Just thought it was time for an update after making so much use of this forum over the last two years and the genuine help and advice from local garages to keep me on the road. Thanks to all those who have helped its been a great resource. I use a mechanic locally in Halifax who is very reliable and knows his Audis (VAT free) and a place even more local just opened which also specialises in Audis (VAT extra). The car was bought for princely sum of £500 with MOT and a private plate worth at least £250 as a trial for size/shape experience prior to planned purchase of a BMW i3 ie can we survive with a 4 seater supermini sized car for everything except the longer motorway distant trips which this car is not really suited to in my opinion versus a big Merc or Volvo etc. We have completed about 12k miles so far and practically abandoned the i3 idea after realising that to be truly environmentally conscious we should look at total cost of ownership and keep a 24 year old car on the road for as long as possible given all energy sunk into its build etc. Right now it has no known faults and is running beautifully BUT it has cost some cash and this is what it looks like to buy a cheap A2 and get it sorted mechanically. From a cosmetic perspective it still has the small hole in the rear quarter covered with waterproof gaffer tape and a key scratch all down passenger side panels which has been badly touched in. But it cannot rust and it doesnt leak and has passed 2 MOTs with no advisories so one day it might get done - I have the replacement panel kindly provided in early days of ownership by the forum and just havent got round to getting someone to repair it or justify the cost I guess. Also I can park it anywhere overnight in smallest of spaces and never worry about it getting damaged. So here is what a 115k (now) mile three owner petrol born in January 2001 has needed to get to this point:
replacement door check straps (thanks to forum)
replacement window wiper arm (thanks to forum) - caught before windscreen got damaged!
replacement rear tailgate struts (thanks to forum advice)
replacement petrol cap retainer strap (very minor but somehow annoying)
replacement extra oil dipstick as front doesnt work reliably even after new tip provided by forum (thanks to forum advice)
lovely new rubber mats all round (thanks to forum)
timing belt and water pump as this was due on purchase (Garage)
new shock absorbers and springs (front) (Garage)
total new rear brakes plus handbrake as all at end of life (Garage)
two new winter tyres for the front
both front wheel bearings (Garage) within couple thousand miles of each other - should have had both done same time
new alternator and belts as they shredded one day after original alternator jammed (Garage)
refurb EGR as cheaper than stripping cleaning old one (Garage) when engine would lost all power
sensor pre catalyst (Garage) to get rid of engine light which WORKED!
new thermostat (Garage) which WORKED on temp gauge fault
new starter motor (Garage) - still have old one if of use to anyone on forum for postage still working but makes THAT noise
water condensing in the headlights - twice attempted fix as they are type which pop off.
machine polish which was done on purchase - irregular cleaning since
full service plus oil service interim with all the filters, fluids oils etc
I reckon its about £2000-£2500 pounds so far. So anyone thinking they can run one of these for pennies is making a mistake when its hit 100k miles and 20 years get ready for some time off the road in the garage and digging deep unless someone else has been before you and kept on top of everything. BUT at £100 per month is it better than a rental/PCP deal which would cost at least three times that amount? My old Merc has just done same miles in last two years mainly motorways (12k) and has also cost same amount £2000-£2500 to keep properly on the road with all advisories and issues fixed by a specialist garage. So thats the same price per mile. Interesting.
Would I buy an A2 again - yes - we did well kind of - we recommended as ideal car to a friend and they bought a diesel one for £3.5k from the forum which was properly sorted. No issues since other than routine servicing.
Dont know if this post is helpful to anyone? I am interested in what else I can expect to go wrong in the next 2 years because its beginning to look like a keeper as when the other half goes to jump in the car to go anywhere she always goes to the A2 even though there are others to choose from lolz.
replacement door check straps (thanks to forum)
replacement window wiper arm (thanks to forum) - caught before windscreen got damaged!
replacement rear tailgate struts (thanks to forum advice)
replacement petrol cap retainer strap (very minor but somehow annoying)
replacement extra oil dipstick as front doesnt work reliably even after new tip provided by forum (thanks to forum advice)
lovely new rubber mats all round (thanks to forum)
timing belt and water pump as this was due on purchase (Garage)
new shock absorbers and springs (front) (Garage)
total new rear brakes plus handbrake as all at end of life (Garage)
two new winter tyres for the front
both front wheel bearings (Garage) within couple thousand miles of each other - should have had both done same time
new alternator and belts as they shredded one day after original alternator jammed (Garage)
refurb EGR as cheaper than stripping cleaning old one (Garage) when engine would lost all power
sensor pre catalyst (Garage) to get rid of engine light which WORKED!
new thermostat (Garage) which WORKED on temp gauge fault
new starter motor (Garage) - still have old one if of use to anyone on forum for postage still working but makes THAT noise
water condensing in the headlights - twice attempted fix as they are type which pop off.
machine polish which was done on purchase - irregular cleaning since
full service plus oil service interim with all the filters, fluids oils etc
I reckon its about £2000-£2500 pounds so far. So anyone thinking they can run one of these for pennies is making a mistake when its hit 100k miles and 20 years get ready for some time off the road in the garage and digging deep unless someone else has been before you and kept on top of everything. BUT at £100 per month is it better than a rental/PCP deal which would cost at least three times that amount? My old Merc has just done same miles in last two years mainly motorways (12k) and has also cost same amount £2000-£2500 to keep properly on the road with all advisories and issues fixed by a specialist garage. So thats the same price per mile. Interesting.
Would I buy an A2 again - yes - we did well kind of - we recommended as ideal car to a friend and they bought a diesel one for £3.5k from the forum which was properly sorted. No issues since other than routine servicing.
Dont know if this post is helpful to anyone? I am interested in what else I can expect to go wrong in the next 2 years because its beginning to look like a keeper as when the other half goes to jump in the car to go anywhere she always goes to the A2 even though there are others to choose from lolz.
