Are there any good ones left ??

[Deepsea]

After looking at several S2 avants recently I have come to the view that there are not any good ones left.

ie low mileage, well serviced, not rusting and not been used as an every day hack.

If you have one which qualifies on all the above then let me know !!

[Jamo]

Move to the wanted section not cars for sale!

[Fat Audi 80]

I suspect really nice ones are few and far between now. I would even suggest due to their practicality they are less loved than Coupe's, which are hard to find in good condition now, due to age and rarity.

[Jamo]

Also deleted another thread you created in the open section, please no duplicate threads and keep it to the correct section.

[mcandmar]

I would say most are used as an everyday car, there not the kind of car to park up and use as a weekend toy like the coupes. Not so sure about not as loved

There are some well looked after examples, just find one with a straight body and no rust, everything else just bolts on. I would almost go as far as to say mileage is irrelevant on cars this age, they are all going to have a least 100k miles IMO.

[Rusty]

you're not asking for much there then... Remember that you're after a car that's at least 15 years old - even finding a good B5 S4 is rather difficult nowadays.

Rust on the front arches is a design issue, almost all cars will have had this issue at some point. Subframes get rusty too but can be refurbished.

The engines and drivetrain are pretty much bullet-proof, at least below 400bhp.

Suspension is a weak point and many cars that look pretty will have bushes that are past their best, even with low mileage, the rubber will have perished and the dampers be past their best.

Get the best one you can and factor in up to £5k to restore and upgrade it a little. £10k for a minimum of 300bhp and good Teutonic looks isn't the end of the world IMO... £25k is a little harder to swallow

[Error404]

I agree with Rusty, these cars are too old now to realistically find an absolute minter, although they do pop up. Obviously avants are rarer than coupes anyway. The best car to buy IMHO will be off another forum member. I would go so far as to say never buy a car off someone who has not done all or at least most of the work on the car themselves. Maintenance costs factoring in labour would be astronomical and noone in the right mind would pay it; therefore these cars are the most likely to have been neglected. just my 2c

[gunman]

The flip side of them now being old is that you may start to find 'restored' examples. People may begin to think that thier pride and joy is beyond its best and may end up doing a full body respray (as I am considering in the next year or 2).

I have made the desicion to sell my C4 tdi avant and use the S2 as a daily driver now, I hope it doesnt take it's toll on it.

[Jamo]

The best one going recently was Bibby's old green Avant for the money and bhp it was a steal, was in the classified.

[Sonic]

Maintenance costs factoring in labour would be astronomical and noone in the right mind would pay it

It's true I'm not in my right mind

[Jamo]

It's true I'm not in my right mind

Still as bad if you do it yourself with jobs from other specialist along the way

Yes we are mad and I'm starting it all over again with phase 2, need my head looking at

[Error404]

Jamo you'll go full circle and end up standard again

[Jamo]

More like a UR quattro with a stroker

[macspring]

Buy a low mileage garage queen RS2, as buying an S2 Avant, (or Coupe), may end up costing the same in the long run when everything has been attended to.

Six of one and half a dozen of the other. One of the deciding fators is, can you do the work yourself, do you want to be doing the work or just drive it straightaway, as well as the obvious consideration of budget.

Whichever way you go, these cars are expensive and a serious adication.

You've been warned.

Post up any potential cars for pre purchase advice, and also post up what you buy, assuming you enter into world of "a big hole in your wallet".

Kind regards.

[irishs2]

I agree with David. I would have done the same except I would have to give the government €5000 for the pleasure. Sod that.