted as saying, “The rich are different from you and me.” And Hemingway responded: “Yes, they have more money.”
Unfortunately, that apocryphal exchange never actually took place, but that doesn’t diminish its truth. The rich do have more money. And they can use it to buy different cars than ordinary folk.
Cars such as the sublime Audi A8 L.
You would need to be well-off to own such a machine. It carries a base price, although in this case “base” is somewhat of a misnomer, of $78,500.
For that kind of cash there are any number of choices for the well-heeled to consider from the world’s top automakers. Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus — these are but a few which offer vehicles that roam in this exalted realm. But the Audi A8 is easily a match for the best of them.
Start with the A8’s drivetrain. Audi’s vaunted quattro all-wheel-drive system is standard, of course. For 2013 Audi dropped the previous standard V-8 engine in favor of a supercharged, twin-cam V-6. This is no downgrade: It not only outperforms the previous V-8 but delivers better gas mileage as well. (For those who believe too much is never enough, there are still an optional V-8 and V-12 monster motor available.)
The silken six delivers its 333 eager horses through an unobtrusive eight-speed automatic transmission that features a Sport setting and steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. The car leaps off the line with muscle-car urgency and surges ahead until better senses take over. Highway miles slide by in near-silence.
Time to stop? Massive brakes slough off speed with no drama. Likewise, corners are dispatched with sports-sedan confidence, the chassis’ prodigious grip abetted by the quattro system.
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| 2013 Audi A8L 3.0T quattro
VEHICLE TYPE: Four-door, five-passenger, full-size luxury sedan |
If the A8 has one quality that elevates it over its competition, it would be the sumptuous cabin. Audi is an industry leader in interior design and meticulous assembly, and the A8 is the ne plus ultra of the marque’s lineup.
To elevate the car’s ambiance to the max, our tester was crammed full of costly options such as a full leather package (door panels, dash, even the steering-wheel hub); a design selection package featuring gorgeous high-grade brown leather and aluminum and satin-finish ash inlays; a panorama sunroof; an Alcantara headliner; and my co-pilot’s favorite feature, 22-way, heated/cooled front seats with an array of massage selections.
In all, the roster of optional equipment added an eye-popping $28 grand to the bottom line, including a killer $6,300 Bang & Olufsen sound system.
Being an L model (long wheelbase), rear-seat passengers are treated to executive-class legroom and comfort. They may travel in high style, but they better travel light, because this biggest Audi features one of the smallest trunks in its class at 13.2 cubic feet.
All in all, this A8 L is a truly exceptional automobile. Ernest and F. Scott would definitely approve.
Reprint story -- Email the reporter at kwalston@abqjournal.com. Call the reporter at 505-823-3850
