Looking to buy my first A2!

[Nippy Sweetie]

Hi everyone and thanks to admin for adding me to the group. I am very much looking forward to buying my first A2. I am returning home from Australia in 10 days to care for my elderly mother and will be staying home for good.
I decided it’s time to get real and get a A2 so if there are any members out there who know of anyone in UK selling a nice example or can steer me towards any worthwhile examples please drop me a line. Not too sure what to look out for but I would be happy to hear any advice or pointers. Also wondering what you all reckon is a fair price for a good condition model in terms of either the petrol or diesel. Cheers guys!

 

[Gilbert]

My advice is to buy the best you can afford unless you enjoy tinkering and want a project. I rate the TDi 75 good ones with reasonable mileage and good history are about £2k upwards. History is important and worth paying extra for. I hope you find something suitable and it might be worth looking around London as the ULEZ has been extended, which essentially forces people to sell perfectly serviceable cars as they aren’t compliant. Good luck, this forum will be an essential source of reference and support.

 

[Nippy Sweetie]

Thanks Gilbert. I will make sure I get history and try find one in and about London if I can. Budget is around €3500 so that sounds like I might get be able to get hold of a nice example and have some cash left to restore and detail etc. will check out the tdi75 now. Cheers

My advice is to buy the best you can afford unless you enjoy tinkering and want a project. I rate the TDi 75 good ones with reasonable mileage and good history are about £2k upwards. History is important and worth paying extra for. I hope you find something suitable and it might be worth looking around London as the ULEZ has been extended, which essentially forces people to sell perfectly serviceable cars as they aren’t compliant. Good luck, this forum will be an essential source of reference and support.

I

 

[Ami]

You have a healthy budget, you should be able to get a low millage A2 for that, If you are not going to be based in London ( ULEZ zone ) then the 1.4 tdi 75 is the most reliable of all A2's, I have 6 at the moment with the tdi being the least troublesome , My FSi is also lovely due to the Proboost ECU & high octane fuel.
p.s trying to go down to 2-3

 

[Sylvester]

Welcome to a2oc
If you drive short distances mostly, like ~20min, so your commute isn't too long, look for a 1.4 petrol (similar to Polo engines, so parts won't be too expensive) or 1.6fsi petrol, as these engines warm up faster.
The 1.4 is a great engine when serviced properly, the 1.6 gives more hp, but there's a trade off, as can be more fuss to own, like high octane fuel only and tad more complicated engine.

If you drive longer distances usually, like >30min, get 1.4tdi as you'll get better milage, but the engine can take longer to warm up. They tend to reach higher milages overtime than the petrol engines, still none shys away from high distances, my 1.4 petrol is at 160k+ as pulls really great.

If you don't mind DIY sometimes, using the very useful guides/infos found here, you'd be able to sort out many things yourself.
When you gotta go to a garage, ask if they've worked on A2s before, as there's a few little things most cars didn't have back then, like plastic side sills, so the A2 can be only lifted/jacked up by certain points and show them how to remove the hood, as it comes off completely, no hinges. When you fold the rear seats, it can be stored there without issues.

Before viewing, try to get a scanner to check for fault codes, this recommended with all cars of course, as even if there's no warning lights shown on dashboard, there can be some in the system.
If you got questions do a google search first, if you need more help start a thread, fortunately the a2oc community is very great and helpful!

Good luck mate finding your A2

 

[Nippy Sweetie]

Hi Ami, thanks for the reply. I am not going to be based in London but on the west coast of Scotland when I return home on the 21st. Got it on the TDI. Reliability is key for me but struggling to find low klms one online. I laughed out loud when I read you had 6! That’s amazing. Here in Australia they are so so rare I think you might have the combined total of all a2’s in OZ! . If you ever have 1 of those 6 you might want to sell I can help you try to get your numbers down ! Kind regards

You have a healthy budget, you should be able to get a low millage A2 for that, If you are not going to be based in London ( ULEZ zone ) then the 1.4 tdi 75 is the most reliable of all A2's, I have 6 at the moment with the tdi being the least troublesome , My FSi is also lovely due to the Proboost ECU & high octane fuel.
p.s trying to go down to 2-3

 

[Nippy Sweetie]

Welcome to a2oc
If you drive short distances mostly, like ~20min, so your commute isn't too long, look for a 1.4 petrol (similar to Polo engines, so parts won't be too expensive) or 1.6fsi petrol, as these engines warm up faster.
The 1.4 is a great engine when serviced properly, the 1.6 gives more hp, but there's a trade off, as can be more fuss to own, like high octane fuel only and tad more complicated engine.

If you drive longer distances usually, like >30min, get 1.4tdi as you'll get better milage, but the engine can take longer to warm up. They tend to reach higher milages overtime than the petrol engines, still none shys away from high distances, my 1.4 petrol is at 160k+ as pulls really great.

If you don't mind DIY sometimes, using the very useful guides/infos found here, you'd be able to sort out many things yourself.
When you gotta go to a garage, ask if they've worked on A2s before, as there's a few little things most cars didn't have back then, like plastic side sills, so the A2 can be only lifted/jacked up by certain points and show them how to remove the hood, as it comes off completely, no hinges. When you fold the rear seats, it can be stored there without issues.

Before viewing, try to get a scanner to check for fault codes, this recommended with all cars of course, as even if there's no warning lights shown on dashboard, there can be some in the system.
If you got questions do a google search first, if you need more help start a thread, fortunately the a2oc community is very great and helpful!

Good luck mate finding your A2

Thanks Sylvester for the reply. I think I am definitely swaying to the TDI. Very happy to service and restore and just need a good start point in terms of a cared for example. This online community is going to great and I can’t wait to find what I need and start enjoying everything this will bring to driving for me.

 

[RZX]

I have a 62k miles tdi coming up for sale soon but maybe out of your budget at offers on £4500.

 

[Ami]

I have a 62k miles tdi coming up for sale soon but maybe out of your budget at offers on £4500.

Lovely looking car @RZX you been hiding, I like that but religiously going to go down to 2-3.

 

[Nippy Sweetie]

I have a 62k miles tdi coming up for sale soon but maybe out of your budget at offers on £4500.

Ami I could afford that!
Love the colour too. I could help you sort out your addiction! Lets make this happen if you can part with it. .
I would love to make buying an A2 an easy happy experience and it would be my first one as well !

 

[RZX]

Amy I could afford that. Love the colour too. I could help you sort out your addiction! Lets make this happen if you can part with it. . Would love to make buying an A2 an easy happy experience and it would be my first one as well !

It's not Ami selling it, I am selling, I hope to clean it tomorrow and take some photos, will send as soon as I can.

 

[Nippy Sweetie]

It's not Ami selling it, I am selling, I hope to clean it tomorrow and take some photos, will send as soon as I can.

Sorry RZX just saw this! It’s 3 am here so not quite awake. It looks amazing and I look for to hearing from you.
Kind regards Alan

 

[Proghound]

Email addresses being visible in public is not necessarily advisable. I'll remove it from these posts and set up a PM conversation to share it.

 

[Ami]

Ami I could afford that!
Love the colour too. I could help you sort out your addiction! Lets make this happen if you can part with it. .
I would love to make buying an A2 an easy happy experience and it would be my first one as well !

It belongs to @RZX well worth the price Alan.