I'll not profess to disagree with any reliability comments, but consistent derogatory comments that make any owner of a prized A2 feel substandard or inferior for owning such a model are certainly not in keeping with the friendly nature in which I refer.
I'm grateful that there are some that support the innovation of the lump.
As am I. The A2 is a pioneering piece of automotive engineering, but neither the 1.4 petrol nor the 1.4 TDI engines are at all ground-breaking or original. They featured in various VAG cars before and after the A2. The 1.6 FSI, on the other hand, was released in the A2. It is every bit as pioneering as the rest of the A2. Indeed, in today's modern Audis, all petrol models employ FSI technology, and in that respect the A2's legacy is alive. In many years to come, when the A2 is nothing but a classic car owned by enthusiasts, FSI models will occupy a special niche and have a unique purity. They are to be cherished, and anyone who is willing to do so should indeed not be made to feel as though they've made a daft decision or that their A2 is in some way inferior. In my comedic FSI acronyms, I am guilty of doing just that, and I apologise to anyone whose feathers I have ruffled.
However, we're in a time when the A2 represents different things to different people. For some, they're already classic cars that must be kept immaculate. For others, they're utilitarian daily machines. So many people who buy A2s want one because, besides their engineering brilliance, they're cheap to buy, cheap to fuel, cheap to tax and cheap to insure. I want people to enjoy their A2s and appreciate them for the excellent little cars they are. Unfortunately, at present, many FSIs on the open market can be picked up cheaply, possibly because previous owners haven't understood them and consequently got sick of them going wrong all the time and just want rid. The result is that the most expensive-to-maintain A2s are often the cheapest ones to buy. As such, the inevitable huge bills that come with owning a faulty FSI often fall into the hands of those who can't necessarily easily afford them. My love for the A2 and my dedication to them is well documented, but I think the 1.6 FSI ought to be purchased by those who know what they're letting themselves in for. They're to be owned by people who've either got deep pockets or another car at their disposal.
Cheers,
Tom
PS: I've written this whilst sat on my laptop in a 1.6 FSI with 47k on the clock. I'm upgrading it with Bose, double-DIN dash, RNS-E, SideGuard, cruise control, Colour DIS, etc, etc.