THE LISTING

About this vehicle

For sale is our 1996 Audi S2 Coupé Quattro, powered by the 2,226cc ABY 20V turbocharged engine and 6-speed manual gearbox, with 154,400 miles.

This is a remarkably original and carefully preserved example with a rust-free, never-welded shell. It retains its original engine, gearbox, turbocharger, exhaust system and both catalytic converters and has recently completed a thorough recommissioning.

The car was stored indoors in my workshop while the work was carried out gradually, returning to the road in August 2026 and passing its MOT with no advisories.

History & provenance

The car was originally supplied by an Audi dealer in Cardiff and, to the best of my knowledge, has remained a local car throughout its life.

Its ownership history is unusually easy to follow. A previous long-term owner moved to Australia and sold the S2 to a friend, from whom I subsequently purchased it.

There is a large history folder containing service records, invoices and receipts, together with the original service book, manuals and two original keys.

I also have an extensive photographic record documenting the car and the recommissioning work as it progressed, which a serious buyer is very welcome to inspect.

Recommissioning & mechanical work

The car was taken off the road following its 2021 MOT and stored indoors in my workshop while I gradually worked through it.

There was no rush simply to get another MOT on the car. The work was completed step by step, with particular attention paid to retaining and restoring original components and putting the small details right.

The cylinder head was removed and inspected by a reputable engineering shop in Cardiff. The exhaust valve guides were replaced and all valves reseated. The head was checked and found to be crack-free and did not require skimming. The invoice for this work is present.

At the same time it received a new cylinder-head gasket, new timing belt and auxiliary belts, fresh engine oil and coolant. The engine block was also cleaned and refinished with the correct engine paint.

The original exhaust manifold had started to crack and was replaced with a genuine Audi RS2 exhaust manifold, chosen as the better-flowing development of the original design. It was fitted with new locking nuts. The original turbocharger remains fitted and untouched.

Other work includes:

• Reinforced Sachs clutch and new guide sleeve
• All four brake calipers rebuilt
• New fuel lines
• Alternator completely rebuilt, including new bearings
• New front ball joints
• New front track-rod ends
• New front wishbone bushes
• Power-steering high-pressure pipe professionally remade
• Fresh engine oil, coolant, brake fluid and correct power-steering fluid
• Air-conditioning serviced and regassed in February 2026
• Four new Debica High Performance tyres

The car now drives extremely well – tight, composed and very enjoyable on the road.

All old parts removed during the recommissioning have been retained and are available to inspect with the car.

Body, underside & suspension

One of the strongest points of this S2 is its shell. The body is rust-free and has never required welding, and the underside remains exceptionally clean.

The rear subframe was previously replaced with a new unit, supported by a substantial invoice in the history file. It was professionally fitted and wax protected and remains in excellent condition.

The rear bumper mounting brackets have also been newly fabricated and replaced.

The original engine undertray is present and intact – another increasingly difficult original S2 item to find.

Suspension and associated components were removed, cleaned and refinished in matt black where required. There is no powder coating underneath the car.

The car retains its genuine Audi coil springs together with yellow Koni Sport adjustable dampers. The dampers were inspected and serviced with fresh oil and set slightly firmer than standard for enjoyable road use, with the rear slightly softer than the front.

The original wheels have also been refinished and are fitted with the new tyres mentioned above.

Originality & exterior details

A lot of effort has gone into preserving the car rather than changing its character.

The original exhaust system remains in very good condition with both catalytic converters intact and no significant corrosion.

I spent a considerable amount of time restoring the original headlights. They were professionally rebuilt and the internal reflectors and surrounding frames were re-chromed professionally. The housings and mounting clips are intact.

It also retains its genuine Hella indicators and fog lights, again without the commonly broken mounting clips.

Correct clips, screws, plastic fittings and mounting pieces have been retained or replaced where necessary rather than leaving missing or broken small parts.

Electrical system & ECU

My main work is vehicle electrical and diagnostics, so I spent a lot of time going through the electrical side of the S2. Electrical items have been recommissioned, repaired or rebuilt where required using the correct components.

All four factory electric windows work correctly, as do the factory cruise control, gauges, remote central locking and rear differential lock.

The car still has its Sigma security system fitted by Audi when the car was supplied new. Both remotes are present and working. I have disconnected the alarm sounder simply because it is extremely loud if accidentally triggered; it can easily be reconnected.

I also removed the ECU and professionally fitted sockets for the two calibration chips. The car comes with both sets of chips – the genuine Audi originals and a set from Ultimot in Germany, who specialise in these engines.

This means the next owner can choose which calibration they prefer while retaining the original chips with the car.

Interior & audio

The original leather interior is in very good condition for its age and mileage. The front seats have had light professional cosmetic restoration but have not been retrimmed. The carpets and boot lining are also very clean and the car retains its genuine Audi floor mats.

The headlining has been completely reupholstered.

It is also a desirable non-sunroof example.

Factory equipment includes:

• Full leather interior
• Four electric windows
• Air conditioning – working very well
• Cruise control
• Remote central locking
• Rear differential lock – fully operational

The car is fitted with a period Pioneer DEH-P77MP head unit. All speakers have been replaced with correctly sized Alpine speakers using the original locations, with no cutting or modification.

A discreet subwoofer has also been professionally installed in the spare-wheel area. The system has been properly wired and again no permanent modifications were made to the car.

Overall

It took me a long time to recommission this car step by step, and I think the result is visible in its condition today.

At 30 years old and 154,400 miles, I am not going to describe it as a flawless museum piece. It has some stone chips and the occasional age-related mark, as you would expect, but nothing that detracts from the overall presentation.

What it is, however, is an honest, unusually complete S2 that has been carefully recommissioned while preserving as much of its originality as possible.

I was particularly pleased when it returned to the road and passed its MOT without a single advisory, and it received plenty of compliments at the MOT station after all the work that had gone into it.

The combination of the rust-free, never-welded shell, original ABY drivetrain and turbocharger, standard exhaust with both catalytic converters, excellent interior, documented mechanical work and large history file makes it a particularly nice example for somebody looking for an S2 to own, drive and enjoy.

Serious enquiries are very welcome and viewing is strongly recommended. I am happy to go through the history folder, invoices and photographic record of the work with a prospective buyer.

This is a genuine private sale of our privately owned car.

Payment by cleared bank transfer only. The vehicle will only be released once payment has cleared in full

Vehicle specification

• Make: Audi
• Model: S2
• Year: 1996
• Mileage: 154450
• Engine: 2.2 20v turbo
• Transmission: Manual
• Drive Type: 4WD
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Body Style: Coupe
• Colour: Blue
• MOT Expiry: August 2027

Important information

This vehicle is advertised by an independent eBay seller. The information shown has been taken from the seller's listing. Please review the original eBay advert for the complete description, condition, history, photographs and terms of sale before purchasing.