The Audi D3 S8 is one of the most compelling modern sleepers you can buy

If sedans are a dying breed, a car like the D3-generation Audi S8 can only be thought of as functionally extinct.

While buyers turn away from traditional saloons in droves (especially niche, opulent long-wheelbase limos) and carmakers increasingly trade off cylinder counts for turbochargers, the notion of an Audi-badged S-Class rival with a Lamborghini-derived 5.2-litre V10 in its snout seems simply unfathomable in a contemporary context.

And yet, Audi produced exactly that from 2006 to 2010, costing more than $250,000 when new.

Today, you can find D3-generation S8 V10s asking between $35,000 and $45,000, which is virtually unmatched on the ‘lot of car for your money’ equation.

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However, don’t buy into the experience expecting a cut-price four-door Lamborghini Gallardo.

While its V10 is closely related the Lamborghini unit, the Audi powerplant utilised different injectors, manifolds, engine management, and even differed in cylinder bores, cylinder spacing and compression – yielding 331kW compared to the facelifted 5.2-litre Gallardo’s 368kW output.

Peak torque matches the updated Gallardo’s 540Nm output, and is delivered at a lazy 3000rpm – half that of the Italian coupe’s heady 6000rpm peak. And despite the large limo’s all-aluminium body, its large stature, big engine and quattro underpinnings yielded a hefty 1940kg kerb weight.

The V10 limo will still hang with modern traffic, however, with a claimed 4.9-second sprint from 0-100km/h.

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"A Lamborghini-tinged 5.2-litre v10 may never be more attainable again"

As the brand’s flagship luxury offering, it was filled to the gills with tech and amenities. In fact, there’s little missing on the original equipment list that one could want for in a car today. The list of kit includes: 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, SatNav, four-zone climate control, power memory seats, LED daytime running lights, front and rear parking sensors, auto headlights, adaptive air suspension, keyless entry and even fingerprint keyless start!

Visually, the Audi S8 flies well under the radar and, as a package, is one of the most compelling modern sleepers you can buy. Audi will never build a car quite like this again, and a Lamborghini-tinged V10 may never be more attainable. Go on, you know you want to...

Essential checks

In the market

The D3 Audi S8 underwent a facelift in November 2007, most notably introducing a revised and more direct Servotronic steering rack, updated shock absorbers and air suspension dampers as well as added noise insulation. Audi’s ‘Side Assist’ blind spot monitoring and Lane Assist systems were also introduced as cost options.

A second facelift later occurred and was strictly limited to exterior styling. These series III cars can be distinguished by a vertical bar grille, side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and LED tail lights.

S8s didn’t sell in huge numbers so they are rare to find today. We only observed a couple of series I and II cars on the market, both asking less than $45,000. Naturally, the reputation of costly maintenance afflicting used European cars – a V10 one, at that – has seen values plummet below one-fifth of the large barge’s as-new sticker price. But for so much car, it’s hard to imagine values falling much lower.

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Body & Chassis

With this generation of A8, Audi was able to reduce the number of components in the all-aluminium body while greatly increasing the degree of automation in its production. One of the downsides of the material’s weight and corrosion-resistant benefits is that dents and damage are costly to repair. Presence of corrosion may indicate previous dodgy fixes.

Engine & Transmission

This is the scary part, however, you’ll be glad to hear that many in the Audi clan regard this powertrain to be rather durable with proper love and care. The big V10 is quite demanding when it comes to oil changes, and drinks around 10 litres every 100km. Full service history is essential.

Oil pump seals and cam cover gaskets are known to grow leaky around 160,000km. Beware that access to all spark plugs and coil packs require a partial engine removal, and a starter motor replacement is an engine-out exercise, so expect labour-intensive invoices.

Coil packs can fail, so ensure the engine runs smoothly throughout the rev range, and it’s generally advised against proceeding with a car possessing a noisy or rough transmission.

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Suspension & Brakes

The air suspension system is known to be problematic so cycle between all modes and listen for an overly noisy air compressor, and any ‘greyed out’ options on the central MMI screen.

On the road, listen for clunks and noises most often occurring at the front end. There are eight suspension arms up there, and double the bushings. And the only way you’re getting new bushings from Audi is by buying a complete replacement arm.

Interior & Electronics

These cabins are generally bolted together well, however, listen for rattles that may have developed over time. The S8 was also filled with some incredibly advanced technology for its time (the fingerprint thing was very sci-fi, but problematic in reality), so press every single button and test that all the functions work. In rare cases, the central power screen and B&O rise-up dash tweeters can fail with age, as can the boot’s power-close motor or switch.

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Audi D3 S8 specs

Body: 4-door, 5-seat sedan
Engine: 5204cc V10, DOHC, 40v
Power: 331kW @ 7000rpm
Torque: 540Nm @ 3000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Weight: 1940kg
Used range: $35,000-$45,000

Three other options you may consider

1. Mercedes-Benz S600
Another luxury limousine, the W220-generation Mercedes-Benz S600 boasted a 5.8-litre V12 and claimed to clock 0-100km/h in just 4.3 seconds. On the secondhand market, they’re more readily available, generally with less mileage, for less money than the Audi S8.

2. BMW E60 M5
The E60 5 Series remains one of the more controversial designs of the Bangle era of BMW. But what we could all get behind was that wonderful F1-inspired S85 V10. It was the world’s first production saloon fitted with a V10, appearing one year before the larger S8.

3. Volkswagen R50 Touareg
Not exactly a direct comparison, but there are very few competitors at this price point, cylinder count and of this vintage. The notion of a super SUV is commonplace today, but the 5.0-litre twin-turbo diesel V10 R50 Touareg was something entirely new back in 2004.