A plea to members from an FSI owner, a long-standing A2OC'er and Admin Member

[sailesh]

This is a timely post, now that A2’s are firmly into enthusiast and potential end of life territory. Looking at HowManyLeft, the total population of A2’s has essentially halved since 2010, with the most resilient models being the runout Special Editions, and then TDIs (approx 2/3 surviving).

It begs the question as to which models are likely to survive over the next decade, and from this point of view, with diesel being taxed out of existence, and 1.4’s first to be broken, the FSI may well be the only A2 still seen in major cities. This is no surprise, given that an FSI produces 10x less NOx than a TDI at least on the old testing cycles.

Regardless of your engine preference, we are all fans of the A2, therefore improving its survivability does require an interest in improving the desirability of models which are likely to be able to remain in use. I’m sure there will be plenty of good discussion and constructive outcomes here so thanks again for raising the post!

 

[Exe_Chris]

My FSI has over 130k miles now, and still feels healthy. I take it up to the redline almost every day I drive it, and it always pulls well. I've had it nearly 4 1/2 years now, and the only problems it's had have been general (handbrake cable failure, corrosion in certain areas[not the body obviously]).

That said, I am about to buy a bottle of coolant as it needs a top-up again. This will only be the second bottle I've bought - the first lasted several years - so I'm not too worried. Perhaps a look at some of the suspect areas wouldn't be such a bad idea, however.

How about getting the idea of collective help of the ground by someone explaining what exactly causes the so called "Death Rattle" many suffer with on start up. I'm not convinced it's the Lifters but more the system that sits on the end of a cam. Is this correct? If so what causes this rattle, why does it wear so quickly and what can be done to remedy it?

I believe that the owner's manual mentions that noise, and reassures that it is normal. I hope so anyway...

 

[BiggDogg]

I believe that the owner's manual mentions that noise, and reassures that it is normal. I hope so anyway...

Correct, the top of page 113 says ”When starting from cold the engine may be a little noisy for the first few seconds until oil pressure has built up in the hydraulic tappers. This is quite normal, and no cause for concern.”


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[Vorsprung durch Technik]

My FSI has over 130k miles now, and still feels healthy. I take it up to the redline almost every day I drive it, and it always pulls well. I've had it nearly 4 1/2 years now, and the only problems it's had have been general (handbrake cable failure, corrosion in certain areas[not the body obviously]).


I believe that the owner's manual mentions that noise, and reassures that it is normal. I hope so anyway...

That's good to know yours is still in rude health and bringing a smile to your face.

I only mentioned it as mine does it occasionally and only very briefly - so mine must be a good one as i've read some cars rattle for a few seconds.

 

[Vorsprung durch Technik]

Correct, the top of page 113 says ”When starting from cold the engine may be a little noisy for the first few seconds until oil pressure has built up in the hydraulic tappers. This is quite normal, and no cause for concern.”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Interesting to know that! ???

 

[Proghound]

MIke, that's a very valid question in my opinion. I'll raise it for discussion among the Admin team.

Just to close the loop and feed back about this, we did have a discussion about it as promised.

The general consensus of opinions was that, while this seems so much like a great idea, it would increase the complexity of the subforum structure, which is kept deliberately simple. We could foresee topic duplication between new and existing subforums, confusion about where to post threads or search for what information, and greater management overheads. If we were starting the site from scratch now, it would definitely be the right thing to do. Unfortunately though with so much content already posted, filtering and relocating it appropriately to get engine-specific subforums to work properly would be no small exercise.

Despite this, we all agreed that it was well worth having looked into this suggestion, and thankyou @mjsbrabus for making it. We do welcome and encourage all suggestions, please feel free to make them on threads as in this case, or via PM if you prefer.

 

[shao_khan]

Darren - great idea. I've been around for some years now on and off. On my 5th A2, currently have a 1.4 petrol just coming upto 75k miles. Its funny because I actually see the 1.4 as being the runt of the litter, it seems to be the one most pulled apart for spares and least desired out of all of them.

 

[Bargepower]

But now the most desired in London, the 1.4 petrol, for reliability and exemption from the ULEZ.
Diesel A2's are being sold off down here.

 

[andrewparkeruk]

@Proghound rather than the forum/folder structure, the far more modern way of sorting is to use tags and indexing. I don’t know if the forum software permits this?

Andrew

 

[Proghound]

@Proghound rather than the forum/folder structure, the far more modern way of sorting is to use tags and indexing. I don’t know if the forum software permits this?

Andrew

Good point. With a few minutes experimentation, I can see that the OP may enter tags when they create a thread, if they use the full thread entry facility. You get this by using with the Post Thread button at the top of a subforum to create the thread, or with the More Options button if you use the quick thread entry box at the top of the thread list. A tag is entered as soon as you type a comma in the tag box, you then have to save the tag list.

Any tags entered for a thread appear under the thread title at the top of the page. Here there is a little tag icon that, for me at least, is a hyperlink to a little edit panel where I can remove and add tags. Does this also work for you as a non-Admin profile?

Tags are not case sensitive once the tag list is saved. The system also appears to be clever enough to handle super-sets e.g. 'engine' and 'engines' get the same results when you click on the tag. When you use the Search facility, threads with tags matching your search terms are included in the results, even if that word is not repeated in the text of the thread.

 

[timmus]

I'm currently in the Netherlands, working for members of the Dutch A2 Club. There's a meet-up at a rented garage on Sunday, next weekend, that follows this format; everyone brings their tools and knowledge and A2s are collectively maintained.

In Dutch, the term 'sleutelen' is equivalent to the English term 'tinkering'. As such, meetings like those discussed are referred to as 'sleutelmeetings', in a classic Dutch-English hybrid.

Here is a photo of the Dutch 'sleutelmeeting', which I attended earlier this October. As you can see, they've collectively hired a workshop with a load of ramps and are working on their cars together. The more experienced provide assistance to those who are less experienced.
I was the only electronics guy who attended and nothing needed doing on my own car, so was there purely to be sociable and helpful.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[TYP 8Z]

Here is a photo of the Dutch 'sleutelmeeting', which I attended earlier this October. As you can see, they've collectively hired a workshop with a load of ramps and are working on their cars together. The more experienced provide assistance to those who are less experienced.
I was the only electronics guy who attended and nothing needed doing on my own car, so was there purely to be sociable and helpful.

Cheers,

Tom

View attachment 58234

If only this would be possible here in UK.....

 

[timmus]

If only this would be possible here in UK.....

A few years ago, I remember @Vonnie found a few places in the UK that offer this kind of garage rental service, but it may not be common. Almost every large town in the Netherlands has somewhere like this. Because it's a small country with high population density, the Dutch hire a garage somewhere that's geographically central, meaning that many members are able to attend, irrespective of where they live in the country.

 

[damadgeruk]

If only this would be possible here in UK.....

It's certainly possible, preparation and planning. I see an interest, we already have the community spirit. I know a local garage owner whom I believe doesn't work on Sunday, I'll have a word to find out what costs would be incurred.

 

[Bargepower]

There used to be a place in Park Royal in London that had four post and two post lifts, also cheap tool hire for presses, etc, and hourly workspace rental but they closed down about 6 months ago and now just do tinting.

 

[Robthebank]

Here is a photo of the Dutch 'sleutelmeeting', which I attended earlier this October. As you can see, they've collectively hired a workshop with a load of ramps and are working on their cars together. The more experienced provide assistance to those who are less experienced.
I was the only electronics guy who attended and nothing needed doing on my own car, so was there purely to be sociable and helpful.

Cheers,

Tom

View attachment 58234

Looks like @A2 Louis dream garage

 

[A2 Louis]

Looks like @A2 Louis dream garage

It definitely is bud ??

 

[sciroccorrado]

I'd certainly be interested in attending one - Mind you I frequently have "mini meets" around my house where we get 3 or 4 members turning up at the same time