[ThrottleHouse]: BMW M760i vs Audi S8

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

[Epiplatys]

Originally Posted by Mo@BMWofFairfax

I owned a B7 RS4 for like 6 years and 100k miles. Loved it, and barely could bring myself to selling it.
It was also the car with the most issues I every had with any of my vehicles. As much as I loved it, I swore it was my last Audi ever.
I traded it in for a 2012 750. And I'm on my 3rd 7 series, M760Li now. And I think I will get another one some time again.

[stein_325i]

The V12 is really cool, but I'd likely just get an S63. Just not a fan of the current 7er and A8.

[chrisny]

Why don't they know that 7 grill is way too big? Looks like Clifford. The previous model looked awesome and I frequently mistake it for a 5 series, looks sleek and smaller than it is, which is what you want for a large, sporty sedan. This big nose does the opposite.

[unfoundnemo]

Originally Posted by chrisny

Why don't they know that 7 grill is way too big? Looks like Clifford. The previous model looked awesome and I frequently mistake it for a 5 series, looks sleek and smaller than it is, which is what you want for a large, sporty sedan. This big nose does the opposite.

I don't know about wanting it to look smaller than it is, I would much rather it feel smaller than it is. If I were to get a 7 series, I certainly wouldn't want it mistaken for a 5, I would want it to portray every bit of road dominance possible. The N74 certainly helps with the M760i, but proportions play a much larger role for the rest of the line.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by unfoundnemo

I don't know about wanting it to look smaller than it is, I would much rather it feel smaller than it is. If I were to get a 7 series, I certainly wouldn't want it mistaken for a 5, I would want it to portray every bit of road dominance possible. The N74 certainly helps with the M760i, but proportions play a much larger role for the rest of the line.

It's not a presence thing I'm talking about, just that it appears smaller than it is, same way I feel about the newer 5. They're all getting so big..., so when I say "look smaller," I mean not look as huge as they are. I see that as a good thing.

I have the new X5, biggest one yet, but somehow doesn't look nor feel that way to me (until you park next to an F15 or E70..). Seems the same, has the same presence on the road, even though it's bigger. So again, a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

Sorry, this is all off-topic. Just my reaction to the image of that big nose on the red 7.....

[GOLFFRR]

that interior of the BMW is awesome!

[Jason60051]

These vehicles have gotten so bloated...they look like river barges driving down the road. To each their own...I'm shocked at the price of that M760...I can't justify it...especially with the way it looks. For once in my life I think I actually like the S class more than the two of these.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by Jason60051

These vehicles have gotten so bloated...they look like river barges driving down the road. To each their own...I'm shocked at the price of that M760...I can't justify it...especially with the way it looks. For once in my life I think I actually like the S class more than the two of these.

I think the A8/S8 looks sleeker than the 7 (lower, wider) but it's still super boring. The 7er just looks like a fat boat to me.

S-class looks the best still. The F01 looked nice but the last 7er that really caught my eye was the LCI E65. That was was low, wide, and sleek.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I think the A8/S8 looks sleeker than the 7 (lower, wider) but it's still super boring. The 7er just looks like a fat boat to me.

S-class looks the best still. The F01 looked nice but the last 7er that really caught my eye was the LCI E65. That was was low, wide, and sleek.

I think Merc just really hit a home run with the current W222 S-Class. It came out back in 2014, while countless competitors had their chance to out-do it, and the S-class is still the segment benchmark and standout even at the end of its production cycle.

BMW just played it too safe with the G11 and then overcorrected their mistakes with the LCI without putting in more effort outside of the grill. Audi is just bland to me, and the black plastic and touchscreen interior is an OCD person's nightmare, which is why I could never live with a modern Audi interior.

[TXSTYLE]

Can't wait to snag a LCI in a year or two after that tremendous depreciation hit. Gonna be nice modding it up...

[noushy]

For exactly those reasons I got an Alpina B7. One of the best cars I have ever owned and it is so much better than the M760i. Lighter, more dynamic, more comfortable ride yet incredibly fast and nimble when you want it to be. The Audi has become better looking over the generations and is a nice car but still has other issues like resale, terrible lease rates, mediocre service to name a few.

Noushy

[JRobUSC]

Originally Posted by chrisny

Why don't they know that 7 grill is way too big? Looks like Clifford. The previous model looked awesome and I frequently mistake it for a 5 series, looks sleek and smaller than it is, which is what you want for a large, sporty sedan. This big nose does the opposite.

As big as the new 7er grill may be, the grill on the Audi is much larger than the grill on the BMW. I have no skills with Photoshop, but I'm curious if someone simply lowered the grill so the top of the grill lined up with the top of the headlights, if that would put all the haters at bay. That's how the Audi's all are - the top of the headlights are slanted down and line up with the top of the grill, versus the BMW's where the headlights intersect the grill lower.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by JRobUSC

As big as the new 7er grill may be, the grill on the Audi is much larger than the grill on the BMW. I have no skills with Photoshop, but I'm curious if someone simply lowered the grill so the top of the grill lined up with the top of the headlights, if that would put all the haters at bay. That's how the Audi's all are - the top of the headlights are slanted down and line up with the top of the grill, versus the BMW's where the headlights intersect the grill lower.

I don't hate the bigger grill, I think it looks great on the X5, just not on this. And I think it's also that the hood is higher, like they stretched the grill as they brought the whole nose taller. Could be wrong, to be fair I've never looked at the previous model and this side by side, but that's the impression I get when I look at this one. And if that's the case, the grill is really the byproduct of a different problem...

Also, the Audi grill is completely different. Don't think the comparison is all that valid, it's not about the size of the grill in a vacuum, just the overall look.

Now, if BMW took your suggestion and at the same time sloped the whole hood down more like (I think) the previous model was, then that could definitely make a difference, perhaps. But I think I'd still prefer the previous one.

[Game]

S-Class still looks the best of the bunch.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by joshuastein55

I think Merc just really hit a home run with the current W222 S-Class. It came out back in 2014, while countless competitors had their chance to out-do it, and the S-class is still the segment benchmark and standout even at the end of its production cycle.

BMW just played it too safe with the G11 and then overcorrected their mistakes with the LCI without putting in more effort outside of the grill. Audi is just bland to me, and the black plastic and touchscreen interior is an OCD person's nightmare, which is why I could never live with a modern Audi interior.

Audis in general I just can't warm up to lol. Nice cars, very solid and well built, but I can't seem to connect with them on an emotional level. I know this is subjective, but I'm sure that is why the A8 doesn't sell. It just has no pedigree or identity.

BMW's G chassis vehicles are very strong products and among the top in their respective segments, but they played it way too safe with the 7-series, inside and out.

[Wavy]

I checked out a S8 at the dealer and I was surprised to find the build quality of the interior wasn't that great. Lots of hard plastics. I'd take the 7 over the Audi any day.

[Luminor513]

Originally Posted by joshuastein55

I think Merc just really hit a home run with the current W222 S-Class. It came out back in 2014, while countless competitors had their chance to out-do it, and the S-class is still the segment benchmark and standout even at the end of its production cycle.

BMW just played it too safe with the G11 and then overcorrected their mistakes with the LCI without putting in more effort outside of the grill. Audi is just bland to me, and the black plastic and touchscreen interior is an OCD person's nightmare, which is why I could never live with a modern Audi interior.

Completely agree. I test drove the Q8 and the touch screen plastic with finger prints everywhere was annoying. Audi literally gives you a special cloth to wipe down the finger prints. To me this is a huge mistake and its becoming the interior throughout the majority of the Audi lineup.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I think the A8/S8 looks sleeker than the 7 (lower, wider) but it's still super boring. The 7er just looks like a fat boat to me.

S-class looks the best still. The F01 looked nice but the last 7er that really caught my eye was the LCI E65. That was was low, wide, and sleek.

I understand BMW's current design language - they're looking for cars with more of a "presence" on the road, more "in your face". I get that, but I don't like it. And the current gen 7er represents the zenith (or nadir, depending on your perspective) of that theme. It may be my age and history with BMW, but the E38 7er and E39 5er represented the pinnacle of the older more sophisticated, svelte design language. These were truly beautiful cars imo . . .

[palpatine_us]

Originally Posted by Wavy

I checked out a S8 at the dealer and I was surprised to find the build quality of the interior wasn't that great. Lots of hard plastics. I'd take the 7 over the Audi any day.

This is happening all over Audi- thanks to Dieselgate. VW has cut costs everywhere they could- interior finish has taken a hit. I wasn't too impressed with the new Q7/A6/A8s either.

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by hinckley

I understand BMW's current design language - they're looking for cars with more of a "presence" on the road, more "in your face". I get that, but I don't like it. And the current gen 7er represents the zenith (or nadir, depending on your perspective) of that theme. It may be my age and history with BMW, but the E38 7er and E39 5er represented the pinnacle of the older more sophisticated, svelte design language. These were truly beautiful cars imo . . .

Couldn't agree with you more. I'm a bit biased though having an e39.

[TXSTYLE]

F*** all that! I'm a diehard Car Guy and I've owned and appreciate many cars! The current LCI 2020 7 SERIES is fantastic and finally has the presence that the F01 ushered in.