New TDI Sport owner - North West

[robskiA2tdi]

Hi all,

Thought I'd drop a post in here as I've been perusing the forum a fair bit the last couple of weeks. Yesterday I took the plunge and bought an '03 TDI Sport in Light Silver, from a local advert. I've been a fan of the A2 since I was an Audi salesman in 2005-07, my first demonstrator was a TDI SE and at the time all our service loan cars were A2's of some description. They were in production for less than a year after I started with Audi and I barely sold a handful. They developed a bad reputation for coming back for warranty work (FSIs particularly) so most people opted for an A3 sportback over an A2. Anyway I'm preaching to the choir here, I like them!

So here is my purchase:

View attachment 97526

The car I've bought seems to be in pretty good condition, the bodywork is tidy enough and the thing has clearly had some love over the years, but there are a few jobs I've identified that I will need to address in the next few weeks:

1. The oil level sensor has packed in - the yellow warning is flashing (oil level on the dip stick is fine)
2. The washer bottle level sensor has also given up - another annoying flash and beep on startup.
3. I don't have any proof of a timing belt change since 85k and the car has done 135k so I need to investigate.
4. I need to replace the fuel filler flap as it's broken (I have one on hand).
5. The water trap for the driver's side bonnet drain is missing, so I need one of those.
6. I will probably give it a full engine and gearbox service for peace of mind.

I've also got a little wager going with my father in law over running costs. He's a big EV fan and runs a Mercedes EQA, which he thinks is incredibly cheap to run. I've worked out at current electricity rates it's costing him 8.5p a mile to run - I think I can come close with my 19 year old diesel, but he disagrees! We'll see I guess.

Hi @whitbytom congrats on your purchase, bought one myself 2 days ago as replacement for my EV MG5 i had for last 18mnths ( I was in EV world for 5 yrs or so) just my little input to EV costs based on my experience... (350 miles a week/ 70miles a day) if..if you can fully rely on home charging and you are on cheap EV tariff - even now- like myself on 7.5p p kWh within 4hr window (octopus) then EV is cheap as chips...£1.60 for my 70mile day ride/ less than £10 for week 350 miles. As you mentioned your father in law if he pumps in electrons on normal tariff then it would be still cheaper than efficient diesel but not that far from, last worst option is charge on expensive public network where its no go area to rely on and no savings tbh ...

 

[robskiA2tdi]

I've got a number of under bonnet water traps available, drop me a Pm and we'll sort something out. For spares, there is a 'wanted' section on here, with a number of folk ready to help out with bits and bobs for you @A2Steve @Ami and myself have an abundance of items between us.
Welcome on board, get ready to be well and truly attached to the aluminium bullet!!!

thanks for pointing to second hand parts heaven...will deffo need some as I'm just discovering my new for me A2 ...

 

[whitbytom]

Hi @whitbytom congrats on your purchase, bought one myself 2 days ago as replacement for my EV MG5 i had for last 18mnths ( I was in EV world for 5 yrs or so) just my little input to EV costs based on my experience... (350 miles a week/ 70miles a day) if..if you can fully rely on home charging and you are on cheap EV tariff - even now- like myself on 7.5p p kWh within 4hr window (octopus) then EV is cheap as chips...£1.60 for my 70mile day ride/ less than £10 for week 350 miles. As you mentioned your father in law if he pumps in electrons on normal tariff then it would be still cheaper than efficient diesel but not that far from, last worst option is charge on expensive public network where its no go area to rely on and no savings tbh ...

Hi @robskiA2tdi that's really interesting. A proper early EV adopter! My day job is in energy so I'm well immersed in the UK wholesale cost of electricity and gas every day. That EV tariff that you're on is incredibly cheap, hang on to that for as long as you can, given where prices are Octopus are almost definitely making a loss on every kWh they are supplying you. As you say, when/where you charge has a huge effect relative to choosing where you put fuel in your car.

According to fuelly, over the last 1200 miles the fuel cost of my A2 has been 14.4p/mile

The widely quoted figure for my father in law's EQA Mercedes is 3.4 miles/kWh - which given our current domestic tariff of 26.69p/kWh flat rate, gives him a cost of 7.85p/mile, so just over half of my cost of fuel (ignoring the extortionate lease costs etc )

BUT - and this is where things get interesting - domestic electricity prices were projected to be north of 50p/kWh at the next price cap review in October, but now the government has intervened, we're looking at roughly 34p/kWh

So, at the subsidised rate the EV in question goes up to 10p/mile, and if rates do end up at 50p/kWh - 14.7p/mile - more than my A2!

It's a very one dimensional argument this really, because of tailpipe emissions and other things, but what it does show is that road fuel price fluctuations have been tiny in relation to increases in the cost of electricity and gas in this country.

 

[robskiA2tdi]

Hi @robskiA2tdi that's really interesting. A proper early EV adopter! My day job is in energy so I'm well immersed in the UK wholesale cost of electricity and gas every day. That EV tariff that you're on is incredibly cheap, hang on to that for as long as you can, given where prices are Octopus are almost definitely making a loss on every kWh they are supplying you. As you say, when/where you charge has a huge effect relative to choosing where you put fuel in your car.

According to fuelly, over the last 1200 miles the fuel cost of my A2 has been 14.4p/mile

The widely quoted figure for my father in law's EQA Mercedes is 3.4 miles/kWh - which given our current domestic tariff of 26.69p/kWh flat rate, gives him a cost of 7.85p/mile, so just over half of my cost of fuel (ignoring the extortionate lease costs etc )

BUT - and this is where things get interesting - domestic electricity prices were projected to be north of 50p/kWh at the next price cap review in October, but now the government has intervened, we're looking at roughly 34p/kWh

So, at the subsidised rate the EV in question goes up to 10p/mile, and if rates do end up at 50p/kWh - 14.7p/mile - more than my A2!

It's a very one dimensional argument this really, because of tailpipe emissions and other things, but what it does show is that road fuel price fluctuations have been tiny in relation to increases in the cost of electricity and gas in this country.

yeah its all based on kWh unit we have to pay...usual EV gives somwhere in between 3 to 4 miles per kWh pumped in. I'm on my first day of trailing MPG on my A2 1.4 ..let see what it can give...

 

[Crikeymikey]

Welcome aboard, Tom.
I take a somewhat different view to many with regard to A2 ownership. For me it's been a labour of love and feels akin to a "care in the community" exercise. I've spent £4k in the last 12 months getting mine to a reasonable mechanical standard, and it still needs the rear axle replacing in the future, which will doubtless be another £1k once new suspension and bushes, etc are factored in.
I envy those whose ONLY consideration is economy!
Again, welcome to our slightly eccentric tribe.