RE: Shed of the Week: Audi A2
Discussion
We had this as SOTW a couple of years agoand they we're floating around the £1k mark back then. As mentioned, if you're looking for a dirt cheap, frugal and reliable daily shed this has got to be a great option.
MadDog1962 said:
it's only redeeming features are fuel economy and space efficiency
Au contraire mon ami:Aerodynamic cd 0.26 and low frontal area yet good view out and roomy, fast efficient cruising.
Pioneering quality construction, the rear seats wear part epdm ( a first) and front magnesium (on 3l).
Storage ideas, fancy glass roof (that was dodgy), "fluids panel", clip in rear seats.
Radical styling - not pretty but better than the concept car (not saying much
)900kg = very chuckable.
Seems to be a marmite car reading the thread.
I've had one of these as a daily hack for 15 months now (and 26,000 miles) and it's never skipped a beat. 60+mpg day in , day out, £30 p.a. VED and pretty cheap to insure. Now done 100,000 miles and probably just about "run in" The back seats come out completely to create a van which is fairly useful.
On 17" RS4 wheels it's quite fun round the country lanes as there's hardly any weight to change direction.
The inside seems far larger than it is because of the rake of the windscreen. Nothing rattles (except the little 3 pot diesel engine) All in all it's a fun little chugger that good fun to drive and reliable as hell.
£1000 will get you one, but I'd rather spend a bit more than that for a good one.
On 17" RS4 wheels it's quite fun round the country lanes as there's hardly any weight to change direction.
The inside seems far larger than it is because of the rake of the windscreen. Nothing rattles (except the little 3 pot diesel engine) All in all it's a fun little chugger that good fun to drive and reliable as hell.
£1000 will get you one, but I'd rather spend a bit more than that for a good one.
Edited by Dal3D on Friday 8th April 12:21
Not another one...
There's a lot of love for them but one has to learn from one's experiences and the one we had at work as pool car (from new) was comically bad. It was known as the "clown car" because bits just kept falling off it.
I know, I know, odd choice for a pool car but it was bought for a member of staff who specifically requested one and then promptly left the firm.
There's a lot of love for them but one has to learn from one's experiences and the one we had at work as pool car (from new) was comically bad. It was known as the "clown car" because bits just kept falling off it.
I know, I know, odd choice for a pool car but it was bought for a member of staff who specifically requested one and then promptly left the firm.
LOW4LYFE said:
Am I the only one who is sick to death of this car being hailed as some kind of design revolution? The only reason it's got a aluminium body is because the german government gave Audi a HUGE wedge of cash to fund it. Everyone knew this type of construction was the way forward for modern cars, but it was far too expensive at the time. Thank to das free money pot, this didn't matter to Audi.
And even then, they still retailed at too much money. Rant over, carry on.
And Audi still managed to lose money on them.And even then, they still retailed at too much money. Rant over, carry on.
That said it was a brave idea and deserved to be applauded. These things have long since stopped depreciating here in Germany.
To the extent that some would have it that Audi are considering restarting production or were before all the available cash got earmarked for compensating enraged US diesel owners.
I've always had a thing for these, because if your not blowing wads of cash on fuel, you can pour it into something a little more interesting.
Anyone remember 'bubble bus software'? ahead of it's time....and how pissed off must audi be that BMW practically stole the shape and probably can't press the i3 quickly enough?
Just don't ask anyone to open the bonnet....
Anyone remember 'bubble bus software'? ahead of it's time....and how pissed off must audi be that BMW practically stole the shape and probably can't press the i3 quickly enough?
Just don't ask anyone to open the bonnet....
I'm probably showing my age but I really like the late '90s - early '00s Audi range. It was before the marketing dept decided to do an RS and S version of every car, so if you wanted the halo performance model you got the C5 RS6. The B6 S4 was a fantastic sleeper and the MkI TT, while lacking a bit in the 'sports' stakes, was and is a design icon. The little A2 was a great car too, especially the 3 cylinder diesel.
I like them a lot.
A very misunderstood car (as shown by all the comments here !)
Way ahead of it's time & I don't think Audi broke even on the project due to the expensive construction.
it offers decent accomodation in a smallish aerodynamic footprint with a strong focus
On smart weight reduction.
Great shed.
A very misunderstood car (as shown by all the comments here !)
Way ahead of it's time & I don't think Audi broke even on the project due to the expensive construction.
it offers decent accomodation in a smallish aerodynamic footprint with a strong focus
On smart weight reduction.
Great shed.
We've run one of these for about 10 years, just over 90K miles on it now. Used by the wife to commute 12 miles a day.
Other than routine servicing it's eaten a few front springs and drop links.
Plus an ABS (lateral acceleration) sensor had to be repaired (£50).
They do seem to go through batteries though, ours is on it's 3rd.
We too have the 5 seater, 2001 vintage SE.
Drives well, economical, doesn't rust, we're really struggling to think what to replace it with.
Other than routine servicing it's eaten a few front springs and drop links.
Plus an ABS (lateral acceleration) sensor had to be repaired (£50).
They do seem to go through batteries though, ours is on it's 3rd.
We too have the 5 seater, 2001 vintage SE.
Drives well, economical, doesn't rust, we're really struggling to think what to replace it with.
MadDog1962 said:
Hmmm... nope. This is a shed fail.
The car is in poor shape cosmetically (even if it has an MoT). This model is known to be expensive to maintain/repair too. It's unexciting from too many standpoints and it's only redeeming features are fuel economy and space efficiency. It's likely to be too much of a money-pit for most shedders.
Please stick to luxo barges or sporty stuff, it's what shedders really want methinks.
I like something a bit left field once in a while - nothing but luxo barges & thrashed 'n' trashed hot hatches makes a dull shed of the week year, variety is the spice of life.The car is in poor shape cosmetically (even if it has an MoT). This model is known to be expensive to maintain/repair too. It's unexciting from too many standpoints and it's only redeeming features are fuel economy and space efficiency. It's likely to be too much of a money-pit for most shedders.
Please stick to luxo barges or sporty stuff, it's what shedders really want methinks.
Convert said:
We've run one of these for about 10 years, just over 90K miles on it now. Used by the wife to commute 12 miles a day.
Other than routine servicing it's eaten a few front springs and drop links.
Plus an ABS (lateral acceleration) sensor had to be repaired (£50).
They do seem to go through batteries though, ours is on it's 3rd.
We too have the 5 seater, 2001 vintage SE.
Drives well, economical, doesn't rust, we're really struggling to think what to replace it with.
Then don't !Other than routine servicing it's eaten a few front springs and drop links.
Plus an ABS (lateral acceleration) sensor had to be repaired (£50).
They do seem to go through batteries though, ours is on it's 3rd.
We too have the 5 seater, 2001 vintage SE.
Drives well, economical, doesn't rust, we're really struggling to think what to replace it with.
I've always been slightly intrigued by the A2, and indeed Aston Green Audi (as was) used them as courtesy cars for a while so I have driven, for short distances, a few. So when I saw this on eBay I thought I'd put in a bid. It's possible that this was on a Saturday evening, quite late and after a few drinks ☺️
https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/252323776677
After a quick steam clean inside its come up ok, if you ignore the lacquer peel that the non metallic paint has suffered from. Ours has working climate control which I'd imagine is useful given the large glass area...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/252323776677
After a quick steam clean inside its come up ok, if you ignore the lacquer peel that the non metallic paint has suffered from. Ours has working climate control which I'd imagine is useful given the large glass area...
I think the thread proves one really great thing about cars. The sheer diversity, of views and opinions. Some people really like how it looks and good on you, why not? I don't, but that's just my perspective.
Cars like the rest of life wouldn't be up to much if there wasn't some diversity, and obviously there's almost infinite diversity in cars, and people's taste in them. I'd celebrate that, but on this occasion not the car itself, at least not for me.
Cars like the rest of life wouldn't be up to much if there wasn't some diversity, and obviously there's almost infinite diversity in cars, and people's taste in them. I'd celebrate that, but on this occasion not the car itself, at least not for me.
Chris1255 said:
So a list of bad points as long as your arm. Can't help thinking if this had a Ford/Vauxhall/Rover badge on the front it would be used as evidence of how awful, unreliable and badly designed those manufacturers products are....
Exactly this. It also makes a Fiat Multipla look quite pretty.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff