08 Jan 09
Sitting pretty on a fortune and confident you'll make it through the downturn? No need to give up the finer things in life just yet? Don't get too complacent.
Even the most securely financed should consider making some sensible choices when it comes to buying their next luxury car: after all, if everything does go horribly wrong, you'll want to be able to afford to keep your car on the road. Here are five reasonably recession-resistant cruisers you could live with until things pick up again.
Audi A8
1. Audi A8
Much as a Maserati Quattroporte would be tempting, in times like these you want dependable Germanic engineering. The handsome A8 is a little elderly now, but remains a fine low-key limo for both the chauffeur-driven and those who prefer to take the wheel themselves.
The obvious option is the 3.0 V6 TDI diesel (33.6mpg), which just about nudges down into tax band F unless specified in long-wheelbase, Quattro Sport form, but that's not actually the most economical model in the range. Try the 2.8 FSI petrol, which is good for 34mpg and 199g/km. It feels pretty quick, too.
Depreciation is steeper for the A8 than for the BMW 7-Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but this can be offset by competitive purchase prices. We've seen 2.8 FSIs offered by independent brokers for just over £42,000 - that's nearly £8000 off list price - and reductions as large as £10,000 on versions further up the range.
