So due to the dreaded ULEZ, my wife not wanting to drive a RWD, and the unfortunate likelihood of being dinged on my commute to a less salubrious part of the capital my hand was forced into finding an appropriate vehicle. The discussion went thusly: forum.retro-rides.org/thread/226486/ulez-compliant-retroish-interesting
So a couple of weeks ago I ended up purchasing this hunk of German engineering:
It's a 2001 Audi A2 with 110k on the clock in 1.4 ULEZ-friendly flavour with a reasonable amount of service history, MOT until July and a cambelt a couple of years ago.
Audi Space Frame? Well, yes, it was an experiment in making an aluminium frame (found in this and similarly aged A8s) that bring the kerb weight in at under 1,000kg. It also made it very difficult to find a decent earthing point for me to hardwire a new USB charging point and android screen
One of the main QuIrKs AnD fEaTuReS of the car is this cool little hatch, or Serviceklappe:
Pull the hood latch and you get access to
Dipstick, oil filler and screen wash filler. Enough for 90% of drivers. Twist two hefty plugs 90 degrees and the bonnet comes straight off and, being aluminium, weighs nothing - revealing this powerhouse:
1.4 AUA engine, also used in Polos of a similar age.
So of course that got a spritz of degreaser - really feeling the Bilt Hamber products recently, and their Surfex HD is a great all round product:
Much better.
I've put about 600 miles on her already and have been very impressed. The cabin feels airy, light and spacious and belies both it's diminutive external dimensions and 23 years of age. Everything feels very solid and well put together - there are no squeaks and rattles that I've heard - and the cabin stays remarkably quiet at speeds of (and potentially in excess of) the King's mandated motorway limits. It keeps up with motorway traffic adequately although is never going to be a speed demon - however my commute is in rush hour so I rarely see above 65mph and a long stretch is along the A406 at a maximum of 50mph. A downside I hadn't considered is the laughably small fuel tank (which I guess is to save on carrying weight and increase efficiency) of 34 litres - not even 7.5 gallons - so I'm stopping more often. The upside is that I've averaged 48mpg in this time without even thinking about economy which I think is remarkable for a 23 year old motor.
Problems?
MOT indicated a few advisories around wheels, and around 50% of the time it's throwing a CEL - P0171 - indicating lean running. In traffic it hunts a bit for idle now and again, and has been known to stall out rarely. Googling it suggests the TB might need a good clean (although apparently it also needs resetting/adaption afterwards and that needs a better diagnostic machine than my £10 eBay one) - I've also ordered a MAP sensor...and a speedo sensor for the gearbox as the needle seems to stick and jerk around 50-70mph. It's quite funny actually
So a couple of weeks ago I ended up purchasing this hunk of German engineering:
It's a 2001 Audi A2 with 110k on the clock in 1.4 ULEZ-friendly flavour with a reasonable amount of service history, MOT until July and a cambelt a couple of years ago.
Audi Space Frame? Well, yes, it was an experiment in making an aluminium frame (found in this and similarly aged A8s) that bring the kerb weight in at under 1,000kg. It also made it very difficult to find a decent earthing point for me to hardwire a new USB charging point and android screen
One of the main QuIrKs AnD fEaTuReS of the car is this cool little hatch, or Serviceklappe:
Pull the hood latch and you get access to
Dipstick, oil filler and screen wash filler. Enough for 90% of drivers. Twist two hefty plugs 90 degrees and the bonnet comes straight off and, being aluminium, weighs nothing - revealing this powerhouse:
1.4 AUA engine, also used in Polos of a similar age.
So of course that got a spritz of degreaser - really feeling the Bilt Hamber products recently, and their Surfex HD is a great all round product:
Much better.
I've put about 600 miles on her already and have been very impressed. The cabin feels airy, light and spacious and belies both it's diminutive external dimensions and 23 years of age. Everything feels very solid and well put together - there are no squeaks and rattles that I've heard - and the cabin stays remarkably quiet at speeds of (and potentially in excess of) the King's mandated motorway limits. It keeps up with motorway traffic adequately although is never going to be a speed demon - however my commute is in rush hour so I rarely see above 65mph and a long stretch is along the A406 at a maximum of 50mph. A downside I hadn't considered is the laughably small fuel tank (which I guess is to save on carrying weight and increase efficiency) of 34 litres - not even 7.5 gallons - so I'm stopping more often. The upside is that I've averaged 48mpg in this time without even thinking about economy which I think is remarkable for a 23 year old motor.
Problems?
MOT indicated a few advisories around wheels, and around 50% of the time it's throwing a CEL - P0171 - indicating lean running. In traffic it hunts a bit for idle now and again, and has been known to stall out rarely. Googling it suggests the TB might need a good clean (although apparently it also needs resetting/adaption afterwards and that needs a better diagnostic machine than my £10 eBay one) - I've also ordered a MAP sensor...and a speedo sensor for the gearbox as the needle seems to stick and jerk around 50-70mph. It's quite funny actually