What a Car - UK - (2020-04)

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