Buying our 1st Car/Audi A2

[peterevans]

Hello everyone.
This is my first post on the forum, and I've been a member for the last few weeks.
I have to say that you guys are a great help for a rookie like myself, i've learned loads about the A2 lately, and enjoyed my stay.

So now myself and the wifey decided to buy one in the next few months.
We've got to that point that if we could we would buy one tomorrow, the car is beautifull...but we want to get the right one, and I believe I can get there much easier with your help than browsing/researching on the net.
I've read just about all the answers from new buyers topics, and I would like to throw one more question if you don't mind.

I know now that we want an Audi A2 1.4 TDI SE, we have a budget of around £6000, I am confused at the moment with the extras, the Winter Packs, and Audi Bosse systems and the OpenSky option many.

I read somewhere here, that the important thing is to get a good package with the stuff that it's most expensive or difficult to get e.g "Winter Pack", "OpenSky", and then build upon it.

If you guys had the budget we have, what "core package" would you recommend?
We live in London, and would appreciate you help greatly....

Many Thanks:)

Jose

[ULP]

Hi Jose

Welcome and can I say what a good choice, 1.4TDI SE!

To me, the most important thing is to buy the best car you can get - for that sort of money a private '03 model should be in budget with about 50K on the clock. When I say best car I mean most cherished rather than best-optioned, as it's no use having open-sky with a blown engine! You could choose an older model ('02 or even older) with a few decent options on it as many of the earlier ones were well-specced, later cars tend to be more standard.

Make sure any car you buy has climate (this was an option from late 2002 on SE models) although most do have it, but other that that keep to higher-quality against more goodies. Mine is a 'standard' SE, save for the bench seat, metallic and climate, but I have since done a few small mods (cruise, remap, heated mirrors) as and when I can afford/ justify it. Next is the iPod connector.

Make sure you drive a few different ones to see if they feel tight - anti-roll bars can be a problem as can 'mooing' which is either the EGR valve or a replacement fuel-line required.

[richard-]

I think I would choose bose over the opensky because the opensky takes some looking after and if something goes wrong it's *expensive* to fix but it's a really nice addition to have too.

I don't think the EGR valve is a very expensive fix, £50 to have it cleaned..

Loads of A2's in and around london, I spotted 6 in a matter of one hour in north london friday!

[peterevans]

Thanks a lot ULP and Richard for the zippy response

@ULP: I am glad you support me on my choice that gives me extra confidence in getting the 1.4 TDI SE. :)
I am looking already in to cars that have been well looked after, didn't know that money could get me a 2003 model, I was thinking I could only afford a 2002 model with the same amount of miles you mentioned. Glad to know.
If you have any examples please send them over. ;)
And the Anti-Roll bar, didn't quite read about that fault before, need to make sure I drive a few A2's before buying and control my will to buy the first one I c.

@Richard: I think you right, the more I read about the opensky problems, the more I am put off it, plus with my budget, I will probably get a 2002/2003 model or so, that must be more prone to problems.
I think I will leave OpenSky to one side and start focusing on other features.

Do you know if with my budget I could get am A2 with the Winter Package? Or is this for later models?

If anyone else has any other recommendations I would be thankful, just want to be schooled as much as possible until the moment arrives.
Until then I will be keep reading all the other forum posts related with problems and benefits.

Regards

[Skipton01]

Hi Peter,

The SE is a good starting point for an A2, as it has all the creature comforts normally associated with a 'luxury' manufacturer (leather wheel, gearknob and handbrake, illuminated vanity mirror, fogs, etc).

You also get the very useful false floor in the boot, handy for partitioning stuff off.

Don't be put off by OpenSky as if it does fail, you can just lock it in the closed position and effectively have an extra window in the top of the car. It makes the interior more airy too, open or closed.

Climate control is a must really and if you can get the DIS (full display in between the main dials, not the one with a bar across it), so much the better.

Other desireables are Bose and sports seats, along with leather.

Other stuff can easily be retro fitted (see the list of what I;ve put on mine!), the winter pack mirrors especially (the heated washers are harder).

Try to get a 2003 MODEL YEAR car (as opposed to a '03' or '53') as it is certain to have CAN bus and rear speakers. To ascertain the model year, look at the VIN number on the bottom corner of the windscreen. It'll be something like 'WAUZZZ8Z??N??????'

The first two ?? in the above string represent the model year. The first ? is a random number and the second ? denotes the year, 2 being a 2002, 3 being a 2003 etc For reference, mine is WAUZZZ8Z15N005364, which means it's an A2 (the 8Z bit), 2005 model year (the 15 bit), made in Neckarsulm (the N bit - all A2s are made there) and the final 6 digits are the car number, so that is the 5364th A2 off the line that year.

Cheers and best of luck,

Mike

[Ian with A2]

If it helps Jose, last year I changed my Mini with sunroof, aerokit, 18" wheels and chip for a 1.4 tdi SE with climate and open sky etc. I was considering a TT till I di dthe sums. Took my a while to get used to looking around the A2's blind spot A-pillar. Also, other cars seemed to pull over for the mini and equally let it out on to main roads. The A2 seems invisible to other drivers - they just don't realise how quick they are and get very put out when you pull away from their expensive repmobiles. The main thing is the constant 55 to 60 mpg and £35 road tax. I feel so smug cruising past all those TT's that can't afford to go above 55mph on the motorway - GO FOR IT :-)

[peterevans]

Thanks Mike, thanks Ian.

@Mike
You info, it's gold, actually the majority of the post I've read from you, are very informative in did.
You right Climate control, it is a must, from what I've seen the majority of SE's have climate control, so not too worried about that
Can you really find the normal SE TDI with sport seats?? That would be a dream as from what I have read in here, the're super confy. But I though they where a feature that only sports models had.
I've searched ebay, for A2 sports seats, and can't find any, so I guess it's something that can't be fitted later on?!
Thanks for the tip on the model year, real clever that. ;)

@Ian
You sold you mini for an A2, that's impressive, I was actually looking at Minis, before the A2, and found they're too expensive, but now I guess I don't even need to worry.

It seems kind of difficult to find and 2003 model with the right price, I keep seeing 2001/2002 models, with high mileage, I've been looking in Auto Trader and EBay mainly, do you guys have any other websites recommendations?

Many thanks for everything

Jose

[Skipton01]

Hi Peter,

Sports seats were an option on all A2s, but standard on the Sport model (obviously), so it is possible to find SE cars with Sport seats.

If you wanted to add them to your car at a later date, the easiest and cheapest way would be to buy a TT interior - the seats fit straight in and are heated as standard too!

Cheers,

Mike

[richard-]

When you look at the climate control make sure it is actually the electronic buttons version because some people advertise climate but it is a manual dial version.

[driveforward]

Hello and welcome, I'd like to further stress that you must get one with DIS and Climate control. If you're not going for opensky, most other things can be done via the aftermarket route. A CD changer is nice (I'm glad I went for an A2 with one), but failing that try and get one with a Chorus 2 single slot CD stereo - I have both ;)

A worthwhile aftermarket addition is cruise control and a remap to get more power/torque and increased drive-ability. As for the sports seats, they're a bolt-in job so as Mike pointed out you could go for some heated TT seats and plumb the wiring in or keep your eye out on here for mine when I sell them ;)

Another point is to make sure it's as straight as possible - hopefully an example that's stayed away from the local Sainsbury's car park.. remember, the A2 is aluminium so bodywork repairs could be costly!

Ian

[richard-]

Would the lumber support work on those seats if they was put in a car that does not have lumber support?

[Skipton01]

Would the lumber support work on those seats if they was put in a car that does not have lumber support?

Yes, although you would need to wire in a feed for the mechanism.

However, everything is self contained in the seat (switch, wiring and mechanism), so apart from a little additional wiring to bring 12 volts in, they'll work a treat.

Cheers,

Mike

[ULP]

I'd like to further stress that you must get one with DIS

Why?

It's an inacurate trip computer that is, at best, a vague finger-in-the air reading of what's happening. I had a multi-function computer in my old Punto and really thought I'd miss it with the A2 but I don't, not one little bit. It's one of those 'nice to have' items, but doesn't get anywhere near essential. I'd much rather have something proper-useful, like my jacket-hanger :)

[peterevans]

Guys thanks a million for all the feedback, i think now I am clear on what to look for.
Primary/Most important:
Model from 2003 (thanks Mike)
Climate Control (Electronic Buttons, thanks Richard)
DIS
Good Sound System (Bose) (both me and my wife are music addicts so this is a must now) ;)

Secondary/if possible
Sports Seats (Leather if possible)
OpenSky
Jacket Hanger (Thanks ULP) :D

Please let me know if I missed anything
I think it's just a matter of searching for the right one now, I will let you all know how my search goes, and the first thing I need to do, it's get one of those sexy A2 OC beveled stickers. :)

Thanks for all the help, Mike/Ian I found those TT seats on ebay, they look niiice! Might be something worth dweling in the future.

Here's the link in case anyone is interested:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-AUDI-TT-TAN-LEATHER-INTERIOR-SEATS-AND-DOOR-CARDS_W0QQitemZ150153258541QQihZ005QQcategoryZ1037 2QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

By the way....how's the sound system of a standard A2? Is it decent? I mean the speakers more than anything, cause I will probably be using my ipod for the music source?!

Speak soon

Jose

[Rob Earl]

Also.....
The standard stereo in an SE is a Chorus single shot CD player. With this you had the option of a CD multichanger in the boot.
An upgrade to the Symphony stereo was an option. This was a double DIN unit which included a 6CD in dash changer and a tape deck.
Bose was available as on option on either of these units.
If you think you may be adventurous and fit an Audi sat nav/TV in the future, it would be easier to get an A2 with a double DIN stereo to start with.

As for the quality, we were always really impressed with the quality of the standard set ups. We had a Chorus unit un our first A2 and a Symphony in the 2nd. Both went reasonably loud without too much distortion and had enough bass for the average listener.

[driveforward]

I'd seconds Rob's comments with regards to the quality of the standard stereo. As already stated, mine's a Concert 2 single CD with 6CD changer - non-BOSE but with rear speakers. My previous car had a pioneer HU with uprated components and my Alpine MR-350 amp and sub (which I have transferred into my A2). The quality is excellent and having the sub in place allows me to have the bass turned right down to zero on the HU which will improve the longevity of the standard component speakers whilst still giving the music more depth.

[Skipton01]

Well, speaking in my capacity as a professional sound engineer (my proper job), I have to agree and say that the quality of the components fitted as standard to the A2 is excellent, that goes for speakers and amps.

I've retro-fitted the Bose system and chose to keep the standard speakers, they are that good that I can't see any reason to pay £152 for a pair of Bose ones.

The interior shape of the A2 does lend itself to a good accoustic the only downside being the relatively high levels of road noise at speed on poor roads.

Cheers,

Mike

[peterevans]

Ahhhhh, what a relieve, the sound system it's great! :)
To the last 3 post, thanks a lot for the clarification.

It seems that good sound it's another "If possible" and not "A must" anymore.

THANKS a lot.

I feel like I can have much more choice in an A2 of our liking and a lot more certainty.

I will probably ask you guys some more questions whenever I find something worth the while, with specifiations, year and extras. See what you think.
Just to get that final OC opinion. ;)

Hope you don't mind.

By the way, I am really enjoying this forums, i am not the type to go to forums, post and read the news (or at least so far), but I find myself on the A2 OC at least once every other day.
I have now seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and it has and A2 right in the middle. :D

Speak soon

[peterevans]

By the way, if you see any A2 for sale worth buying, or if you're considering or have one for sale I would really apreciate if you could let me know about it.

As you know my budget is around £6000.

Thanks a million.