I keep going back and forth between the 2016+ XJ and the 2015-2018 Audi A8 (again)...

Anyone look at the Audi A8 - before purchasing your XJ...?

 

Nothing wrong with an A8. Both are very high end cars and I think it comes down to what you want?
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Yeah, exactly...

Was just wondering what made those who also looked at the A8 - choose the XJ...

As I said, I keep going back and forth...

The one thing that the XJ has over the A8, for me, is the exterior styling.

The A8 looks very "ordinary" on the outside (except for the headlights) - compared to the XJ.

Other than that...

 

I think the XJ have much nicer "place to be" for a driver than A8.
XJ are also more an drivers car, what was big weight on my choice, when A8 are more smoothed limousine. Of cource some like that more, but then thre are an S-Class what do it better.... Hard desission. (i hope i did not mix you up more )

 

I went through this very same decision and even threw in an Audi RS7 which I test drove.
This video at the 2:45 mark swayed my decision lol.

 

in the XJ you can look like a young adult with good taste

in the A8 you would look like a young adult driving their dad's car

 

I like a big agile pretty car. The XJ was bigger and it's the best looking in my opinion.

 

Will this be your only car, or do you have a beater for Wisconsin winters?

 

lol, I'll try not to take that too personally!

 

Agreed...

To me, the A8 looks more like a luxury business class car...

While the XJ looks more like a luxury sports car...

 

Well, not quite a beater yet, lol - but yeah I do have a "winter car".

 

In that case, the Audi AWD advantage disappears. IMO, RWD cars have a better road feel, and are more enjoyable to drive. The balance of the V-8 X351, and the way it handles all types of road designs and surfaces is exquisite. The dynamic suspension is an engineering marvel. It provides the perfect amount of assistance, but is never intrusive. Lastly, I've never had better automotive seating than my XJ. My back feels better after a drive than before I started.
The only other "practical" advice I have is to check out the independent shops servicing these two cars. A good indy shop can make or break the ownership experience of a used luxury car.

 

I would also recommend the XJ over the A8 for many of the reasons listed by other posters. The XJ is high in the reliability ratings (water pump and plastic pipes aside - an easy fix), especially the later MY's, but more importantly, as others have said or alluded to, it is essentially two cars in one; it can waft - almost as well as an S class - but when you chose to press on it is simply electric and stunning; it also looks remarkably good. The only other car I seriously considered was the S class. Every Audi I have driven leaves me feeling like all BMW's after the E38 do - as in it's nice, but it is just a car and I don't find excuses to go and drive it. As one poster said the XJ is just a very, very nice place to be in. As a devoted S class and CL fan, even though I just had a nghtmare electrically last night with my X351 etc., I have to say these cars are very, very special. And I could never say that about any Audi I have been in. But do your homework and be prepared for some complications and some hard work (or learning) if its a MY before perhaps 2016 or 2017. To be honest it's like a combination of a non-AMG (thank goodness - at least in the 6 cylinder) S class, though perhaps in Sport mode, when its wafting - and a 4 seat Ferrari (think 456) - when you want it to be. It really is quite astonishing. As one of the Jaguar Dealership techs in Florida told me last week, it is one of the best kept secrets in the automotive world. If you are an enthusiast, there is no comparison with an Audi; this car is special.

 

Where I live, Audi is pretty common so Jaguars (especially XJ) are extremely rare to spot. In the end, I am glad I went with XJ. It's a car that I want to take out to drive and I know I wouldn't have felt the same with Audi. That said, Audi too is a nice car without a doubt.