88 April 2020 whatcar.com
Get rich quick
THECONTENDERS FORBUYERSINsearchofausedluxurycar,
theMercedes-BenzS-Classseemstohave
becomeourdefaultrecommendation.In
fact,ithaswonourUsedLuxuryCarofthe Year
awardforthepasttwoyears.Intheprocess, it
hasbeatensuchesteemedcompetitionasthe
BMW 5 SeriesandPorschePanamerainthe
process,thankstoitsopulentandspacious
interior,composedhandlingandgeneralair of
indomitability–nottomentionthefactthat it
representsexceptionalvalueformoney.
BuyinganS-Classsecond-handisatruly
temptingprospect,becauseitmeansyoucan
putyourbottomwhereonlymillionaires
usuallysitforlessthanhalfthepriceofanew
one.However,itsreignisunderthreatlike
neverbefore.ThelatestAudiA8ispackedwith
technologydesignedtoallowittobeatits
AudiA8
50 TDIquattroL
Listpricewhennew£73,095
Pricetoday£35,800
Availablefrom2018-present
Audi’shigh-techagshipis amongthe
verybestforclassandcomfort.
Mercedes rival at its own game. And if you buy
one of these at a similar age, the A8 represents
just as much of a bargain as the S-Class.
Here, we’re pitching a 3.0-litre diesel A8
in extended-wheelbase guise against our
favourite 3.0-litre diesel long-wheelbase
S-Class to fi nd out which one makes the best
used luxury limo. Can the four rings better
the three-pointed star?
DRIVING
Both cars’ engines pump out 282bhp and
produce the same maximum pulling power
at identical points in the rev range. It’s hardly
surprising, then, that they accelerate similarly
briskly, although Audi’s standard quattro four-
wheel drive helped the A8 to get off the mark
more effectively on our damp test track.
A used Audi A8 or Mercedes-Benz S-Class
limo is so much cheaper than when it was
new that you don’t have to be a millionaire
to travel like one. Time to be pampered...
Photography: Will Williams
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
S350d L AMG Line
List price when new £75,505
Price today £34,500
Available from 2018-present
Our reigning Used Luxury Car of the Year
represents incredible value for money.
Price today is based on a 2008 model with average mileage
and full service history, correct at time of writing
USED CARS