RE: Shed Of The Week: Audi A2
Discussion
I ran one for about 2 months. It was the 1.6 FSI. I bought it at auction as it looked clean, did the cambelt, front brakes and leaking sump and sold it for about what I paid, so the next owner got a good deal.
It was a hateful car though. Very poor ride, handling and refinement. It wasn't like a smaller, more economical A4 I hoped it might be. Economy was acceptable, similar to Mk V Golf GTI 2.0 TFSI which was only a few years newer.
It was a hateful car though. Very poor ride, handling and refinement. It wasn't like a smaller, more economical A4 I hoped it might be. Economy was acceptable, similar to Mk V Golf GTI 2.0 TFSI which was only a few years newer.
Seems like an alarming amount of car for the money. Has anyone worked out what it would be worth if you took all of the aluminium and simply melted it down? At almost US$2k/tonne the car could almost be worth its asking price as just metal, let alone parts. It'll surely be sold by this evening?
Good car. Often feel sorry for Audi when I think about how these flopped, as it was really their last hurrah into the engineering powerhouse they used to be back in the late '70s/early '80s.
They had a crack at this, created a product that was well received by critics and engineers alike, and then failed to sell them (relatively speaking). So they went back to A3 S-Lines for people that aren't really into cars to impressive their friends, who also aren't really into cars.
Shame.
They had a crack at this, created a product that was well received by critics and engineers alike, and then failed to sell them (relatively speaking). So they went back to A3 S-Lines for people that aren't really into cars to impressive their friends, who also aren't really into cars.
Shame.
When I bought my A4 around 10 years I was given a couple of these as courtesy cars. Friends ripped its looks but I actually really liked how quirky it was. Not too long ago I was looking for a cheap car and searched for one but ended up with a Lupo TDI as I could not bring myself to spend 3x the cost of the Lupo.
Kitchski said:
Good car. Often feel sorry for Audi when I think about how these flopped, as it was really their last hurrah into the engineering powerhouse they used to be back in the late '70s/early '80s.
So they went back to A3 S-Lines for people that aren't really into cars to impressive their friends, who also aren't really into cars.
Shame.
What are you on about? So they went back to A3 S-Lines for people that aren't really into cars to impressive their friends, who also aren't really into cars.
Shame.
Audi hadn't made a A3 "S line" when the A2 was launched. The standard A3 which was the first hatchback Audi had made in years was only available in late 96 a few months before the A2 was first shown as a concept.
The problem for the A2 was simply it was perceived as far too expensive for what it was but with hindsight it was more a case of positioning the car in a market that was still in it's infancy.
I bought a new A2 in 2004. Back then it was almost the same price as the A-class. In my mind the only benefit of the A-class over the A2 was the 5 seats as standard (A2 offered a rear 3 seat bench as a free option). Maybe this confused some buyers. In all other metrics I was concerned about the A2 was better (economy, space, depreciation, servicing). Perhaps the A-class was marketed better than the A2.
aka_kerrly said:
What are you on about?
Audi hadn't made a A3 "S line" when the A2 was launched. The standard A3 which was the first hatchback Audi had made in years was only available in late 96 a few months before the A2 was first shown as a concept.
The problem for the A2 was simply it was perceived as far too expensive for what it was but with hindsight it was more a case of positioning the car in a market that was still in it's infancy.
I thought Sline only started when the 8P A3 and B6 A4 were around. This was during A2 production not when it was launched.Audi hadn't made a A3 "S line" when the A2 was launched. The standard A3 which was the first hatchback Audi had made in years was only available in late 96 a few months before the A2 was first shown as a concept.
The problem for the A2 was simply it was perceived as far too expensive for what it was but with hindsight it was more a case of positioning the car in a market that was still in it's infancy.
The original A3 and A4 were just sport trim not Sline.
I'm amazed at all the love for this horrid thing. We had one at work as a pool car from new. Bits fell off it from the very beginning and half the time we seemed to have a courtesy car as the pool car since the A2 was being mended. As I recall, when you switched the wipers on, the whole car physically shook in time with the movement. That's never happened to me in any car before or since.
Admittedly that was only one example but it was enough to put me off for good.
Admittedly that was only one example but it was enough to put me off for good.
We've had a 2001 TDi SE fro the last 8 years.
Nippy, economical and well built.
It's got through a couple of front springs and top mounts, however most of the roads round here were bomber by Hitler and haven't been fixed properly yet!
Needed to get an ABS sensor refurbed (£50 - 10 year warranty), a few oil changes, one cam belt / pump / tensioner change, and a couple of sets of tyres.
Wife loves it, and I don't mind driving it either. The 3 pot diesel has quite a nice thrum to it (with a very narrow power band).
Good shedding for less than a bag.
Nippy, economical and well built.
It's got through a couple of front springs and top mounts, however most of the roads round here were bomber by Hitler and haven't been fixed properly yet!
Needed to get an ABS sensor refurbed (£50 - 10 year warranty), a few oil changes, one cam belt / pump / tensioner change, and a couple of sets of tyres.
Wife loves it, and I don't mind driving it either. The 3 pot diesel has quite a nice thrum to it (with a very narrow power band).
Good shedding for less than a bag.
chr15b said:
Really not my thing, not a sotw for me.. No desire whatsoever at any price.
Always thought SHED's motive was to try and find something more interesting or unusual than suggesting everyone buy a Ford Focus if they only have a grand, hence one week we have big V8, the next a hot hatch, the next an economical car that looks far newer than it really is (the A2)probably chalk said:
I'm amazed at all the love for this horrid thing. We had one at work as a pool car from new. Bits fell off it from the very beginning and half the time we seemed to have a courtesy car as the pool car since the A2 was being mended. As I recall, when you switched the wipers on, the whole car physically shook in time with the movement. That's never happened to me in any car before or since.
Admittedly that was only one example but it was enough to put me off for good.
I agree, had one as a courtesy car, 1.4 engine if I remember, dreadful, slow, loose and vague to drive, unstable at speed, heavy. Couldn't see why they made it, not for me...Admittedly that was only one example but it was enough to put me off for good.
aka_kerrly said:
Kitchski said:
Good car. Often feel sorry for Audi when I think about how these flopped, as it was really their last hurrah into the engineering powerhouse they used to be back in the late '70s/early '80s.
So they went back to A3 S-Lines for people that aren't really into cars to impressive their friends, who also aren't really into cars.
Shame.
What are you on about? So they went back to A3 S-Lines for people that aren't really into cars to impressive their friends, who also aren't really into cars.
Shame.
Audi hadn't made a A3 "S line" when the A2 was launched. The standard A3 which was the first hatchback Audi had made in years was only available in late 96 a few months before the A2 was first shown as a concept.
The problem for the A2 was simply it was perceived as far too expensive for what it was but with hindsight it was more a case of positioning the car in a market that was still in it's infancy.
I just see the A2 as a company who have a history of trying to think of ways to improve design & technology (Quattro systems, the 100 of the mid '80's spring to mind) trying once more to buck the trend and move the game on, get nowhere despite their efforts (be it price related or whatever) and just continue to turn out generic VAG platforms which show little or no advances to design whatsoever.
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