Do A2s have low clearance?

Alan_uk

Alan_uk

A2OC Donor
A few weeks ago whilst driving on the B390 between Shrewton and Chitterne across Salisbury plain there was a hell of a bang plus a cracking noise when the A2 hit the bottom of long downhill dip that then started to climb - like on a big-dipper. I guess I was doing 60 mph. No more, as I was being overtaked by a white van at the time!

I checked underneath but could only see some white lines/scratches on the under part of the bumper, which I thought were more likely to be from when parking at right angles to the kerb.

Went the same way a few days ago and took the hill slower to take a look for any pot holes. There were none, but I noted that the road had been repaired across it's width for about a foot and the tarmac had sunk down a little.

Today I measured the clearance underneath. It's just 140 mm (5 1/2" in old money). I also noticed this time some grooves in the plastic/rubber material. Maybe I missed them earlier but they were quite visible so may have been caused by some other obstruction.

Has anyone gone fast down a hill that then goes quickly up again and found that they bottomed out the suspension and/or hit the road surface?

Does anyone know what is the official clearance on the A2?
 
Hi Alan
I've done something similar which I can only assume caused the front suspension to hit the bump stops. It felt and sounded like the front suspension had been ripped out but no apparent damage had been done. The steering wheel was central, the car tracks straight and there has been no uneven tyre wear.
I checked an old A2 brochure which shows the ground clearance at 139mm unladen which ties in with your measurements.

Cheers Spike
 
spike said:
Hi Alan
It felt and sounded like the front suspension had been ripped out but no apparent damage had been done.
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Hi Spike,

Feels a bit more reassuring when someone else has experienced the same and hasn't noticed any apparent damage. Like yours, my A2 is driving OK. Just have to watch the speed in future and stop thinking I'm at the fair ground when encountering these undulating roads [grin]
 
The A2 does sit very low on the ground (even on the SE spec). Of the 3 cars that we have - it's the only one that scrapes the ground entering our drive.

Living in your neck of the woods Alan - I've driven over dead animals a couple of times - the first occurance a creature cracked the plastic shell under the engine area. The second occurance was with a badger - it caused £1242 worth of damage.

The moral is to take it slow.

Ben
 
You think the A2 is low?! C43 AMG is so low I've rubbed the exhaust pipes on the open road when loaded. The MOT man said the centre section is nicely polished now....
 
ben said:
Living in your neck of the woods Alan - I've driven over dead animals a couple of times - the first occurance a creature cracked the plastic shell under the engine area. The second occurance was with a badger - it caused £1242 worth of damage.Ben
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Commisserations to both you and the badger - both took a real hit!

Good job I got the A2 after moving from rural Hampshire. There I met on more than one occassion: cows, sheep, deer, badgers, foxes, owls, horses, rabbits. Luckily missed them all.
 
ben said:
The second occurance was with a badger - it caused £1242 worth of damage.
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Hmmm. The sooner they start that badger cull for the TB problem, the better.
Bit late now unfortunately for you. :mad:
Of course it may not have had TB!!
 
It was a bit frightening. We were on the Fosseway at the time - the badger just shot out of the verges - no regard for the highway code.
 
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