Oh dear: AutoExpress and A2 again... bad news...

[Johann]

The A2 features in this week's AutoExpress rag yet again... BUT this time on page 38 under: "Top of the Flops: We count the UK's greatest motoring sales failures, from 50 to 1..."

And A2 stands at 40 (how they decided on where current cars sit I don't understand really... and number 1 is not a car with 3 sales either... it's the AMC Pacer with 200 sales, 2 is the MAzda MPV with 2100 and 5 a Caterham with 100 sales... I ask you how scientific is that!)

But anyway: A2 at 40 with 11500 units sold since 2000 and their quote:

THE first Audi supermini is certainly striking, and with an aluminium body and lots of kit, it's a technological tour de force. But priced from £13000, it's too costly for most small car buyers.

...and why I ask does that make it a sales flop?

____________________________________________________________________________________
[img=left]http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/180225.jpg[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm

 

[Mal2002]

I read this as well and I agree with you Johann

[2002] | 1.4 | azure blue | 2 tone leather | concert II single cd.
Member of A2OC site.
http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk12.htm

 

[Ade]

Just because something doesn't sell well doesn't make it a flop in my eyes either. Poor PR with bad comsumer positioning perhaps? The car is still inherently a GOOD car so I hope that people will realise that in the future when it's a collectors item.

BTW, saw another A2 this morning (silver again), waved but ignored.

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[daveyjp]

They call it a small car - it may be short, but inside its as big as my last car - a Focus and it's certainly bigger than a Fiesta - a true 'small' car. This was part of the downfall it was marketed as a 'small' car as it was the smallest Audi available, therefore it looked expensive for a 'small' car. The MB A class is the same size and price as the A2, but not as well made yet I see hundreds of these - why - badge snobbery is all I can think.

 

[Ade]

Certainly is, when we go on holiday one of the rear seats is left behind at home. That way we can really utilise the space, yet stil get 3 people in the car. You need the space when you're lugging toddler + toys, etc. around.

RE the MB snobbery, personally I don't see it. They've always looked plasticky to me. Perhaps the only one I've liked recently (but wouldn't want to own one) is an SLK. Give me a TT any day of the week over that anyway.

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[Johann]

As I said elsewhere: Compacious! That is what the A2 is!

I've driven an A190 and found it plasticy, awful driving position, near vertical steering wheel, childish dials with the one main speedo, awful buttons and ergonomics (the mirror control button sits pride of place on the centre console high up in the dash!!!) and because the Merc sandwich floor goes from the front all the way to the back, the rear passengers have their knees around their faces as in any normal car... my tallest friends have all said the A2 is great for legroom as the wells are so deep (no rear sandwich)... but complained about lack of headroom (the real tall ones only mind)...

Just remember that the AutoExpress views are just a tad above the Sun and the Mirror IMHO (sorry if I offend) but it should always be seen first as sensasionalist and then as fact...

____________________________________________________________________________________
[img=left]http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/180225.jpg[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm

 

[Ade]

My (I expect others to differ) long held 'perception' has always been...

BMW (esp. second hand 3 series) are cars for people who have graduated up from their XR2/XR3/XR4x4s and are a kind of a longer term aim for boy racers.
Merc is for the 'older' generation.
Audi is for the thinking man.

Just take the adverts, I like having an advert where you have to engage your brain a little. The one I still like is where the world turns upside down and the hedgehog drops off the road but the Quattro doesn't. Class. Perhaps the advertising is just too subtle for today's spoonfed world?

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[Johann]

In South AFrica the Audi slogan was for many years:

For the informed few.

I still believe that.

____________________________________________________________________________________
[img=left]http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/180225.jpg[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm

 

[Ade]

Like it.

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Rear Door Blinds

Centre Tray

Elasticated Belt System

 

[daveyjp]

Take a look on the Autoexpress forum - there's a new thread about the A2, I've added my six pennies worth and wound up a Civic owner!!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/wwwthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=aegen

 

[Ade]

Bu~~er, my firewall at work has blocked access, I'll try when I get home.

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Acoustic Parking

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Retrofit: Rear Drinks Holder

Floppy Wiper

Rear Door Blinds

Centre Tray

Elasticated Belt System

 

[shezlee]

Well done someone needs to put our point across, in my opinion they are only concerned with speed???

Lee and Sheridan,
TDI SE, Build 11/01, Dolphin Grey,
50% Brighter Bulbs : Original Audi 6 CD Changer (Fitted in proper location by me) : Rear drinks holder : Floppy Wiper : Centre Tray : Elasticated Belt System - Nearly.
http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk18.htm

 

[Ade]

Damn Autoexpress site won't let me post, keep getting:

"The host you are trying to send the input from is not a valid host.

This is not necessarily an error. If you feel this is an error then it could be something as simple as your browser not being set to accept cookies. If you feel this error is a problem with the server then please contact [email protected] and let us know what exactly went wrong so it can be fixed as soon as possible. Otherwise, please use your back button to return to the previous page."


Must be my NAT router. Damn.

My post was going to be:

Mank my @rse, the A2 is streets ahead of a poxy Civic. Removable rears mean you can get 23.5 crates of beer in the rear! I also own an A4 and in my opinion the A2 is as much if not more fun to drive, corners like it's on rails, light as a feather.

So, some dealers aren't as good as they could be, so go to another garage. If you want something to last, has unique character, limited numbers so that it turns heads and great build quality, plus a german marque look no further. It might be the smallest in the range, but small it ain't. Wipes the floor with that plastic A-Class contraption, let alone some Civic.

And if you don't like the roof, get the OpenSky sunroof like I did. Full glass top from front to back is way cool.

Oh and btw, what's desirable today is passé tomorrow, what's quirky and innovative today is tomorrow's collectors item.

[img=left]http://homepage.ntlworld.com/adriancharles/a2ade.gif[/img=left]Ade UK Owners Page 24

My Home Page

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Audi A2 1.4SE (2003): Azure Blue

Build Wk40/2002
Factory fit: OpenSky

Climate

Driver Information System

Acoustic Parking

Lumbar Adjustment
Retrofit: Rear Drinks Holder

Floppy Wiper

Rear Door Blinds

Centre Tray

Elasticated Belt System

 

[Rob Earl]

Just added my 2 pennys worth,

I think the point of the A2 is bring missed by some people. It is for those who like to be a bit different and stand out from the crowd without being extrovert.
There were some known problems with early cars but these have now been ironed out over time. Ours has been faultless since new.
As for desirablilty, I tend not to look at Civics with the Wow factor myself. For all I know, it could be a Toyota or Nissan or another mundane-mobile.

No offence intended Runboy regarding the Toyota.[:I]

1.4SE petrol. http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk14.htm

 

[JohnW]

Most important thing is that YOU like the A2, so it does'nt matter a toss what anybody else thinks. It's a no brain idea to have these "surveys" anyway as it's so subjective.
I think the A2 is brilliant- the thinking persons motor. And, it's DIFFERENT !!! The average motorist is dead from the neck up.
Regards JohnW. 2002 TDI SE

 

[Ade]

Off topic alert.

John,

Not sure if you've picked up on this yet, a question on Ultraseal...

http://www.a2forum.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1599&whichpage=2

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My Home Page

Mail me

Audi A2 1.4SE (2003): Azure Blue

Build Wk40/2002
Factory fit: OpenSky

Climate

Driver Information System

Acoustic Parking

Lumbar Adjustment
Retrofit: Rear Drinks Holder

Floppy Wiper

Rear Door Blinds

Centre Tray

Elasticated Belt System

 

[Johann]

Posted my two pence worth as well...

____________________________________________________________________________________
[img=left]http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/180225.jpg[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm

 

[shezlee]

I could not post either so sent a letter/e-mail to Autoexpress. Don't think for one second they will print it.

Lee and Sheridan,
TDI SE, Build 11/01, Dolphin Grey,
50% Brighter Bulbs : Original Audi 6 CD Changer (Fitted in proper location by me) : Rear drinks holder : Floppy Wiper : Centre Tray : Elasticated Belt System - Nearly.
http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk18.htm

 

[runboy]

Those 11K+ sales figures-UK only I take it?.

I think the critera for a "flop" differs from one person to another. So lets just say whoever wrote the article had a low-flop threashold!.

Steve - 2002 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior, Then an identical replacement 2003 A2. Now a Toyota Corolla 1.6 T-Spirit

 

[Johann]

My latest response on the AE forum:

MukiMunki: sporty handling in my book is described as something with hard supension (thus most sporty versions of standard cars have harder suspension, beefed up anti roll bars etc) to minimise roll through corners. This gives a car kart-like handling. No-one on the EVO forum will deny that the best handling cars are terrible over speed humps etc... Elise, Caterham, you name it most are terrible over these speed humps... and the A2 is exactly this: an Elise with significantly less power, 5 doors and 4 seats... it goes around corners amazingly flat... and has TONS of torque to pull you through... absolutely brilliant. Would be even more fun if I could switch the standard ESP off though...

The 5 doors and 4 seats just confuses people to think it should handle speed bumps well unfortunately and thus judge the little Audi wrong, or buy it for the wrong reasons or whatever... For that country dash over the weekend I LOVE my little 5 door 4 seat Elise neé A2...

____________________________________________________________________________________
[img=left]http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/180225.jpg[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.audi-a2.co.uk/uk23.htm