Shopping for S7 vs S8. Help please!!

[jpasiczn]

Hello everyone. Long time lurker, first time posting. I'm currently in a V10 M5, and that thing is just a brutal beast. Tries to rip your face off at every moment. Revs to infinity, and shifts like nothing else I've ever been in. But those days are behind me. Its been a fun car, a great ride, and all things considered, very reliable (original clutch in the SMG at 68k miles!!). However, I'm ready for something a little more smooth. A road trip >300 miles is just torture on the back, and the herky jerky shifts are giving my wife fits (she probably drives it more than I do). This led me to the S lineup, and I really love my options. I'm torn, and need some help BIG TIME!

At this point, I've narrowed it down to a 2014 S7 and 2013 S8. Both are CPO with coverage until mid 2019. Both are within +/- $1k. So throw warranty and cost out of the window. Specs:
S7 - 11k miles, innovation package, drivers assistance package, multifunction seats, B&O sound, black optics, LED headlights. Basically fully loaded. Black on black.
S8 - 31k miles, drivers assistance package, cold weather package, titanium finish wheels. Only thing its missing is B&O and night vision. Daytona Gray with Black interior

S7 - love the look better than S8. Seems as if there are huge gains to be had with simple tune. Huge potential for the motor, but as stock not quite as fast as S8. More sporty handling and feel. Love the heads up display and night vision options, B&O sounds GREAT. We don't have kids yet, but we are getting ready for them. Have heard mixed reviews about size for rear facing car seat in the A7/S7 platform. I'm a taller guy 6'4 but it seems like I would be in a comfortable seating position with a kid seat behind me.

S8 - Huge comfortable luxury cruiser. Size is not an issue in the rear. Missing a few of the options that the S7 has, although none of those are deal breakers for me. Slightly higher miles, but again, under CPO until 100k or same-ish date. Huge power, silly how fast it can be with a simple tune.

Am I missing anything about the platforms? Am I way off base on anything? Any input on car seat behind driver in S7? Love the S7 and so does my wife, but she is concerned about a kid seat fitting back there comfortably. I think the S7 stands out a bit more than S8, but the S8 is just SO comfortable as a cruiser. I have a 4 miles commute, so I'm really loving the idea of long road trip to see family and riding on a cloud.

please help, I want to pull the trigger some time this week!! Love this board, have read a ton on each car adn will continue to read more!

John

[HeelBuff]

Seems like you've answered your question. S7 FTW!

[diablooffire03]

Ide personally go for the s8, After researching this car every other day preparing for the price to drop a little more. But for such a big comfortable car, it's damn fast. Its gonna take some extra mods for an tuned s7 to compete with a tuned s8. S7 is an eye catcher for sure. S8 lays low, but packs a better package for sure.

[LINDW4LL]

It sounds like you may be leaning towards the S7- it should have no problem with your baby seats, but maybe someone here who has done it can chime in. Otherwise, you could always grab a baby seat and take it to the dealer to test it out.

Both cars are awesome and quite comfortable cruisers. It really just comes down to whichever styling you prefer, in my opinion. You really cannot go wrong either way.

[kouzman]

Definitely the S7 looks sportier and "younger".

However, the S8 is a beast. Power closer to the RS7, than the other S variants.

From what I read, the S7 transmission could be jerky sometimes, but sometimes tells me it is will ways better than the M5.

The S8 is VERY comfortable! The S7 can feel tight in the back sometimes. I have not tried a car seat but from the looks of it, things can become tight. Plus it is a four seater.

Very difficult decision indeed but if you really want ENORMOUS power and the ability to go ballistic at some point, the S8 is the way to go!

[hackths]

I currently have an infant car seat in the back of my S7. When he is in the carrier I do have to move my seat up an inch, but that would be solved with moving the carrier to the other side. Not sure how the "next size" seat will fit- I have a matching black Recaro seat that would be for my son in a couple months- he is 7mo right now. Keep in mind the S7 has 2 rear seats, the center is not a seat. I only wanted the 7 body style, and came from an A8L. A8 was a cruiser and very comfy, but there is not much "wow" to it externally. Plus there are a ton of A8, L and S8's around me, I assumed the local deal was giving them away on leases ;). Very few S7's and a handful of A7's. In my opinion the S7 and RS7 are practical sports cars. I do believe the S8 engine internals are closer to the RS7 though, even though both are 4.0T engines. I do plan someday to chip like I did my TT to get the RS7 power. Depends what you are looking for... Monster, complete sleeper, especially when modded- S8. A ton of go with a lot of potential, fully loaded and tons of curb appeal and sexy lines- S7.
Regarding your option set, my S7 is similar without black optic and B&O. Love the HUD and night vision. I also have comfort seats (which I was looking for), love the quilting of the sport but REALLY LOVE the ventilation and massage functions after 18 or 36 holes of golf :-)

[subterFUSE]

S8 looks better, is more comfortable and Daytona Gray is better than black. I'd go for that.


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[VeryBadman]

S8 is faster and more comfortable. Only downside would be the trunk in S8 is surprisingly smaller than S6 so it's obviously smaller than S7 too.

If you really prefer S7 look, try harder to find for CPO RS7. It shouldn't be much more expensive than both S7 and S8.

[DrRodge]

One the things that swayed me is that the rear seats on the S8 do not fold down to expand the trunk. The 7 on the other hand has a massive amount of room with the hatchback.

[Demandred]

S8 all day - those things are like space ships on wheels! I would have gone for the S8 here instead of the S6 but the cost was still out of reach.

agree on trying to find RS7 if you prefer that shape

[Nabizzy]

Rs7>s8>s7 imho

[HyperM3]

Where are you located? Drive both and then decide which one fits you better.

[Brooklyn]

The only reason I would hesitate on a S8 is the inability to fold the rear seats down, a feature I use quite a bit since this is my only car. Other than that, it wouldn't even be a discussion. ROCKET SHIP!

[diablooffire03]

I do agree that's a downer... I've managed in my e55 with no folding seats, but it has a large trunk. So yeh it's a slight compromise. As long as a baby stroller can fit back there than its all good as far as s8 goes. Best of luck with your decision

[Brooklyn]

Anyone know the reason behind that omission? Is there some fancy gizmo built into the rear seats that led to Audi not allowing them to be folded down?

[jpasiczn]

Thanks everyone, this is helpful discussion. I did not realize the trunk was so small in the D4 chassis. Doing research, it appears the reason is because the D4 can be equipped with rear power seats, and they needed room for that equipment, so even if you don't have the option, you lose the room.

My M5 now does not have fold down seats, and it really hasn't been an issue. As long as I can fit 2 golf bags and an occasional shotgun or two, thats all I really need. I have a diesel X5 for hauling anything substantial

I'm going to drive the S7 tonight, but the S8 is not in town. I'll take an A8 out to get a feel for the size of it and go from there

[LINDW4LL]

After thinking about this, the S8 is the flagship sedan and the route I'd go at the same price point.

The engine is better, better interior, and the weight difference isn't much between the two. S8 is the perfect cruiser.




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[AKPS4]

Warranty won't matter if you plan to tune.

[Demandred]

Anyone know the reason behind that omission? Is there some fancy gizmo built into the rear seats that led to Audi not allowing them to be folded down?

When I looked at getting a S8 here they mentioned to me about the lack of folding seats - and said that all the computers and wizardry is housed on the back of the seats going into the boot - said there are so many more electronics etc that they had to be put somewhere. I agree though that the boot is quite a lot smaller / more shallow than the S6 boot - regadless of folding seats

I would still have a S8 though as they are amazing pieces of tech - especially fully kitted

[LINDW4LL]

Warranty won't matter if you plan to tune.

It still matters.

Everything on the car is still covered except for powertrain failures related to the tune, and even then, that's only if he were to get flagged TD1.




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[subterFUSE]

Anyone know the reason behind that omission? Is there some fancy gizmo built into the rear seats that led to Audi not allowing them to be folded down?

Main reason is because the A8L has a rear seat recline option. In order to accommodate that design there needs to be enough space for the seat to tilt back.

The second reason is that Audi placed a lot of electronics back there.
I think in the newer models of the A8, some of the electronics got moved to the sides but the overall trunk volume remains small.


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[eyeloveteeth]

being an S7 owner i would go with the S8. 100 more HP and more from tune. You can be the transporter.

[AudiA6A5]

S8...

.....IMO it would only be a debate if deciding between RS7 and S8

[kiku]

I agree, s8 is the way to go if price is same. You are getting rs7 power there.

Car seats in back of a c7 a/s/rs7 makes it tight for the driver of you are tall.

[Kem]

You can't argue with the power of the S8, it's the main reason to get one.

I'd say the S8 has some cons in my opinion:
1. Less sporty interior, don't like the seats as much but the alcantara is nice
2. Not a fan of the droopy eye LEDs in the headlights
3. traditional automatic transmission
4. no folding seats

[OmaHahn]

The S7 can feel tight in the back sometimes.

Ummmm, what are you talking about?