You've got me interested in the A8 too. I've always fancied one of those. (A bit more expensive here though sadly, I look back on European used car prices and weep.) But a really great looking car for the money.
Only just this week I saw a Jaguar Sovereign sedan and commented that you can't tell it's age at all. They can be 20 years old and look brand new. But as you say, crap to run.
Mercedes S Class, car crash, girlfriend...
You didn't used to run a restaurant with Dodi Al-Fayed did you?
I think that even made the papers.
(Not being insensitive, just trying to lift the mood. All the best. )