Vonnie
A2OC donor
When I decided that I wanted an A2 my original shopping list was for a White A2 with OpenSky and Sports spec, oh and it had to be newer then our Castle Red A2. So I was prepared for a wait, knowing that a) there where only a handful of white A2’s b) finding one newer than our red one would reduce that figure even further as would c) finding one with a sport spec. I did look at others and yes there were nicer spec A2’s for the same or less money that we looked at as well but they weren’t quite what I was after. Then just about a week into starting my search the perfect, ok it wasn’t perfect, A2 was found. The car had some car-park scrapes and the wheels needed changing and the drivers seat was a bit worn so definitely needed some work to bring it up to scratch, but in terms of what I was looking for it was perfect as it ticked all the items on my original shopping list – White, Sport, OpenSky, newer (just) then the Castle Red one we have.
Initially just the wheels were replaced with a set of the QT wheels with the intention of having the paintwork sorted at some time in the future, but for a few years this ended up only being routine maintenance.
Last year I was able to change the seats to black Alcantara and then this year with the start-up of A2Cars combined with sometimes driving our Castle Red A2 I decided the suspension really did need changing. So the search started and with the help of Mike (A2sumo) I settled on Monroe Reflex and H&R Springs and these were ordered and a date for fitting arranged. However I nearly cancelled the booking as on getting the car out of the garage we noticed that the front panel of the OpenSky was shattered and after some deliberation I decided the suspension still needed to be done and that I would have to investigate costs/options for the roof and it was the right decision as one of the springs was broken. Then followed a review of my insurance policy and some discussions on the phone with them. Followed by a visit from their assessor where it was deemed that A2cars could replace the glass roof with a new one and I would only pay the cost of my windscreen cover excess which meant it wouldn’t affect my no claims. (Phew!)
Then I was asked to go on a lengthy foreign business trip (6 weeks). So thought this was an ideal time to get all the paintwork blemishes and the tiny tear in my Alcantara sorted so the car was again dispatched to A2 cars.
However whilst I was away I/Mike also decided that a number of other things needed to be done, so reverse parking sensors and a Komfort Blinker were also fitted and whilst the Alcantara was being repaired on the drivers seat a much need new seat bolster was also added.
I had also purchased a double din-dash so decided this needed to be fitted whilst I was away, and I was going to have Mike’s (A2Sumo) old stereo until such time as I purchased RNSe.
Then my trip was extended (to almost 3 months) and I had to miss AITP; didn’t mean that I missed out on the very nicely re-trimmed 3-spoke steering wheel for sale though, which was duly fitted at A2cars.
PLUS as a surprise for my birthday Mike had sourced a MK2 RNSe and had Tony fit it. I knew nothing of this until getting in the car on my return. So smiles all round from me at this point.
Trouble is now I keep thinking about what needs to be done next and have already started to formulate a list/purchase more things to be sorted/added.
Initially just the wheels were replaced with a set of the QT wheels with the intention of having the paintwork sorted at some time in the future, but for a few years this ended up only being routine maintenance.
Last year I was able to change the seats to black Alcantara and then this year with the start-up of A2Cars combined with sometimes driving our Castle Red A2 I decided the suspension really did need changing. So the search started and with the help of Mike (A2sumo) I settled on Monroe Reflex and H&R Springs and these were ordered and a date for fitting arranged. However I nearly cancelled the booking as on getting the car out of the garage we noticed that the front panel of the OpenSky was shattered and after some deliberation I decided the suspension still needed to be done and that I would have to investigate costs/options for the roof and it was the right decision as one of the springs was broken. Then followed a review of my insurance policy and some discussions on the phone with them. Followed by a visit from their assessor where it was deemed that A2cars could replace the glass roof with a new one and I would only pay the cost of my windscreen cover excess which meant it wouldn’t affect my no claims. (Phew!)
Then I was asked to go on a lengthy foreign business trip (6 weeks). So thought this was an ideal time to get all the paintwork blemishes and the tiny tear in my Alcantara sorted so the car was again dispatched to A2 cars.
However whilst I was away I/Mike also decided that a number of other things needed to be done, so reverse parking sensors and a Komfort Blinker were also fitted and whilst the Alcantara was being repaired on the drivers seat a much need new seat bolster was also added.
I had also purchased a double din-dash so decided this needed to be fitted whilst I was away, and I was going to have Mike’s (A2Sumo) old stereo until such time as I purchased RNSe.
Then my trip was extended (to almost 3 months) and I had to miss AITP; didn’t mean that I missed out on the very nicely re-trimmed 3-spoke steering wheel for sale though, which was duly fitted at A2cars.
PLUS as a surprise for my birthday Mike had sourced a MK2 RNSe and had Tony fit it. I knew nothing of this until getting in the car on my return. So smiles all round from me at this point.
Trouble is now I keep thinking about what needs to be done next and have already started to formulate a list/purchase more things to be sorted/added.