How many A2’s left.

Jeetesh

Member
Hi all had a quick look at how many A2’s there are in the UK and the following came up:

11,121 A2’s currently registered in the UK according to the DVLA database (probably won’t include SORN cars) the split seems to be:

1.4 Petrol - 3,861 34.7%
1.4 TDI 75 - 5,166 46.5%
1.4 TDI 90 - 758 6.8%
1.6 FSI - 1,336 12.0%

TOTAL - 11,121

I’m not completely convinced on the split between the TDI 75/90 as I know I’ve seen a V5 that just states TDI and didn’t say 90 however its probably there or thereabouts as the 90 was obviously introduced later. I’ve bundled the info based on engine rather than spec (Base/SE/Sport/CS). Personally, trim is just preference however as we know from the forum many have desirable Sport items on SE’s and vice versa so some great combinations out there.

The 90 appears to be the rarest engine type however with all the potential diesel issues on the horizon (some of which is legislators misunderstanding as well as being Euro 3/4) and being less reliable than the 75 there might be a timeline however if legislators were that smart they’d also see some petrols pollute more than new diesels.

The FSI is then the next rarest and in my opinion the one is the one to have, clearly I’m biased being an FSI owner!! Whilst they’ve got their idiosyncrasies and less reliable than the 75bhp 1.4’s, the issues with the FSI are documented and understood. Indeed all manufacturers have some problems with new tech.

Ultimately the view on FSI’s is softening which is a good thing as it’s a brilliant car and whilst there are some problem cases, they’ll turn into breakers allowing the good ones to stay in tip top shape and resulting in good FSI’s becoming rarer.
If you therefore get an opportunity to get a good FSI, go and get one before they’re gone.............ssshhhh, don’t tell anyone!

By the way if there are 11k cars and some forum members have multiple A2’s, how many people are on the forum (i don’t know if this is listed somewhere) and how many A2 owners do you think there will be that don’t even know about the A2OC?
 
I think that the FSI may be the one to have ... if you already have one and have owned it for years. Buying a 15+ year-old, unknown car wouldn’t be for me.
Having said that, @Jeetesh states that the TDI 90 as being: “less reliable than the 75”. For the past ten and a half years, and 130,000 miles (now 167,000 on the clock) I have been delighted with my 90.

Andrew
 
I think that the FSI may be the one to have ... if you already have one and have owned it for years. Buying a 15+ year-old, unknown car wouldn’t be for me.
Having said that, @Jeetesh states that the TDI 90 as being: “less reliable than the 75”. For the past ten and a half years, and 130,000 miles (now 167,000 on the clock) I have been delighted with my 90.

Andrew
I bought my FSI a couple of months ago so a near 16 year old car however it had 25.5k on the clock, the engine was as sweet as a new one and the car is in very good condition. Done 1.5k miles since and very happy with the purchase. I might not however buy a 100k one unless I’d thoroughly checked it over with everything I know about them and have a detailed record of it’s history.

The TDI 75 is probably the most reliable of all the A2 engines from what I’ve read and that’s not to say the 90 isn't reliable. There have been a few turbo issues on some 90’s so apologies if I was a bit vague. Clearly you have a good one and ultimately the TDI’s should last longer than the petrols. One day I’ll get a second and a TDI 90 is what I’d want, then have it remapped.
 
I bought my FSI a couple of months ago so a near 16 year old car however it had 25.5k on the clock, the engine was as sweet as a new one and the car is in very good condition. Done 1.5k miles since and very happy with the purchase. I might not however buy a 100k one unless I’d thoroughly checked it over with everything I know about them and have a detailed record of it’s history.

The TDI 75 is probably the most reliable of all the A2 engines from what I’ve read and that’s not to say the 90 isn't reliable. There have been a few turbo issues on some 90’s so apologies if I was a bit vague. Clearly you have a good one and ultimately the TDI’s should last longer than the petrols. One day I’ll get a second and a TDI 90 is what I’d want, then have it remapped.
I think your fsi sounds a little gem what a great find ..I’ve got completion ? as for the tdi I have to agree we have had a2s since 2005 I’ve had 2 tdi 90s I would not have another lots of issues yes turbo yes dmf but also a couple of electrical gremlins ...we have had 4 off tdi 75 never had one issue other than servicing sally runs a bhc I run an amf two we sold ...I tried to work out between the tdi cars we have owned 150k plus over the bunch ...it’s why I’m wondering if I will like the byb petrol time will tell ..?
 
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I think your fsi sounds a little gem what a great find ..I’ve got completion ? as for the tdi I have to agree we have had a2s since 2005 I’ve had 2 tdi 90s I would have another lots of issues yes turbo yes dmf but also a couple of electrical gremlins ...we have had 4 off tdi 75 never had one issue other than servicing sally runs a bhc I run an amf two we sold ...I tried to work out between the tdi cars we have owned 150k plus over the bunch ...it’s why I’m wondering if I will like the byb petrol time will tell ..?
I did 90k in my first A2 which was a TDI 75 and it never missed a beat, literally not one issue nothing broken or damaged or need replacing. Routine maintenance, and two tyres, that was it in 90k miles.

The FSI is great and whilst I’m early days I’m watching everything to ensure it stays that way. By the way another FSI popped up on auto trader in the last week with 67k miles and was black with black leather sports seats, it was priced well and disappeared after 1.5 days. Not sure if anyone on this forum got it?
 
A car with 25,000 miles on the clock is the exception. Congratulations!
I am always envious of people who unearth these super low mileage vehicles. How do you do it?
 
A car with 25,000 miles on the clock is the exception. Congratulations!
I am always envious of people who unearth these super low mileage vehicles. How do you do it?
We folk have our scouts out all over the country ??? no it’s luck plus in honesty talking about myself I’ve been sat on my bum to long so plenty of time to look ...hoping all that’s going to change this year ..?
 
A car with 25,000 miles on the clock is the exception. Congratulations!
I am always envious of people who unearth these super low mileage vehicles. How do you do it?
I’d been searching for about 4 months before I found mine. It gave me time to decide what I didn’t want in a car too but I must have looked every day until the right one came along. I’d also missed out on another one which got sold within a day together with some right ropey examples which were easily discounted, I particularly don’t like it when people are economical with the truth as it makes me dig much deeper, the whole story has to check out.

One thing I have found is ones that have been for sale for ages usually have been viewed and discounted by others so unless it’s on the doorstep I wouldn’t bother looking at them.
 
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As I already have one A2, I’m not really in the market for more. I know that makes me a bit of an oddity on this forum :D.
I did once think a plain, 1.4 petrol, without OSS, and with all but the driver’s seat removed, might make a handy “van” ... but that never went anywhere.
I tried to sell that idea to my spouse recently, and she was quite taken; she has always wanted a van. But as we have a 2012 Seat Mii which has been ours from new, there is no strong reason to get rid to buy a ten year older car.
One day perhaps ...
 
Bought my Mauritius Blue FSI Sport seven months and nearly 3000 miles ago. It had done just a smidgen under 50, 000 miles.
I'd set up an alert on Auto Trader based on my preferences. This one was about 10 miles away. Email alert first thing, viewed and bought by tea time. On the drive two days later!
If I'd wanted the ultimate in reliability I would not have bought a 15 year old car (regardless of fuel type).
I wanted a petrol A2, and paid a premium for it's condition, mileage, service history etc.
I have had new front discs and pads, and a heater flap servo replaced. It'll have cam belt and water pump sometime this year, based on a 5 year life (it's had this done at 5 & 10 years).
Runs only on Shell V Power.

Mac.
 
As I already have one A2, I’m not really in the market for more. I know that makes me a bit of an oddity on this forum :D.
I did once think a plain, 1.4 petrol, without OSS, and with all but the driver’s seat removed, might make a handy “van” ... but that never went anywhere.
I tried to sell that idea to my spouse recently, and she was quite taken; she has always wanted a van. But as we have a 2012 Seat Mii which has been ours from new, there is no strong reason to get rid to buy a ten year older car.
One day perhaps ...
Whilst I have another car (e-class estate) and the missus has a Renault Clio (I advised against but she didn’t listen), I don’t strictly need any more cars too however like the idea of minimal depreciation together with a car that I think will become a classic one day.

I like the idea of a mini van, when I have my first A2 I spent a lot of time on motorways with just me in the car, I then left the back seats, shelf and cover at home and drove around as a mini van. Some of my mates thought I was nuts but my rationale was that it would do 0-60 faster and averaged 69mpg over the 90k that I had it. I absolutely loved the fact that I could get 500+ motorway miles out of a 34 litre tank, I just had to put up with a slightly boomy space, i.e. a mini van!
 
As I already have one A2, I’m not really in the market for more. I know that makes me a bit of an oddity on this forum :D.
I did once think a plain, 1.4 petrol, without OSS, and with all but the driver’s seat removed, might make a handy “van” ... but that never went anywhere.
I tried to sell that idea to my spouse recently, and she was quite taken; she has always wanted a van. But as we have a 2012 Seat Mii which has been ours from new, there is no strong reason to get rid to buy a ten year older car.
One day perhaps ...
Sally’s is like a van I keep outside nice she does inside err but not that often ?we take the dog crate out you can get nearly a dozen bags of garden waste and more without back seats ( I was lucky to find the genuine cover that folded out and covers the whole area up to front seats ) we then put another sheet over that to protect it in it’s amazing I once had to pick up some timber my crew cab hilux couldn’t fit it in but it went straight down into passenger footwell and closed the tailgate they are so underrated ..
 
Bought my Mauritius Blue FSI Sport seven months and nearly 3000 miles ago. It had done just a smidgen under 50, 000 miles.
I'd set up an alert on Auto Trader based on my preferences. This one was about 10 miles away. Email alert first thing, viewed and bought by tea time. On the drive two days later!
If I'd wanted the ultimate in reliability I would not have bought a 15 year old car (regardless of fuel type).
I wanted a petrol A2, and paid a premium for it's condition, mileage, service history etc.
I have had new front discs and pads, and a heater flap servo replaced. It'll have cam belt and water pump sometime this year, based on a 5 year life (it's had this done at 5 & 10 years).
Runs only on Shell V Power.

Mac.
Mauritius Blue, that is my ideal colour for an A2 however never managed to find one that fit the criteria, there was always something too wrong and it never happened. I’ve also bought many new cars in my time and also wanted a blue car then however never the right colour. I seem to buy cars in colour that suit the cars best as the first priority.

I agree I wouldn’t have bought a 16 year old car if reliability was my priority, I’d have just not bought another car as my other is only a couple of years old. Me buying an A2 is because I desperately wanted another however I had the same criteria as yourself, everything needed to be in order. The only caveat on my car was a few service history gaps which only occurred due to a few years the car only driven 500 miles. I can half understand somebody not wanting to shell out £300 to service a car every year when the replacement parts/oils would be just the same as what’s already in it so I took a view. That’s the only blemish however the 2nd owner took impeccable care and stuck to the maintenance schedule so I was happy.
 
Sally’s is like a van I keep outside nice she does inside err but not that often ?we take the dog crate out you can get nearly a dozen bags of garden waste and more without back seats in it’s amazing I once had to pick up some timber my crew cab hilux couldn’t fit it in but it went straight down into passenger footwell and closed the tailgate they are so underrated ..
It’s that ability to take the rear seats out that makes it so big. Have you ever looked in a Ford Galaxy without 5 rear seats? You could start a removal business!
 
Whilst I have another car (e-class estate)
...
when I have my first A2 I spent a lot of time on motorways with just me in the car
@Jeetesh when I bought my A2 in Oct-2009, my other car was an E300 turbodiesel estate. That was a fantastic family car; four of us went all over the place in it in absolute luxury. However driving it 45 motorway miles each way, to and from work seemed a bit bonkers ... hence the A2 which I had always wanted. When one had to go it was the M-B.

Andrew
 
@Jeetesh when I bought my A2 in Oct-2009, my other car was an E300 turbodiesel estate. That was a fantastic family car; four of us went all over the place in it in absolute luxury. However driving it 45 motorway miles each way, to and from work seemed a bit bonkers ... hence the A2 which I had always wanted. When one had to go it was the M-B.

Andrew
Clearly like minded. Mine is 2017 E220d and fully specced so ticks all the luxury boxes and eats miles so easily. I can also fit everything in it, it’s huge! I just don’t want to use it to do the pokey little journeys (school run/shopping/other domestic stuff) hence wanting a small car that was big.

I could use the wife’s Clio however there is too much slop in the gearbox, the handbrake feels too slack, clutch is overly light, suspension creeks, etc, etc. Basically it’s French and there is no Germanic precision, the Clio was clearly made for a particular demographic which isn’t me.
 
I’d been searching for about 4 months before I found mine. It gave me time to decide what I didn’t want in a car too but I must have looked every day until the right one came along. I’d also missed out on another one which got sold within a day together with some right ropey examples which were easily discounted, I particularly don’t like it when people are economical with the truth as it makes me dig much deeper, the whole story has to check out.

One thing I have found is ones that have been for sale for ages usually have been viewed and discounted by others so unless it’s on the doorstep I wouldn’t bother looking at them.

Your last comment is usually where I find mine. Everyone assumes the cars have been looked at early and discount them as duds but often haven't. Many a great car has been left on the sidelines and quietly forgotten only to be picked up (by me) :cool:
 
Your last comment is usually where I find mine. Everyone assumes the cars have been looked at early and discount them as duds but often haven't. Many a great car has been left on the sidelines and quietly forgotten only to be picked up (by me) :cool:
There are always exceptions, it just seems to have been my experience with A2’s. I suppose with your level of experience/ability you’ll be able to repair things I would maybe pass on. One advantage of a car needing work is that it will inevitably be cheap. I wouldn’t however want a cheap FSI though, I’d want this to be cared for. Maybe after a few years of ownership I’d be happier taking on a project but it’s still early days.

p.s. I like the YouTube clips, easy way for novices and experienced folk to learn from a master.
 
Thanks Sir, just starting out but getting there, certainly not a master, not like many on here! I've not got that much experience really but always keen to learn. A bit like @A2Steve I don't tend to make money on any car I have but I enjoy the journey and I love making them look great again. In my case I now have 2 relatively cheap FSi but they were bought with issues, specifically to resolve them, like many others I was scared of them. I did however have a working CS FSi a couple of years back (now sold to a friend) and it was an absolute weapon! Quiet, smooth, lots of power and very economical too, that really opened my eyes to arguably the diamond in the rough of A2's.

Apologies to all (whilst we are on the topic of videos) for not putting out updates on some of the work (Towbar and interior clean) but I've either had no light or the weather has been atrocious (and there was no light). Hopefully make some progress this week. I have a list of another 37 video's I want to make at the moment (and rising daily) so I need to crack on :)
 
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