Help needed finding a a2

N

nathan.adlington

Banned
Still struggling to find my perfect a2 I've even compromised what I want to give me more to choose from am happy to settle for a TDI with open sky as I can upgrade the other extras I was after at a later date

Just had 2 days off and every car I ring up to go and view is sold seems everyone is buying A2s ATM

So as u guys are good people please keep ur eyes out for me my budget is 4000 max

Cheers
 
Hi Nathan,

You'll probably need patience. Nothing new there really. It was the same story when I was looking for a 3 year old car back in 2008. The A2 market may be slowing with prices all over the place but select spec and variant packages have popularity beyond viewers of these pages so you do need to be quick when one comes along.

On an aside- I didn't know you could buy an A2 at a cash machine (ATM) :p

Sorry, I'm being flippant and this comment is in general terms not directed to you specifically. The club has few rules however we do ask that 'text speak' is avoided. If you're on the forum to ask for help you will invariably get this from our friendly community however asking for this with contracted words and acronyms just looks plain lazy and is a pet hate of many.

Yes I know I'm an old git ( well 45) and lol etc is in the Oxford dictionary along with much other text speak social media style language - but one of the things setting A2OC apart is the lack of such 'culture' in our discussions. I for one think this is a good thing. However of late I've noticed quite a bit of this type of language easing into discussions.

This is a gentle reminder that text speak is against our club rules. Remember we have an audience beyond UK shores so such it may confuse readers who's first language isn't English. And yes I am a grumpy old git.

Back on thread : Nathan, myself and other classified advert scanners will keep an eye out for you. Also set up saved searches on Auto trader and eBay if you haven't already. If the peach your after comes up - sometimes they hang around a while sometimes sold in minutes. The latter more likely for something a bit special with a diesel engine.
 
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murdo said:
And yes I am a grumpy old git.
Click to expand...


I was very tempted to post the following


"Yeah U R, ROFLMAO" (in jest)

But even though text speak doesn't annoy me quite so much, I fully support the fact that we ask people to avaoid it.

This forum is a very friendly one and the posts on here are mostly conversational and also have an element of humour and a "real people" feel.

It just seems more human to use words rather than text speak.

I think that LOL is perfectly acceptable (my view) but I do admit to prefering full word conversations.

So I can see whay people who are used to using / reading text speak might think that we are being old gits, but I do think that it is better without that on here, so I hope our motives are understood.

Steve B
 
Hi Nathan,

In the years that I've been a club member, countless people have posted a thread like this; they're looking for an A2 that ticks all the boxes but simply can't find one. Given that the youngest A2s are now 11 years old, buying on the basis of condition and history is everyone's advice. Some have been tempted by shabby-but-high-spec models and have ended up pouring funds into repairs.

When I bought my A2, I made a list of the core things that really mattered to me. It had to be an Ebony Black TDI75 SE with OpenSky. Of course I wanted as many other optional extras as I could get, but I knew that they could be added in due course. Retrofitting optional extras isn't as cheap as getting a car that's already got all the options you want, but it's often cheaper than remedying inherited issues and a lot less disheartening. Because of this, loads of members have had me turn their A2 into what they originally wanted. They've followed their head and bought on the basis of condition and have then had me add the options they originally wanted. The only brochure options that I don't add are OpenSky and climate control, but otherwise the world is your oyster. For many, this has really helped to open up the market and increase the number of viable cars. Especially given our relative proximity to one another, this approach could also work for you.

Another current thread is about the low prices that A2s are commanding at the moment. It's a buyer's market. Take a look at this one: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201601119976893
It's in Bolton, so not far from you at all. A 53-plate 2004MY with only 66,000 on the clock for £3000 from a trader. It looks to be in fine condition and is £1000 under your budget. For all that there are currently things about it that don't appeal to me, they're all easily changed. It strikes me as being a really good base.

Cheers,

Tom
 
That is exactly what Tom did for me, I was searching for the "holy grail", and unsurprisingly I couldn't find it.
But Tom found a TDI sport is A1 condition and he added the missing "toys" for me.

As Tom said, that can turn out to be costly initially, but now I have an A2 that is in top condition and has everything I wanted.



That advert in the link is a strange one, all of the external shots have been photoshopped onto a "leafy" background???

The car looks good though, just a strange way of presenting it.

Steve B
 
Exe_Chris said:
Not that it matters very much, but it looks like a 2003 MY car as it doesn't have the slatted grille.
Click to expand...
But it is a 2003, as mine is and that also has a flat hatch, as far as i know that didn't change until late 2003, so since it is advertised as a 2003 I don't know what it is that seems wrong?

Or did you think it was advertised as a 2004?

I se that it was mentioned by Tom as a MY 2004. That is what is causing the confusion.


Steve B
 
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timmus said:
Hi Nathan,

In the years that I've been a club member, countless people have posted a thread like this; they're looking for an A2 that ticks all the boxes but simply can't find one. Given that the youngest A2s are now 11 years old, buying on the basis of condition and history is everyone's advice. Some have been tempted by shabby-but-high-spec models and have ended up pouring funds into repairs.

When I bought my A2, I made a list of the core things that really mattered to me. It had to be an Ebony Black TDI75 SE with OpenSky. Of course I wanted as many other optional extras as I could get, but I knew that they could be added in due course. Retrofitting optional extras isn't as cheap as getting a car that's already got all the options you want, but it's often cheaper than remedying inherited issues and a lot less disheartening. Because of this, loads of members have had me turn their A2 into what they originally wanted. They've followed their head and bought on the basis of condition and have then had me add the options they originally wanted. The only brochure options that I don't add are OpenSky and climate control, but otherwise the world is your oyster. For many, this has really helped to open up the market and increase the number of viable cars. Especially given our relative proximity to one another, this approach could also work for you.

Another current thread is about the low prices that A2s are commanding at the moment. It's a buyer's market. Take a look at this one: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201601119976893
It's in Bolton, so not far from you at all. A 53-plate 2004MY with only 66,000 on the clock for £3000 from a trader. It looks to be in fine condition and is £1000 under your budget. For all that there are currently things about it that don't appeal to me, they're all easily changed. It strikes me as being a really good base.

Cheers,

Tom
Click to expand...

Hi tom

I've been to see this one in Bolton the paint work on it is shocking my family have body shop history so I have a keen eye for it

Thanks tho for ur suggestion
 
nathan.adlington said:
Hi tom

I've been to see this one in Bolton the paint work on it is shocking my family have body shop history so I have a keen eye for it

Thanks tho for ur suggestion
Click to expand...


There are some really ropey A2s being advertised and often they look great in the pictures. But it is still worth continuing the search. The old saying holds very true "You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince"

Steve B
 
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...&search-target=usedcars&radius=1501&logcode=p


have you considered this one Nathan? I'll need to dig out my old phone or the thread posted on here but suspect this is a car I looked at on behalf of a member maybe 4 years ago. It's an Edinburgh registration and the spec is identical. The votex rear spoiler and alloy wheels are very/ fairly rare respectively.
It had 80 odd thousand miles at that time with full long life history. So had 3 stamps in the book. An honest car needing some TLC as it was very grubby and the open sky didn't work.

If it's the same motor and has had some love and care of recent times it could be an option. At 116k miles it's due a second cambelt on mileage and age and if it's not been changed the dual mass flywheel is probably near the end of its life. Those 2 items are the guts of a grand.

check there's no water leaks in the boot. That rear bumper prang could have dislodged the vents behind the bumper and the Bose subwoofer doesn't take kindly to water. The jacking point covers and a wheel centre cap are missing which is a pain but all good haggling points.

Lots of potential here though if it's a nice car.
 
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murdo said:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...&search-target=usedcars&radius=1501&logcode=p


have you considered this one Nathan? I'll need to dig out my old phone or the thread posted on here but suspect this is a car I looked at on behalf of a member maybe 4 years ago. It's an Edinburgh registration and the spec is identical. The votex rear spoiler and alloy wheels are very/ fairly rare respectively.
It had 80 odd thousand miles at that time with full long life history. So had 3 stamps in the book. An honest car needing some TLC as it was very grubby and the open sky didn't work.

If it's the same motor and has had some love and care of recent times it could be an option. At 116k miles it's due a second cambelt on mileage and age and if it's not been changed the dual mass flywheel is probably near the end of its life. Those 2 items are the guts of a grand.

check there's no water leaks in the boot. That rear bumper prang could have dislodged the vents behind the bumper and the Bose subwoofer doesn't take kindly to water. The jacking point covers and a wheel centre cap are missing which is a pain but all good haggling points.

Lots of potential here though if it's a nice car.
Click to expand...

This car is what I am looking for spec wise but just looks Uncared for I'd pay 2200 for it but not what they are asking
 
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