Hicky

What do people think of these? Drove one many years back, think they're 230 bhp and six spd, seen them going for 10k and less.

Any opinions?

audinut

I think Im in a good position to comment as I have a late S2 and previously owned a Ur Quattro. I also had an Integrale for comparison.
S2s get bad press compared to original Quattros, Scoobys etc but are a great all rounder. The 230bhp 5 pot engine is fabulous. There is very little turbo lag and serious boost from 1950rpm. Performance is 60 in 5.7 and max 155mph. It also sounds gorgeous. The handling is more secure than fun. There is noticably less steering feel than a Quattro or Scooby. They do feel solid and secure to drive fast.
Early 5 speed S2s had 220bhp and gearbox problems are not uncommon. The 230 6 speed has a lot more torque and you can feel the difference. (259lb ft at 1950rpm and 280 lb ft when the overboost kicks in.
Most owners agree that the brakes are the cars worst feature.

Apart from that its all good news. The car is practical. Even the coupe is really a 3 door hatch and if that not enough you can have an S2 Estate. The Cabin still looks good today, build quality is incredible, reliability excellent. Ive just paid 120 quid for an annual main dealer service.
The icing on the cake is the price. I had to choose between a 80K 1989 Quattro 20V at 15grand or a 40K 1996 S2 Coupe at 12 grand. I chose the S2 and am happy. Most people who tell you S2s are no good havent owned one for 2 years.

An S2 is definatley worth a look IMHO.

XT

audinut, is the 6-speed gearbox the same one with the RS2's? If yes, can you comment on it?

Butty

iTrader: (2)

I ran an L reg S2 Estate for two years some while ago...
I agree with most comments but found the interior a bit on the small side.
The car was reliable, still on the original clutch at 100,000 miles but felt that with a big service due, not being able to get a warranty at that mileage and expecting something to go wrong I decide to ditch it.
When they go wrong they will cost loads to fix. My A/C packed up and in the end cost £1000 to fix. There's not many s/hand parts to get.
The 6 spd box in the RS2 tends to suffer, although my S2 was modded to 300 BHP/300 lbft and had no problems in that department.

Best bet is to (hopefully) find something with 50,000 mile son it and run to 100/120,000 miles. After that you have to pray (or have deep pockets).

Nick
1997 Forester S/tb

tarquin trousers

I've owned 3 coupes, with the last being an h plate S2. I loved the car to bits but found it was becoming quite an expense. I paid over the odds for it and had a warranty agreement that wasn't worth the paper it was written on. Saying that, if your careful and look around you may be alot luckier.

I had mine chipped to 250bhp and for a while it had alot more torque and was alot smoother through the gears. Then came problems with pipe seals, leaks galore etc...so be careful!!!

I eventually binned it and went for an import scoob, and touch wood, in the three years i've owned it, nothing has gone wrong. The only problem is the wife loved the S2 and hates the scoob....but hey! I can live with that!!

maybe you could go for an rs2 and shut up a few scooby drivers?? (or sell your house and go for an RS6!!!!)

XT

basically, i have an RS2 drivetrain(incl. gearbox,diffs,brakes) in Greece. I bought it while being here though my mechanic, and i want to know what to expect when i will fit it on my 1985 Coupe Quattro.

audinut

XT,
I dont profess to be an expert on the RS2 although its next on my shopping list. A test I read stated that the 6 speeder in the RS2 is fundamentally the same as in the S2 but with a strengthend 1st gear. Its certainly not a slick box. I find it to be weighty but has short throw and is precise. Reverse and 1st can be a bit sticky when cold but through the gears is nice.
You have a Ur dont you? Its like a Ur box in feel but slightly heavier and with the extra ratio.

XT

I wouldn't change the engine if i had a Ur...
i have a trusty 2226cc Coupe Quattro(90k and i'm the second owner). My gearbox has about the same feeling as the Ur(based on what you said), its very hard when cold but after 10 mins, the changing between gears is great.

Dome101

XT, It may well be possible to swap the parts over but you'll probably find it costs a lot more than buying a good ur. Unless you're a damn good mechanic...

CraigRA

I have an 1994 S2 Avant had it for 5 years, excellent car never misses a beat, cruise all day at 135mph no prob, coming up to 85k now and still drives like new, they do suffer from air con probs, the main dealers always say its the evaporation unit but its always the pipe under the offside front wing (main dealer £1500 do it yourself £125 + regas)