Impressed.... and I didnt think I would be....
Discussion
My wife took her A3 for a service at the local Audi dealer but asked for a temporary car to get her through the day. Of all of the cars that she could have (OK, not the really expensive ones anyway) she ended up with an A2 TDI. Well, got to have a spin last night and.... er, actually really impressed.
It handled well, gripped well and boy, that engine is a peach. But its a 3 cylinder 1.4 turbo diesel I hear you say, but its a corker! Instant startup, none of this hanging around for the glow plugs, urge all the way round to the 4500 red line and that slightly off-buzz 3 cylinder noise.
OK, so the car is a featherweight so you would expect it to be swift. But it is actually a whole lot faster than you would think. Its never going to set the world alight, but the urge and punch of the turbo makes it really a good drive. Might not be fast, but it really urges you to get it spinning. None of that noisy clatter either, just smooth delivery of power and you are off....
Ok, so the plastics arent up to normal Audi standards and it lacks a couple of things like a decent boot, but come the time I choose to get rid of the battle bus I will consider one of these..... Actually really impressed and has at least something that might make a PH twinge.
Which leads me to a question - what have you driven and expected to hate it, but ended up being really quite impressed....?? Worth listening to other stories...
Cheers,
Paul
It handled well, gripped well and boy, that engine is a peach. But its a 3 cylinder 1.4 turbo diesel I hear you say, but its a corker! Instant startup, none of this hanging around for the glow plugs, urge all the way round to the 4500 red line and that slightly off-buzz 3 cylinder noise.
OK, so the car is a featherweight so you would expect it to be swift. But it is actually a whole lot faster than you would think. Its never going to set the world alight, but the urge and punch of the turbo makes it really a good drive. Might not be fast, but it really urges you to get it spinning. None of that noisy clatter either, just smooth delivery of power and you are off....
Ok, so the plastics arent up to normal Audi standards and it lacks a couple of things like a decent boot, but come the time I choose to get rid of the battle bus I will consider one of these..... Actually really impressed and has at least something that might make a PH twinge.
Which leads me to a question - what have you driven and expected to hate it, but ended up being really quite impressed....?? Worth listening to other stories...
Cheers,
Paul
I was chaffed when given a Daihatsu shitbox hatch as a 'courtesey' car a while ago. Amazingly enough it proved to be great fun. It's low slug stance meant every roundabout became a 50mph blurr. Despite the loud pedal being mashed to the carpet all day the petrol guage didn't budge either.
I had a Ford Ka as a loaner a while back. Wasn't looking forward to an Eastbourne-Croydon-Eastbourne trip at all, but blimey what a cracking little car.
It felt quicker than an old pushrod 1.3 had any right to be & handled brilliantly. Seriously impressed (except the looks
), Ford should have made a 'hot' version of this car yonks ago.
It felt quicker than an old pushrod 1.3 had any right to be & handled brilliantly. Seriously impressed (except the looks
), Ford should have made a 'hot' version of this car yonks ago.I had an A2 TDi loaner and thought it was generally a good little car apart from the A pillar creating a HUGE blind spot, but the engine was dangerous IMO. Driving along, watch the revs, ready to overtake ... engine feels promising, pull out, bit of throttle and off we go ... great ... 1 second later it runs out of steam and leaves you stranded unless you stir it like a stirry thing. Also like most diesels (big capacity excepted) the lack of initial urge (i.e. lag) pulling out of junctions was frightening.
A while later I had an A2 petrol loaner. Much nicer all round - overall as quick as the TDi, but in a more consistent manner.
I have heard of people chipping that small VW Tdi engine though ... might help.
My final verdict. A2 = 10k second hand, 12-14k new. No thanks, I'd buy a new Fiesta or Clio instead.
I do like Audis BTW, we have a TT and an A6 in the household.
T/.
A while later I had an A2 petrol loaner. Much nicer all round - overall as quick as the TDi, but in a more consistent manner.
I have heard of people chipping that small VW Tdi engine though ... might help.
My final verdict. A2 = 10k second hand, 12-14k new. No thanks, I'd buy a new Fiesta or Clio instead.
I do like Audis BTW, we have a TT and an A6 in the household.
T/.
I second the Daihatsu, I had a 3 cylinder Charade hire car & loved it. Get the engine singing and it sounded like my old Audi quattro of years ago, not quite as quick mind you! Was great till i got it stuck in sand on the beach...Doh stoopid sand, had to grovel to a 4x4 driver to drag me out before the tide swallowed it!...a very shameful experience
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Ford should have made a 'hot' version of this car yonks ago.
Didn't they make the Ka Si not to be confused with our own CarZee of course
No, they just did various equipment models. They are now soon to be releasing a 1.6 SportKa (90ish bhp i think) (suspension settings from the new Streetka droptop), which I cannot wait for - although if they can improve the already hot handling then it will be an awesome fun car.
We'll have to be careful with the extra power in the SportKa - the normal 1.3's give off enough lift-off oversteer when 'provoked' - so lord knows what it'll be like with 90-95bhp in it.
I'll also be able to keep up with the bigger cars once i've caught up with them through the corners - Alpinas included
I'll also be able to keep up with the bigger cars once i've caught up with them through the corners - Alpinas included
I went from a Merc C180 to a Mundano back in 1999 (both old shape now). For the same price the Mundano not only had leather, CD stack, AC, allopy wheels etc that the Merc didn't have, it was also more refined, quieter, far quicker and more economical.
The again after 80K and three years it was completely f***ed. The Merc would probably still be going strong.
I also think the A2 looks a great little car - if it were 5K less...
The again after 80K and three years it was completely f***ed. The Merc would probably still be going strong.
I also think the A2 looks a great little car - if it were 5K less...
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We'll have to be careful with the extra power in the SportKa - the normal 1.3's give off enough lift-off oversteer when 'provoked' - so lord knows what it'll be like with 90-95bhp in it.
Suspension is completely different... should be a little more attached to the road... and hopefully you won't feel sea sick following an S-bend
In the same sort of vain I went in a Suzuki Wagon R at lunchtime as a colleague has one as a courtesy car. I was quite amazed at the space inside the thing, its astonishing. Tiny little car but with more rear leg room than an A4 (though thats not saying much). If I was in the market for a shopping cart I reckon that would be pretty close to the top of the list purely on practicality.
I cant believe I have just said that.
Matt.
I cant believe I have just said that.
Matt.
I hired a "Jeep" to drive up a mountain track in Thassos (all 12km of it).
I say "Jeep"... it was a Suzuki Jimny. Actually not too bad off road. It was willing, the soft top made it quite pleasant to drive in the sun and soldiered on up to the top whereas the guy following us in an altogether more expensive vehicle was having severe issues!
I say "Jeep"... it was a Suzuki Jimny. Actually not too bad off road. It was willing, the soft top made it quite pleasant to drive in the sun and soldiered on up to the top whereas the guy following us in an altogether more expensive vehicle was having severe issues!
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We'll have to be careful with the extra power in the SportKa - the normal 1.3's give off enough lift-off oversteer when 'provoked' - so lord knows what it'll be like with 90-95bhp in it.
Suspension is completely different... should be a little more attached to the road... and hopefully you won't feel sea sick following an S-bend
Or trying to achieve V-max on a downhill motorway stretch (125 on the clock btw)
I will be first in line at the Ford Garage for a test drive when they arrive next year.
By all accounts they are replacing the archaic 1.3 engine for a Duratec version hmmm....
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Or trying to achieve V-max on a downhill motorway stretch (125 on the clock btw)
WHOAH!... you're either a very brave or very foolish man!
I was a very smiley but pasty white man afterwards...(this Ka had quite a fast engine - the one we have now is a bit sticky)
And only two days later I was sat in Tesco's car park on the phone when the offside coil spring snapped
I hear this happens a fair bit - but on Fiestas?
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