I bought my A2 because I’ve known the car all it’s life....
It was purchased new in 2001 by the village doctor, who lived just around the corner from our family home. It was the only A2 in the village, so made quite an impression. I particularly admired the innovative design thinking, along with the sharp modern looks, and although it was very different from the types of car I owned or coveted... I really liked it!
At 3 years old it was sold back to Audi in Southampton, then immediately traded back to our village VAG specialist, before being purchased by my mum’s best friend and lady neighbour. I knew this lady extremely well, so I continued to admire the little silver car on my many visit home. Also taking every opportunity to enquire (just incase) if the car was for sale? Always reminding that “I‘d love first refusal‘... In the meantime, the village VAG specialist continued to care and fettle it for the next 12 years.
When the time finally came for lady neighbour to retire to the coast, she was in two minds whether to take it with her or sell It. So in the months and weeks leading up to her departure, I continued to enquire and drop hints that ’I would be very interested’ but honestly believed the car would retire with her to Eastbourne as she loved and cared for it so much.
By chance on the day of her moving out, I phoned my mum, just to see how things were progressing and to make one final enquiry after the car. Only for my mum to share the shocking news that the car was to be sold back to the VAG specialist in the village for only £500!
When I spoke to the neighbour she explained that it was old and needed an MOT, bodywork repair, new battery, thermostat and a starter motor etc. So she really didn’t think I wanted it. However, I assured her that I would love to take it on and made a more generous offer to secure it. Unbelievably the car also came with a thick binder full of paperwork and receipts detailing every service and all works undertaken since the original purchase!
So now this A2 that I’ve know for 19 years rests in the corner of our garage, behind more exotic machinery and is largely ignored by the family. However it never wants for anything, it is always kept serviced, clean and polished and is only used by me for the odd school or supermarket run. Importantly it starts first time every time and looks as modern and as innovative as it did back in 2001. What’s more I still really like it!