Looking into buying.

OK, finally got up close and had my first ride in an A2 today, courtesy of Mr Swaine from Kirby Stephen, (and many thanks to him for coming out on a pretty grisly day.)

I liked it and don't really think that I would be too bothered by the noise/ride. You wouldn't believe some of the things I've driven from Plymouth up to Durham and back in. Mid 80s I did it with the then girlfriend in an Isetta 300!)

I don't generally do many miles these days in my motor vehicles but next year will be a bust one on the road for me and I think that I am now looking at 2 contenders to be using. An A2 and a Citroen C15 van. I know, one extream to another. It is a C15 that I've been driving for the past 6 years, (at a whopping 3k/year.) They are simple, pretty reliable and reasonable economical. Plus, I can my bike in AND sleep along side it!!

Common sense says van, but I do fancy the car. Time will tell.

LG.
 
I do Dundee to the moors just north of Plymouth and the return journey several times a year without effort - for the long distance trips it really does drive like a bigger car, although lengthening 5th gear would probably enhance that still further. Uses precisely half the fuel of my A6 for the same trip.

You know you want to!
 
citroen sm said:
The Citroen SM is just my dream car I'm afraid, but one I am determined to own, if I even simply buy one, keep it for a summer and then sell it on. I like the idea of buying one from Italy or the South of France and driving it home.
Click to expand...

Do please keep us posted on your search for an SM.
 
Robin_Cox said:
I do Dundee to the moors just north of Plymouth and the return journey several times a year without effort - for the long distance trips it really does drive like a bigger car, although lengthening 5th gear would probably enhance that still further. Uses precisely half the fuel of my A6 for the same trip.

You know you want to!
Click to expand...
Robin_Cox said:
I do Dundee to the moors just north of Plymouth and the return journey several times a year without effort - for the long distance trips it really does drive like a bigger car, although lengthening 5th gear would probably enhance that still further. Uses precisely half the fuel of my A6 for the same trip.

You know you want to!
Click to expand...

Hi Robin. Yes, that is a fair old drive. I used to live in PLymouth, (ex-matelot.) Looks like you have a 1.4TDi. Is it standard or have you had it mapped? which seems to be a good option.

LG.
 
The Tdi (BHC engine) was standard up until the Easter/summer when I had finally got round to replacing both thermostat and coolant temp sensor which were knackered and erratic respectively for the first half year ; once I had done those and a service, I then uploaded a map of St. Annes, and it made a significant difference both in performance and the way it delivers the performance (smoothness and breadth of torque band). The extended 5th or maybe a 6-speed box are appealing, but the disposable cash for either isn't currently available. Door to door in around 9 hours (545 miles) including a coffee at Tebay & breakfast at Gloucester services, & fuel stop at M5 junction 2 (Asda). It averages 55mpg or so, but that is going some to keep the average around 60mph including an hour of stops en route - I guess it would still do it on a single tank, but I'd have the fuel light on around Taunton so I fill it back up to prevent the startle factor of that loud ping going off! If I took an extra hour or two it'd do it easily - even with the duff thermostat in September 2017 I picked it up and drove it from Wembley to Dundee (480-odd miles of heavy traffic / roadworks up the M1 and M6 so stuck at 50mph for around 200 miles in the middle!) on 3/4 of a tank and had I needed to, it would have easily gone to an indicated 600 miles as I got it up to 560-odd with the fuel light on (35 litre refill) after 5 days of commuting.
 
To average 60mph on a run is pretty good I think, considering all of the hold ups you inevitably encounter these days. I usually work my journey times out to an average of 50.

What is the general opinion of this car curremtly on Ebay? I'm just waiting to hear back if the timing belt has been done:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A2-...448909?hash=item2cdf82bf8d:g:obkAAOSwWSlb8U67

2ivnptc.jpg
 
citroen sm said:
Looks like it. Somebody liked it then!

LG.
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Seemed a genuine seller and even though I do not follow TDI selling prices it seemed cheap enough, acceptable mileage for a diesel A2, but the reference to 44 mpg seemed strange and then the cosmetic shortcomings, but a rare colour.

Echoing a recent comment, good A2's/good value A2's sell rapidly, but of course you have to know what you are buying.

Andy
 
citroen sm said:
Hi all. Been hanging around on here for a week now. Thanks to all that have offered advice on here. I think that I know a lot more about A2s than a did a week ago! Still haven't been "up close" to one yet but that should change this weekend. I think that I have replied to everyone that has kindly offered to show me their car.

Things that slightly put me off are the electronics, reports of motorway "noise" and a "hard" ride. I've never had a car that would give any warnings other than oil pressure and water temp. I imagine that these cars give an annoying warning when a service is due and which can't be reset unless you have a clever piece of kit or know someone that has.

I have always service my cars well within the recommended periods. Not sure how that would work with an A2.

Having said all of that I'm still quite keen, (on a TD 75.) It seems possible to find a few around the £1500 mark, with say 95-140K, usually with some history and a cam belt/water pump change. I'm thinking about something around there and then have the oil pump drive done to bring the price up to around £2000. And maybe, if it seems worth it, go for a re-map.

Trouble is though, there are so few for sale and, at least at the moment, none anywhere near me. Still, I don't need one until around Feb/March.

LG.
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Hi I maybe thinking of selling mine , it’s got 80000 miles on it , silver 1.4 tdi sport in immaculate condition , all standard except a remap by Tom . Full service history 2 owners looking for £2500
 
Any members in Halifax that would be prepared to have a quick look at a car for me down there please? I'd be happy to pay fuel/expenses. Just really to see that there is nothing obviously wrong with it and that the paper work matches the mileage really.

Cheers, LG.
 
Hi all. Anyone see any red flags with this example;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-Aud...065692?hash=item1a50f0275c:g:qq4AAOSwvBdbDqPY

I may find myself pretty close to Halifax middle of next week so thought I'd go and have a look/test drive. If it all seems OK and I can get a couple of hundred quid knocked off the price I'd maybe even risk it.

With that in mind, I'm drawing up a list of things to look for, in addition to all of the usual used car checks. Things like,

Make sure all electrics work, inc all doors, (having read the thread on sticking passenger doors).

Make sure rear seat folds/locks as it should, (read the thread on that.)

Check all undertrays present and correct.

Check no strange warning symbols showing on dash.

Any other things I would need to be paying particular attention too?

Anything to look for on the engine itself? In fact, how do you access the engine? I'd at least like to give the impression that I know what I'm doing!

Also, a difficult one to answer, but what's the life of a clutch in these cars? I know that there will be a difference between a car that has done a lot of motorway journeys and one that has largely spent it's life in a city, Will there be a clue in the feel of the clutch?

Do these cars have one of those diesel particulate filters that need a good blast every so often to keep clean?

Cheers, LG.

a2c.jpg
 
There's no particulate filter on these.

Check that the climate control is in proper working order.

Check that all the warning lights display as they should when the ignition is turned on. and then turn out when the engine is started.

120,000 miles means that it's still relatively young.. Unless it has obvious problems, the asking price seems pretty reasonable.
 
Cheers Steve. Does it have climate control? I can't see it. If it does, how would I check it, other than checking the fan motor?

Cheers, LG.
 
There have been numerous reports of unscrupulous sellers taping over/masking out warning lights on the dash to hide faults, particularly the engine management light warning. On startup pay close attention to the dash lights on startup to check all is as it should be. The link below is for my FSI, but I imagine it is the same for all A2 models, unless anyone says otherwise and details what you should see.

https://www.a2oc.net/community/index.php?threads/new-a2-owner-few-questions.35507/#post-310564

Andy

Edit. Just thought do diesels have a glow plug light??
 
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The interior shots do show that it has climate - whether it is working or needs a regas is a different question (see if it blows cold). I bought mine at almost exactly the same mileage - it had just had the belts & waterpump done (dated sticker on the engine block) although the service book was completely stamp-free. Headlight on passenger side looks a bit cloudy - but that's easily replaced by a second-hand unit from here (two screws and unplug the wiring connector) or refurbished yourself. Both of our A2s needed a refresh on the front suspension - on a test drive look out for obvious signs of worn shocks or a knackered spring, but additionally the top strut bearings (creaking / twanging noise directly under the front end of the windscreen) when moving steering from lock to lock stationary or low speed, drop links / ARB bushes (knock or clunk on one or both sides when going over potholes or road bumps). Ham-fisted use of jacks underneath the front / rear ends of the sills can cause a dent in the aluminium floor panel inboard of these and even cracking of the sill plastic trim itself but is largely cosmetic. Condition of brake discs / pads at the front? Handbrake efficacy? Strut bearing is 4-5 hours labour and could be worth doing springs / shocks / drop links / ARB bushes and bearings all in one go.

Many people here comment that the Tdi could do with the oil pump chain replacing for peace of mind on top of the belts as failure is catastrophic - that's on my to do list of work for next year.

Ensure the windscreen washer works - the pump on our 52 plate car stopped working shortly after purchase, but fortunately with the undertray still not on the car replacing it was under a tenner (Ebay) and 20 minutes work with the car jacked up on that corner to give clearance to work under the front end. Once that was replaced the new pump promptly caused the (by now) fragile plastic pipework just under the windscreen edge to split, so that was replaced with a length of silicone aquarium hose.

If not done, worth replacing filters & fluids.

If looking for negotiation points on the price - belts, front suspension refresh costs and battery would be the three places I would look to haggle.

Battery is below the double boot floor. Original batteries are often VARTA branded with an Audi 8Z part code printed on the top side and many cars still have the original one despite advancing years - both of our cars had an original VARTA that was beginning to lose charging capacity, and for the Tdi at least, replacing this with a suitably-potent Bosch wasn't cheap (160-200 quid - if you're lucky Eurocarparts sometimes do 50% off batteries which can make the purchase a bit more tolerable around the £90-100 mark).

Good luck!
 
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