Looking for an S8
 

Hi all, new to the forum and I am looking for a D2 S8.

I notice there seems to be a lot of problems with the 5 speed auto boxes fitted on the later cars. Does that mean its 'sensible' to buy an older pre-facelift car with the 4 speed gearbox and 340bhp engine? There dont seem many for sale, if the engine and gearbox are bulletproof whats happening to them?

No S8 came with the four speed gearbox, that would be the 95,96 and early 97 A8 models. Good luck in your search +++
I'm seriously considering doing a D2 A8/S8 buyers guide or FAQ for newbies.

Excellent idea! +++

If i'm reading the info correctly then there were only 35 1997 S8's Licensed in 2010. So getting to be a rare breed now the early S's.

As for whats happening to them they are expencieve to repair if you can't do it yourself so you only got to get a parking ding and insurance comapny will write it off. That and Ian and co have spripped lots to keep the rest of us going.

I have one of them 35 1997 S8. It was not licensed Jan-Apr 2010 so not sure if it was included in statistics. And it was cat B writeoff in 2007.

Ah ok - I assume using the 4-speed box in an S8 is a no-no (lack of sports mode and tiptronic function)?

Buyers guide would be great!

The 4 speed models do have tiptronic function too. As far as I'm aware, the only D2 models that didn't have tip were some of the early US models. The S8 gearbox has longer ratios but only the 2002 models have an actual 'sport mode' on the gearbox, all it does as far as I know is hold the revs longer and although it's nice to have and I've driven a few S8 models with it. I wouldn't let it sway my buying decision as you have tip anyway.

I dont often get to correct Amar, so I'll enjoy this :p

Very early 2.8's in the UK also had no tiptronic function, along with cloth seats. Very rare, a8parts dismanted their first ever a few weeks back. It is fair to assume though that the overwhelming majority have tiptronic.

The sports mode is more about holding the car in the peak power range for the engine. The gearboxes are adaptive, so even if you drive a normal non sport-box car in drive really, really hard for a few minutes, it should start to shift more sportily. I remember doing this in a PF S8, it was amazing, but you've got to spank it very hard. The sports mode on the 2002+ models short cuts this learning process and makes the car behave sportily immediately....

I've really got into sports recently, and I used my tiptronic paddles in the D3 today for the first time in months to see what the fuss used to be about, but only breifly as I just went back to Sports mode.....

I wanted an S4 with a manual box, but the one I found has tiptronic..... I've got so used to the response of the sports mode now, I'm really looking forward to it... +++

The stats are based on MOT passes, but a Cat B is a breaker, non MOT'able so you're off radar....

No You can get even cat A back on road. Mine was written off in march 2007 and passed first MOT and got taxed 2 months later. Previous owner did not bother getting VIC test and neither did I for more then year but lastly put it through VIC test as I switched insurance company because of cost and new insurance company wanted to cancel insurance if I did not put it through VIC test. It has a logbook (V5), MOT and tax and is running just fine. It states on logbook that it has been written off but I can request it to be removed from logbook when it has passed MOT for 3 years after VIC test.