The D2 S8 (US-market 2001-2003) is the original aluminum-space-frame S8: a 4.2L 40-valve naturally-aspirated V8 (360 hp), quattro, full-size luxury sport sedan — and a cult car thanks to its starring role in the film 'Ronin.' In the US it came with a Tiptronic automatic only, which owners consider the car's weak link both in feel and reliability, so 6-speed manual conversions (using B5 S4 01E parts) are common and transformative — 'JUST DO IT' is the community refrain. The maintenance map is well-understood: the Tiptronic can fail in the mid-100k range (~$3,500 to rebuild, so keep fluid/filter fresh), the 4.2 needs its timing belt (~80k) and is prone to the plastic oil-cooler pipe leak, and around 100k the fuel pump (use the correct part with its special pickup) and coils want replacing. …
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Audi S8 (D2)
56 sales analyzed · 4 topics from real Bring a Trailer & Cars & Bids comments.
“Thanks to Ronin I have a strong desire to own one of these”Klasic01 · Aug 16, 2017
- The 'Ronin' car — a cult bucket-list S8ownership-experienceA huge part of the D2 S8's pull is cultural: the film 'Ronin' put it on enthusiasts' bucket lists, and owners openly cite it as why they searched for years to find one. That cult status, plus low US import numbers, drives the devotion. …
- Manual swaps transform it — verify the conversionbuying-adviceThe US Tiptronic is widely seen as sluggish, so 6-speed conversions (B5 S4 01E gearbox and related parts) are popular and dramatically wake the car up. A swapped car can be the most desirable version — but confirm the conversion was done properly (synchros, clutch hydraulics, driveshaft, ECU) by a known Audi manual specialist. …
- The maintenance map: transmission, fuel pump/coils, timing beltmechanicalThe known items are well-charted. The Tiptronic is the historic weak point (failures often mid-100k, ~$3,500 to rebuild) so fresh fluid/filter history matters. …
- Rare and beautifully built — but budget for itvalue-and-marketOwners praise the build quality (the famous 'bank-vault doors') and the rarity, but are candid that the D2 S8 can be expensive to keep — so go in eyes-open, lean on the active D2 owner community for parts and advice, and budget for the big-ticket items. …