1994 Audi S2 20V Turbo Quattro Avant

There are certain cars from the 1990s that simply get better with age, and for us the Audi S2 Avant is firmly among them. Understated, beautifully engineered and genuinely quick, it is arguably one of Audi’s greatest sleeper cars. This 1994 example is quite exceptional. A genuine two-owner car from new, it spent the majority of its life with its long-term owner, who regularly used it for continental journeys between the UK and Germany. Now showing just 91,000 miles, its condition is remarkable and, compared with the huge mileages so many S2s have accumulated, this is a very special survivor. The S2 had the unenviable task of following the legendary Ur-quattro and carried much of its DNA into a far more usable package. Beneath the bonnet is Audi’s superb 2.2-litre, 20-valve turbocharged five-cylinder engine, producing around 230bhp and 258lb ft of torque, coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox and permanent Quattro four-wheel drive. It remains a properly fast car. There is some wonderfully old-school turbo lag, followed by that unmistakable five-cylinder surge and soundtrack as the boost arrives. Contemporary and modern reviews have described the S2 as more of a high-speed GT than an outright sports car – discreet, extremely capable and devastatingly effective in all weather. (commercial.evo.co.uk) Personally, we actually prefer the S2 Avant to the later RS2. The longer gearing and slightly softer-edged power delivery make it a fantastic road car, while still being seriously quick when asked. It also flies completely under the radar. To most people it is simply a handsome 1990s Audi estate; those who know, know. This particular car is beautifully specified in silver with an almost unmarked grey Quattro-script interior, genuine carbon-fibre trim, electric sunroof, auxiliary oil temperature, oil pressure and voltage gauges, headlamp washers and the correct 16-inch Avus alloys, now wearing Michelin Primacy tyres. The history is exceptional. The service record stretches back to 1995, with documented maintenance virtually every year during its earlier life. More recent expenditure has included a cambelt and water pump, brake fluid service, front and rear discs and pads, rebuilt calipers, CV boots, PCV valve, drop links, radiators, fuel pipes, fuel-tank sender, windscreen and a Milltek exhaust system. It is difficult to convey just how good this car is in person. The bodywork, interior and general level of preservation are outstanding, and it drives exactly as you would hope a properly maintained S2 should. At 32 years old, finding another S2 Avant with this mileage, ownership history, specification and condition will not be easy. A genuinely special example of one of Audi’s most underrated performance cars – and in our opinion, one of the very best S2 Avants in Ireland.