With a price range of $3,700 to $19, 300, the Audi A8 is a steal for all the luxury, refinement, and power that the German engineered car delivers.

Audi's first generation of this car used aluminum for just about every section of the frame and body panels, which drastically cut weight compared to the use of steel. The design of the A8 was quite conservative, with nothing too flashy or unexpected. Yet it still manages to grab people's attention because of its size, sparkling chrome, and xenon gas filled headlights.

Two engine choices were initially available and mated to five-speed automatics with manual shift capability. A 3.7L all-aluminum V-8 with 230 horsepower powered the front wheels and came with standard traction control. Moving up to the 4.2L V-8 puts 300 horsepower through all four wheels using Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The system uses sensors to determine which wheel has the most traction and routes power to it, making sure foul weather never slows you down.

The 3.7L has a 0-60 time of just under 8 seconds while the more powerful V-8 gets you there in 7.1 seconds. That isn't too much of a difference, but fuel efficiency does decrease quite a bit with the larger 4.2L. EPA ratings of 15 city/ 21 highway aren't spectacular but not too bad for a large, powerful AWD car. The smaller V-8 is able to attain 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Going inside the Audi, you'll find features like a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power sunroof, cruise control, keyless entry, leather upholstery, and wood interior trim. Almost every luxury automakers sends out vehicles loaded with packages, so look for cool options such as a heated steering wheel and front and rear seats as part of the Cold Weather Package. If you live in warm climates, look for one with the Warm Weather Package, which features a "solar" sunroof that turns the interior ventilation fan on when the car is in the sun. Leather, dual power seats, and countless other features were also standard on every A8. Like all other Audi's, quality and craftsmanship were spectacular when this generation of A8's were new, so expect only a bit of wear to the leather and interior panels. A navigation system was also added for the 2000 model year to compete with the offerings of BMW and Mercedes.

Safety-wise, the A8 was probably the best of any vehicle at the time. It came with front, thorax, side curtain, and even optional rear thorax airbags. Antilock braking and traction control were standard, with stability control being added in 2000 to help drivers stay in control during quick maneuvers. Audi added steering wheel controls for manual shifting, the radio, and an optional mobile phone in 2001. Then for the final year of this generation, the safety telematics system OnStar was added in 2002.

Overall, the A8 is a great car to pack a couple friends in, take a cruise, or help you out when it's moving time. It's minivan like 198.2-inch length takes up a lot of room, but it can do everything thanks to a good mix of power, carrying capacity, and all weather capability.

Source: ConsumerGuide and Audi