Beagles
Member
In a nutshell:
I own an A2 and they are great but my one still needs a bit of TLC. Also, probably don't buy a car until you actually know a bit more than I did about them.
Background:
For the past few years I have been toying with getting a car but have never been able to quite justify buying one for the amount I would need it for work as I live in London and public transport is generally a much quicker and more environmentally sound option. Then one day I was out on a run in Bristol and ran past an A2 and thought, "now this, this is the car for me". I made a note of it and went on Autotrader when I got back to London later that day (on the train).
I found my A2 almost straight away, for sale a short train ride away in Windsor. Being slightly naive and unaware of basically anything to do with cars, before I'd found this forum especially, I wasn't aware of what a specific car issue might feel, look or sound like. Having done a quick google search and used one of those services to make sure the car wasn't stolen or similar, I popped to Windsor and stumped up the cash for this 2001 1.4L Petrol A2.
Only a few weeks later, the car started making very unwell sounds in stop start traffic. Phoning a friend who knew a little more about cars than I did he thought I might have blown a gasket. Thankfully, it turned out that he was just in need of a replacement clutch and being literally round the corner from home he just tailed me back to make sure it was ok before being taken to the local garage first thing in the morning. In retrospect, a lot of the warning signs were there such as a vibrating clutch pedal and difficulty changing gear but I just thought it might just be me getting used to driving this car and he was going to go into a garage for a clean bill of health as soon as I got a day off and had decided which garage to use.
This is Pimey (as he was christened by my partner), he is a 1.4L petrol from 2001 who had done almost 100,000 miles.
He's already had a fair few things sorted but there is more that needs to be done, details below. All work so far other than the clutch was done by Fontain Motors or WOM Automotive or Timmus. All lovely people. Things listed in green are my handiwork.
Completed Repairs/Upgrades:
-Replacement Clutch (replaced at local garage)
-Starter motor whine
-Cambelt, relay roller and waterpump replaced
-CV Gaitor and C links replaced
-Replaced oil crankcase breather
-Sump pan resealed
-Oil change
-fuse box cover clips - with thanks to @depronman
-bluetooth support
-petrol cap button
-pollen filter replacement
-aux in adapter
-worn soft touch button replacement
-handbrake stowage tray
-rear seat storage box
-heated mirror glass
-complete suspension overhaul with Monroe shocks+Bilstein springs
-handbrake fix and non-OEM rear brake shoe kit replaced
-coolant temperature sensor+thermostat replaced
-dent removed from passenger front door
-mudflaps
-aero wiper upgrade
-cruise control retrofit
-colour DIS retrofit
-USB cable emerging at top of windscreen for dashcam hidden behind rear view mirror
-BOSE soundsystem
-MFSW
-hubcap repair - AlloyFix in Newcastle
Planned Repairs/Upgrades:
-driver sun mirror clip replacement
-reversing sensor
-glove box clips
-replacement fuel cap that is still attached
Existing OEM options:
-rear electric windows
-electronic climate control
-false floor boot
-foglights
NB I'd love to do some/all of this work myself however am principally lacking any knowledge or ability in how to go about such things but also don't have any of the appropriate tools, a location that is not on the street to complete any such work (leaving me and the car open to the elements and my almost guaranteed failings open for all to see!) and at the moment the time to actually do any of these things myself.
Thanks for reading. Am looking forward to many happy years of A2 ownership and participation on these forums. Any advice or suggestions much appreciated.
I own an A2 and they are great but my one still needs a bit of TLC. Also, probably don't buy a car until you actually know a bit more than I did about them.
Background:
For the past few years I have been toying with getting a car but have never been able to quite justify buying one for the amount I would need it for work as I live in London and public transport is generally a much quicker and more environmentally sound option. Then one day I was out on a run in Bristol and ran past an A2 and thought, "now this, this is the car for me". I made a note of it and went on Autotrader when I got back to London later that day (on the train).
I found my A2 almost straight away, for sale a short train ride away in Windsor. Being slightly naive and unaware of basically anything to do with cars, before I'd found this forum especially, I wasn't aware of what a specific car issue might feel, look or sound like. Having done a quick google search and used one of those services to make sure the car wasn't stolen or similar, I popped to Windsor and stumped up the cash for this 2001 1.4L Petrol A2.
Only a few weeks later, the car started making very unwell sounds in stop start traffic. Phoning a friend who knew a little more about cars than I did he thought I might have blown a gasket. Thankfully, it turned out that he was just in need of a replacement clutch and being literally round the corner from home he just tailed me back to make sure it was ok before being taken to the local garage first thing in the morning. In retrospect, a lot of the warning signs were there such as a vibrating clutch pedal and difficulty changing gear but I just thought it might just be me getting used to driving this car and he was going to go into a garage for a clean bill of health as soon as I got a day off and had decided which garage to use.
This is Pimey (as he was christened by my partner), he is a 1.4L petrol from 2001 who had done almost 100,000 miles.
He's already had a fair few things sorted but there is more that needs to be done, details below. All work so far other than the clutch was done by Fontain Motors or WOM Automotive or Timmus. All lovely people. Things listed in green are my handiwork.
Completed Repairs/Upgrades:
-Replacement Clutch (replaced at local garage)
-Starter motor whine
-Cambelt, relay roller and waterpump replaced
-CV Gaitor and C links replaced
-Replaced oil crankcase breather
-Sump pan resealed
-Oil change
-fuse box cover clips - with thanks to @depronman
-bluetooth support
-petrol cap button
-pollen filter replacement
-aux in adapter
-worn soft touch button replacement
-handbrake stowage tray
-rear seat storage box
-heated mirror glass
-complete suspension overhaul with Monroe shocks+Bilstein springs
-handbrake fix and non-OEM rear brake shoe kit replaced
-coolant temperature sensor+thermostat replaced
-dent removed from passenger front door
-mudflaps
-aero wiper upgrade
-cruise control retrofit
-colour DIS retrofit
-USB cable emerging at top of windscreen for dashcam hidden behind rear view mirror
-BOSE soundsystem
-MFSW
-hubcap repair - AlloyFix in Newcastle
Planned Repairs/Upgrades:
-driver sun mirror clip replacement
-reversing sensor
-glove box clips
-replacement fuel cap that is still attached
Existing OEM options:
-rear electric windows
-electronic climate control
-false floor boot
-foglights
NB I'd love to do some/all of this work myself however am principally lacking any knowledge or ability in how to go about such things but also don't have any of the appropriate tools, a location that is not on the street to complete any such work (leaving me and the car open to the elements and my almost guaranteed failings open for all to see!) and at the moment the time to actually do any of these things myself.
Thanks for reading. Am looking forward to many happy years of A2 ownership and participation on these forums. Any advice or suggestions much appreciated.
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