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.