2008 Audi S8

[talentco]

I'm a first time Audi owner and I went all out and purchased the 2008 Audi s8. I am amazed at how incredible this car is. When driving it you forget your in a 4 door sedan.

I'm trying to contact any S8 or A8 owners because of a very interesting problem I have found with my car.

There is an engineering flaw in the cars A/C design. Here's the problem. Once you start the car for the first time in a given day the A/C begins to cool like any other car. It initially blows less than cool air then it gets cold like any other car you've driven.

But after you've reached a destination and shut off the car the A/C does not function normal once you turn the car back on. What it does is blow extremely hot air, like from your heater, into your car for up to 30 seconds before it gets cold. It's not the warm air that initially blows in on any other car but it's hot hot air.

Well I contact Audi and scheduled a service because I knew that there was something wrong. When I sat down with my service rep and told him my problem he began to laugh and said that this is the #1 complaint for all A8 & S8 owners. He then proceeded to tell me that this is the way that Audi designed the car to function. He told me that instead of evacuating the hot air that's accumulated in the A/C out of the car like any other car in the world, Audi decided to evacuate it into the interior of the car.

I couldn't believe what he was telling me. I paid 110k dollars for a car that was designed to blow hot air in my face for 30 seconds before getting cool. He basically told that was it and that there was nothing he could do. He did call his head mechanic to explain to me why this system does what it does but in the end, it was designed to work the way I've explained.

Some of you might think this is no big deal but if you experienced it you would be as shocked as I am. I live in Miami, Florida where the summer heat and humidity is out of control. I have this beautiful piece of machinery that I loathe getting into. After a round of golf or eating lunch with a client, it's to the point where everytime I have someone with me the ask what is up with your A/C. I'm embarrassed to have to say, that's the way Audi sent it to mass production.

If anyone else reading this has this same problem please let me know. I think that this should've been disclosed during the test drive and should be recalled.

Oliver
Miami, Fl

[gibbo37]

I have a 2004 A8 and I have to say that mine doesn't do it..... Mind you I'm based in the UK so we don't experience the same extremes of heat that you do, but even on relatively hot days I've never experienced the same issue as with your car.

I think your dealer is fobbing you off !!

[craigyb]

My 2007 A8 4.2 Tdi doesn't do that at all.

I'm in the UK, I think you car has a fault.

[talentco]

Originally Posted by gibbo37

I have a 2004 A8 and I have to say that mine doesn't do it..... Mind you I'm based in the UK so we don't experience the same extremes of heat that you do, but even on relatively hot days I've never experienced the same issue as with your car.

I think your dealer is fobbing you off !!

I wish that were the case. I'm going to pursue it more this week. I'm going to get it in writing.

I'll keep this thread informed.

[timeless]

Take a look at this thread. Seems you are not alone.
AudiWorld Forums: Air conditioning blows warm air

P.S. Good looking car, great looking passenger.

[talentco]

Originally Posted by gibbo37

I have a 2004 A8 and I have to say that mine doesn't do it..... Mind you I'm based in the UK so we don't experience the same extremes of heat that you do, but even on relatively hot days I've never experienced the same issue as with your car.

I think your dealer is fobbing you off !!

And if he wasn't fobbing me then it would it would be an error of AUDI's engineering, right?

[talentco]

Originally Posted by timeless

Take a look at this thread. Seems you are not alone.
AudiWorld Forums: Air conditioning blows warm air

P.S. Good looking car, great looking passenger.

Much appreciated Timeless...
Thanks for the link.. the guy is from Miami also so that is great...

[invincible]

an ex-S500 2005 mercedes owner, would never give up his ride for nothing. I felt everything during the test drive of the 4.2 A8 that redirected my trip to the showroom right away to sell the benz !!
Nothing can beat the feeling you get when you drive an A8 by all means, nevertheless, no other car can develop worse A/C system. I live in Saudi Arabia where the weather is very similar to Miami. I am facing the same problem in addition to engine high temperature when running A/C in a crowded high-way or when stopped.

[talentco]

Originally Posted by invincible

an ex-S500 2005 mercedes owner, would never give up his ride for nothing. I felt everything during the test drive of the 4.2 A8 that redirected my trip to the showroom right away to sell the benz !!
Nothing can beat the feeling you get when you drive an A8 by all means, nevertheless, no other car can develop worse A/C system. I live in Saudi Arabia where the weather is very similar to Miami. I am facing the same problem in addition to engine high temperature when running A/C in a crowded high-way or when stopped.

I've learned to live with it. It's the initial minute of cooling that sucks. I don't have any high tempature problems with the engine.
I still can't believe that Audi engineers mass produced a car with an A/C system that functions this way. It evacuates the hot air into the car before cooling whereas any other car evacuates the hot air outside.
My wife's Mercedes GL 450 has an incredible A/C system.

I got the S8 up to 120 mph the other night and I couldn't believe how tight the car drove at these speeds, there was still so much more excelleration available but due to the situation I couldn't test it. This car is simply amazing.