Autocar New V. Old Test

the grim reeper said:
But would you buy a Honda Jazz:eek:, i think if mine was rote off i would still be on the look out for another A2, there just isn't anything at the moment that does it for me ...
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When I bought the A2, I was seriously considering the Jazz. However, I wanted a luxury small car and Jazz is everything but luxury!

If I needed to carry an infant car seat at the back with two passengers, it would be a different story. In that situation, my wife said she would rather be in the back of her bor's Jazz after runs in sis's B6 A4 Avant and friend's new C-class. I can literally toss our buggy into the Jazz' boot where as with the A2, I need careful arrangement before it will fit in. The Jazz also swallowed my 42" tv in original box, where we couldn't even find a way to slot it into my A2, let alone having it transported in the upright position!
 
Honda certainly come up with some well designed cars in my view. The latest 2.2 diesel engine offers one of the best combinations of efficiency and power, but not enough to yet tempt me away from my A2.
 
Skipton01 said:
You might want to take a look at the VW configurator - the basic Polo SE diesel starts at £13900 and the Bluemotion at £15050. You can't get a TDi in the basic S version and for £10k, you get a piddly 60BHP engine and nothing in the way of comfort or convenience options.

OK, so we're 5 years on from the end of A2 production, but £15k would get you a 1.4TDi A2 Special Edition run-out model, so I hardly think that the Polo is a cheap option.

Cheers,

Mike
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I can't argue with your figures, but I just wanted to point out that these are RRP, and in these tough times they will be heavily discounted, but maybe not publicised.

Before the new model came out, my friend bought a base 1.2 3dr, with metallic paint, and 3 or 5 years service pack, BRAND NEW unregistered, "58" plate on the 1st September 2008, for £7200.

I know it's a base model, and doesn't have the spec of an A2, but it is a fine car, seats 5, is economical, new and under warranty. He haggles hard, but just shows what you can get.

This was also prior to the new model being announced, and before the scrappage scheme took effect!

He has been very pleased with it.
 
This thread reminded me that I have an official PDF copy of a 2001 Diesel Car review of the A2. Feel free to PM your email address if you want it.
 
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No date yet, Vicky (the journalist) was in touch yesterday, but only to ask for my address - she doesn't know a publish date yet.

I've asked her to let me know as soon as she knows, so that I can watch out for VW hitmen!!!

Cheers,

Mike
 
There was an article a couple of months back in evo magazine about how the emissions fines will affect the car manufacturers over the next few years as the new milestones come in to play manufactures will be fined for producing cars that are over a certain limit on emissions.

To continue to provide cars the public wants to buy they are having to adjust their margins within the production of the car and to offset the fines for higher emission cars the prices of cars are going to steadily increase but to offset the increase I think they'll also decrease the quality of materials used in the build otherwise all they will be making is IQ Clones. :(

There's also the pedestrian safety laws to contend with and whole reams of new regulations so from now on unless you want to spend megabucks your going to have to cope with new cars that meet current legislation but are also constrained by said legislation until the manufacturers get really clever with production techniques and their supply chain management.

I remember when I was a kid (mid 80s) a friend was taken to VW Factory in Germany (Munich???) by his dad and he said that a new car came off the production line every 6 seconds, I wonder how that compares with the modern scenario.
 
ULP said:
It passes the 'me behind Dad' test (he is 6'2" and I'm 6'4") very easily and the boot is a great size even with a space-saver under the floor. What it does badly is quality, materials, performance, ride (yes, even compared to an A2 SE) and handling. It is an automotive lock-up; spacious and useful but utterly featureless.
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My biggest gripe about the Jazz is the driver's seat's inability to slide back far enough. Even with the seat wound up to its highest setting I still feel cramped driving it. It's a shame given how spacious the Jazz is.

The A2 wins hands down on interior quality.

Ben
 
My dads about to get his 'last car he'll ever drive' and he was looking at the Jazz, I took him to a Honda dealership couple of weekends back and the experience wasn't great, continuously hounded by sales people the Jazz itself had appalling materials quality and was entirely uninspiring, I can't believe they charge so much for what seems to be essentially a biscuit tin with wheels and papier mache interior.

We also looked at the new facelift Skoda Roomster, which I have to say is a great car for my parents requirements. there's a 1.2 Turbo Petrol Engine with over 100bhp that has the 7 speed DSG box, full panoramic roof, climate control, and a truly amazing load space with the seats out.

For £13,800 its a cracking car. Interior plastics a a little bit thin but everything else was bang on.
 
ULP said:
Do you mean with the seat wound down...? That's the way to get more space I would have thought Ben

Agree on the Roomster - I really like them although my wife things they should only be used for wheeling a wheel-chair into the back of...
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Yeah, me and my wife liked the Roomster too, which is essentially the front of a polo with the back of a golf, stuffed with the Touran's middle row of flexible seats. But we have the same wheel-chair feeling, lol! And the look is certainly not to everyone's taste.
 
Funny, we have both a diesel 1.4 VW Polo Blue Motion and A2 in our household. I don't know much about cars, but there are not too many differences (apart from the age difference of 6 years!). Both have similar mileage. The A2 falls short only in terms of spec for me, as mine doesn't have air con or a CD player, though I can live with it! The only other negative difference is that I find the driving position in the Polo much more comfortable ; I'm 5feet tall and really struggle with the long-reach clutch in the A2. It's a shame. In terms of positives, the A2 is very fuel efficient, may be even does as well as the Polo (although you do have to fill it up more often due to the small tank). I think the turbo is a lot smoother on the A2 than the Polo. And somehow it's easier to park as well. I look forward to reading the article when it's out :)
 
Adrian888 said:
You also have to remember the A2 simply didn't have remotely the same showroom appeal of the MINI to the trendy young set. BMW marketing of the MINI simply ran circles around Audi.
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TBH, when I got my A2 I was 22, and apparently the youngest person they ever had to buy a new car. So young that they had to phone up for me to be put onto their insurance for the hire car when mine was in for service, as the minimum was 23! Anyways, I did consider the Mini, but basicaly I needed a car that I could put my friends in, and occasionally a mountain bike, the Mini was never even given a test drive, as I knew it was too small. I spotted the A2 by accident, I thought it was 2nd hand at a renault garage, but it was new, next door at Audi. The bright yellow caught my attention, and along with the design, and science behind the car - I was sold! I think the A2's demise was mainly due to a lack of interest from Audi, prob because they made no money on them. Why spend money on a car, you will never get rich on!? I think the new A2 is ment to be electric, or Hybrid, so will be innovative in that way, but not as distinctive!

As far as the new Polo, I think its a very attractive car, with similar slab sides to the A2. For me tho, its too small inside, and the dash does nothing for me. I am also used to a windscrren that you cant touch the bottom on the inside, the polos' was like a slab, inches from my face. However, its biggest problem for me, like the A1 (im unsure on its nose) is the cost. They both cost a simialr amount, and to get similar to what I have now, its about £15k for the polo, and £17k for the Audi. Unfortunatley, thats a bit too pricey for me atm, especially on such small cars inside.
 
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A great article, Tank looks super shiny too, doing a great job of raising the awareness of the A2!!

It was a good article, and well balanced. I hope no one goes out looking for another Tank, as they wont find one! Just wondering what happened to my standard leather trim in my SE!!

Well done Mike and Tank!
 
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