Audi S1 | Spotted
Audi hot hatches are rare, and good ones even more so - which makes the S1 a special little car indeed
Back when the Audi S1 was launched in 2014, its mechanical spec looked odd. In a good way, it should be said. Less than a decade later and it looks almost miraculous that the car happened at all. Here was an A1 with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine (when the most powerful petrol up to then was just 1.4), yet a different 2.0-litre turbo engine to the A1 Quattro that previewed the S1. It had a bespoke multi-link rear axle because that was fundamental to accommodating four-wheel drive. (That axle was given the go ahead, don't forget, despite robbing space from an already small boot - talk about commitment.) The standard six-speed manual was the only transmission option, and you could even have a three-door S1 if desired. It's remarkable to think, with Audi's electric push in full flow, that it sold a 2.0-litre, three-door, manual only hot hatch as recently as 2018.
It was a good one, too, somewhat against expectations. Sure, it was heavy, and those after Fiesta ST-style thrills were still better served by the Ford - but the Audi was far more fun than anyone anticipated. In the right mode the suspension suited bumpy Britain, it was more agile and eager than the kerbweight implied, and the torquey turbo engine delivered plentiful performance. Even the gearbox was quite satisfying to use. Finally, the Mini Cooper S had a proper rival in the premium pocket rocket arena. And Audi had a hot hatch it could be really proud of, albeit a reassuringly expensive one.
Still, those who did fork out £25k for an S1 (sometimes more than £30,000, depending on options) have been handsomely rewarded come resale time. While no doubt helped by the recent boom in used car values, the residual strength of the S1 has always been strong. Believe it or not there are still cars for sale at £25,000. But you need not pay that much; this S1, the cheapest in the classifieds thanks to an above average mileage of 88,000, is £13,995.
With precious few options to add when new (at least by Audi standards), it was hard to make an S1 that didn't appeal, but this one really hits the spot. Sepang Blue is way more interesting than black, silver, or white, the three-door body lends it some old-school cool, and it has a premium audio upgrade. The S1 has had two owners in eight years and comes with a full main dealer service history, plus recent discs, pads and tyres. Those wheels have been refurbed as well, so careful how you park it. The mileage will inevitably put some buyers off, but this could well be a canny cheaper buy for someone not planning to add loads more motorway miles.
Furthermore, hate to break it to you, but everything is kinda pricey right now. A Mini Cooper S JCW is the most obvious rival as another 2.0-litre hot hatch with 231hp, and this privately offered 2016 car is also almost £14k. There are Abarth 595s of a similar vintage (albeit with far fewer miles) for this money. And the Audi did actually use a version of the EA888 engine more powerful and torquier than a Mk7 Golf GTI Performance Pack - most of those are £15k and above.
So while a £14k, eight-year-old Audi A1 will remain a tough sell to some, it's hardly alone. And we'd surely all prefer that an expensive S1 happened than none at all - because you ain't getting another one, that's for damn certain.
SPECIFICATION | AUDI S1
Engine: 1,984cc 4-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 231@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 273@1,600-3,000rpm
MPG: 40.4 (NEDC)
CO2: 166g/km (NEDC)
First registered: 2014
Recorded mileage: 88,000
Price new: £25,635 (Sportback)
Yours for: £13,995
I liked this on paper, but at the time (like article said) I had a Mk7 ST and I was left a bit disappointed by the S1
Fast forward a few years and you've got a sharper version of this from Toyota (in my view)
I had hoped VW would use the architecture and make a Polo R/WRC 4WD special
Sometime fun and equally mad about small "light" 4WD cars
The A1 is one of those cars that can look good, but somedays at some angles it looks odd. A trait of plenty of post 2010 cars if im honest, normally the side profile high "waist line" and small wheels relatively to the body
The fact that is was only offered with a 3 pedal manual was a big draw for me, and I saw it as a bit of an enthusiasts car(even the quicker Minis come with 2 pedals...which I've never truly understood apart from grabbing some more sales from women/the elderly).
I have read that they aren't all the great to drive from some of their owners though, but I would like a go in one myself to see.
I owned one. Can't believe someone said they were slow - they are rapid, especially cross country. The boot was small (but didn't matter to a then 27 year old). You have to treat the gearbox/clutch like it's made of chocolate and many people replaced it with an uprated one. Many were also tuned as the engine could easily be remapped to 300bhp.
It's the only car I've ever owned that I miss, because the idea of a little 4wd hatch now is perfect for my usage but they just never depreciated down to a point I'd buy one back and at the time £18k worth of metal was too much for me to not stress about. Disagree with the article though- many were poor spec and had the basic 'leather' seats which felt like rubbery plastic and also the flat bottom steering wheel and the uprated gearknob (if you've got one you'll know) are pretty much essential items if I ever got another.
They've always been priced high on the used market, even before covid, but they also seem to take a while to sell. It's a lot of money for a less practical S3.
They did get reviewed positively when new:
And they are quite modified from a standard A1 with new independent rear suspension to allow for the 4wd gubbins. I believe they were manual only as there wasn't room for a DSG in the space available, though I understand the clutch is marginal in this application so remapper beware.
At the end of the day I thought they were just a bit 'normal' which is kind of the point of a hot hatch, but not where I wanted to be at the time. I went for the 370Z and kept the Fabia as a daily, which is pretty much the same as an S1 apart from the 2lt turbo, 4wd, 6spd, 18" wheels, big brakes, lowered suspension, electric dampers and leather interior.
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