Audi S8 D2 for sale
3 cars in stock right now, inspected in the European country where they are located, priced landed at a US port with the import paperwork done.
The Audi S8 D2 is the car from the chase scenes in Ronin: an all-aluminium sedan with a 4.2-litre V8 and quattro. The United States did get it — but only from 2001, for three model years, in small numbers. Europe had it from 1996, including the 340 hp pre-facelift, and sold it for six years. European cars today cost a fraction of what a US-market S8 does.
Why Americans want it
Price, mostly. A sorted European S8 is one of the cheapest ways into a 360 hp aluminium V8 with four-wheel drive, and the 1996–2000 cars were never sold in America at all. It is also, for a certain generation, simply the Ronin car.
What the US never got
- The 1996–2000 S8 in any form, including the 340 hp pre-facelift.
- European equipment and the full-range headlight and trim specifications.
- The S8 was offered in the US only for model years 2001–2003.
Eligible years (25-year rule)
Cars built in 1996–2000 are eligible now. 2001 builds qualify month by month through 2026, and 2002 cars from 2027.
What to look for
- Timing belt: the 4.2 V8 belt service is a major job and the single most important item in the history.
- Aluminium body: it does not rust, but repairs require a shop equipped for aluminium. Check for accident history and for non-specialist repairs.
- Suspension and electronics: everything on this car is expensive and everything has aged. A cheap S8 is cheap for a reason.
- Which engine: 340 hp (pre-facelift) or 360 hp (facelift, from 1999).
- Documented maintenance is worth more than low mileage on these cars.
Typical landed price
Europe: roughly €9,000–€15,000. Landed at Newark or Baltimore with duty at the rate in effect on entry: roughly $19,500–$29,000.
Registration notes
- California: built after 1967, gasoline; CARB lab certification applies, not guaranteed.
- Fuel: gasoline.
- Title: 17-character VIN that decodes as an Audi. Registration depends on the state where you register the car: California requires CARB laboratory certification for gasoline cars built after 1967 and cannot register diesels, and the CBP package establishes the car as an import.
Our take
This is the one car on the site where the purchase price is the small number. Budget for the belt service and a full fluid and suspension refresh on arrival, and buy on history rather than on price.
FAQ
Was the Audi S8 sold in the United States?
Yes, but only for model years 2001 to 2003. The 1996–2000 European cars, including the 340 hp pre-facelift, were never sold there.
Is it the car from Ronin?
Yes. The D2 S8 is the Audi driven in the 1998 film’s chase sequences.
Why are European cars so cheap?
Because running costs are high and the market is large. The purchase price is the smallest part of owning one; buy on documented maintenance.