Whats the difference? is it the same chassis and engines? or what??? both look pretty similair...

Chassis is same, 4x4 system is same, engines are same as are some of the electronics.

Differences are:

Phaeton is handbuilt in a seethrough glass factory in Dresden next to the Bentley Continental Flying Spur. The Phaeton is made completely from galvanized Steel.

A8 is built on a conventional massproduction line in Ingolstadt, and made 100 per cent from Alluminum Alloy, the body, chassis and unsprung components are all Alloy. The bodies are pressed out of alloy in Neckarsulm down the road from Lidls head office!

They feel different to drive. The Phaeton is quieter & better insulated, whereas the Audi is quicker & more sport orientated due to different suspension electronics & lighter weight but there is more vibration through the alloy floor so its less refined. Both superb cars though.

They share most engines, although you can't get the Gallardo engine from the S8 in a Phaeton & you can't get the 5.0 V10 TDI from the Phaeton in an A8.

I don't think they look the same, they each have their own family look.

I'd definitely go for the Audi A8, preferably the 6 litre LWB, although for the first time in my life I'm rather keen on a diesel (the 4.2 TDi). The Audi A8L is probably my favorite car on the market now, looks more elegant than the Merc S-class, and certainly better than the 7-series BMW

I understand Audi are providing Prince Charles with a fleet of A8s. Regardless of what you think of the guy, you can't fault him in the good taste department.

I think Palmira summed it up perfectly. Slightly different character but both cracking motors.

Phaeton is criminally undervalued.

..or totally devoid of character, but both cracking motors......

quote:

I understand Audi are providing Prince Charles with a fleet of A8s. Regardless of what you think of the guy, you can't fault him in the good taste department.

Hmmm...I quite like the guy and as someone who has also been discovered talking to the plants while watering them I can't nitpick to much! However I do fault his good taste not too sure about these two Audis.

Audi have been trying to raise their image - thats why Charlie has been given a free one. I have one or 2 celebrity clients who have also been given A8L 6.0 W12s for free for 6 months each.

All the celebs in London are getting free A8s and free chauffeurs - so that they can be seen arriving at shows etc and on the tv with an A8. Clever marketing..

The Anti M-B brigade will tell you its because the new A8 is better than an S-class - ive heard people say this to me before - but the reality is that the A8 is a free car, thats why theyve got them.

Ive been in a new shape S500 this morning & i can tell you it is truly magnificent. Inside and out its just about as good as cars get. If M-B would sell me one for less, id consider it but I cant justify 75,000 so im going to keep my existing 3 mercs & get a phaeton... Cost no object Id get 2 new S500s and a Phaeton.

yeah..anyone who talks to broccoli and worships spike milligan and the goons is ok by me....

..new s-class looks like a big focus with those ridiculous arches...i hope it drives considerably better than it looks...and maybe stops before it ploughs into the back of the car in front as it did in the notorious adaptive cruise test as seen on a tv near you....some may find its new look attractive, i think its had a fight with the ugly tree and lost comprehensively on points...STILL i thought the cls was hideous till i saw one in the metal on the road...STUNNING CAR!!..so i will reserve full judgement till i see the real thing bearing down on me with a maniacal chauffeur behind the wheel....

The real thing looks fantastic. And the interior is a masterpiece, the dash and switchgear are exquisite like ive seen on no other car, all those world-firsts in technology should make it really interesting to drive too.

That M-B testing video of a pre-production one hitting another vehicle was only half the story. When testing that Distronic-Plus system, they had to get it 100% right because its a safety issue. I expect they wrecked several cars in the process.. Can you imagine the litigation if M-B let that car out with errors which caused it to hit other cars? I would have faith in the Distronic-Plus, and when i get my new-shape S in a couple of years time, I will set that to cruise, and leave my feet off the pedals through London & let the car stop & start itself by following the traffic. That will make for completely stressless driving & smooth pickup & slowdown. Nice hardware.

The current S has only done 190,000 miles or so (cant check at the moment, its flying along the M4 with a client on board!) but its still superb so that wont be going for a little while yet. Going to have the Phaeton meanwhile, then keep the Phaeton & get a new S in place of the current S in 2 years time or so. So the ones you will see meanwhile will have a different maniacal chauffeur behind the wheel!

quote:

Originally posted by biggbn:
STILL i thought the cls was hideous till i saw one in the metal on the road...STUNNING CAR!!...

Yes, it's without doubt the best looking Merc at the moment.

not on the inside... its pretty naff actually.

CLS is stylish inside and out! soxcars i think its got a superb interior... Yes they based it very much on the E-class but when i borrowed one when they first came out, it drew a crowd sitting outside here! Passers by wanted to know what it was! When they looked inside, they loved it!

no the interiro is not suitable for the price. cheap plastics inside.

Its alot cheaper than a CL. Pay CL money & get a CL interior - Pay 45 grand & get a very stylish car with a very good V8 engine, superb quality leather & a stylish dash - yes its E-class based, but its also E-class money...

but the interior really is rubbish. it might look good in magazines, but the seat adjustment buttons look out of place in a car like this and the slidey cubby hole thing in the centre between the two front seets really isnt very classy looking.

The design of the interior is very interesting. i think jaguar should copy it. lots of wood along the width of the dash and leather but ALOT more modern!

Yes it does look more modern youre right.

The overall quality is very high - i am surprised you think it isnt. The wood panel across the dash has a very nice matt finish, instead of the usual shiny plastic fake-wood veneers you see alot these days, and the entire dash and center console is trimmed in stitched leather, often 2 tone. The instrument panel is chrome bezeled and has very stylish instruments and on board computer display, and all the buttons on the dash are logic-control flush-fitting ones. Its a high-quality item, thats for sure. I had a good look at one this morning at the M-B dealer to re-familiarize myself with it, after you mentioned you didnt like the interior quality - just in case i had missed something... But it is as good as ever using high quality materials & solid controls. Id have a CLS definitely.

ok well maybe saying it was rubbish was an exageration.

it is of a very good quality. but compared to an audi A6 V6 or V8 which it will compete with, its not as good.

I like Audi and acknowledge they are good quality - however the CLS has a better, more integrated interior in my opinion... The M-B COMAND system is better than the Audi system and the materials - mainly the stitched leather - on the CLS's dash are higher quality than the non-leather on the Audi.

quote:

Originally posted by Palmira:
Chassis is same, 4x4 system is same, engines are same as are some of the electronics.

Differences are:

Phaeton is handbuilt in a seethrough glass factory in Dresden next to the Bentley Continental Flying Spur. The Phaeton is made completely from galvanized Steel.

A8 is built on a conventional massproduction line in Ingolstadt, and made 100 per cent from Alluminum Alloy, the body, chassis and unsprung components are all Alloy. The bodies are pressed out of alloy in Neckarsulm down the road from Lidls head office!

They feel different to drive. The Phaeton is quieter & better insulated, whereas the Audi is quicker & more sport orientated due to different suspension electronics & lighter weight but there is more vibration through the alloy floor so its less refined. Both superb cars though.

Which one costs more to build?

You've got the more expensive aluminium body that is massed produced versus the less expensive steel body that is hand built.

I prefer the look of the A8 myself.

The Phaeton isn't too bad, but it is overly bland, whereas the A8 seems a bit more handsome & distinctive.

The W12 is good!

much prefer the a8, old or new..its stylish, classy and looks good..the phaeton, which i have actually driven..(and various a8s including my mates s8..which is a nice quick old barge...)..doesnt feel special at all...a fantastically engineered and beautifully made car almost wholly devoid of character....and i know thats a common critique of german cars, but with the phaeton its not just an overused cliche....the one i drove, admittedly a base spec 3.2 v6 felt no more special than a well specced passat...

The W12 motor is a great powerplant.

a fantastic engine...but althought the phaeton i drove was the wee v6, the essential cabin architecture etc will remain....nope, again, a car that fascinates me but i dont WANT.....