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looking at a Audi, choice between:

New Q5 S line with about 4k of extras

or

Used 1 yr old Audi A8 3.0Tdi SE

Or should I go for something different?

What would you go for?, particulary interested in views from A8 owners. 

I test drove an A8 before buying the W220 S-Class and then again before buying the W221. You might get the idea that I thought it played second fiddle to the Benz. Well, the A8 is a nice car with a nice interior and a nice sounding V8 diesel, but the ride comfort lets it down badly and although it looks and feels top quality it's fundamentally a very boring car, the automotive equivalent of a Pulitzer prize winning editorial. Your successful accountant's car.

Anyway, go back to back with an S and the difference is stark. Both cars are about the same fun to punt down a country lane, so I don't know why you'd want to put up with Audi's legenday second-rate ride. Having said that, the depreciation is fiercer so you will get a better A8 for the same money.

Confess I didn't drive the 3.0 though.

Never test drove the Q5 so cannot comment but drove the A8 3.0Tdi SE and the A8 4.2Td sport and have to say they are light years apart in terms of performance...so if the budget can stretch that far then go for the 4.2 no question about it!! 

 I eventually went for the S8 which has fantastic performance but not so far ahead of the 4.2Td as you might think ( maybe I made the wrong choice????)

My major gripe is the lack of feel good factor along with the so-so ride. I just feel for the money it should be a bit more special

 

 We have a 10 month old Audi A8 3.0 TDI - and I really like it. Biggest problems are hesitating autobox (do all diesel autos do this?) and a rattle in the dash.

 However my wife has an Allroad with the same engine - and I think that's a better car. Really well built and much more agile than the A8.

We'll have another Allroad, but I suspect won't get another A8.

Q5's not out yet - but write-ups are not great. I'd get an A6 Allroad.

There's no substiute for a decent extended test drive.  Dealers are desperate to shift metal at the moment, so you could probably turn up at any Audi franchise and ask for an 24hr test with out being laughed at.

Give it a go, what's the worst that could happen.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Dissapointingly dealer was no help when it came to the Q5- no information.

Don't need extra performance of a 4.2TDI nor S8 as I have a 911 already, just needed a family car.

Had a test drive in the A8, frankly it was fine but not special. Felt to me like a bigger version of an A4, and I do agree about the gearbox as well.

The nail in the coffin was the attitude of Audi dealer, killed the deal- BMW offered a finance deal at 125GBP a month less than Audi and also offered 2.5k more for my P/X for either a 535d M sport or 730d Sport priced the same as the Audi A8.

Audi obviously don't need the business!!

Also thought about a S class but it's a bit too big so I am looking at CLS's as well...

I had a similar experience of shitey service at Audi dealers. I was dead keen on an S3 and, after having told them that I would make a decision the next day (I was trawling BMW and Merc for the best deals too), I asked for their best price. They refused to give me a discounted price until I told them that I definitively wanted to buy an S3. Ludicrous. What happened to tempting a buyer and competing against BMW and Merc. They were out of the race before it began and it came down to BMW and Merc. Merc looked after me best so I went with them. Awful snooty attitude.