A2 buying tips
Discussion
Thinking about an Audi A2 as an interesting small second car. Always admired the small, light, efficient design ethos - and I also recall a senior Audi UK exec I met back in the day telling me that the A2 was the best built car they ever made.
Got to be petrol cos Ulez. Any tips as to best model, common failings and things to watch out for? Can they live outside and be used regularly - if fairly lightly - or are they getting a bit old for that and need to be garaged and cosseted?
I realise they are all 20yrs old at least and will need more care than a newer car. But it will only be doing about 3k miles a year.
Tks in advance.
Got to be petrol cos Ulez. Any tips as to best model, common failings and things to watch out for? Can they live outside and be used regularly - if fairly lightly - or are they getting a bit old for that and need to be garaged and cosseted?
I realise they are all 20yrs old at least and will need more care than a newer car. But it will only be doing about 3k miles a year.
Tks in advance.
Basically, don't.
Mrs L had a 1.6 petrol A2 some years ago now and it was without doubt the worst car we have ever owned - electrical issues and more electrical issues and then some more.
We managed to chop it in a year later, which was a huge relief
...but despite all that we both still have Audis
Mrs L had a 1.6 petrol A2 some years ago now and it was without doubt the worst car we have ever owned - electrical issues and more electrical issues and then some more.
We managed to chop it in a year later, which was a huge relief
...but despite all that we both still have Audis
Lotobear said:
Basically, don't.
Mrs L had a 1.6 petrol A2 some years ago now and it was without doubt the worst car we have ever owned - electrical issues and more electrical issues and then some more.
We managed to chop it in a year later, which was a huge relief
...but despite all that we both still have Audis
This is just the kind of starry-eyed encouragement I was looking for;) Mrs L had a 1.6 petrol A2 some years ago now and it was without doubt the worst car we have ever owned - electrical issues and more electrical issues and then some more.
We managed to chop it in a year later, which was a huge relief
...but despite all that we both still have Audis
Electrical issues do sound familiar, had a number of VAG cars of that era and they all seems to get them.
Do A2s let water in like Golfs and Passat's too?
dontlookdown said:
Lotobear said:
Basically, don't.
Mrs L had a 1.6 petrol A2 some years ago now and it was without doubt the worst car we have ever owned - electrical issues and more electrical issues and then some more.
We managed to chop it in a year later, which was a huge relief
...but despite all that we both still have Audis
This is just the kind of starry-eyed encouragement I was looking for;) Mrs L had a 1.6 petrol A2 some years ago now and it was without doubt the worst car we have ever owned - electrical issues and more electrical issues and then some more.
We managed to chop it in a year later, which was a huge relief
...but despite all that we both still have Audis
Electrical issues do sound familiar, had a number of VAG cars of that era and they all seems to get them.
Do A2s let water in like Golfs and Passat's too?
dontlookdown said:
This is just the kind of starry-eyed encouragement I was looking for;)
Electrical issues do sound familiar, had a number of VAG cars of that era and they all seems to get them.
Do A2s let water in like Golfs and Passat's too?
I had an A2 (1.6 FSI) from 35k-140k. Second best car I’ve had. It’s just a genius car all round and we did loads of long mile trips to France in it, as well as shorter daily commute. Electrical issues do sound familiar, had a number of VAG cars of that era and they all seems to get them.
Do A2s let water in like Golfs and Passat's too?
We had an engine light management light on for half its life which the garage could never diagnose and we agreed, as everything else was checked it was fine to run. No other electrical faults whatsoever - ok electric tailgate latch burnt out and did need replacing. No problems with water getting in anywhere on my one.
Got rid of it only as I wanted a Mini - it’s now my favorite ever car.
Pros - great styling, carnivorous interior, tiny car so easy to park and squeeze through gaps. Robust interior, at the time of decent quality. Very lightweight short doors which makes getting in and out very easy. Rear seats come out with ease making it into a van which is very useful.
Cons - bad buffeting on windy days. Might be aero going forward, not so much sideways. Thick A pillars - came close to running over a few folk who I didn’t see at pedestrian crossings. Steering slightly too light for my tastes.
If you can find one, get the panoramic roof. Incredibly right and airy.
I’d very happily consider another one - I’m a huge fan of them.
thepritch said:
dontlookdown said:
This is just the kind of starry-eyed encouragement I was looking for;)
Electrical issues do sound familiar, had a number of VAG cars of that era and they all seems to get them.
Do A2s let water in like Golfs and Passat's too?
I had an A2 (1.6 FSI) from 35k-140k. Second best car I’ve had. It’s just a genius car all round and we did loads of long mile trips to France in it, as well as shorter daily commute. Electrical issues do sound familiar, had a number of VAG cars of that era and they all seems to get them.
Do A2s let water in like Golfs and Passat's too?
We had an engine light management light on for half its life which the garage could never diagnose and we agreed, as everything else was checked it was fine to run. No other electrical faults whatsoever - ok electric tailgate latch burnt out and did need replacing. No problems with water getting in anywhere on my one.
Got rid of it only as I wanted a Mini - it’s now my favorite ever car.
Pros - great styling, carnivorous interior, tiny car so easy to park and squeeze through gaps. Robust interior, at the time of decent quality. Very lightweight short doors which makes getting in and out very easy. Rear seats come out with ease making it into a van which is very useful.
Cons - bad buffeting on windy days. Might be aero going forward, not so much sideways. Thick A pillars - came close to running over a few folk who I didn’t see at pedestrian crossings. Steering slightly too light for my tastes.
If you can find one, get the panoramic roof. Incredibly right and airy.
I’d very happily consider another one - I’m a huge fan of them.
The A2 seems to me the model of what cars should have become, small, light and clever, but instead the world is now full of large heavy and kinda dumb SUVs. We took a wrong turn there I think.
One pro A2 and one con so far, anyone else like to chip in?
Apparently the A2 was very expensive to produce due to it's wholly aluminium monocoque, which I am told is why Audi eventually dropped it.
They were tipped as a future classic quite some time ago now but I've seen no evidence of that happening.
I also now recall the strange buffeting in cross winds mentioned above and blind spots.
I guess if you view it as a modern classic and left of field choice then go for it but warning lights on a dash are bad enough to diagnose and turn off on a more modern Audi let alone one that's 20 years old and they are an MOT failure.
It felt well built in typical Audi fashion and I recall the 1.6 FSI had reasonable poke for the day it's just the endless electrical gremlins that ended it for us.
They were tipped as a future classic quite some time ago now but I've seen no evidence of that happening.
I also now recall the strange buffeting in cross winds mentioned above and blind spots.
I guess if you view it as a modern classic and left of field choice then go for it but warning lights on a dash are bad enough to diagnose and turn off on a more modern Audi let alone one that's 20 years old and they are an MOT failure.
It felt well built in typical Audi fashion and I recall the 1.6 FSI had reasonable poke for the day it's just the endless electrical gremlins that ended it for us.
thepritch said:
dontlookdown said:
This is just the kind of starry-eyed encouragement I was looking for;)
Electrical issues do sound familiar, had a number of VAG cars of that era and they all seems to get them.
Do A2s let water in like Golfs and Passat's too?
I had an A2 (1.6 FSI) from 35k-140k. Second best car I’ve had. It’s just a genius car all round and we did loads of long mile trips to France in it, as well as shorter daily commute. Electrical issues do sound familiar, had a number of VAG cars of that era and they all seems to get them.
Do A2s let water in like Golfs and Passat's too?
We had an engine light management light on for half its life which the garage could never diagnose and we agreed, as everything else was checked it was fine to run. No other electrical faults whatsoever - ok electric tailgate latch burnt out and did need replacing. No problems with water getting in anywhere on my one.
Got rid of it only as I wanted a Mini - it’s now my favorite ever car.
Pros - great styling, carnivorous interior, tiny car so easy to park and squeeze through gaps. Robust interior, at the time of decent quality. Very lightweight short doors which makes getting in and out very easy. Rear seats come out with ease making it into a van which is very useful.
Cons - bad buffeting on windy days. Might be aero going forward, not so much sideways. Thick A pillars - came close to running over a few folk who I didn’t see at pedestrian crossings. Steering slightly too light for my tastes.
If you can find one, get the panoramic roof. Incredibly right and airy.
I’d very happily consider another one - I’m a huge fan of them.
I've always liked them. We were in the market for a used one 12yrs ago when we got married, but owing to having two non-driving elderly relatives and a planned family to shift around we upped the size spec and bought a Honda FR-V instead, which has been great.
I think they are cool, quirky looking things and have the hallmarks of a future classic, I'd like one.
I think they are cool, quirky looking things and have the hallmarks of a future classic, I'd like one.
1.6 was fairly bad new and worse now.
1.4 petrol slow but simple.
Diesel probably the nicest of the bunch to drive.
Have run 4/5 of them, diesel lasted the longest and eventually expired (ish, gearbox) at 250k+. 1.4 petrol sitting in the yard now looking sorry for itself with a flat battery but will start/drive fine with a jump. Had it painted Nardo grey a few years ago on a whim. Others all petrol with varied trim levels and generally reliable if a bit finnicky. The engine light in the 1.6 became a joke so simply chose to ignore it.
Got a soft spot for them. Clever car with a fun design and very practical for their dimensions. Still have a good following and loads of info/advice/parts on A2 owners club. Always wondered quite how terrifying one would be with a 1.8T.
1.4 petrol slow but simple.
Diesel probably the nicest of the bunch to drive.
Have run 4/5 of them, diesel lasted the longest and eventually expired (ish, gearbox) at 250k+. 1.4 petrol sitting in the yard now looking sorry for itself with a flat battery but will start/drive fine with a jump. Had it painted Nardo grey a few years ago on a whim. Others all petrol with varied trim levels and generally reliable if a bit finnicky. The engine light in the 1.6 became a joke so simply chose to ignore it.
Got a soft spot for them. Clever car with a fun design and very practical for their dimensions. Still have a good following and loads of info/advice/parts on A2 owners club. Always wondered quite how terrifying one would be with a 1.8T.
Olivera said:
Hateful vehicles - dumpy ugly 'wardrobe on wheels' looks, not particularly reliable, stodgy VAG period handling, poor ride. Apart from wheeling out the phrase 'but it's made out of aluminium!' it's just a flat out bad car, hence killed quickly by Audi and never resurrected.
Go on, say what you really think;)Seems to be quite a polarising vehicle, which appeals to the contrarian in me.
They were expensive to make and thus expensive to buy, which made them slow sellers. But definitely more innovative than the Merc A Class, for example, which although cheaper and more popular was pretty conventional by comparison.
A classic car? Probably not. But an interesting and significant design I reckon.
Lotobear said:
Basically, don't.
Mrs L had a 1.6 petrol A2 some years ago now and it was without doubt the worst car we have ever owned - electrical issues and more electrical issues and then some more.
We managed to chop it in a year later, which was a huge relief
Pretty much mirrors my experience with the A2. Utter garbage.Mrs L had a 1.6 petrol A2 some years ago now and it was without doubt the worst car we have ever owned - electrical issues and more electrical issues and then some more.
We managed to chop it in a year later, which was a huge relief
Quite timely for the OP. Not quite a review but may have some interesting nuggets.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gYpFhBiw_ZQ
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gYpFhBiw_ZQ
thepritch said:
Quite timely for the OP. Not quite a review but may have some interesting nuggets.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gYpFhBiw_ZQ
Cheers for that. Great minds think alike!https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gYpFhBiw_ZQ
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