Collecting a new A2 from the factory

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kit lewis

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Hello - can anyone tell me or does any one have first hand knowlege - about collecting a new A2 from the factory. I know that Mercedes offer this as a option to new clients and I thought it might be neat to do the same with the A2. Unless of course it's already here and festering at the end of a runway whilst Audi UK retro fit 2002 parts and windscreen wipers etc.......

As you can tell - new cars are something of a rarity in this household and this is the first time we've ever spent this much dosh on a car so want the experience to be perfect. Watch out Audi!

Any thoughts?

Take Care

Kit

Soon to be the owner of a Dolphin Grey 1.6 FSI SE with Red Leather, ECC, DIS & Symphony 6 CD
 
Hello Kit!

I picked my A2 up at Audi HQ in Ingolstadt (the factory for A2´s in in Neckarsulm, but Ingolstadt is only an hour from where I live, and they give you the choice where to pick it up....). It was pretty nice, you get treated to 2 meals (or one upper class meal) in their restaurant, there´s a museum full of older, newer and out of the ordinary Audi´s, NSU´s etc. including the A2 concept cars etc...:) and you can take a tour of the factory where A3´s, A4´s and TT´s are built. Then somebody drives in your car, explains all the knobs and switches and takes a photo of you and your car (mine can unfortunately be seen at the A2OC site....:) and off you go....

We also don´t buy new cars so often, so it was a little adventure....

Bye, Frido.

P.S: The whole thing was a little less expensive than having the car delivered to your dealer (about 10 percent)

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A2 1.2 TDI 2002 silver, CC, DIS, Apple iPod :)
 
Thanks for that Frido - where abouts in Deutchland is Neckarsulm?

Has anyone from UK made the trip to Neckarsulm to collect their pride and joy? I bet Frido didn't pay the ridiculous delivery charges we get stung with in UK. Having said that - a trip to Germany before Christmas is always pleasant because no one does Christmas like our German friends! ;)

Take Care

Kit

Soon to be the owner of a Dolphin Grey 1.6 FSI SE with Red Leather, ECC, DIS & Symphony 6 CD
 
Kit,

If you don’t ask then you don’t get, so why not simply tell your dealer that you would like to personally collect the car from the factory – and see what response you get. Mind you the free Audi dinner could turn out to be a bit expensive after paying for hotel accommodation and three airline tickets. I say three on the basis that you would not wish to be so insulting as to not invite me as your technical advisor.

Regards
John Disdale
 
@Kit:

Neckarsulm is near Stuttgart (you should be able to get a flight from the UK there). If I recall correctly, the delivery charges were around € 300 if you pick it up yourself or €450 if you have the car delivered to your dealer...

Bye, Frido.

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A2 1.2 TDI 2002 silver, CC, DIS, Apple iPod :)
 
John - that's you, me....and who else </u>makes three?

You OK with a double bed...or do you snore?

And we haven't even been introduced! [:0]

Kit

Soon to be the owner of a Dolphin Grey 1.6 FSI SE with Red Leather, ECC, DIS & Symphony 6 CD
 
Kit,

When you made previous reference to “our household” I somehow presumed that you were either married, or had a girlfriend who did not snore that heavy – hence the reason of offering my services. Clearly I got it all wrong, but to achieve a party of 3 perhaps you could post a notice on your local Tesco “Wanted” board – although I do worry that Steve could reply under the alias of Stephanie. :D

Regards
John Disdale
 
Kit
I would like to introduce myself as Stephanie. I am blonde, 6foot 1inch tall, going slightly bald, shave every other day and wear a size 10 shoe.

I would love to make up the numbers with you and JD, but please note that I do not cook or clean, but I can read a mapbook unlike most women...

Steve - 2003 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior
 
Kit,

There you go – it’s your lucky day. Perhaps it’s possible that we could conclude a deal at this point in time ? I promise NOT to fight over Stephanie (cross my heart and hope to die), or to take photographs, as long as you allow me to drive the car for an hour.

Regards
John Disdale
 
Er...hang on...I have been repeatedly told (by Audi dealers, car mags etc) that the A2 is almost entirely built in Hungary (supposedly to help keep the price down...[:0]) - as is the majority of the TT. Is this not so?
 
@crawfster:

All the people I met at Audi so far old me that they produce all A2´s and A8´s in Neckarsulm, because of the specialized machinery needed to handle aluminium.... and I personally saw the TT being produced in Ingolstadt.....

Bye, Frido.

----
A2 1.2 TDI 2002 silver, CC, DIS, Apple iPod :)
 
Thank you Stephanie - this could be the start of something special .... if only it weren't illegal. Aw shucks never mind. Send you a post card instead!

I'm trying to retain some</u> of my illusions you see - that's why I'm buying an A2!

Take Care

Kit

Soon to be the owner of a Dolphin Grey 1.6 FSI SE with Red Leather, ECC, DIS & Symphony 6 CD
 
With some conviction I say the bodywork is built in Germany as a specialist item, but where the rest is engineered or assembled is a different kettle of fish. Having regard that I have often argued that the A2 is not Audi engineering as I knew it in the past, then my fears would be justified if by example the engine and gearbox were built in Hungary. Its no disrespect to Hungarians, but since when did they have a reputation for high standards of workmanship ?

Of course we already know that such elements as the headlights and clutch are French, so who knows how far down the line this goes. That said I understand many Golf’s are entirely built in South Africa, so it would appear that VAG are quite happy to advertise the “German Engineering” appeal, yet provide something quite different.

Regards
John Disdale
 
@John:

I know that most of the 1.9TDi engines are built in Hungary, that may be the case for the smaller TDi´s, too. The assembly of all parts is Germany, as far as I know, but that does not say a lot, as we all know.

Bye, Frido.

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A2 1.2 TDI 2002 silver, CC, DIS, Apple iPod :)
 
quote:Originally posted by John Disdale

With some conviction I say the bodywork is built in Germany as a specialist item, but where the rest is engineered or assembled is a different kettle of fish. Having regard that I have often argued that the A2 is not Audi engineering as I knew it in the past, then my fears would be justified if by example the engine and gearbox were built in Hungary. Its no disrespect to Hungarians, but since when did they have a reputation for high standards of workmanship ?

Regards
John Disdale
Click to expand...

Ahem! I think that the fact that every 1.9 TDI, V6 and V8 engine is assembled in Hungary, along with every Audi TT, and now also the 1.8 20V engines and the A3 speaks for itself. Audi has invested 1.4 billion Euros in the assembly plants at Gyor, and recently opened a new 134 million Euro factory to build the new V8 engines.

I don't see any prestige car manufacturers banging on the doors of the UK to build their cars. But then again, since when did the UK have a reputation for high standards of workmanship?
 
Well now the news is out I can picture children watching an A2 or TT driving down the road, and saying Daddy is that one of those Hungarian cars ? Thankfully though Daddy can reply that he is not sure because many of the parts are French.

As for myself I am feeling disenchanted over what on earth are suppose to be the plus points of legendary German engineering, but I suppose I cannot escape from the fact that Audi brochures are printed in Germany.

It’s a strong political opinion on my part but I have always regarded large companies (or Governments) who exploit cheap international labour rates to be traitors to their own countries. Indeed the greed for profit is starting to have no boundaries, but I suppose that when Britain & Germany end up with horrendous levels of unemployment some will wonder why.

As I previously mentioned I have no specific prejudice of Hungarians, and they do probably make the best Goulash in the world, but I still contend that you cannot take goat farmers and indoctrinate into them the engineering skills and high standards for which the German’s are justifiably renowned. The notion that just because Audi spend 1.4 billion Euro’s (less Government subsidies) in building a factory in Hungary has zero meaning to me in terms of being impressed, however I throw down the challenge to the Audi Corporation that if such actions are to impress, then lets start seeing Audi brochures advertise and refer to the fact that “Hungarian Engineering Is The Best”.

Regarding “Karcsi’s” comments that “since when did the UK have a reputation for high standards of workmanship” – I certainly challenge this, and just one look at a Tesco hand made pork pie confirms my British support. On the car scene I also most strongly argue, when several of the best cars currently on the road have to include Bentley and Aston Martin, with the likes of Jaguar producing interiors which the most expensive BMW, Audi, or Merc’s have never been able to match for quality and design. In terms of repeating the aspect of reputation for high standards/quality I believe that Brits do quite well selling their skills abroad, and in some circles like large yacht design their reputation is said to be second to none.

For sure Britain is not the “Great Britain” that it was, and politicians acting as traitors have seen to that and in doing so removed much national pride, but that said it is a daft statement to contend that high standards do not exist on our island.

Regards
John Disdale
 
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