The D2 generation of the Audi S8 has become a sport sedan icon. The performance variant of the first S8 delivered everything people love about German sport sedans like brawny V8 power and a roomy, luxurious interior all wrapped in understated styling. Quattro AWD was the cherry on top. Today’s Autotrader Find is a very special Audi; a 2002 Audi S8 with a manual transmission.
What’s So Special About the Stick?
While Audi offered the S8 with a manual transmission in Europe, the U.S. version could only be had with a 5-speed Tiptronic automatic. Not content with letting the transmission do the shifting, a speed shop in Denver has swapped out the stock transmission in this S8 with a 6-speed manual and the stick shift looks right at home.
The manual transmission in this S8 is notable because if you want a manual D2 S8 here in the U.S., you need to either import one or put in the work to do a tranny swap like the one you see here.
According to the listing, the swap was performed by Berg Performance. They engineered the manual conversion using a 01E 6-speed transmission which was used in the B5 S4. They also used a B5 RS4 clutch kit and dual-mass flywheel and flashed the car with software for the Euro-spec manual S8 so the car’s computer wouldn’t be confused by the manual. The listing also notes that this transmission cuts out 150 lbs of weight which further adds to the car’s excitement.
Some other modifications to this S8 — which is still quite subtle — include 19-inch wheels sourced from an S7 (the stock wheels are included with the sale), a Kenwood head unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, LED interior lighting, and xenon headlights.
So, if you like the idea of a full-size luxury sedan with a 360-hp V8, all-wheel-drive, a manual transmission, and a modern infotainment system all with an asking price of $16,900, then this unique S8 is perfect. To the average bystander, this is just some beige Audi sedan and they’ll have no idea how much fun you’re having while driving it. Find an Audi S8 for sale
