My long-term project A2Steve

Good luck with the project Steve, watching with interest. I totally concur with your last paragraph, hence also owning the up! GTI. Lightweight, good poise through corners, enough power to be enjoyable without losing your licence and you get to make use of the gears and the full rev range enhancing the driving experience and sensations of spirited progress.

I agree completely. The A2 is never going to be a fast car but it can certainly be made to feel that you are going fast.

I've driven fast cars (on paper) and you can sneeze and be doing over the speed limit, but there is no sensation of speed. I would much prefer a small agile, light car with a little bit of power that can be thrown about on twisty B roads
 
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I'll never refer to one of my cars as a keeper again, because I've been there and as you all know, it never lasts. So I'll call this a long-term project.

I've lately been contemplating the idea of buying a small hot hatch for my commute to work down country lanes. Nothing too radical something a bit nippy that handles well. I would then have kept the Jaipur A2 for A2 get togethers and occasional driving.

The problem with this plan would be I would end driving something French (probably) on a daily basis and not an A2.

So I've now got a much better plan.

Buy a TDI 90 and turn it into a hot hatch, the best of both worlds. I've already had one with my previous TDI 150 and it was a blast.

I set about looking for a 90 with a failed DMF. Although this may sound like a bit of a strange plan. Most TDI90 drivers spend their time hoping that their DMF doesn't go, so why not buy one for the right price that already has a failed DMF and take the element of surprise out of the equation.

Looking for a TDI90 is a tall order, never mind one that's on good condition and also with the added request of a failing DMF.

I was shocked to find a car that fitted the exact bill within a week.

So here's the new project car.

A Piemont red pearl TDI 90. 1 owner from new with full service history (predominantly Audi main dealer). 2 keys, full bookpack, unabused car.

Bought from a dealer down in Newquay Cornwall, he was selling it as a trade sale because it didn't make financial sense for him to do a DMF change on it.

So a deal was done and the car is now safely on my driveway at home.

This project will be all go and no show. Planned mods are:

GT1749VA Turbo
Custom remap
Bigger intercooler
Silicone turbo pipes
Coilovers
Bigger brakes up front
Rear anti roll bar
HEL brake lines
Leightweight alloy wheels

I'm planning to set the horse power around the 140 mark for a good turn of pace without killing the new DMF with torque.

And because you all like photos here's some.

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I wish you had dropped me a message I would have come over to buy you a coffee.
I saw that one for sale and thought it would be a great project for someone. Look forward to seeing the progress on this one.
 
I wish you had dropped me a message I would have come over to buy you a coffee.
I saw that one for sale and thought it would be a great project for someone. Look forward to seeing the progress on this one.

I didn't drive down mate, I got it collected by a courier. I'm sure he would have appreciated the coffee though ?
 
Nice colour but no OSS. Have you ever considered going electric, Steve? To whom did you see your 20 mm spacers and did he use them? They seem a bit pricey on the net' ....

David
hi, this is very odd, but I've got the 20mm spacers - for my.......piedmont red TDI90 - not a common combination, and I was fitting them this weekend, they've been sat in the hall for months. my car has 15" lightweight wheels - i'll let you know how it goes once they're on. cheers nod.
 
hi, this is very odd, but I've got the 20mm spacers - for my.......piedmont red TDI90 - not a common combination, and I was fitting them this weekend, they've been sat in the hall for months. my car has 15" lightweight wheels - i'll let you know how it goes once they're on. cheers nod.
There might just have been a chance that they hadn't been used ..... Did you read Steve's recent comment to the effect that 20 mm spacers MIGHT cause some rubbing? He followed that up by saying that 15 mm spacers would be better to ensure that that didn't happen. Maybe the type of tyre/wheel fitted might be a factor, too? Anyway, let me know what you experience so that I don't make a mistake when I finally purchase my spacers.

David
 
There might just have been a chance that they hadn't been used ..... Did you read Steve's recent comment to the effect that 20 mm spacers MIGHT cause some rubbing? He followed that up by saying that 15 mm spacers would be better to ensure that that didn't happen. Maybe the type of tyre/wheel fitted might be a factor, too? Anyway, let me know what you experience so that I don't make a mistake when I finally purchase my spacers.

David

20mm will be fine David. I've had 16x7 alloys with an et of 32 and run 20mm spacers on them with a 60mm drop on coilovers. Still no rubbing.

But I didn't want you to buy something and then find you had issue with them on my recommendation.

This is a very useful website for working out the size difference

Tyre size will be the biggest factor on whether you have rubbing
 
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The fat fives, are also fitted with 205/45 tyres .... I have in the shed 8 9 spoke alloy all shaped like 50 pence coins , the roads round here , can have brutal pot holes at any time of the year . I just added the 312mm Disc and calliper set up off a MK1 tt , this adds further unsprung weight , so it may be time for an adjustment on the wheel front ,


I've just been doing some reading Mark and the fat 5's are actually pretty good.fpr the size because they are forged.

16 inch SE wheel 8.5 kg

Fat 5 9.75kg

I'd say worth it for the extra grip you get and appearance

Where things start to get really good are with
Pepperpots at 5.8kg, but I very much doubt they would clear your brakes.
 
First time driving the 90 today and first time driving an unmodified one.
Despite nursing a failing DMF, the difference between the 75 and 90 model is immediately apparent.
Pickup of acceleration is far smoother and quicker than the 75 and the clutch feels lighter and smoother than the 75.
Having just stopped driving a remapped 75 (Dune), I’m pretty darn sure that this one has already been mapped as well. It accelerates quicker than the remapped Dune so logic would suggest so.

It’s going in a week Friday for a new DMF, Clutch, timing belt kit, waterpump and oil pump chain, oil and filter. With labour it will be coming in at around £1000 (more than the car including delivery from Cornwall). Not bad for all the work done, but still a fair whack to pay out, so the commencement of mods may have to wait a couple of months.
 
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I've just been doing some reading Mark and the fat 5's are actually pretty good.fpr the size because they are forged.

16 inch SE wheel 8.5 kg

Fat 5 9.75kg

I'd say worth it for the extra grip you get and appearance

Where things start to get really good are with
Pepperpots at 5.8kg, but I very much doubt they would clear your brakes.
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Hi Steve

Your bang on with the fat five , there about the strongest wheels you can get , the offset fills the wheel arch wheel , and gives a useful increase in wheel track, I rather like the look , others don't

My rims was cir 20 years old , with nil run out ....

The 312mm disc / brake set up should clear a 16" rim , but I rather like the 17" rims

The unspring weight is the bit I am interested in , I think I have added around 3.9 kg to each front wheel

Time will tell
 
Right, so thats

- LUK clutch
- LUK DMF
- Guide sleeve
- Release bearing
- Timing belt kit and waterpump
- Oil and filter
- Oil pump chain kit

all ordered at a total £660

Now for a sit down before the labour bill comes :)

I did this on my 90 early this year and custom turbo and the MYP it’s now a dream


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I used the standard turbo, but sent it away to get reworked larger billet compression wheel, and a cut back on the exhaust wheel


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Who did you use?
I have been thinking about Midland Turbo for an exchange unit of some sort?

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I have used the 'Turbo Guy' in Scotland on two occasions. BOTH times fantastic service, turbo delivered next day and you contact him within a week to let him know that you're old turbo is ready to collect and he will send a courier to pick up.

I understand that the ATL turbo is quite a rare unit so you may have to send yours away to be 'worked' as many places don't have them on the shelf so to speak.
 
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More parts purchased

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A set of used but good prosport coilovers for a very good price from @cheechy (thank you)

I'll give them a strip down when they arrive and repaint and they should be good to go.


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And a set of heated platinum leather sports seats. I should really be selling these seeing as I'm spending around £1150 on maintenance this week, but they are quite hard to come by so I may not get another opportunity.
 
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