Ready to buy an A2... some advice please

S

slimlavud

Member
Hello all, thank you for accepting me on this forum. I joined a few years ago but have not been ready to buy an A2, for various reasons.

I am 63 and have owned and repaired/restored/race prepared and raced dozens of cars and motorcycles and have admred the innovation and engineering of the A2 since I test drove one for a magazine when they first came out.

I have just sold a Toyota RAV4 which was given to me (by a dear old friend!) and I now need a much more economical car for a frequent 150 miles each way journey, two or three times a month.

I would really like a yellow A2 but I understand these are scarce. I would have a diesel one as I think they are very economical but the ones on the market naturally seem to have high mileages, and they are not ULEZ compliant - are any diesel A2s ULEZ compliant?

Any advice would be very welcome, I am probably looking for a 50 - 70,000 mile car, with a budget of about £2500.

What do we think about this one please: https://www.gumtree.com/p/audi/audi-a2-hatchback-2001-manual-1390-cc-5-doors/1385327141

I am based in London but drive all over the country...

Thank you
Simon
 
Simon,

Is the car you’ve linked to definitely a diesel? I can’t see the fuel type.

the seller appears to be a dealer, I would always advise buying privately - and preferably from. member on here
 
hi simon
you would need to be looking at the petrol for ULEZ compliance.
you will get a very nice petrol car for £2500 as they tend too be quite a bit cheaper than their diesel counterparts.
as already mentioned, I would try and buy from a member on here if at all possible as they tend to look after the cars properly.
the 1.4 petrol drives exceptionally well and has a lovely light feel, smooth clutch and very light gearbox, they are still good for 45-50 mpg also.
 
slimlavud said:
Hello all, thank you for accepting me on this forum. I joined a few years ago but have not been ready to buy an A2, for various reasons.

I am 63 and have owned and repaired/restored/race prepared and raced dozens of cars and motorcycles and have admred the innovation and engineering of the A2 since I test drove one for a magazine when they first came out.

I have just sold a Toyota RAV4 which was given to me (by a dear old friend!) and I now need a much more economical car for a frequent 150 miles each way journey, two or three times a month.

I would really like a yellow A2 but I understand these are scarce. I would have a diesel one as I think they are very economical but the ones on the market naturally seem to have high mileages, and they are not ULEZ compliant - are any diesel A2s ULEZ compliant?

Any advice would be very welcome, I am probably looking for a 50 - 70,000 mile car, with a budget of about £2500.

What do we think about this one please: https://www.gumtree.com/p/audi/audi-a2-hatchback-2001-manual-1390-cc-5-doors/1385327141

I am based in London but drive all over the country...

Thank you
Simon
Click to expand...

The diesels are not Ulez as the they are 3-4euro rated diesels.

The petrols are made up of the 1.4mpi and the 1.6fsi these are both very different cars. The 1.6fsi has a rather bad reputation for a few issues with this engine but recently an ecu remap has appeared that seems to reduce these issues. I own a diesel and a 1.4 mpi and also a 1.6 which has had an engine swap and the diesels are very different to the petrols, but they all have there strong points. I’m guessing you will be only looking at the petrols so you will be looking between the old tech more reliable 1.4mpi engine and the more powerful 1.6fsi which when they are right are a really balanced engine


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Thank you everyone. The car in the link I sent is a Cat D, yes. It is petrol too. I think on balance I will go for a 1. 4 petrol A2.

Yes, I would much much rather buy a car from a forum member; I admire you guys and your devotion to the cars, I remember reading on this forum about a chap up north I think, who seemed to ressurect unloved A2s and sell them for very reasonable prices - he seemed to have mastered repairing the OSS roof as well.

Thank you for that link Erlingtheelder but that lovely silver OSS car must have been sold by now?
 
slimlavud said:
Thank you everyone. The car in the link I sent is a Cat D, yes. It is petrol too. I think on balance I will go for a 1. 4 petrol A2.

Yes, I would much much rather buy a car from a forum member; I admire you guys and your devotion to the cars, I remember reading on this forum about a chap up north I think, who seemed to ressurect unloved A2s and sell them for very reasonable prices - he seemed to have mastered repairing the OSS roof as well.

Thank you for that link Erlingtheelder but that lovely silver OSS car must have been sold by now?
Click to expand...
Nope. It was only ever really advertised on here. Drop @ICowie a line. It’s sat nice and cozy in his garage and is truly a beautiful thing being votex from the factory etc it really is quite rare.
 
Erlingtheelder said:
Nope. It was only ever really advertised on here. Drop @ICowie a line. It’s sat nice and cozy in his garage and is truly a beautiful thing being votex from the factory etc it really is quite rare.
Click to expand...
he offered to me at one point as he wanted an s3 at that time and I was selling the daughters ..lovely looking car with original votex rear spoiler ..
 
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