Letter to Autocar

[ULP]

Dear All

You may have seen this weeks Autocar and the proposed new Audi A1/A2. Also in the magazine is an editorial from a chap called Jay Nagley on the success of the new car based on the failure of the old one. If he has driven or been in an A2, then he has been to a few more cocktail party launches since then than is healthy, judging by the muddying of his mind.

Accordingly, I have fired off an email to Autocar with a response and offer. I have referred to the club, but I didn't put a link to the web site as I wasn't sure whether this is the right thing to do. However, the contents are:

Dear Sir or Madam:

It is disappointing that Mr. Nagley has utilised poorly researched terminology in relation to the departed Audi A2. I quote:

"In fact the A2 failed because it was badly executed, not badly conceived...young buyers just saw an expensive, frumpy hatchback that only had four seats".

Jay is incorrect. The A2 failed because of the price and Audi's non-existent marketing. The product is brilliantly executed, as members of the A2 Owners Club will testify. It drives well because of inherent lightness in the aluminium structure and is a fine family vehicle with plenty of interior space and comfort to satisfy four or five people and their luggage. I have driven a number of Audi A4's and an A3; my A2 TDI SE beats them all for steering feel and dynamics - "added lightness" is how Colin Chapman would have put it and I never tire of driving my car. Lighter car makes for smaller engines then smaller brakes and lighter suspension etc. The car should probably have been marketed as a Mk1 A3 5dr, a car which it is actually bigger than inside - in this context it is also reasonable value.

If only having four seats (oh, and mine has five) is a restriction to the success of a premium hatch for young buyers, then perhaps Jay should be aware of a product by MINI which is only a 2+2 at best yet doesn't seem to be discriminated against by this demographic. Frumpy looks are subjective, but the number of positive comments I receive, many from strangers, suggest people like A2's.

If Jay would like to actually drive an A2 whilst meeting some A2 Owners Club members who come from a large and varied demographic, then he is more than welcome to contact me and come to one of our meets.

As for the new A1/A2 - warmed-over Mk4 Golf mechanicals and MINI-like interior space. Mmmm, tasty. Just like yesterday's cold gravy...

Regards

Chris Todd

Let's see if this makes it my fourth letter in Autocar - I suspect not

[Darren C]

Hi Chris,

A well constructed reply to a narrow minded article.

We have had this conversation before about car enthusiasts who would make great journalists, but in essence it transpires that most journalist either do not take the time and trouble to conduct thorough research on their subject matter and then formulate an impartial article accordingly or they either drive £100,000 vehicles and compare the average car to that same specification or frankly don’t care about what they write, just so long as the pay cheque comes at the end of the month.

I for one am tired of people snubbing the A2 as a bottom of the range Audi, which it clearly is not. The car shares enough innovation with the A8 to be more closely aligned to that than any other vehicle in the range.

Well done chap, lets wait and see if we see Jay and co at the next meet.

Cheers,

Darren

[spike]

Hi ULP, congratulations on a very well written reply.
I wonder if Jay was out of his nappies when Autocar (29 Mar 2000) tested an A2 petrol against a Merc A140 and Golf 1.6S.
The A2 came out the winner and in their 'VERDICT' summary they said (quote) The most desirable small hatchback in the world. A real trademark car for Audi.
For more positive comments check out today's Telegraph. The John Whitmore column relates to one of his friends buying an A2 and heaps praise on the A2 and Lupo 3L cars, mirroring the 'add lightness' theme in ULP' letter.

Cheers Spike

[wooly A2]

Extremely well written letter
I could not agree with you more but had to laugh
when you say "added lightness" is how Colin Chapman
would have put it and then ...

As for the new A1/A2 - warmed-over Mk4 Golf mechanicals
and MINI-like interior space. Mmmm, tasty. Just like yesterday's cold gravy...

How the heck did you get Colin Chapman and Cold Gravy in the same thread
He will be turning in his grave right now
knowing that we gave him a mention on the site ........absolutly classic ,

Go For It Chris .......

[ULP]

Cheers for the positive comments, and to be fair to Autocar my last letter was a bit of a moan and they did print it!

I'm only disappointed I didn't get the chance to put 'tedious' in there, which is one of my favourite words!

[glenfoxman]

thanks Winnie,

What about everyone else?

Come on lets inundate them with letters. The more the merrier

If we dont fight on a local level what chance do we have nationally?

Please write a quick letter it takes 5 minutes.
_______________________________________
Website I designed for company.

[manhattan$]

The A2 only gets picked on because it's little!

[bretti_kivi]

that's really cool spam, actually. Probably even a person behind it. The reply above Manhattans, the one that dragged the thread from the dead....

Bret