Rusty911
A2OC Donor
I should perhaps kick off by explaining the title: LA51 hence Lasi.
Appropriate really as my A2 1.4SE is indeed something of a dog. I've always fancied an A2 and did travel to Wales from East Sussex a year or so to look at one. Usual thing: 'full service history' = a five year old receipt for a battery, a puncture repair and a service in the book from roughly ten years ago. It did come with a lake in the boot though, which was nice. Anyway I hopped back into the towcar and dragged the trailer home again, empty.
Fast forward to the midst of Storm Dennis last week. Post lunch cupatea and a good time for pot luck on eBay and Autotrader. I did my usual: all cars, £3000 tops, nearest first: Go! Never quite sure what I suddenly need more than anything else in the world at that point until I see it. Blow me, here it is:
2002 Audi A2 1.4SE, too good to scrap. Mot August, FSH, Leather, Climate, good tyres, drives well, hpi clear. Engine light on hence £475.
Well, if that wasn't worth a call, nothing would be.
'Yes, I've had it for nine years and had it serviced locally every year. It likes a drink of oil, there're marks on the bodywork. The engine light is an emissions thing."
6 miles away, but someone's coming out later: damn them! Luckily for me, the seller (wisely) wasn't holding the car until he had a cash deposit in hand. Braving Storm Dennis I went round straight away. Standing under the shelter of his (rather lovely) oak barn I looked at Lasi out in the rain. Dented front bumper (deer), tiny dent in door (deer), fractionally detached rear bumper (deer: what, did he reverse over one?). Superficially it looked alright and I like them in silver, although frankly the moss and lichen in the seams, around the windows and in the bonnet vent might have to go.
Took it for a run: EML on plus oil level sensor failure warning. It seems to have driven 157,000 of its 158,000 miles over ploughed fields: it's little bit loose on the front end. I think a front spring is broken because fhe car has a bit of stance on the nearside and when you turn the wheel there's a comedy 'Boing!' now and then.
Getting back to his it was also clear it's peeing out raw fuel near the back. The engine rattles in a terminal way (if it's tappets it's because they've found their way into the combustion chamber). The interior is filthy and it stinks of dogs. Lots of dogs. There are some boiled sweets, soggy crisps and an old Elastoplast plaster trodden into the carpet. And it's been keyed through both driver's doors and front wing.
I bought it. Of course I did.
First thing after eying it warily all week was yesterday I hit it with the truckwash all over the seams, door shuts, outside of engine bay, door cards and surrounds (if you'd seen it, you'd excuse this behaviour). Also boot false floor and the two remaining mats got hit. That was followed with a conventional wash, a clay and machine polish. Can now see what I've got, which is actually pretty good. One door dent (50p size) the bumper damage at front which wouldn't really show much once cleaned and heat-aligned. The rear bumper will pop in fine, There're the key marks which is a great shame.
I have had some paint mixed up so will see what I can do with the keying and other little marks. I'll also touch the six-spoke 16's in as well. Pretty sure it's never had paint.
Seats are currently out and it's all been vac'd, steamed, wet vac'd and brush-vac'd. The lower trims around the door sill areas have been recoloured by rubbing in black vinyl paint (works really well and doesn't smooth the grain). I've got some climate control button stickers to go on and a new set of mats. I'll give the engine a scrub with phosphoric acid and generally tidy the bay.
Why bother? Well, I always do the pretty bit first: it's almost free, you can do a whole disgusting car in a weekend, it's good for the soul and you can then judge how far to go with the mechanicals. Frankly it's my favourite bit of getting a 'new' car.
As for this one, as well as the epic downsides, there are some ups:
Full black leather in lovely condition.
Climate control that works well.
Both keys, handpack, full tool-pack, compressor, wheel change kit, first aid kit / triangle, parcel shelf, false floor, full history, not too many owners (three before me) and it's iconic silver with black.
It was local.
I'd rather buy an honest cheap one that needs work than a dishonest tarted one that could be triple the price and still need work.
It stills owes me less than £500 with climate stickers and new carpet mats. I reckon I can spend the same again and still be 'safe' whatever that might be. More to the point, the last owner was right, it's too good to break.
Will finish interior in next few hours and by end of day will have touched up the paint and polished the exterior and glass.
I'll then jack it up and start the mechanicals which I suspect is where my good fortune will expire! Judging by the nasty noises I'm due an engine, front spring, front shocks, random bushes, either a fuel filter or what looked like an external fuel pump (?), at least one hub-cap. Oh yes, oil sensor possibly. And that's before I really start looking.
I must be mad. I'm not even sure where it'll fit into my bloated fleet. In the past though my best cars are the ones that come completely out of the blue and land in my lap. I like something different, love small cars (have an early Smart City Cabrio and a Roadster Coupe, building Austin 7 sports cars at work) and I'm a huge fan of VAG in this period. My Passat B5.5 130 Estate has been an utterly brilliant all rounder for years. I also love running a cheap car that looks like a three year old one: nothing gives me more pleasure than having one of the oldest cars in the car park that still holds its own against a nearly new one (well, from a few feet away at least).
What will I do with this? No idea. It seems a good chance to try an A2 and it might make the cut and stay. I might swap it over for a 1.6 or TDi later. Whatever: delighted it's here and not suffered a worse fate. Someone did phone the seller just after left with the car: would pay the full asking price. take out the seats and throw the rest away. Seems a bit mean ...
Thanks for reading: sorry to ramble on.
The name's Barry by the way. Nice to meet you
Appropriate really as my A2 1.4SE is indeed something of a dog. I've always fancied an A2 and did travel to Wales from East Sussex a year or so to look at one. Usual thing: 'full service history' = a five year old receipt for a battery, a puncture repair and a service in the book from roughly ten years ago. It did come with a lake in the boot though, which was nice. Anyway I hopped back into the towcar and dragged the trailer home again, empty.
Fast forward to the midst of Storm Dennis last week. Post lunch cupatea and a good time for pot luck on eBay and Autotrader. I did my usual: all cars, £3000 tops, nearest first: Go! Never quite sure what I suddenly need more than anything else in the world at that point until I see it. Blow me, here it is:
2002 Audi A2 1.4SE, too good to scrap. Mot August, FSH, Leather, Climate, good tyres, drives well, hpi clear. Engine light on hence £475.
Well, if that wasn't worth a call, nothing would be.
'Yes, I've had it for nine years and had it serviced locally every year. It likes a drink of oil, there're marks on the bodywork. The engine light is an emissions thing."
6 miles away, but someone's coming out later: damn them! Luckily for me, the seller (wisely) wasn't holding the car until he had a cash deposit in hand. Braving Storm Dennis I went round straight away. Standing under the shelter of his (rather lovely) oak barn I looked at Lasi out in the rain. Dented front bumper (deer), tiny dent in door (deer), fractionally detached rear bumper (deer: what, did he reverse over one?). Superficially it looked alright and I like them in silver, although frankly the moss and lichen in the seams, around the windows and in the bonnet vent might have to go.
Took it for a run: EML on plus oil level sensor failure warning. It seems to have driven 157,000 of its 158,000 miles over ploughed fields: it's little bit loose on the front end. I think a front spring is broken because fhe car has a bit of stance on the nearside and when you turn the wheel there's a comedy 'Boing!' now and then.
Getting back to his it was also clear it's peeing out raw fuel near the back. The engine rattles in a terminal way (if it's tappets it's because they've found their way into the combustion chamber). The interior is filthy and it stinks of dogs. Lots of dogs. There are some boiled sweets, soggy crisps and an old Elastoplast plaster trodden into the carpet. And it's been keyed through both driver's doors and front wing.
I bought it. Of course I did.
First thing after eying it warily all week was yesterday I hit it with the truckwash all over the seams, door shuts, outside of engine bay, door cards and surrounds (if you'd seen it, you'd excuse this behaviour). Also boot false floor and the two remaining mats got hit. That was followed with a conventional wash, a clay and machine polish. Can now see what I've got, which is actually pretty good. One door dent (50p size) the bumper damage at front which wouldn't really show much once cleaned and heat-aligned. The rear bumper will pop in fine, There're the key marks which is a great shame.
I have had some paint mixed up so will see what I can do with the keying and other little marks. I'll also touch the six-spoke 16's in as well. Pretty sure it's never had paint.
Seats are currently out and it's all been vac'd, steamed, wet vac'd and brush-vac'd. The lower trims around the door sill areas have been recoloured by rubbing in black vinyl paint (works really well and doesn't smooth the grain). I've got some climate control button stickers to go on and a new set of mats. I'll give the engine a scrub with phosphoric acid and generally tidy the bay.
Why bother? Well, I always do the pretty bit first: it's almost free, you can do a whole disgusting car in a weekend, it's good for the soul and you can then judge how far to go with the mechanicals. Frankly it's my favourite bit of getting a 'new' car.
As for this one, as well as the epic downsides, there are some ups:
Full black leather in lovely condition.
Climate control that works well.
Both keys, handpack, full tool-pack, compressor, wheel change kit, first aid kit / triangle, parcel shelf, false floor, full history, not too many owners (three before me) and it's iconic silver with black.
It was local.
I'd rather buy an honest cheap one that needs work than a dishonest tarted one that could be triple the price and still need work.
It stills owes me less than £500 with climate stickers and new carpet mats. I reckon I can spend the same again and still be 'safe' whatever that might be. More to the point, the last owner was right, it's too good to break.
Will finish interior in next few hours and by end of day will have touched up the paint and polished the exterior and glass.
I'll then jack it up and start the mechanicals which I suspect is where my good fortune will expire! Judging by the nasty noises I'm due an engine, front spring, front shocks, random bushes, either a fuel filter or what looked like an external fuel pump (?), at least one hub-cap. Oh yes, oil sensor possibly. And that's before I really start looking.
I must be mad. I'm not even sure where it'll fit into my bloated fleet. In the past though my best cars are the ones that come completely out of the blue and land in my lap. I like something different, love small cars (have an early Smart City Cabrio and a Roadster Coupe, building Austin 7 sports cars at work) and I'm a huge fan of VAG in this period. My Passat B5.5 130 Estate has been an utterly brilliant all rounder for years. I also love running a cheap car that looks like a three year old one: nothing gives me more pleasure than having one of the oldest cars in the car park that still holds its own against a nearly new one (well, from a few feet away at least).
What will I do with this? No idea. It seems a good chance to try an A2 and it might make the cut and stay. I might swap it over for a 1.6 or TDi later. Whatever: delighted it's here and not suffered a worse fate. Someone did phone the seller just after left with the car: would pay the full asking price. take out the seats and throw the rest away. Seems a bit mean ...
Thanks for reading: sorry to ramble on.
The name's Barry by the way. Nice to meet you
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