I'm putting the car back up for sale as I've not heard back from the buyer I'd given first refusal to, so it's up for grabs! I would be interested in taking another cheaper D2 in part exchange.. It doesn't matter how tatty/broken it is. I'd love a little project. I'd also be interested in a small VW daily runner so let me know. I'm going to put the car on eBay/Pistonheads/Autotrader on the weekend but would like to offer it here first.*
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2000 Facelift Audi A8 4.2 quattro Sport in Ming blue with platinum interior.
This is a truly one off bespoke car that I'm sure is the highest specified D2 in the world bar none, that isn't all, the car also falls in the pre Mar 2001 expensive tax bracket and runs on both Petrol & LPG so as well as having more toys, it's cheaper to run than others too.
I brought the car from the founder of
www.A8Parts.co.uk. He assured me this is the best D2 money could buy, and he should know. He's had a few!
A little history regarding the car below.
The car started life as an A8 sport, which means it came with S8 seats and suspension from factory. The car was then fitted with a 360 BHP 40 V S8 engine/gearbox/diffs/ecu/tcu/cats and cluster so it's just as fast and no different to drive then any other D2 S8 that i've driven. Its also been kitted out with some genuine Audi S8 wing mirrors, final edition genuine 20" alloys with Michelin Pilot sport 2s all round, all still with very good tread remaining.
It's also recently (this month) benefitted from a service, cambelt, thermostat, water pump by an Audi tech using all OEM Audi parts and with the correct cam locking tool. I had brand new spark plugs fitted about 3k miles ago too from Audi. A Vag Com scan completed yesterday showed no faults on the Engine or gearbox. *
A new gearbox was fitted along with a new Maf and the car has has since then benefitted from a gearbox oil/filter change using the correct method and all Audi fluids/filters. (The gearboxes on the D2 were a weak point as oil changes weren't part of the service routine)
MRC also fitted a new coil pack in December, whilst they were doing this I asked them to inspect the engine. They did a compression test and also checked the internals using a boroscope, it was all good down there and I also have the report to back this up from Doug.
Now, the spec. You may have seen loads of Adverts claiming "fully loaded" D2 '8s for sale. These are usually the ones with the least amount of spec, final editions are far from loaded. I challenge anyone to find a better specified one then this for sale!! I always keep an eye on the 8s that come up for sale on Autotrader/Pistonheads/eBay and haven't seen a better specified one in the past three years.*
Bi Xenons (genuine Audi)
RNS E with TV, Bluetooth and a reverse cam that comes on automatically when reverse is selected.
Auto dipping wing mirror and side mirrors
Electric rear window blinds and manual side blinds
Bose
Solar Sunroof
6 CD Changer
10 Disc DVD changer (Sony unit but fitted by Audi to the last D2 models ever sold) this is linked to a Sony monitor and allows rear passengers to watch DVDs either through the supplied wireless headphones or via the Bose sound system. Its also linked to the RNS E so you can view the DVD in the front too.
Passenger and driver both have individual memory seats
Rear seats are fully electric and reclining with 10 way adjustment as well as being heated (This option wasn't available in the UK, the bits were sourced from a German car and fitted at quite some time & expense by the founder of A8Parts)
Extended leather pack III ( This gives stitched leather to the door panels, glovebox and wraps the roof and parcel shelf A/B/C pillars in alcantara (very rare on these)
Button at the front that brings the rear headrests down if they are restricting your rear view
Electric heated Recaro seats*
Electric steering/seatbelt/headrest adjustment
Double Glazing (makes the windows virtually un smashable as a few '8 owners can attest to)*
ESP
USB connection in armrest*
Plug sockets (yes plug sockets) discretely hidden under the arm rest.*
Dual zone climate control*
I have receipts/previous MOT certificates and both service books ( from the original car and doner car, I changed the oil after 9k miles although Audi say it could go upto 20k miles/2 years without servicing as this car has the ability to run on the Audi variable servicing program.
Miles
160k Miles on the body
119k miles on the engine
The gearbox has about 15k on it if I remember correctly, but I will check the receipt and confirm.
Bad bits:
It still has A8 brakes, and they need changing now. I've found some complete S8 brakes (Brembos) *from a low miler for £250. A8 parts usually sell the callipers alone for £750.00
It had a brand new S8 odometer fitted at some point and it wasn't coded to the car so now reads 18,600 miles. I have the exact miles documented that were on the engine,box and body to coincide with what miles are currently on the cluster so knowing the exact mileage isn't a problem.
Stone chips and the usual, I wouldn't describe the exterior as mint. It's not in a horrendous state either.
I had a guy run into the back bumper at around 5/10 mph, it's scratched it and there is a small crack. (Damn 4x4s) he wanted to keep the insurance companies out of it so I got a quote to repair it and he came to give me the money a few weeks later. However, being the trusting type I told him to give in a few weeks instead (it was Christmas time after all) and I never heard from him again and he isn't replying to my calls/texts. Still I've taken this into account when pricing the car.*
Here's what Ian, who fitted the rear seats had to say about it.
The million dollar question.....
"I've lost count of hours, days, weeks, not to mention ££'s...*
Every piece of trim was cleaned before it went back in the car, every piece scrutinised for damage and fixed where possible. Every nut and bolt was re-instated as audi intended, and even door cards were given a new lease of life with new door clips and every single foam seal around the outside rebonded to make sure they were air tight.....
Nothing has gone back into this car unless I was happy it was the very best example of that part that could be fitted that I could reasonably lay my lands on (and I have a vast inventory!)
At the end of the day I have an absolutely unique D2, something that was never even built at the factory.
Its an A8 when alls said and done, and I have the V5 to prove it, yet all its running gear is S8 and all its interior is pure luxury. Its pre March 2001 so will only ever get taxed as 'above 2000cc' and it runs LPG just to makes things cheaper still.
Its the most comfortable car I've ever been in, and today driving it from Harrogate to Birmingham something else struck me:
Its quiet.
Dam quiet. Almost, new car quiet. You know how new cars just ride the bumps and not a squeak, or a murmor or a sound because everything is so tight? Well, thats about where its at. Its done over 150K miles and feels like its done 10. and somehow, thats a really signifiant unexpected bonus. I put all this effort into blinds, and rear seats all for passenger comfort yet i have this unexpected bonus for me, the driver.....
.... a brand new car*
Was it worth it ?
Hell yes**"
Price: £7,350 ( Which is a LOT less then I paid 7 months ago and the car didn't even have the D3 20s or S8 mirrors, grills then!)*
Feel free to PM me if interested. I'm based in Leamington Spa but work in Coventry so you can see the car at whichever location is more convenient for you. Better pics to come...
