PYXi the Poorly FSi: Worth Saving?

Rusty911

Rusty911

A2OC Donor
As per Today I etc, here's PYXi, a 2002 built, 2003 registered FSi.

Owners: lots and lots. I'm number eleven. Mileage: 111,000: not bad. History: yes, full, Audi until 80K or so, local garages thereafter. Max interval 10K miles. Issues: ooh yes, like you wouldn't believe (see above owner count).

Why buy? It was cheap (£250), local (under 1/2 mile) and actually is much straighter than the advert pics would have suggested.

What's wrong with it?

Glove-box handle on floor.
Alternator light up.
Power steering not working.
Virtually seized gearshift.
Clonking from rear.
Rattling from front.
Caked in cack underneath.
Rear bump stops: no.
MOT only by virtue of CV19 extension.
ABS warning up.
Low pad warning up.
EML up (of course it is, it's an FSi).
Filthy in, out, underneath and in the 'bay.
Timing belt probably due.
Wrong anti-freeze.
Runs badly.
Two terrible tyres.

Surely there must be some good news?

Two good tyres.
It's silver (that's good in my book: iconic I like to think).
AC works well.
It starts.
It stops.
Recent brakes all round.
That full service history.
Very straight and I think it'll clean up well.
Engine looks like new down the filler caps.
No mechanical maladies other than running issues and engine sounds particularly sweet.
Screen isn't all scratched up.
Two keys, both working.
Full hand-pack, tool-kit etc.
Even the fuse cover is attached.

Here're a couple of pics from the ad:

s-l1600 (3).jpg
s-l1600.jpg
 
Rusty911 said:
As per Today I etc, here's PYXi, a 2002 built, 2003 registered FSi.

Owners: lots and lots. I'm number eleven. Mileage: 111,000: not bad. History: yes, full, Audi until 80K or so, local garages thereafter. Max interval 10K miles. Issues: ooh yes, like you wouldn't believe (see above owner count).

Why buy? It was cheap (£250), local (under 1/2 mile) and actually is much straighter than the advert pics would have suggested.

What's wrong with it?

Glove-box handle on floor.
Alternator light up.
Power steering not working.
Virtually seized gearshift.
Clonking from rear.
Rattling from front.
Caked in cack underneath.
Rear bump stops: no.
MOT only by virtue of CV19 extension.
ABS warning up.
Low pad warning up.
EML up (of course it is, it's an FSi).
Filthy in, out, underneath and in the 'bay.
Timing belt probably due.
Wrong anti-freeze.
Runs badly.
Two terrible tyres.

Surely there must be some good news?

Two good tyres.
It's silver (that's good in my book: iconic I like to think).
AC works well.
It starts.
It stops.
Recent brakes all round.
That full service history.
Very straight and I think it'll clean up well.
Engine looks like new down the filler caps.
No mechanical maladies other than running issues and engine sounds particularly sweet.
Screen isn't all scratched up.
Two keys, both working.
Full hand-pack, tool-kit etc.
Even the fuse cover is attached.

Here're a couple of pics from the ad:

View attachment 66705View attachment 66706
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Judging by your last save, then definitely yes!!!!! ?
 
Just to back this up a notch: I'd seen this do a few laps around eBay: note the hedge in the background in pics above. I bought at the end of June, so it's clearly been up for sale since the winter. It was on at a somewhat random £565 with no bids.

Ad suggested it was about five miles away, but it turned out to literally be down a long drive off the lane a little way off the back of my house. Had I been on foot, it would have been a fifteen minute walk. The owners had only had it just over a year, paid about £1200 for it from a dealer, spent about £500 on it judging by the history and then (like the others before them) called it a day and bought a Panda instead. If my experiences of Panda's are anything to go by, they'll be delighted.

Anyhoo ... I had watched it and watched it and in the end caved and gave them a shout. Went for a look, promised I wouldn't break it (unlike the other low-ball bidders): I won't, promised they'd get first dibs if I sell in the future (they will) and sent them some pics of the Devon car.

90 mins later it was on my drive having had a little ride on the trailer:

Pyxi Small.jpg
 
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in9999 said:
Ooooooo, let me get comfy first, the transformation of this car is definetely going to be better that the last. Can you post the update at a regular time each week. It will be like watching a favourite programme.....just waiting for the next installment.
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Well thank you: I'm really not sure about that. The last one was quite an adventure and very photogenic (the colour, the roof etc). Sort of regret selling it actually as there was a big part of me in that one.

Nevertheless, I'll do my best!
 
Rusty911 said:
Well thank you: I'm really not sure about that. The last one was quite an adventure and very photogenic (the colour, the roof etc). Sort of regret selling it actually as there was a big part of me in that one.

Nevertheless, I'll do my best!
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likewise, would love to have half your ability to turn a scrapper into a little pippin on a shoestring budget ?
its great to watch it all come together, hope this one is as good, no pressure!
 
We really are fortunate that Audi did not scrimp too much when they originally built the A2. Yes it was a big disappointment for Audi as global sales were dismal , but Audi themselves were at least partly to blame. Many dealerships shrugged off the little A2 as not a real Audi while others forcefully told buyers the engine is sealed and only dealers can work on them. Needless to say the press picked up on this and less than rave reviews followed. That brings us to now. Here we have a car with really pretty good build quality that had many features ahead of its time, and yes some with hindsight are problematic. But here is the good part, even one that looks like it has been through a war zone and never washed or cleaned inside respond AMAZINGLY to some TLC and someone who understands what the badge and car are capable of. Poor or no servicing can be as bad as incorrect servicing so at least a fairly good service history is always beneficial. We all work on our cars for free, so that does not come into the cost equation. Some parts do come through recyclers others from dealers and parts factors. Provided suitable parts can be found sensibly price ALMOST any car can be saved. Where it gets expensive is when it turns from being just a nice driver into a museum piece or every upgrade is thrown at it. Work out roughly how much you want to spend on it then divide that by the length of time you would like to keep the car. Yes you can sell the car once done but as you have already found that sweat equity has a strong hold on the car. Best of luck Barry, and I am sure once again you will do the right thing for both you and the car.
 
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audifan said:
We really are fortunate that Audi did not scrimp too much when they originally built the A2. Yes it was a big disappointment for Audi as global sales were dismal , but Audi themselves were at least partly to blame. Many dealerships shrugged off the little A2 as not a real Audi while others forcefully told buyers the engine is sealed and only dealers can work on them. Needless to say the press picked up on this and less than rave reviews followed. That brings us to now. Here we have a car will really pretty good build quality that had many features ahead of its time, and yes some with hindsight are problematic. But here is the good part, even one that looks like it has been through a war zone and never washed or cleaned inside respond AMAZINGLY to some TLC and someone who understands what the badge and car are capable of. Poor or no servicing can be as bad as incorrect servicing so at least a fairly good service history is always beneficial. We all work on our cars for free, so that does not come into the cost equation. Some parts do come through recyclers others from dealers and parts factors. Provided suitable parts can be found sensibly price ALMOST any car can be saved. Where it gets expensive is when it turns from being just a nice driver into a museum piece or every upgrade is thrown at it. Work out roughly how much you want to spend on it then divide that by the length of time you would like to keep the car. Yes you can sell the car once done but as you have already found that sweat equity has a strong hold on the car. Best of luck Barry, and I am sure once again you will do the right thing for both you and the car.
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Its funny you mention this about the dealers perception of the A2 at launch, I worked for Audi before the launch of the A1 and it had a less than enthusiastic reception from the dealers also, most were like "its basically a polo", "there's no money in it", "we could just sell any other model and make more money", "what kind of buyers will go for this", and so on! Audi really forced this car onto dealers and even made some sites have A1 specialists who only sold this model, maybe they learned their lesson after the A1 and realised having a good car is not enough.
 
Rusty911 said:
Right Ho, might need to add an extra 1/2 day to the project that being the case :oops:
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With your connections you could make it a show winner easily, i'm sure.

Get it running spot on, ignition system if new ie; plugs coils will release a few hp, it should make you grin form ear to ear and spure you on. :D
 
Darpod14 said:
Its funny you mention this about the dealers perception of the A2 at launch, I worked for Audi before the launch of the A1 and it had a less than enthusiastic reception from the dealers also, most were like "its basically a polo", "there's no money in it", "we could just sell any other model and make more money", "what kind of buyers will go for this", and so on! Audi really forced this car onto dealers and even made some sites have A1 specialists who only sold this model, maybe they learned their lesson after the A1 and realised having a good car is not enough.
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I have to say, I was in sales for years: including VW. We used to LOVE it when people had come from Audi. All we had to do was show the customer some respect, know our product and they'd be so thrilled they'd been treated right we'd inevitably get the sale. Once in a Polo it was only a matter of time before they were back to buy their Golf etc. Audi sales were so up themselves it was rediculous. A friend of mine went to an Audi dealer not 'that' long ago (2012 / 13?) and because he was in work clothes, they practically blanked him. He went round the corner to Volvo, was treated brilliantly and bought a new XC70 then and there. He's been buying Volvo's ever since.
 
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There’s certainly something satisfying about bringing a car back from the point of almost being scrapped. Black Beauty was almost there bought for £400 if I remember correctly and is now a real looker.

With a bit of knowledge and patience a lot of these cars can be saved.
 
A2Steve said:
There’s certainly something satisfying about bringing a car back from the point of almost being scrapped. Black Beauty was almost there bought for £400 if I remember correctly and is now a real looker.

With a bit of knowledge and patience a lot of these cars can be saved.
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I will remember that if you do the same with the colour storm you mentioned earlier for me!
 
Better get on with this job ...

I won't do any true 'after' shots (especially as there aren't any yet) but after a sustained jet-washing at the front end (engine bay was mainly done by hand with just a misting, followed by an engine warm-up to dry things out), things were looking surprisingly hopeful:

P1020833.JPG
P1020827.JPG
 
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Rusty911 said:
I have to say, I was in sales for years: including VW. We used to LOVE it when people had come from Audi. All we had to do was show the customer some respect, know our product and they'd be so thrilled they'd been treated right we'd inevitably get the sale. Once in a Polo it was only a matter of time before they were back to buy their Golf etc. Audi sales were so up themselves it was rediculous. A friend of mine went to a dealer not 'that' long ago (2012 / 13?) and because he was in work clothes, they practically blanked him. He went round the corner to Volvo, was treated brilliantly and bought a new XC70 then and there. He's been buying Volvo's ever since.
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I would love to say it has changed in recent times but alas no it has not.
The problem is cascaded down to the 'sales' staff and they think that they have 'made' it by working for Audi and don't need to bother being nice, let alone professional with prospective clients. Most are more interested in their new demo or fancy suits to bother mere mortals who want to actually buy one of these motors! ?
 
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