The problem is its hard to not want to bring a S8 up to spec. Sure you could just buy one for £4k and ignore all the maintenance listed above, drive it as long as it lasts, and it will be a fun drive for sure. But at 14 years old all the things listed above and more things I forgot to mention should be expected as routine maintenance and not even considered a problem. The newer cars should have a lot more time left before all those things decay.
I'm now on my 2nd 2001 D2 S8 and although I did not have to replace a transmission on either of them, the other maintenance is at least £5k on the first one, and much more on the 2nd (due to exceptional circumstances)
Definitely check out the things other people replaced on their D2s on the forum, there are loads of posts.
See this thread for example, recent new owner.
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthrea...3023#post93023