My A2 is great on the motorway, very smooth and stable (cross winds can be interesting though). Punchy diesel is great around town, it handles and stops just fine.
Drive it hard on a twisting B road though and it becomes clear it is not a drivers car. Seating position is too high, it lacks power, there is too much understeer, tyres don't grip enough, brakes aren't strong enough. It is enjoyable when driven as a dependable daily but it is not a drivers car.
I don't usually disagree with posts on the forum. But I have to say my 2001 A2 TDI can corner hard, without any lift. It's not like I rally cross to work every day, but sometimes you feel like some fun. Roundabouts no problem, and I'm running Bridgestones this time and grip is great. Previously Dunlop Bluresponse which were very good too and recommended by Papahans over at A2-freun.de forum. Perhaps the smaller wheels help.
The car is standard (perhaps a previous owner remapped it?). Haven't changed the clutch in my 4 years of ownership (75,000 miles during my time). 15in pepperpots. Suspension refresh last year. Brakes are superb - stopping distance very good - this, when fully loaded with 5 people and a massive roof box on top.
Drive to Croatia and back every year without issue (have a look at my photo album). In fact it just reached 200k on the odometer (need to apply for 200k membership on the forum!). It is serviced regularly with WOM Automotive, who do a stellar job, it's ready for collection now so I'm going to enjoy the AC working again! Some bad mechanics did the car a disservice in the past, but between
@timmus and
@chumsofmanutd the car is a fantastic drive.
Either way, I never usually drop below 60mpg (had lows of 48 once whilst climbing up and down through the Alps fully loaded), and have hit 71mpg a few times this summer too (all measurements tank to tank and almost every fill checked). Albeit the 71s were on flat, Norfolk roads going no faster than 60mph
Love this car, love the forum. So much so, I just bought a petrol for my wife. Not as much power as the diesel (it's a 1.4), but fun to drive. More on that one another time once I've sorted it out!