Anybody looking to buy a D2 S8 at the moment?

[Adrian E]

Tentative toe in the water on this - I am being persuaded that the 'man maths' that has seen me running my S8 for the last 2 years with no actual income is not going to cut it going forward, since I'm now into my 3rd year of ownership and have no set date to return to work and be in a position to continue maintaining it as it should be!

I wanted to sell our 2004 A6 Avant that we've had for 5 years, but after spending a small fortune on wheel refurb, tyres, service, tax and MOT it transpires the thing is only worth about £3500-4000 because it's a 3.0 quattro Sport petrol so whilst that's ready to go, I can't get much that leaves money in the bank and will be reliable from selling it to generate some spare cash.

Basic details:

2002/52 D2 S8 Facelift Final Edition
Avus silver with extended purple leather interior
All standard FE spec including correct 20" 9 spokes with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres and no kerbing, blind pack, bi-xenons etc
Also benefits from a professionally installed RNS-E sat-nav upgrade complete with Audi factory Bluetooth and TV (analogue, but the replacement wiring is already there for a straight swap to digital with the correct tuner). The navigation DVD is a 2013 version with added speed camera POIs.
Milltek exhaust which sounds lovely but never intrusive
Factory grey overmats with purple edging which I've not seen in another one.
Very low mileage (currently 53k)
I'm the 4th owner.
Only ever been run on Shell V-power while I've owned it and always garaged.

If anyone is lurking and considering buying then drop me a line while I'm sorting out the details and convincing myself I should let it go.

I have an extensive history file for the car with loads of past bills and FSH. I need to check the dates of when work was done but it basically had a MASSIVE service in 2010 which included cambelt, genuine front discs and pads, all filters and a thorough clear out of drains and check of potential water ingress points. It's had an annual service as needed in my ownership.

Since I bought it I've also had the F125 range select switch changed as it was sometimes going into limp mode. I also had the gearbox oil and filter changed so that all important job plus the low miles should see the gearbox good for many more years. Car has never missed a beat and drives exactly as it should. Currently running Fuchs esther based oil and doesn't drink a drop between services. At the last MOT slight play in one of the front upper arm inner bushes was detected (they get stretched on full lock) as an advisory so all 4 upper arms were replaced using Meyle HD parts.

I've replaced every bulb on the outside of the car, including brand new Philips D2R xenons and Philips X-treme Vision front fog/high beam assist lamps as the varying brightness of old/new bulbs annoyed me!

Not sure on a price yet but it'll be at the top end of current D2 values due to the spec, mileage and history otherwise I might as well keep it. Only negative on condition is a trolley ding on the bonnet adjacent to the upper grill which I couldn't see the point in getting sorted until I wasn't going to be parking it in supermarket baby spaces any more! Otherwise it's all good internally and externally. Very clean underneath too.

I have some upgrades I bought with the intention of fitting - solar sunroof including wiring, anti-dazzle rear view mirror and some spare bits of trim - which will be offered at what they owe me.

Been quite cathartic writing that so will see if it generates any interest....

Reasonably recent pics but will get up to date ones once I've had a dry day to clean the car properly:







Would consider a part-ex against A3, A4, Leon FR or Cupra R, Fabia or Octavia vRS so long as cash my way - basically anything smaller/cheaper to run from VAG.

Adrian

[IT]

I can see your logic, but I'm not at all sure what value she would fetch. Genuinely, no idea.

Its undoubtably very low miles, and well cared for but that colour combo is going to take some shifting I would imagine, and it will likely knock its value overall imo. It will definitely look better in the flesh than any photo, but I've never thought the avus silver carried the 'vibrant' interior colours as well, they were far more suited to the Ebony Black..... - But thats just my preference.

D3's have come down a long way, and have knocked D2 prices, but tidy D2 S8's can still fetch a premium, especially with some time and patience, which it sounds like you may have, so spring is on its way and the worst you can do is pop an advert in Audotrader at the sort of money you're looking for and see what happens ? I might even be tempted to list it with no interior shots, letting the 'final edition' and low mileage bring the calls in, and hopefully you get the chance to sell the colour combo first hand

[Singh]

Lovely car, shame you can't sell the A6 instead but needs must. I hope your work/financial situation is sorted soon.

[tintin]

Originally Posted by IT

I might even be tempted to list it with no interior shots, letting the 'final edition' and low mileage bring the calls in, and hopefully you get the chance to sell the colour combo first hand

That's a good idea - isn't that what you did when you sold me mine Ian?

Seriously though, the sad fact with all our cars is that they are all worth far more to us than probably any potential buyer. The FE colours do look better in the flesh than on photos, and get less "vibrant" with the passage of time.

I know it must be a wrench to even think about moving this on, but cash is cash at the end of the day: good luck with getting the right result for you. The only consolation if you do sell is that other good ones will come up occasionally in the future when finances permit a "buyback"

[briang9]

I think Ian could be spot on with his idea of not posting interior shots Adrian, you may recall I saw the ad for yours when I bought mine but the interior pics put me off, but when I actually saw it at one of the meets I thought it looked stunning, much better in reality than in the pics, and when you look at how its been cared for it must be valued at the top end of the D2 S8 range. As we bought ours at around the same time and as we have grown into them and loved and cared for them over the time we have had them I feel some sort of kindred spirit, and will feel sorry to see you let it go

Good luck whatever you decide Adrian

[RanjS8]

I realise my attempt at a recent advert was pretty poor, but I would get the bonnet sorted first and then push it as a mint final edition with a unique color combination.

D3s are dropping in value...but a d2 s8 is becoming a rare breed....especially a decent one...so take pics of the interior and photoshop the purple to give it a rich vibrant feel....then just be patient....you will get a buyer and it will break ur heart....but be confident u have an extremely desirable car.

[Dezzy]

I would imagine you can hold out for the right person to buy and will have to, to get top price as you'll well know.

My opinion on price is useless here as you'll know what i'm going to say and that maybe not fair for what could be an investment for someone, but the bonnet would need doing as anyone looking for an investment will knock hard for anything they can find. And i know it's upgrades but i'd even be pushing at the soot pipes not being genuine and therefore knocking price down, as it looks like it's been raced, rallied or owned by a boy racer. (I'm just using that as an example not saying you're a boy or abused your car mate)

Catch 22 for you mate do you hold out for the person to give what you're asking or take an offer you might not get offered again. Obviously i'm not saying take the 2000 notes someone like me would offer you but you've been in the motor game long enough to know that there are very few buyers out there that are willing to pay what you'll be wanting for it.

D2 A/S8's when your selling one they're worth every penny but when buying one they're worthless.

[Dave McB]

Thats a beaut.

GLWTS

[Adrian E]

Thanks for all the positive comments and feedback. Been giving it a lot of thought and decided to advertise the car at £7500. There's more expensive examples out there so I'm hoping this is a realistic price.

I recognise it may take months to sell, but it's not costing me much to keep in the garage. I'll still be using it and will tax and service as required until such time as it does sell.

I need to sift through the service history properly and detail what's been done and when, but anyone looking for a properly sorted and maintained car with some modern upgrades will not be disappointed.

When the weather improves I'll give the car a proper clean and another clay bar session and polish so its looking its best. You could eat your dinner off the insides of the wheels anyway but it's nice to see it properly shiny!

I'll be putting adverts on AudiSRS and Pistonheads when I get a chance.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by Adrian E

decided to advertise the car at £7500.

Adrian, I'm afraid I have to be brutally honest and point out that my 2003 S8 cost me less than half that last month, though it was advertised well above what I actually paid.
With a "few" more miles on maybe, but not many.

That difference pays for an awful lot of upgrades.

Good luck.