Chat No wonder Audi A2 prices are dropping!!!

Hi Gonzo,

I don't think that we are disagreeing much at all.

The only thing I am not fully in line with is the concern you have about "reliability falling off" impacting values.

Most A2s are 13 years old or more anyway and there are no reliability concerns as yet (some A2s do have particular weak spots of course, but they are not necessarily age related).

I see what you are saying, but with ownership (at least until my granndson is 17) of an A2 that has done the equivalent of 10 times around the earth and the distance from the surface of the Earth to the Moon (approx 230,000 miles) and yet it is still a perfectly usable and reliable car, I am not so sure that reliability will become a significant issue. Most parts that wear can be replaced or reconditioned and the body and chassis are not going to deteriorate.

As for the A2 ending up costing the same as a £10,000 car because of repair bills, I don't think that the A2 could ever cost that much in the same period that you are paying for your finance. But others may disagree (there are one or two problem cars around no matter what make / model of car you buy).

There is no right and wrong in this kind of discussion, we are all just expressing our views and that is based on our own personal experience, which can vary tremendously! So we are not disagreeing, just debating!!

Thanks for your personal view on this it is very valuable and most welcome.

Steve B
 
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80% of new cars in the UK are financed - to the vast majority of people a warranty, cheap or free road tax, 60+ mpg and factory toys like Bluetooth, nav, text-to-speak etc. are way more attractive than a 15-year old banger for the same outgoings. Two three years later, just chop it in for another one so the neighbours think you're doing OK.


My A2 is cheap to tax, 60+ MPG with factory toys like Bluetooth, voice activation, Auto lights, Heated seats, built in Audi Sat Nav etc. and it doesn't rust!

Ok, not a fair comparison, but there are many A2s that come with a great spec (also don't rust) and don't depreciate by over £1,000 in the first day of ownership.

On the subject of depreciation, the maximum an A2 can depreciate would be the cost to buy it (let's say £3,000 on average) any new car will depreciate that much in two or three years and then carry on depreciating (worth taking into consideration perhaps?)

Please do take this as a friendly debate, I am being a bit flippant here, for the fun of it.

Steve B
 
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I agree (and financing a depreciating asset doesn't seem to be particularly sensible to me), but people want shiny new things even when they can't afford them.
 
Hmm...forgot about the not rusting bit. And I would guess that my depreciation has been max £4.5k over 10 years, £450 per year, £38 per month. Not bad compared to my A6 from new to sales at 8.5 years...........£240 per month and that's from a heavily discounted purchase price in the first place! :eek: My new A6 is even worse, by several times over, but it was an "eyes-open" purchase and it's a model that has a big grin factor! So the A2's depreciation is definitely better than any new car. Except a 911 GT3 or a La Ferrari.

Back to costs, if I add in the need to replace the suspension, potential turbo, sort out the OSS roof, replace headlight unit because one of the mountings has broken, etc.....that could easily come to £2.5k on a car worth £3k and over 2 years that's £100 pm alone.

And, own up Steve, your A2 didn't come with those toys, you've been tinkering! And spending quite a bit of money on it! ;):rolleyes:

Don't get me wrong, it's a great car. We love it. It sill looks fantastic. I still get asked whether mine is for sale. But you either want one of these for what it is or you want cheap, reliable and hassle free transport. There maybe some overlap in the Venn diagram but as these cars get older, not a lot!
 
I agree (and financing a depreciating asset doesn't seem to be particularly sensible to me), but people want shiny new things even when they can't afford them.


Now that I can agree with 100% (that is me all over!!!)

The A2 has at least temporarily cured me of that though, I can't think of any new car that would give me the same total ownership package that I get from an A2? I keep getting twitchy when I see an i3 though, (and if we ever get a new A2, especially an all electric one, I might have to seek professional help to prevent me from doing exactly what you describe)

Steve B
 
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Back to costs, if I add in the need to replace the suspension, potential turbo, sort out the OSS roof, replace headlight unit because one of the mountings has broken, etc.....that could easily come to £2.5k on a car worth £3k and over 2 years that's £100 pm alone.

And, own up Steve, your A2 didn't come with those toys, you've been tinkering! And spending quite a bit of money on it! ;):rolleyes:

As time goes by we are finding low cost options to fix our A2s.

As for the OSS Gary and Matt (Jigsaw and Wilco) have been discussing (on here) some low cost options to repair an OSS and it does look like we have a a solution in the making that make this a very viable repair.

Repacing the suspension is a one-off cost that should last for tens of thousands of miles. It is not a major cost either with some pretty good prices around for the parts. The turbo would be an expensive item, but how many people on here have had to replace theirs? It hardly ever comes up in any threads (occasionally an issue wih the VVT of a 90, but even then a deep clean can often resolve the issue). As for the headlight unit, I would be amazed if you had to pay any more than £70 for a good quality replacement, also you have the option of buying the mount repair kit at around £10 or so, I have used that in the past and it is a perfectly good repair.

The other thing to consider is that if you did replace all of those the car would last for tens of thousands of miles more and so that £100 a month would be more like £20 a month over its lifetime.

Granted I am a tad biased in my appreciation of the A2, but also I do believe that people worry about repair bills far more than they should. Also going for low cost repairs on a 13 year old car makes sense. If the car was brand new it would be crazy.

So there are two sides to this debate both right in their own way.

As for the toys I have added to my car, they can be done at a reasonable cost and / or you could be lucky and get a well specced A2 with most of the toys already on it.

An Audi OEM Bluetooth phone kit (including voice dialling) can be added for just over £100 ( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A4-A3-A2-TT-R8-TEMIC-BLUETOOTH-PHONE-INTERFACE-MODULE-8P0862335H-/121871375307?hash=item1c60199bcb:g:k2kAAOSwqYBWoMQK)
Voice activation is a cheap option on an RNS E (if you have converted that (around £400) and you get Nav too)
So it is not an "arm and a leg" cost and all DIYable.

Also my wife's A2 came with Heated seats, auto dimming mirror, Leather, BOSE, rear cupholders, 60k miles etc. all for £3,900 (two years ago), and there are better specced cars than that around for around the same money.

So we have slightly different views on things like this and that is one of the best things about this forum, we can have a difference of opinion without it developing into a slanging match. Brilliant!!!!!

Steve B
 
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I could write a whole essay on A2 prices and vehicle financing/cash purchasing and depreciation, but as I'm ill with the flu i wont

I can say that when you look at insurance, repairs, mots, tax, tyres and petrol costs we were paying per month on my wife's 15 year old VW Beetle is the same as we pay on the i3. Actually, we are probably saving a little per month.

You just have to work out what is the best option for you and make sure the figures are right.

What works for one, wont work for someone else.

Still keeping my A2 though :p
 
The reality is my A2 over the past year has cost almost as much in repair costs as a PCP on a new Up! and that is how my OH and countless car buyers look at it. Whatever the views of financing depreciation of a car (which is what PCP actually is) for the vast majority of buyers it is easy. Walk into showroom, kick a few tyres, choose colour, fall for salesmans upselling of higher spec 'its only another £5/week.....' sign your life away and drive away in brand new car. No repairs required, warrantied, nothing to worry about. I know of one family with all 4 cars on PCP's - both parents and both off spring.... the idea of buying an 'old' car has them in apoplexy.
 
You have to consider that examples of the A2 can be 15 years old, the newest are 11 years young.

A lot can happen in that time, mileage, use, good or bad service history. By now not all cars are equal.

I sold my 50k mile Tdi yesterday, the buyer had owned an A2 before and knew exactly what they wanted. The car was sold before they saw it, provenance counts.
My car sold at what might be seen as the upper end of the price range for a private sale, in the scheme of things, it is not that much money.
By that I mean you lose that much in the first year on a new £20k hatchback. The buyer was thrilled and I am sure the car will be well looked after.

When the A2 does become a "classic", the good ones left will be sought after and command reasonable money. We are at that point at the moment, where attrition is reducing the stock of cars as these cars can be uneconomical to repair, either through accident, bad luck or wearing out.

I have had my 8 years of fun in the A2, the car lost £2k in depreciation over that time, it was my spare back up to a few classics, which have more than covered the pain of losing a couple of £k on the A2!

If I wanted an A2 now, I would buy the best I could, we know how little they cost to run and there is a good chance if you look after it you will at least get your money back.
 
Hi Adrian,

Yes agreed, I did that when I bought my A1, I ticked every possible option, and I mean the lot.

The monthly payment was £500 and after two years of ownership (due to me over speccing the car) I had lost £15,000.

So you are right, it is very easy to be tempted in the showroom.

I guess there are those that prefer a new car and others that don't.
After owning a Jaguar XJR that depreciated at £1,000 a MONTH and after losing that money on the A1, I will not be buying new ever again (unless the electric A2 comes out in 2019 as planned perhaps!! ;) )

Steve B
 
Sorry to draw up an old thread but seemed better than starting another 'price' post.

Things seem to be on the move with prices increasing now. May daily (ok bi-hourly) search on ebay has shown 31 A2's available with the average price around the £2500 mark. Not sure what's driving the increase again but it's got to be a good thing.
 
Sorry to draw up an old thread but seemed better than starting another 'price' post.

Things seem to be on the move with prices increasing now. May daily (ok bi-hourly) search on ebay has shown 31 A2's available with the average price around the £2500 mark. Not sure what's driving the increase again but it's got to be a good thing.
I thought the bottom had fell out the market all together and they were being given away, even lovely looking, late, low mileage tdi's ??
 
Sorry to draw up an old thread but seemed better than starting another 'price' post.

Things seem to be on the move with prices increasing now. May daily (ok bi-hourly) search on ebay has shown 31 A2's available with the average price around the £2500 mark. Not sure what's driving the increase again but it's got to be a good thing.
I wouldn't be surprised if the rash of motoring magazine and newspaper articles in the past 12-18 months hasn't finally resulted in some folk out there cottoning on to the A2 and what it is - and then the effect of demand vs supply will starts to impact on price points. The coming roll-out of emissions restriction areas in various towns / cities will probably put a brake on this for a while though.
 
I suspect it is petrol A2's that are driving the average up, just look at the FSI prices today on the holy trinity!

Andy
 
I also think it depends on where you are in the country every time I sell one of my audi a2 cars I carnt get the full value for it. I have a lot of interest from people in Surrey or down south, but when I have sold my audi a2s locally (greater manchester area) I feel I haven't got the true value mabey because of the lockdown? All my cars have been on autotrader and some have even took 3-4 months to sell there always priced cheaper then the rest by far and better history and always under 100,000miles.
As a part time car trader I dont feel as if I will be buying anymore to sell unless I get them next to nothing of course. But then its the waiting period of selling them that is frustrating. Especially when your only making a few hundred on each one then you get tramps pulling your wiper arm off and you have to travel 200-400miles for them there and back in the first place then start fixing all faults and servicing them because you have had them so long.

Unfortunately something is only worth what someone is preperd to pay on the day and everyone loves a bargain the only ones that will go for the highest price are those cherished low mileage examples and high specification and then it will only be another audi a2 enthusiast who will appreciate the value and who will pay what its worth.

Rant over.
 
I bought my A2 very cheaply at £700 for a 1.4 petrol with full leather interior and 108k on the clock, I now realise I have to spend that again to replace the clutch, cam belts, water pump and aux belt. I admit once those jobs are done she should run for 10's of thousands of miles without much to do other than servicing and general ware parts like brakes ect.
I am very taken with my little A2 and at 40 years young I'm the happiest I've been with a car for years. I love the fact you can work on them with relative ease and the little things that go wrong or need replacing are part of the joy of these cars.
I hope to get another 100k out of her at least before I have to consider changing to another car, but I know I will enjoy every part of owning this little piece of joy and being a part of a true enthusiast forum. Long live the A2!!
 
As time goes by we are finding low cost options to fix our A2s.

As for the OSS Gary and Matt (Jigsaw and Wilco) have been discussing (on here) some low cost options to repair an OSS and it does look like we have a a solution in the making that make this a very viable repair.

Repacing the suspension is a one-off cost that should last for tens of thousands of miles. It is not a major cost either with some pretty good prices around for the parts. The turbo would be an expensive item, but how many people on here have had to replace theirs? It hardly ever comes up in any threads (occasionally an issue wih the VVT of a 90, but even then a deep clean can often resolve the issue). As for the headlight unit, I would be amazed if you had to pay any more than £70 for a good quality replacement, also you have the option of buying the mount repair kit at around £10 or so, I have used that in the past and it is a perfectly good repair.

The other thing to consider is that if you did replace all of those the car would last for tens of thousands of miles more and so that £100 a month would be more like £20 a month over its lifetime.

Granted I am a tad biased in my appreciation of the A2, but also I do believe that people worry about repair bills far more than they should. Also going for low cost repairs on a 13 year old car makes sense. If the car was brand new it would be crazy.

So there are two sides to this debate both right in their own way.

As for the toys I have added to my car, they can be done at a reasonable cost and / or you could be lucky and get a well specced A2 with most of the toys already on it.

An Audi OEM Bluetooth phone kit (including voice dialling) can be added for just over £100 ( Voice activation is a cheap option on an RNS E (if you have converted that (around £400) and you get Nav too)
So it is not an "arm and a leg" cost and all DIYable.

Also my wife's A2 came with Heated seats, auto dimming mirror, Leather, BOSE, rear cupholders, 60k miles etc. all for £3,900 (two years ago), and there are better specced cars than that around for around the same money.

So we have slightly different views on things like this and that is one of the best things about this forum, we can have a difference of opinion without it developing into a slanging match. Brilliant!!!!!

Steve B

Interesting thread this Steve @Birchall cheers ?

Regards your thought below on the OSS, is there a separate thread and did you find some low cost options? Mine is currently jammed and Adam here on the forum has kindly added me to his waiting list, but I understand he’s very much in demand ?

“As for the OSS Gary and Matt (Jigsaw and Wilco) have been discussing (on here) some low cost options to repair an OSS and it does look like we have a a solution in the making that make this a very viable repair.”
 
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