Hi all,
well, I have just reached the end of my first week with an A2. A few months back I put a wanted ad on this site but what with one thing and another, including a house move, it has taken me this long to finally get hold of the right one.
So, she's a blue 2001 1.4 TDi SE with opensky roof. Not totally mint but in good nick, well, maintained, and bought for a good price from a private owner who seemed to be very genuine.
Mechanically, all is A OK and she has just been serviced. Bodily everything is fine except for a scratch to the lower front bumper on the paintwork and some minor damage to the very bottom of said bumper on the black plastic. You'd have to look for it to see it. Reading this forum, it seems this is fairly common.. Only other issue is that there are one or two minor curb marks to the wheels but nothing major. I'm hoping somebody might be able to give a view on the many wheel "touch-up" kits available online. Are they any good? It's not worth refurbing the wheels right now as they're otherwise much too good.
Inside all is excellent although I was a little disappointed that this one doesn't have the onboard computer or any speakers in the back. Climate control was a must though (and works brilliantly I might add) and a bonus was a full set of genuine carpets as well as the genuine rubber mats too.
One issue was a stuck cupholder. It was a point of negotiation as I felt I could sort it easily. I did so but the front trim has been scratched by the last owner trying to prise it open. It also looks like the tiny little lugs on the bottom of the front cupholder trim have come away so I need to try and find another one somewhere...
So, after piling on 1000 miles in a week, what do I think of it so far?
Very positive I have to say. It feels like a big car when you want it too and like a small car when you need it to.
The build quality is beyond reproach. There isn't a squeek or rattle anywhere to be heard.
Coming from a 6 cylinder BMW coupe, I initially had some migivings about going to a small diesel. I have been pleasantly surprised at just how many beans the 1.4tDi has under the bonnet. The light weight and hefty torque means that accelaration between 60 and 90 is strong so motorway and A road driving is never a chore. Even the engine note gives a little hint of horn in it's 3 cylinder beat which, with just a small stretch of the imagination, brings to mind my old Porsche. I had been eager to get the car on the rolling road and have a re-map but after this first week I'm in two minds... If I have a criticism it's that the urge is strong from around 2k up to about 3k rpm and then gets a bit flat. It would be nice to have a bit more urge that extends a little further, if only so I can enjoy the "mini 911" growl.
As for the visibility issues that have been sited, I have to admit, I'm not at all bothered. The A posts are fine for me as I'm very tall. I'm getting used to the high viewpoint too...
As for bad points, well, the ride is a bit choppy and potholes are definitely to be avoided as it seems the suspension travel isn't very long!! First few miles I must have crashed onto the bumpstops 4 or 5 times. The previous owner had recently had the shocks replaced too...
The indicators are reluctant to self-cancel. Is this part of the design? Not a big problem...
The opensky roof is nice but... quite noisy when it's open. Probably the noisiest sunroof I've had since the old Webasto on my original Golf GTI back in the early 80s. Still, I do like a sunroof, and even when it's closed it makes for a very airy cabin. It is very quiet when shut too - unlike the Webasto of old.
My biggest gripe of all though is... the wiper!!! AAAAARGHHH. What total rubbish. It's noisy, juddery, smeary... useless!! Initially I thought it must need a new blade. But it's as bad or even worse now. It's a major issue for a car living in these wet isles. Is this normal or is my wiper system b****red?
Apart from that it's been a good week and I feel I've made a good choice. I love the style and the engineering. The economy is on a different planet to the old BMW, although I'm struggling to better 60mpg overall.
Hopefully I'll get some piccies up in due course. Any comments regarding some of the points above are very welcome.
Thanks,
Richard
well, I have just reached the end of my first week with an A2. A few months back I put a wanted ad on this site but what with one thing and another, including a house move, it has taken me this long to finally get hold of the right one.
So, she's a blue 2001 1.4 TDi SE with opensky roof. Not totally mint but in good nick, well, maintained, and bought for a good price from a private owner who seemed to be very genuine.
Mechanically, all is A OK and she has just been serviced. Bodily everything is fine except for a scratch to the lower front bumper on the paintwork and some minor damage to the very bottom of said bumper on the black plastic. You'd have to look for it to see it. Reading this forum, it seems this is fairly common.. Only other issue is that there are one or two minor curb marks to the wheels but nothing major. I'm hoping somebody might be able to give a view on the many wheel "touch-up" kits available online. Are they any good? It's not worth refurbing the wheels right now as they're otherwise much too good.
Inside all is excellent although I was a little disappointed that this one doesn't have the onboard computer or any speakers in the back. Climate control was a must though (and works brilliantly I might add) and a bonus was a full set of genuine carpets as well as the genuine rubber mats too.
One issue was a stuck cupholder. It was a point of negotiation as I felt I could sort it easily. I did so but the front trim has been scratched by the last owner trying to prise it open. It also looks like the tiny little lugs on the bottom of the front cupholder trim have come away so I need to try and find another one somewhere...
So, after piling on 1000 miles in a week, what do I think of it so far?
Very positive I have to say. It feels like a big car when you want it too and like a small car when you need it to.
The build quality is beyond reproach. There isn't a squeek or rattle anywhere to be heard.
Coming from a 6 cylinder BMW coupe, I initially had some migivings about going to a small diesel. I have been pleasantly surprised at just how many beans the 1.4tDi has under the bonnet. The light weight and hefty torque means that accelaration between 60 and 90 is strong so motorway and A road driving is never a chore. Even the engine note gives a little hint of horn in it's 3 cylinder beat which, with just a small stretch of the imagination, brings to mind my old Porsche. I had been eager to get the car on the rolling road and have a re-map but after this first week I'm in two minds... If I have a criticism it's that the urge is strong from around 2k up to about 3k rpm and then gets a bit flat. It would be nice to have a bit more urge that extends a little further, if only so I can enjoy the "mini 911" growl.
As for the visibility issues that have been sited, I have to admit, I'm not at all bothered. The A posts are fine for me as I'm very tall. I'm getting used to the high viewpoint too...
As for bad points, well, the ride is a bit choppy and potholes are definitely to be avoided as it seems the suspension travel isn't very long!! First few miles I must have crashed onto the bumpstops 4 or 5 times. The previous owner had recently had the shocks replaced too...
The indicators are reluctant to self-cancel. Is this part of the design? Not a big problem...
The opensky roof is nice but... quite noisy when it's open. Probably the noisiest sunroof I've had since the old Webasto on my original Golf GTI back in the early 80s. Still, I do like a sunroof, and even when it's closed it makes for a very airy cabin. It is very quiet when shut too - unlike the Webasto of old.
My biggest gripe of all though is... the wiper!!! AAAAARGHHH. What total rubbish. It's noisy, juddery, smeary... useless!! Initially I thought it must need a new blade. But it's as bad or even worse now. It's a major issue for a car living in these wet isles. Is this normal or is my wiper system b****red?
Apart from that it's been a good week and I feel I've made a good choice. I love the style and the engineering. The economy is on a different planet to the old BMW, although I'm struggling to better 60mpg overall.
Hopefully I'll get some piccies up in due course. Any comments regarding some of the points above are very welcome.
Thanks,
Richard
High driving position is a positive thing here too. 
