A2 Rediscovery

Jmywil

Member
Hello all. Been a member on here a short while, contributing the odd post but thought I’d formally introduce myself and re-entry to the A2 world. I have positive history, we had from new a 2001 silver 1.4SE with OSS, rear electric windows, which we sold in 2005 at only 15k miles to upgrade to an A3 Sportback.

I’ve been wanting to scratch the A2 itch again and am now the proud owner of this
EA8769BF-6555-49BB-83D2-45A0DB7857DA.jpeg

It’s an 84k mile 1.6FSI Sport, Dolphin Grey with Platinum interior, prefer petrol over diesel and remembered the 1.4 being a bit short on torque so wanted to try this variant, went into it with eyes wide open as to this engine’s issues. It’s standard, apart from the S-Line badges which someone has added although they don’t look out of place so not removed them yet.

Got it not long before lockdown, managed to put on 300 miles or so before the shutters came down, and from that I know it runs really well, pulls cleanly, no misfires, the ride is as firm as I remember, ditto the high quality interior. It’s noticeably quicker and more drivable than the 1.4, albeit 15 years apart. I think it looks great from 15 feet but it’s not perfect, needs some mechanical service items and future proofing and a little bit of cosmetic work to bring it up to scratch.

Interior is in good condition, MOT history was solid and it’s had 16 services, 7 from main dealers, and never gone more than a year or 5k miles without a service, all suggesting careful ownership. I’m the 6th owner but three owners appear to have owned and serviced it for most of its life. Interested if anyone on here knows it from it’s past, bought it in Ayrshire but he’d only owned it a few months, seems to have spent most of its life in East Mids/Suffolk.

The things I have done (short list) or need to get done (long list):

- Drivers door check strap - it was clacking comically so I ordered an upgrade from Depronman and fitted it, pretty straight forward and much bettered engineered than stock.

- Deep clean of interior - done, invested in a Bissell Pro, worked a treat, seats-out job, rears were trickier than fronts as one was mislocated and the pins then decided they were in when they were actually out and had to physically wrestle them into folded position to reset and then relocate them. Some pics below, wasn't bad before other than some typical water staining these seats seem to be prone to.

- Ashtray - spring gone, has a mind of its own, ordered a replacement from A2Steve, also from Steve bought (apparently quite rare) centre console handbrake tray in Platinum which I’ll clean and fit with new felt imminently.

- Rear interior light has that strange non-function unless switched on from front, I see on this site there’s a fix involving a bit of solder, which I’ll try

- Needs a service and cambelt as last one (cambelt) appears to be 2010! - my local independent will attend to that

- Brakes spongy and un-Audi-like, needs new discs and pads in my view - as above

- EML inoperative - Service history shows biggish bill of work to fix inlet manifold and injectors 3 1/2 years ago and it runs really well, so I’m only half holding my breath this will be ok. Will investigate the lack of dash light myself by removing binnacle then get the garage to do the code stuff, meantime ignorance is bliss.

Possible upgrades on the horizon:
- Pro Boost ECU upgrade from A2Steve possibly depending on outcome of last point
- False floor in soul black (Platinum sports interiors appear to have soul black boot trim!)
- Retrofit Cruise Control
- Heated door mirrors, essential in Scotland for half the year

Finally, if I’m being fussy the paintwork could do with some attention if I wanted to make this a really good example, scuffs on both bumpers and one wheel arch and slight mis-match colour (but good quality!) repaint to the front wings. If I'm honest I probably paid a shade too much if I’d sensibly priced in all the work I’ve just described but it’s not about that, I’m enjoying the journey and it’s a great wee runaround for local essential runs right now.

Also very much enjoying this site and the mine of help and technical information, so I thought I’d share.

Hope this intro and pics are of interest.

James
 

Attachments

  • D4ABB1BC-108E-44E3-8DF9-DFD91122DA28.jpeg
    D4ABB1BC-108E-44E3-8DF9-DFD91122DA28.jpeg
    1.3 MB · Views: 312
  • 2BD8ED1E-5314-49A6-A31A-173D19A76661.jpeg
    2BD8ED1E-5314-49A6-A31A-173D19A76661.jpeg
    2.6 MB · Views: 304
  • 43829B7B-9409-434F-A3A8-6834D3A32A97.jpeg
    43829B7B-9409-434F-A3A8-6834D3A32A97.jpeg
    840.5 KB · Views: 332
  • 3D4800CB-E917-4880-8715-5E0E4AA6C885.jpeg
    3D4800CB-E917-4880-8715-5E0E4AA6C885.jpeg
    814.8 KB · Views: 309
  • 21AD9AF6-5DB9-44DD-BE89-C89F30F6FF1D.jpeg
    21AD9AF6-5DB9-44DD-BE89-C89F30F6FF1D.jpeg
    858.3 KB · Views: 326
  • 7843F5FA-D032-4916-B2B9-E3C1BFF579FF.jpeg
    7843F5FA-D032-4916-B2B9-E3C1BFF579FF.jpeg
    736.5 KB · Views: 337
  • 8674325E-700E-4A30-878D-F1BC091CAC1A.jpeg
    8674325E-700E-4A30-878D-F1BC091CAC1A.jpeg
    1.5 MB · Views: 353
  • FFA518FA-C4D9-463B-959E-F4B7AE776DA4.jpeg
    FFA518FA-C4D9-463B-959E-F4B7AE776DA4.jpeg
    1.3 MB · Views: 348
Last edited:
Could I ask what size tyres you run on those (35 profile I presume) and do you get any rubbing at all?
Hi, the tyre size is 215/35 R 18, with no rubbing........but also no ride quality at all ! The photo I used is an older photo. Unfortunately when I acquired the car the Boxster S brakes and coilovers had been replaced with standard suspension and brakes. Ian, the gentleman who built the car, fitted them at great expense. I’d love to know what happened to them (search “Boxy A2” for the build thread).
Cheers, Andy
 
  • Like
Reactions: A2Z
Back
Top