RE: Spotted: Audi S8 manual
Tuesday 4th September 2012
Like so many originals, the first generation S8 glows with an appeal none of its successors has quite managed to repeat. It might be the shape, it might be Ronin - it could well be something else. The first S8 is just cool.
Discreet, until you start living the Ronin dream...The problem for us Brits is that we only got the five-speed auto version, whereas LHD markets had the option of a six-speed manual. No, it isn't an especially enjoyable transmission, but it does alter the ratios of sport and luxury dealt by this lump of aluminium slightly in favour of the former. It's subtle, but easily identified. As an auto, this is no E34 M5 rival; as a manual it's getting much closer.
Manual a wise choice; wood certainly notThis one, located in Koblenz, looks ideal to me. Good colour, good spec and ready to roll. It's top-dollar for a 12-year-old car, but what other luxury saloon looks so graceful and offers 160mph 4WD performance?
Spotted: Audi S8 manual
It's in Germany but the idea of a manual S8 is enough to get Harris interested
Discreet, until you start living the Ronin dream...
Most importantly, the manual is Ronin-spec, and will prove much more useful for those looking to head to Paris and pull some shapes on the Peripherique. Make sure that hand-brake cable is nice'n'tight.
Manual a wise choice; wood certainly not
AUDI S8 MANUAL
Engine: 4,172cc V8
Transmission: Six-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 360@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 317@3,400rpm
MPG:20
C02: N/A
First registered: May 2000
Recorded mileage: 69,000km (42,874 miles)
Price new: £65,198.63
Yours for: 13,900 euros (c. £11,000)
See the original advert here and get ready for a trip to Koblenz if you're interested - home via the 'ring perhaps?
Discussion
I love S8s, still see some and am massively tempted to push the button having previously owned a lovely 4.2 A8.
I agree about the 5sp auto being made of chocolate... However I don't think I would have enjoyed the car as much with a manual, it's the wafty/hooligan contrast that really makes it...
I agree about the 5sp auto being made of chocolate... However I don't think I would have enjoyed the car as much with a manual, it's the wafty/hooligan contrast that really makes it...
The thing is, £11000 is big money for an old S8; the Germans don't look at these old barges as council estate fodder as we do in the UK, they see them, quite correctly, as a proper way to travel.
The German enthusiasts we spoke to were gob smacked at the value of my 2001 E38, apparently big barges over there don't drop nearly as quickly
The German enthusiasts we spoke to were gob smacked at the value of my 2001 E38, apparently big barges over there don't drop nearly as quickly
£11,000 for a twelve year old Audi?
+ import Tax.
+ right hand drive conversion (headlights etc not steering wheel)
+ IVA or SVA
+ V5C Tax
+ M.O.T
+ import premium insurance (and insurance Tax)
+ Road Fund Licence (DVLA Tax)
That'll be at least £20,000 on the road in the UK.
Here's one already in the UK so no import tax issues...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-s8-4-2-manual-left-...
...just all the other stuff.
+ import Tax.
+ right hand drive conversion (headlights etc not steering wheel)
+ IVA or SVA
+ V5C Tax
+ M.O.T
+ import premium insurance (and insurance Tax)
+ Road Fund Licence (DVLA Tax)
That'll be at least £20,000 on the road in the UK.
Here's one already in the UK so no import tax issues...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-s8-4-2-manual-left-...
...just all the other stuff.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Tuesday 4th September 11:02
CampDavid said:
apparently big barges over there don't drop nearly as quickly
Bloody right. All cars hold their value much outside of the UK. I'm in Germany and desperate for a lovely E39 but for a very good one you're looking at spending at least €8,000 with €10,000 getting you a minter. For the same car in the UK market you'd need around 3-4k pounds.LeoZwalf said:
CampDavid said:
apparently big barges over there don't drop nearly as quickly
Bloody right. All cars hold their value much outside of the UK. I'm in Germany and desperate for a lovely E39 but for a very good one you're looking at spending at least €8,000 with €10,000 getting you a minter. For the same car in the UK market you'd need around 3-4k pounds.There are a couple of people on the A8 forum I frequent trying to build a RHD Manual S8 at the moment. Having owned a 2002 S8 previously I agree that they are seriously underrated machines and that the Auto box is both a liability and hindrance.
Performance off the line is certainly leisurely in comparison with all other sports cars, but once above 50mph, its the equal of many. I found mine to be a joy to drive, both on the road and at the Nurburgring, where I took it 3 times. 6mpg fuel economy and smoking brakes testified to the fun you could have.
Prices in the UK are substantially below those of Germany and bought right the D2 S8 is a fantastic car to own and drive.
Performance off the line is certainly leisurely in comparison with all other sports cars, but once above 50mph, its the equal of many. I found mine to be a joy to drive, both on the road and at the Nurburgring, where I took it 3 times. 6mpg fuel economy and smoking brakes testified to the fun you could have.
Prices in the UK are substantially below those of Germany and bought right the D2 S8 is a fantastic car to own and drive.
One of my uncles (who lives in Germany) had two manual S8s of this generation in succession. First an early silver one and then a late-model black one. They sounded awesome when manoeuvring because you can blip the throttle in a way not possible with a slushbox. I drove the black one once and it was pretty epic. One of the few big fast saloons where a manual gearbox didn't seem inappropriate.
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