Audi S8 (D4) | PH Private Area

The Audi configurator is a strange website right now. There are seemingly dozens of A6 variants, including the new electric version, the new petrol version, the old petrol and diesels, the plug-in hybrids, the fast ones… it’s complicated. Before even thinking about the A5 your brain will still think is an A4, a host of electric e-trons that you’d forgotten about (SQ6 Sportback, anyone?) and a Nurburgring record-breaking SUV. If it’s possible to have too much choice, it’s on Audi’s website right now. 

Yet lurking towards the bottom of the ‘Models’ page is an old favourite: the Audi S8. Still a fairly subtle, super luxurious ‘bahnstormer, the kind of four-door saloon that would pass most folk by and which don’t really exist anymore. Probably the S8 as it is won’t live much longer, given the move away from cars of this ilk. Or the fact that the class below, the AMG E-Classes, BMW M5s and S-badged Audi A6s (all 30 of them) are now so huge to make anything more unnecessary. 

Even at £114,000, it’s hard not to look on the S8 fondly as an easy-to-understand fast Audi in an otherwise confusing line-up. But you needn’t spend six figures to get an A8 that looks the business and is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with more than 500hp – because there’s the old one for that. The D4 era of S8 is already fading into history; after all, it isn’t the latest and greatest, and nor is it as iconic as the original or as mad as the V10. But for a compelling mix of new fast Audi and old fast Audi, there’s surely a lot going for it. 

Look inside this one, for starters. As a 2016 S8, there’s all the kit and more anyone could possibly want – 22-way adjustable seats, surround cameras, ambient lighting – plus the most glorious Nutmeg Brown leather, but also proper dials, buttons and knobs. Sure, it’s busy, but we all know by now how much more satisfying a switch is than furiously prodding at a screen. And how good do those dials look?

The PHer selling this one searched long and hard for this spec, and the effort has paid off: clear glass instead of tints and silver instead of black accents work really nicely with the grey paint and that incredible leather. There’s barely a mark to be seen, there are four Goodyears on the wheels, and it’s going to be serviced ahead of sale. This year’s MOT is flawless. 

It’s a heck of a lot of Audi S8 for £25k, basically. It’s half the price of any D5 version on PH right now, and the spec is way more interesting and desirable than the usual blacks and whites. Showing just 43k as well, there’ll be a huge amount more mile munching to come. With up to 30mpg possible, so the seller says. Which you certainly won’t be getting in the V10. 

Engine: 3,993cc, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 8-speed auto, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 520@5,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 449@1,700-5,500rpm
MPG: 30.1
CO2: 216g/km
Year registered: 2016
Recorded mileage: 43,000
Price new: £80,735 (2015
Yours for: £25,995