Hello! grey FSI in Surrey

Hurrah! I’m now one of you!

I’ll add more details later, but for now here are some photos…
 

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Welcome aboard :)

Interesting setup with the tinted windows, was the back previously tinted as well and has come off?
 
We've had the A2 for a couple of weeks, driven a couple of hundred miles covering narrow country lanes and a couple of commutes to London and I have to say I'm really enjoying it. So I hope you'll indulge me in a lengthy post about our new A2. I mean, where else might I get away with it?!

This A2 has 105,000 miles, looks like it's been well cared for in its early life, and although it has passed through a few owners over the last year and has some areas of tattiness, it's generally in good shape and has clearly had some time and money spent on it sorting out a few issues and keeping on top of servicing and maintenance. It was also surprisingly cheap, but is not without faults which I might need some A2oc help and opinions sorting but I'll post about the issues and faults separately.
The interior is very much like our old 2000 A6, but with a less chunky feeling and obviously you sit higher up and can see out of it better. It feels light and is easy to manoeuvre, the doors in particular are noticeably thinner and do feel a bit flimsy. It’s also like my dad’s old 2002 Audi TT but obviously less sexy and taller and squarer. I think this era, early 2000s, was a great time for Audi, they produced some really good cars and I’m a big fan.

The car wasn't actually for sale, It was one I missed buying back in the summer when it was advertised on another car forum, as the seller went quiet on me after a couple of enquiries. I contacted another forum member who had expressed an interest at the time to see if he had better luck than me in trying to buy it, hoping that if he did he might have some thoughts or advice about buying and running an A2. He replied to say he had indeed bought it but due to a sudden change of personal circumstances found himself with too many cars/not enough driveway so he was thinking of getting rid of it soon. I expressed and interest and later that week I went to pick it up. That's why it hadn't been washed or hoovered ready for sale. It did have a half tank of petrol though so I thought that was preferable!

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It idles, revs and pulls nice and smoothly. Really good stereo, everything is simple and in the right place. Has a few bells and whistles but is not that well specced for an SE top of the range model. I think there was probably a long options list on these from what I can tell, and these are what Audi made their money on. Or rather, these are what enabled Audi to lose a bit less money on some well optioned A2s. Ours has wind up rear windows. I honestly can't remember the last car we owned that had wind up rear windows!

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It’s nice and easy to drive, it feels bigger than it is, but you notice how narrow it is when you meet a car going along a country lane and have to squeeze through. Bear in mind this has replaced a Volvo V70! The steering is a bit light and could do with a bit more feel. Way bigger than expected inside. We had 4 adults in it and it was fine. There’s tons of room for its size. I’m 6ft and need the drivers seat about half way forward to be comfortable. Loads of head room. Behind me is room for another 6ft adult in the rear. The rear foot well is deeper that the fronts, so there’s plenty of room for legs & feet.

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My nephew has a similar colour, similar age Polo and it’s interesting sitting 4 adults in that to compare. The A2 is genuinely magic. I don’t know how it’s so different to the Polo inside for pretty much the same size outside. The boot is about the same size as the Polo, but on our A2 at least the floor pulls up to reveal an underboot big enough for a couple of small bags of shopping. The underboot floor lifts up too and reveals the battery, jack and associated breakdown gubbins.

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More to come, I've hit the photo limit...
 
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Our back seats fold individually, flip up against the fronts, and I love their special trick of being able to be removed completely. I’m going to see if I can get 2 mountain bikes with the wheels off in there, I reckon it’s possible!

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The 1.6 is rough sounding but fairly nippy even with 4 adults who had spent the previous 48 hours stuffing our faces with Christmas food and various strong boozes. On start up the first 2-3 secs gives you a diesel clatter start up noise, then it quickly settles into being a petrol engine. It’s not a smooth or nice sounding engine but has a fair bit of torque and revs nicely up to the red line when needed.

Vision is pretty good all round, even out of the rear where I expected the spoiler half way up the rear window to obscure vision, but it doesn’t really. No rear wiper is a bit of a pain, as road dirt cakes the lower rear window below the spoiler and there’s no way to clean it off on the move. The A pillars are bit of an obstruction and take some getting use to as the drivers pillar in particular obscures the view to the right on approaching roundabouts and junctions. Wing mirrors are a bit small, or maybe odd shaped? I can't work it out but they don't seem to give a great view. Car tax is cheap (£180), Insurance is expensive (£400 vs £200 for identical policy for our Mini of the same age)

It was raining a lot when I bought it and drove home. One of the first things I noticed was that puddles/laying water splashes hitting the underside of the car at speed sound different to other cars. It was also really nice to not have to worry about hunting for rust on a 20 year old used car, it felt a bit unsettling. The underneath is pretty much as new.

TLDR: Great cars, mostly clever and sensibly thought out with enough quirks to be interesting, along with a few bits of questionable design. I can see why the Mini was way more popular than the A2 in the 2000s, these are very clever but feel a bit dull and worthy compared to the Mini's in your face retro styling and chintzy showroom appeal. I reckon the A2 would be the car you'd want to live with longer term once you'd got bored of the Mini's razzmatazz. I love it so far!
 
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Our back seats fold individually, flip up against the fronts, and I love their special trick of being able to be removed completely. I’m going to see if I can get 2 mountain bikes with the wheels off in there, I reckon it’s possible!

View attachment 102730

View attachment 102731

View attachment 102732

The 1.6 is rough sounding but fairly nippy even with 4 adults who had spent the previous 48 hours stuffing our faces with Christmas food and various strong boozes. On start up the first 2-3 secs gives you a diesel clatter start up noise, then it quickly settles into being a petrol engine. It’s not a smooth or nice sounding engine but has a fair bit of torque and revs nicely up to the red line when needed.

Vision is pretty good all round, even out of the rear where I expected the spoiler half way up the rear window to obscure vision, but it doesn’t really. No rear wiper is a bit of a pain, as road dirt cakes the lower rear window below the spoiler and there’s no way to clean it off on the move. The A pillars are bit of an obstruction and take some getting use to as the drivers pillar in particular obscures the view to the right on approaching roundabouts and junctions. Wing mirrors are a bit small, or maybe odd shaped? I can't work it out but they don't seem to give a great view. Car tax is cheap (£180), Insurance is expensive (£400 vs £200 for identical policy for our Mini of the same age)

It was raining a lot when I bought it and drove home. One of the first things I noticed was that puddles/laying water splashes hitting the underside of the car at speed sound different to other cars. It was also really nice to not have to worry about hunting for rust on a 20 year old used car, it felt a bit unsettling. The underneath is pretty much as new.

TLDR: Great cars, mostly clever and sensibly thought out with enough quirks to be interesting, along with a few bits of questionable design. I can see why the Mini was way more popular than the A2 in the 2000s, these are very clever but feel a bit dull and worthy compared to the Mini's in your face retro styling and chintzy showroom appeal. I reckon the A2 would be the car you'd want to live with longer term once you'd got bored of the Mini's razzmatazz. I love it so far!
Well you can fit two double mattresses
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And that’s with the seats still in so a couple of bikes should be a doddle!
 
Good Evening Richard,

Welcome.

I have never used those support bars for the back seats when tilted up, with the front seat pushed back no way are they going to tilt back down.

It has never struck me my FSI sounds rough and the road tax is not cheap when you compare it with the £30 TDI rate for many on here.

On a trivial point the cover for the positive battery terminal is missing but you do have that most prized rare item, a decimal point.

Welcome again.

Andy
 
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Hi Andy, thanks for the welcome. This place has a refreshingly friendly vibe. Unusual for online car enthusiasts who seem to like arguing. Maybe under appreciated, overlooked cars attract more interesting people?!

The similar age VW Golf 1600cc/100bhp has 50 more CO2s and is £295 tax, the 1600cc Audi A3 1600cc is £265, so I'm very happy with £180!

I hadn't noticed the battery cover so thanks for noticing that. A quick google has found an A2 terminal cover 8Z0915429B for £19

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/10018205704

which sounds a bit pricey for a bit of black plastic, are there cheaper alternatives about?

You might have to explain about the decimal point. Sorry, it's my first day!
 
I hadn't noticed the battery cover so thanks for noticing that. A quick google has found an A2 terminal cover 8Z0915429B for £19

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/10018205704

which sounds a bit pricey for a bit of black plastic, are there cheaper alternatives about?

Yes, such as this item on eBay:

If you haven't already done so, you should sign up here for marketplace access:

and you could then try a 'wanted' ad.
 
Hi Andy, thanks for the welcome. This place has a refreshingly friendly vibe. Unusual for online car enthusiasts who seem to like arguing. Maybe under appreciated, overlooked cars attract more interesting people?!

The similar age VW Golf 1600cc/100bhp has 50 more CO2s and is £295 tax, the 1600cc Audi A3 1600cc is £265, so I'm very happy with £180!

I hadn't noticed the battery cover so thanks for noticing that. A quick google has found an A2 terminal cover 8Z0915429B for £19

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/10018205704

which sounds a bit pricey for a bit of black plastic, are there cheaper alternatives about?

You might have to explain about the decimal point. Sorry, it's my first day!
Only ever use ebay for parts if you are desperate as you say tend to be expensive, unless it's a bargain, a far better alternative is use the forum Marketplace (you have joined?). If nothing about I would PM our two principal recyclers, @A2Steve and @Clackers directly and as a last resort put up a Wanted post.

You have the right part.

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The terminal cover is trivial but looking at your picture again you are missing the corrugated vent tube which some would argue is important as it deals with noxious/dangerous fumes. Situated on the left and connected to a vent, the right hand vent retains it transit bung, but all quite minor really.

The battery is also physically a bit small, by all means use it until it expires and purchase a correct spec battery.

Andy

Edit. I see you have the vent tube but it is not 'plugged' in.
 
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I do seem to be commenting a lot on your battery compartment picture!

Have you noticed the loose part in the tool storage to the right of the battery? I recognise it as the piece that goes over the boot lid catch, largely cosmetic I think but Audi would not have incorporated it if not worthwhile.

Andy
 
Only ever use ebay for parts if you are desperate as you say tend to be expensive, unless it's a bargain, a far better alternative is use the forum Marketplace (you have joined?). If nothing about I would PM our two principal recyclers, @A2Steve and @Clackers directly and as a last resort put up a Wanted post.

You have the right part.

View attachment 102775

The terminal cover is trivial but looking at your picture again you are missing the corrugated vent tube which some would argue is important as it deals with noxious/dangerous fumes. Situated on the left and connected to a vent, the right hand vent retains it transit bung, but all quite minor really.

The battery is also physically a bit small, by all means use it until it expires and purchase a correct spec battery.

Andy

Edit. I see you have the vent tube but it is not 'plugged' in.
I do seem to be commenting a lot on your battery compartment picture!

Have you noticed the loose part in the tool storage to the right of the battery? I recognise it as the piece that goes over the boot lid catch, largely cosmetic I think but Audi would not have incorporated it if not worthwhile.

Andy
@richardbe That also appears to be the incorrect emergency jack i'm afraid.
 
To avoid further fixation on my battery compartment I thought I'd post up all the other things that might need attention. I'm guessing it would be better to tackle each problem with a separate post/wanted thread in the correct place but I'll start with noting all the issues here.

As mentioned before, this car looks to have been well looked after in its early life, and recently treated to some love and money. Last year (2021) it had a new high pressure fuel pump, 4 new (off brand) tyres and a full cam belt kit (2x belts, 2x tensioners 2x idlers and a water pump) This year (2022) it’s had a replacement EGR hose and new springs and shocks. Since these are all things I was aware to look out for when buying a used A2 I felt reasonably confident about the prospect of owning it. So, all good so far...

The main concern is that the ABS warning light is on, There’s a big warning in the middle of the dash and it gives three beeps as you initially drive away. The MOT is due in February 2023, only 8 weeks away. Eeek!

However, having had a look at the car and a chat with the seller it appears that this is a recent problem and when the springs/shocks were replaced earlier in the year by the owner before him* he reckoned this may have damaged the ABS wiring in the front wheel arches, as both sides show some damaged wiring. Hopefully, fingers crossed, some replacement wiring and maybe an ABS sensor or two will extinguish the ABS warning light and all will be fine.

*I’m the 4th owner this year, but it’s last 2 years are documented on the forum I bought it from so not as worrying as it sounds!

Driver's side:

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Passenger side:

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Then I will just have the EML warning light to worry about. Yes, like all of these 1.6FSI A2s, the Engine Management Light is on. It comes on when you turn the key, then goes out, and then shortly after firing up comes back on again. POs suggested the code for this shows a faulty Oil Level Sensor is doing this. It’s due an oil change very soon so hopefully a replacement Oil Level Sensor (I believe these are about £20?) at the same time will extinguish that light. At least for the time being…

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These are the two main ‘faults’ that need immediate attention. I probably won’t do anything else until these are sorted, just to be sure it’s going to make it through the MOT in Feb. Otherwise it’s a nice car. Not perfect inside or out but it feels really well built and has a solid durable feel and I hope will be easy to live with and drive. We’ll see!

Further issued that will need addressing:

Compared to photos of other A2s it looks like it’s sitting a little too high. Not particularly noticeable but need to investigate to check all is OK. Ride and handling is pretty good so won't do anything if I don't need to.

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The boot struts are bit weak. They hold the boot fully open but it drops down if only opened a bit.

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