Hello from a future owner with a few questions :)

B

Blueskev

Member
Evening all, there is lots of great info on here, thank you :) Ive always like the A2 and Im thinking of taking the plunge. Ive always been into cars (mainly Alfas) but I need something that doesnt throw up new faults every week!
As a potential owner, there are a few things that make me slightly apprehensive though: Aluminium doesnt rust but it can corrode and the youngest A2s are now nearly ten years old. Have there been any cases of corrosion of the underneath? Obviously you wouldnt be able to get repairs welded on by your local garage!

What engine to choose? Ive been driving a diesel for the last six years and I would prefer to change back to petrol. The 1.6 is attractive but I read that it is a complex engine compared with the 1.4? Is the 1.4 a better bet for long term reliability? Ive read quite a bit on here about inlet manifolds already!

Will "normal" garages touch an A2, or is it too specialised to work on?

Hopefully I will see one, fall in love with it and live happily ever after!!
Regards,
Kev.
 
Welcome.

Never known or read about underside corrosion or oxidisation to be correct. You occasionally see cars with localised oxidisation on the doors where it meets the window rubbers and on the roof panel at the plastic gutter strips ( non Opensky models) - just reject any you see with this issue if it's noticeable.

TDi 75 is the best engine to go for in terms of longevity, reliability and running costs.

The car shares lots of mechanical components with other VAG group cars so no issue with basic maintenance. As for more complex tasks. All the expertise you need is available or can be sourced through A2OC.

Enjoy the search. ;)
 
Thanks Murdo, Im thinking of having a look at a local 2001 1.4 SE thats on Autotrader:

Metallic BLUE, Next MOT due 27/08/2015, 5 seats. Extensive service history. Unmarked cloth interior. Driver and passenger airbags. 4 x electric windows. Electric mirrors. Air conditioning climate control. Front fog lights. Factory fitted rear spoiler. Fully colour coded bodywork. Alloy wheels with recent brand new tyres. New front brake shoes and discs. Remote central locking/alarm/immobiliser with two remote keys. Full clear HPi report. Brand new battery fitted in October with 4 year guarantee. Truly excellent condition throughout. Drives superb., All Debit/Credit cards accepted. Viewing by appointment, open 7 days a week., Experian auto check clear, £1,590 p/x poss
It sounds good, maybe a bit too good for the price?
Regards,
Kev.
 
Kev, welcome to the world of A2s!

As Murdo says, there's all the expertise you need here on the forum, and a dedicated A2 specialist in the form of A2 Cars in Milton Keynes, not to mention other passionate independents dotted across the land and found on A2OC.

I can provide a perspective after having owned a remapped 122 bhp TDI 90 Sport, a 75 bhp TDI 75 SE, and (briefly) a 75 bhp 1.4 petrol Sport last year before exiting A2 ownership and just a week ago returning by buying a 1.4 SE...

In terms of value for money, the 1.4 petrol is hard to beat on initial outlay, and will deliver good economy if driven moderately (say, 47 mpg). I would strongly recommend seeing the £1,590 car you've identified, as not only does it have the items listed (including desirable electric windows all round), but is also fitted with an excellent BOSE sound system which in parts alone can be £500+, and takes some skill to retrofit. By comparison, the 2000-model 1.4 SE that I have just bought privately was £1,150, and is virtually identical to the one you've seen but also has an OSS (OpenSky Sunroof), though will also imminently need a service and a new windscreen.

Therefore, you might wonder what benefits an equivalently specced TDI 75 (a rare find) would bring listed at £3,500+ (and a TDI 90 even more)...? Firstly, it would certainly lose refinement at low speeds (although, the triple-diesel is characterful and endearing) and provide a heavier clutch and gearchange, but the flipside is much stronger torque and long-legged ability at all speeds, albeit in a narrow powerband unless remapped, improved economy and tank range (I was getting 55 mpg with my TDI 75, and 50 mpg with my TDI 90), and cheap £30 (£35?) a year road tax.

If the A2 is to be your only car, and if you're looking for strong all round pace, a TDI and a remap may suit best (or a well-treated 1.6 FSI, based on other's experiences), but for general use whilst still retaining and enjoying all other A2 qualities and saving a big wodge of cash, the 1.4 petrol could be all you need.

In my case, I've solved my need for sporty thrills by deciding not to 'sportify' my A2 and by keeping my second car as a 115bhp smart roadster.. multi-car insurance policies are cheaper than you think! Longer-term, I may have my 1.4 petrol converted to LPG for about £700, and the total outlay will still remain significantly less than a TDI whilst costing the same or less to fuel.

Hope this helps!
 
There are two cars that I'm interested in and I have a few more beginner questions....
This one:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ew/model/a2/postcode/me207pa/page/1?logcode=p
Is less than 10 miles away, and is in my favourite colour, I just love that blue! But, the miles are higher than I would like, the interior looks very dirty and the wheel centre caps are missing. £70 for a professional interior steam clean isn't too much of a big deal but can the centre caps be got hold of easily? Also, the car is listed as having aircon but I can't see a switch for it, where is the aircon switch?

This one:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ew/usedcars/page/2/postcode/me207pa?logcode=p

Is further away, is in a nice colour too (imho) and looks like possibly a better bet apart from those wheels. I assume they are aftermarket ones? This one is listed as having climate control but again, I can't see the controls? It also doesn't say whether it is a sport or an SE, is there an easy way to tell because I don't want the sport suspension.

Thoughts on these two cars would be greatly appreciated :)
Thanks in advance,
Kev.
 
Hi the first blue A2 has Climate, but the second A2 does not.

The one without climate does seem to have a custom leather interior retrim though. (Ex owners club members car?)
 
Number 2 doesn't look like it has a DIS stalk so it won't be a sport, it looks like it might just be a base model, no false floor, or chrome trim around the gear stick and no climate/AC.

Number 1. Centre caps are easily purchased. Loads on Ebay, but I don't know how prices compare to Audi. Lots of New Beetle trim pieces are actually cheaper from a dealer than ebay. Check out the prices and then knock the seller down. 100000 mikes isn't that much I don't think. But I'm no expert.

Chris
 
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