2001 Audi S8

Bought in Slovakia, this highly-specified, German-made, Audi S8 boasts some unique-to-year options and remains in excellent order given its age and mileage. With the bodyshell and panels made from aluminium there is no evidence of rust, and the panels present very well, minus a couple of small imperfections. Something is slightly awry with the ECUs and circuits as once the diagnostics are engaged, the engine light remains on due to the fuel censor claiming something is faulty. However, the sensors have been replaced and the owner is confident that there is nothing wrong with the engine. The only other known issue involves the light raisers of the Xenon lights. The lights should raise automatically when the car starts, but the system says the lighting system is faulty, despite the lights working on demand.

The car comes with a complete history documented in the service book, which catalogues authorised servicing since 2001. The aluminium-bodied quattro doesn’t rust, it’s very fast and it offers grip on icy roads like nothing else. The owner bought this S8 because he needed a car for winter, so he has used it over three winters and has taken it on numerous winter trips up the mountains. The owner purchased the car in 2019 and he has not had to do anything major to it beyond servicing (more details covered later). The car has been well driven, racking up 226,000km. Nevertheless, the vendor is a reluctant seller and says: “I don’t know why I’m selling it. I can’t find anything better for the winter”.

The exterior is in very good order given it’s cleared its 21st birthday and enjoyed a fair bit of road coverage. The Alabaster grey paintwork is a rare colour, which was a key reason why the vendor bought it. Exterior features include dual tailpipes, brushed-aluminium outside mirrors, polished door sill trim, and discreet S8 badging on the new grille and decklid. Over the years, the outside has undergone a few minor local repaints and some polishing, the most significant of which was to the rear bumper. The only blemish worth highlighting is on the front passenger side of the bumper. Apart from that, the vendor says: “From the outside, it looks perfect”. The car also comes with new tyres with plenty of tread and factory, 18-inch Avus wheels that are in nice shape.

Inside features a very good-order interior, trimmed in leather and Alcantara door inserts and a power-operated sunroof. The generous specification includes factory-installed navigation system and parking sensors. The list of gadgets on this car is extensive and includes: phone functionality and TV as well as a high-quality sound stereo, heated steering wheel and Webasto auxiliary heating. This means you can direct the car to hit a particular temperature before getting in – perfect for those hot summer days or freezing winter nights. This feature was disconnected by the previous owner, but the vendor is confident that it is in working order and won’t be challenging to reinstate. The car was even installed with a solar panel to power the air conditioning, which is impressive given the car was produced in 2001.

At the heart of the S8 is the same five-valve all-aluminium 4.2L DOHC V-8 that powers the standard A8. “S” trim upgrades include optimised intake paths, new two-stage variable-intake manifold, and more aggressive camshaft specs. Toss in a high-flow exhaust system, and the result is 360 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque - an increase of 50 and 15 over the A8, respectively.

The S8's crisp-shifting five-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission features steering-wheel-mounted shift controls and four-piston Brembo ventilated disc brakes. The ride height is 20 mm lower than the A8, while stiffer springs and shocks and thicker anti-roll bars also were added in the name of better handling and high-speed stability. Naturally, the S8 features Audi's quattro awd system and electronic stabilisation program, which further aid traction and directional control. The chassis, like the body, is entirely crafted of aluminium. The owner has not changed anything on this car apart from installing a €2000 Supersprint performance exhaust to enhance the soundtrack.

The car comes with a full-service history (as documented in its service book), its two original car keys and the original owner’s manual. The owner believes the car has had three or four owners.

This car comes with a great interior, more gadgets than you’ll know what to do with and there are few cars more capable at navigating winter roads. This car plays in the same luxury performance flagship league as the BMW M5, Jaguar XKR and the Mercedes-Benz E55. The lowered ride height and modifications to the A8 mean the ride is slightly rougher than that of an A8, but the S8's improved steering response and reduced body roll are worth it. This is undoubtedly a lot of car for the money and we think a prospective buyer will need to part with the best part of €8,000-€12,000 to take this car away.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located in Slovakia. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our “Frequently Asked Questions”.