Used Audi S1 review and buying guide (2014 to 2018): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Audi S1 should you buy?

Buy an Audi S1 for grip rather than comfort: its quattro system finds strong traction pulling out of slow corners and on wet roads. The flip side is a bouncy ride that isn't comfortable crawling through traffic, so it's the wrong pick if your week is mostly town commuting. Try one on the roads you use most before you commit.

The S1 was only on sale from 2014 to 2018, and it's the individual car rather than its registration year that you're choosing. Judge each one on how it drives on the day and the paperwork that comes with it, and don't let a low mileage talk you out of checking the clutch, driveshafts and water pump properly.

Which S1 engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The S1's EA888 engine is smooth and pulls hard low down thanks to plenty of torque, though one owner's 2014 car developed a leaking water pump at 25,000 miles. That's one car rather than a pattern, but it's a reason to look closely around the pump and ask whether it's ever been replaced.

The gear change is positive, but don't take the driveline behind it on trust. One owner's 2017 car suffered a failed driveshaft, clutch and dual-mass flywheel at only 13,000 miles. It's a single report, not a trend, yet it shows a low mileage on its own doesn't prove the clutch and driveshafts are healthy.

What should you check when viewing a used S1?

Lift the bonnet and look around the water pump for damp patches or dried coolant stains, because one owner's 2014 S1 had a leaking pump at 25,000 miles. With the engine cold, check the coolant level's where it should be, and if the pump's already been changed, ask for the invoice showing when it was done.

On the test drive, feel for a clunk as you pull away, a clutch that slips under load, or judder through the pedal at low revs. One owner's 2017 car needed a driveshaft, clutch and dual-mass flywheel at only 13,000 miles, so a young car isn't automatically clear. Any receipts for those parts are worth seeing before you agree a deal.

Don't keep the drive to fast, open roads. Take it over a few speed bumps and through slow traffic, since the ride's bouncy and it isn't comfortable at town speeds. It's the trait that decides whether an S1 suits you, and a short blast on a bypass won't show it.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Audi S1 cost to run?

What do S1 owners like about them?

The engine's smooth, and there's enough torque that it doesn't need revving hard to make quick progress. The gear change has a crisp, positive feel that makes swapping cogs part of the fun rather than a chore, and it suits the way the S1 likes to be driven on a twisty road.

Inside, the cabin's well finished, solid and upmarket, and nothing in it feels flimsy. On a wet day the quattro system is where it earns its keep, finding grip and pulling cleanly out of tight, slow corners without any fuss, which is when the S1 feels at its most sure-footed.

• The engine delivers smooth yet powerful performance thanks to its ample torque output.
• The cabin features high quality materials, providing a solid and upmarket feel.
• The Audi S1 provides a positive and engaging gear change experience, making driving more enjoyable for owners.
• The quattro all-wheel-drive system provides superb traction, particularly when accelerating from slow corners and in wet conditions.