A2 1.6FSi Review

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runboy

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Just to let you all know that in this weeks Auto Express, out today, there is a one page review of the A2 FSi.

Go and read it in your local newsagents.....or Tesco's...

Steve - 1.4SE petrol, 2002, Silver
 
Review is spot on, interesting comment about the 1.6fsi beeing faster than a Golf 2.0 GTI!!!

A2 1.6fsi sport climate cd amulet red
 
"however, the direct-injection system helps the lightweight Audi hit 60mph from standstill in a highly respectable 9.7 seconds - that's 0.8 seconds quicker than a 2.0-litre VW Golf GTI!"

Quote: autoexpress

I will now tell all my friends who have a golf! This is a fantastic achievment inlcuding the higher mpg!

A2 1.6fsi sport climate cd amulet red
 
The 2 litre Golf (115bhp) is only an 8 valve old designed engine, and apparently is not known for being that quick. I don’t think they sell many of them these days, but of course anyone looking for a quick Golf would likely turn to the 1.8 litre GTI or the diesel GT PD130/150. That said I recently read that a staggering 80% of all new VW cars sold are diesel, so it looks as though petrol models have seen their best days.

For the record the 2 litre Golf does 0 to 62mph in 10.5 seconds. To say the FSI at 9.7 secs is faster by .08 of a second is not technically true, when the test for the FSI was only up to 60mph. How long would it have taken to achieve that extra 2mph on the speedo ?

Regards
John Disdale
(Stinky Diesel Fan)
 
Well you could be spliting hairs there!!! I still recon that the A2 looks better than the Golf, the VW is in need of a face lift!

A2 1.6fsi sport climate cd amulet red
 
Well you could be spliting hairs there!!! I still recon that the A2 looks better than the Golf, the VW is in need of a face lift!

A2 1.6fsi sport climate cd amulet red
 
Even though I quite like them, judging by what most motoring journalists are saying, I think VW need to launch a new Golf. All I have heard is that the build quality is still excellent - but that most other mid-sized hatches offer a better drive nowadays - and then there has been the campaign to get rid of the GTi badge on the 2.0.

If VW do not have a new Golf in the pipeline, the only thing you can be sure of is that the Golf will soon have the Polo/Lupo face with the double headlamps - its only a matter of time Potato.
 
The golf Mk5 is due to be launched late this year/sometime next year. It will form the platform for the new Leon too (and no doubt Skoda will be in on the act). Oh and the new TT and SEAT Salsa.

And a Skania flatbed, and a Broom 355 motorboat, and the new Airbus A700

Steve - 2003 1.4SE petrol, Silver, black/black interior
 
I think I am probably more harder in my opinions of the Golf’s old fashioned styling than a vast majority of people, however according to the number of Golf’s & A2’s on the road the facts would indicate that many drivers (young & old) prefer good old fashioned convention and proven engineering. That said the basis of debate was the aspects of performance, and if this is to include economy, drivability, tractability, comfort, and a gearbox that is a shear pleasure to use then the Golf (like a PD130) cannot be easily dismissed. If it could I would not be driving one.

Comparing any two cars will in 95% of cases end up as a bit of a joke, but as may be recalled I did try my honest best to compare some aspects of the Golf and A2 under the topic “Golf Now In Sight”

In terms of the FSI model I have not as yet read anything worthwhile (preferably from an A2 owner) of how the model generally relates to the standard A2 (petrol and diesel). Alas when I read magazine reports I am never too sure if the words and performance figures have been supplied by the manufacturer – or strongly influenced by the manufacturer. I suppose I am suspicious of much printed matter, and how right I am when we have just witnessed a bit of manipulation in someone playing around with the “book” performance figures of the Golf. Indeed take away the element of deceit, and what have you got. Answer – nothing, because suddenly the “main” claim has no credibility, and lets face it the impact of a statement like the FSI is a fast as a Golf is nowhere as “impressive” as saying it is faster.

I never ever tried a 0 to 60mph speed test in my A2, but forget 10 seconds or whatever when as a guess I reckon it took me 15 seconds to get into third gear. In fact for many cars I do seriously wonder if the figures are somehow computer calculated as opposed to actual. I can see some reality in cars where second gear can nicely fly past 60mph, but for all those where another gearbox change is required (via a dogleg path) I have strong doubts. Anyway I suppose the real bottom line is that anyone who purchases an A2 or Golf for the element of speed is a nutter – because it cannot really happen. Moreover according to those experts on the “Driven” tv programme if a car cannot be sent sideways around a bend, or perform a handbrake turn in the middle of the tarmac – then its no good anyway, and would by default fail the Tesco car park test.

Regards
John Disdale
 
I seem to recall that the 2.0 litre Golf GTi was a bit of a UK creation, a little like Chicken Tikka Masala. Apparently, the 1.8T was only ever destined to be the one GTi but when the 2.0 arrives at the docks they get re-badged. To distinguish them the quicker car has the RED i at the end.

Apparently this rebadging causes no end of problems for the rest of the range as it wandered off into the TDi models and left VW UK without a bit of a headache. So now you have red "i"s, red "di's" and red "TDI's."

All this used to be so much easier with Audi's A4 the red i was 110 and the silver i 90. No-one really knows what anything is anymore.
 
Of course Audi have an equal daft problem in that it has numerous cars with the 1.9 litre TDI badge – yet they are totally different in their BHP. I would have thought it easier for VAG to have adopted a policy of using basic digits like “TDI 130” or whatever.

Regards
John Disdale
 
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