Audi A2 - ownership feedback & where to buy
Discussion
i'm considering getting one of these in 1.4 TDI engine for weekend & work use, approx 16k mi/year of which 10k for work mostly A-roads and some motorways.
I'm 6ft tall so i assume driving position shouldn't be too uncomfortable(?) and need to put a mountain bike in the back occasionally. How does the A2 stack up on this user criteria?
How are these to live with?
What sort of spec & age can i expect for £5-6K?
Any good outlets for A2's?
I've searched the net for user forums but mostly mixed with VW & all other Audi, so there are much more exciting cars to talk about and very little feedback on the comparatively dull A2.
Any owners over here?
I'm 6ft tall so i assume driving position shouldn't be too uncomfortable(?) and need to put a mountain bike in the back occasionally. How does the A2 stack up on this user criteria?
How are these to live with?
What sort of spec & age can i expect for £5-6K?
Any good outlets for A2's?
I've searched the net for user forums but mostly mixed with VW & all other Audi, so there are much more exciting cars to talk about and very little feedback on the comparatively dull A2.
Any owners over here?
I've had two; excellent little cars built to a standard, not a price.
In hindsight they were 8 years early, a 5 seater 850kg quality car launched now would clean up.
£5-6k gets you a decent 1.4petrol with C/C (not std but essential), the 60+mpg diesel is little more. No real horrors, although recently a fault with door hinges has emerged.
Try this lot: http://www.a2oc.net/
Used cars still in the Audi network, but also Autotrader and Ebay.
HTH
SS7
In hindsight they were 8 years early, a 5 seater 850kg quality car launched now would clean up.
£5-6k gets you a decent 1.4petrol with C/C (not std but essential), the 60+mpg diesel is little more. No real horrors, although recently a fault with door hinges has emerged.
Try this lot: http://www.a2oc.net/
Used cars still in the Audi network, but also Autotrader and Ebay.
HTH
SS7
Edited by shoestring7 on Monday 4th February 15:18
I'm an Audi fan but to be honest I would go for the original shape LONG WHEEL BASE Merc A Class 1.7 Tdi.
Masses & masses of internal space, good packaging and you can get 2 bikes in the back (Merc even did an internal bike frame to which you bolted the front forks so the bikes could sit vertically) and you can even take out all of the passenger seats for excellent load carrying. Forget the cr@p about the infanous "elk test" from when the car was first out, the long wheel base version had no such problems and there is more leg room in the back than in an S Class Saloon.
Masses & masses of internal space, good packaging and you can get 2 bikes in the back (Merc even did an internal bike frame to which you bolted the front forks so the bikes could sit vertically) and you can even take out all of the passenger seats for excellent load carrying. Forget the cr@p about the infanous "elk test" from when the car was first out, the long wheel base version had no such problems and there is more leg room in the back than in an S Class Saloon.
I have been considering one of these, they make sense as a cost effective run around....However, 1.4TDi didn't seem that great around town, sluggish as you would expect at slow speeds and as mentioned vision is poor from the rear and A pillars forward/side. They seem best suited to reasonable 60-70mph A road's, anything above this (private test track obviously) and you can have quite a fight on yor hands through turns and the shape does not appreciate high winds as you go quicker.....If I do get one at some point it will be a default, do the job car that gets taken on journeys where I don't use the more interesting toys...
Only real advantage is lowest car tax and running costs,,,1.7tdi will surely not be in the same band or equal running costs?
Only real advantage is lowest car tax and running costs,,,1.7tdi will surely not be in the same band or equal running costs?
We've had an A2 1.4Tdi for a couple of years now, the wife's little runaround.
So far the only major problem we've had is a broken front coil spring (Top mount bearing had seized causing spring to break). Only cost me £180 to have the spring and mount replaced (along with a service).
The car has done about 6K in our ownership, and about 60K in all.
Try to go for the SE model (Aircon).
Interior space is quite good; I'm quite a 'big lad' and I can drive it no problem, even plenty of space in the back (the rear footwells are lower than the front, which usually have hidden storage compartments, so plenty of leg room). You can get 4 or 5 seat variants.
Visibility is a little compromised by the A Pillars, but not unduly so.
IMHO the engine as standard lacks a little in the oooomph department, but they can be reliably 'chipped' to 105BHP and around 250Nm. Have this done and they fly.
Handling is pretty good for a small car, we put slightly wider tyres on all round. Quality seems to be pretty good, but check the door hinges on any cars that you look at, some are cracked.
£5-6K should get you a 2001 / 2002 SE oil burner quite easily these days (Miles might be a bit up though).
All in all a nippy little motor that will cruise all day at the legal limit
and return 60mpg.
You might find that the ICE in one is a little lacking, as most of them didn't get equipped with CD's, just tape players. Be careful if buying a 2nd hand Audi CD unit, as most won't fit the A2
So far the only major problem we've had is a broken front coil spring (Top mount bearing had seized causing spring to break). Only cost me £180 to have the spring and mount replaced (along with a service).
The car has done about 6K in our ownership, and about 60K in all.
Try to go for the SE model (Aircon).
Interior space is quite good; I'm quite a 'big lad' and I can drive it no problem, even plenty of space in the back (the rear footwells are lower than the front, which usually have hidden storage compartments, so plenty of leg room). You can get 4 or 5 seat variants.
Visibility is a little compromised by the A Pillars, but not unduly so.
IMHO the engine as standard lacks a little in the oooomph department, but they can be reliably 'chipped' to 105BHP and around 250Nm. Have this done and they fly.
Handling is pretty good for a small car, we put slightly wider tyres on all round. Quality seems to be pretty good, but check the door hinges on any cars that you look at, some are cracked.
£5-6K should get you a 2001 / 2002 SE oil burner quite easily these days (Miles might be a bit up though).
All in all a nippy little motor that will cruise all day at the legal limit
and return 60mpg.You might find that the ICE in one is a little lacking, as most of them didn't get equipped with CD's, just tape players. Be careful if buying a 2nd hand Audi CD unit, as most won't fit the A2
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