The A2 at 25: Why Audi's Best Engineered Car is a now £2000 Bargain

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Today on the channel we are looking at the Audi A2. An oddball car, it paired curious looks with a genuinely innovative chassis but failed to find an audience. A quarter of a century later and this car might be more relevant than ever - but why? Let's find out!
#Audi #DailyDriver #A2
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[@JayEmmOnCars]

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[@johnyoung267]

£200 road tax 😢

[@neilturner6749]

As an Audi salesman at the time of the A2 and having racked up thousands of miles in each of the various engine and trim options I’ve a few comments/tips to add to James’s review: 1) The car didn’t sell well because it was very narrow and only a four-seater, and viciously expensive to build. It retailed at 50% more expensive than the equivalent VW Polo and with a modest spec was around £40k in today’s equivalent money. Audi reduced the list prices by around 25% in 2002, which only increased how much money they themselves lost on each unit produced, which we believed to be over £10k per car. 2) James is quite wrong about the lack of rear legroom. He’s not comparing it to other cars of the period. In reality rear legroom was very generous, being much better than in a Mk1 A3 or Mk4 Golf and somewhere between a contemporary A4 and A6. 3) The best engine is the basic 1.4 petrol. Due to the aluminium construction, noise and vibration (NVH) transfer into the cabin was a real issue and the diesels obviously amplified this. The later 1.4 TDi 90 PS introduced in 2004 had fantastic torque-shove in such a light car, so some might feel is worth the lack of refinement. The 1.6 FSi petrol introduced in 2003 was just horrible, being noisy, rough, unreliable and requires Super Unleaded to run anywhere near its best. It was so bad my dealership elected not to run one as a demonstrator in case it put customers off buying another model in the A2 range. 4) Early cars can be identified by the hugely flashy and complicated windscreen wiper arm and double-blade. In operation it made the whole car sway from side-to-side so was dropped in 2001 and replaced by a much lighter thin arm directly fitted with a rubber block without a metal blade. 5) Sport trim models have slightly wider wheels and tyres than base or SE trim models, a small change but which gives the car a much nicer stance on the road. The downside is the much harder ride to what is already quite a firmly-damped car as standard.

[@rico4you]

Great summary.

[@corn985]

I totally agree with all the above points and reiterate that the rear legroom is good. Even for those above 6 foot. The only downside in the back is the headrooom for those above 6 foot. Also, James didn't mention the second luggage compartment below the shelf or the fact this car was primarily for driving arouind town, so a huge luggage comparment wasn't a key requirement We've owned a 2002, 1,4tdi since 2004 and, mechanically it has never missed a beat. Brakes last for an age. It has only had 3 clutches since new, current mileage is 160k miles. As with any car, they key to low running costs is regular maintenance. The only recurring current issue is smoke that is generated by the Webasto heater, which only works at ambient temps below -5C. Other than that the A2 is a cracking little motor

[@HA05GER]

Only 3 clutches jesus Christ​@@corn985

[@SKOMPAS]

The a2 had so much potential but long term was just let down by VW’s small engines, the 1.4tdi has balance shaft issues that end up turning the car into scrap and the petrols where rough and not that efficient, they also can’t run on e10 petrol now

[@corn985]

@matthewheal3223 The engines were pap. I thought the earlier models had balance shaft issues, which were addressed with later models.

[@isctony]

My sister had an horrific accident in an A2 - it basically saved her life and the car was even rounder when it landed in the field - every panel destroyed and wheels smashed. It is clearly an incredibly tough and safe car.

[@vp6087]

No. It has no enoug body rigidity.

[@ralfulrich6254]

@@vp6087 it has obviously

[@damianbond679]

The A2 community is a lovely thing to be a part of. There’s the A2 owners club which has helped me out numerous times. Also if you pass another A2 they will wave and flash the lights. Little things but very pleasant. Mines an 02 TDI 75 HP with nice pull for a small engine and still gets high 60s to the gallon with hills! Plus it’s on 170,000 miles and still runs well

[@markfelstead2507]

I live in Germany and was Part of the Team Translating the owners Manual for the A2

[@youbencowell]

It's exactly these reviews that makes JayEmm (plus his soft spot for Citroen) that make him the best car reviewer out there!

[@eirik_halvorsen]

True!

[@hugoferreira4512]

Well said. Agree.

[@user-cl4ml4pj8g]

The only person I know ( including a2 owner's Ive met) who shares my love for this car, and not only this one.. thank you, my friend

[@joeleonard9965]

Well said may be a bit much. I nearly had a stroke trying to read that sentence​@@hugoferreira4512

[@karimkalache712]

I only discovered the channel last year but came to post the same thing. This channels ability to get you interested in cars you'd never think or look at twice keeps me coming back time again. Great weekend morning viewing

[@jo05dk]

I strongly disliked the A2 when it launched, but have grown to respect it over the years. Here in Denmark we got both the A2 3L and the Lupo 3L. Of the two i'd have the Lupo. An absolute cutie, and with the 3L driveline they make some absolutely lovely noises when chugging about...using almost no diesel. ..oh and: I knew a man who bought a new A2 (3L), and bragged about it to everyone willing to listen, or unable to escape. He's a real inventor type, storing several thousand liters of diesel he'd bought at some point where diesel was extremely cheap on his property, and he - obviously - drives his A2 with the rear seats removed for added fuel efficiency. That's what you'd call a bonafide A2 3L owner😄

[@GoldenCroc]

For sure the A2 is superior in comfort and most other stuff compared to the lupo. The Lupo 3L is really bare bones, more like a 90s car...

[@sgt.vernex6378]

very true, but the outside design of the lupo i prefer alot@@GoldenCroc

[@martin1649]

Unsure if the lupo has an aluminium chassis, making the audi way more desirable for long term ownership

[@GoldenCroc]

@@martin1649 It doesnt. I think it has some bespoke body panels (rear bootlid being aluminium for example) but the chassis is standard Lupo as far as I know, and it was built as an economy car (purchase price) foremost. Very different to the A2 ethos which was a premium micro mpv. Not the most common class of vehicle, cant think of another one off hand except first gen Mercedes A class.

[@jo05dk]

@@martin1649 As mentioned by James: Alu means it's hugely expensive to mess with when things do go wrong, which detracts from long term ownership. It's not as black and white as you make it out to be.

[@simonelliott5956]

I drove a 1.4 petrol one of these back in 2000 when I had it for a couple of weeks as a loan car while my RS4 was having work done. I absolutely loved it, it drove brilliantly and was fun and comfortable, both around town and on the motorway.

[@haussolutions6244]

As a previous A2 owner, I totally agree. We averaged 44mph over the 22k miles we owned it. Other than the usual service items the biggest running cost we had was a new flexi on the exhaust and rear shocks….not bad for a car that had 175k on the clock. Only reason for getting rid of it was the flipping stupid ULEV nonsense here in Glasgow. As fate would have it, someone pulled out in front of it and the insurance wrote it off so the timing was spot on! Really sad to see it go…

[@paulleggett9735]

What did you think of the ride? We had a 1.4 petrol and the ride was so bad, even on the smaller wheels.every drive was uncomfortable.

[@jamielewis4712]

If that A2 is the one I’m thinking it is, I’ve put nearly 80,000 miles on the A2 TDi I replaced it with. Great cars!

[@MePeterNicholls]

I average 30. No matter where I go or what I do. Over a tank it’s always 30lbs average speed 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@markwood7045]

You averaged 44mph? Are you that driver who always drives at 40 on every road no matter what the signage? 😃

[@haussolutions6244]

@@markwood7045 Ah....good catch! I ragged it no matter what the signage said!

[@MineshShah]

My brother who has a PhD in Engineering bought one new when they came out. In 'Obligatory Silver' with the most fuel efficient 'Dr Diesel' engine... Although he didn't walk into an Audi showroom to buy it: he would have, but at that time, you could order the car from Europe, pay an importer to deal with the paperwork and it was a few grand cheaper than buying it in the U.K! (Ahh them were the days!!) He ran it for 20 years but only covered around 50,000 miles in it: So probably would would have been better off with one of petrols.. The car was - as you pointed out in your video - written off three times by the insurer due to minor accidents due to the cost of the repair of the aluminum bodywork.. each time just he bought it back from them and carried on using it... Only very recently donating it to a family friend's daughter who is learning to drive. To replace it he bought a used range extender BMW i3 (against my advice- I said he didn't need the range extender as he doesn't cover the mileage in Greater London to justify it)... He now regrets the need for the 'Range Extender' as he has to pay for its service, even tho he rarely uses the ICE... The Audi, whilst he didn't manage to get any advantage from paying the premium for the Diesel engine, paid its way by being written off, and him buying it back off the insurer... I doubt this will happen with the Beemer! The A2 was his first (qnd my guess, probably his only) 'new' car.. and it was surprisingly capacious when you went to the DIY store and folded the seats down... The A2, to him at least was a marvel of German engineering... Personally, I, and im sure he would agree, wouldn't be too scared of a 'written off' example - provided you know exactly why it was written off and the price is adjusted accordingly and you are not interested in it's resale value.. And it still passes it MOT... it could be a very cheap way of driving around in something interesting...

[@rkan2]

If he intends to crash the i3, the carbon fiber won't be much more repairable from the view of the insurance company than the A2. In reality the carbon fiber chassis would be more repairable though :D

[@donswier]

With the Range Extender, the last 20% SOC is *no big deal*. Surprise trips are also no problem. Trying to own, register and insure an additional ICE car just for long trips is unnecessary.

[@MineshShah]

@@donswier I don't think he'd bother buying a second car... I think when he bought it, he didn't anticipate that the charging infrastructure would become more widely available... Also the fact that most of his even slightly longer journeys can be done within range... I would say that IMO the BMW i3 is the spiritual successor to the Audi A1...

[@Whatshisname346]

I’m also an engineer and the A2 was a dream car at the time. I always had a thing for over designed overbuilt quirky cars (no surprise I’ve owned a string of Saabs and Volvos). When I moved to the city centre I deliberately sought out an A2 5 years ago, knowing I needed a car that could do exactly what the A2 does and be reliable and durable. It’s been perfect. Back at the time (early 2000s) I was designing an industrial unit and my very blokey colleague looked at the car which I’d slotted into the marketing images and said ‘man A2, great car, I’d love one of them!’ Must be an engineer thing I guess!

[@MineshShah]

@@Whatshisname346 I actually thought in the late 1990's my brother would have got a sports car of some description: BMW Z3, AUDI TT etc...No, he just bought the car that appealed to his intellect... But I don't think- even though I mentioned that the BMW i3 is the A2 spiritual successor- he really has the same appreciation for it.. As the car is now mostly used by his wife, and when he needs to travel he prefers public transport! But I'm pretty sure he's unlikely to buy one of those newfangled electric scooters! The best engineered cars - And I caveat this as simply an opinion- are made by companies that struggle to function economically; Tatra, Lancia, Citröen and finally Saab... All have fallen prey to the company accountants' ledger... And sadly none will return to their heyday...

[@richardstamper5630]

I run an 04 90 TDi which has the optional Votex body kit, full sports leather interior and a mild remap. This little car pulls like a train and feels solid... now in my 13th year of ownership I can't see me ever parting with it.... it's that good. As Arnold Schwarzenegger said in one of his Terminator films "Old but not obsolete", I think that about sums it up.

[@beatles4sale2007]

It’s one of the last Audi’s that deserve the “Vorsprung Durch Technik” tagline. Since then (and I drive a SQ5) they are mostly VAG clones, all about evolution and not really anything revolutionary. Great review as well….looking forward to more in 2024 from James.

[@bart7695]

I own the yellow colour storm 1.4. The 1.4 is known to be more reliable than the 1.6 FSI (it being first gen direct injection). You forgot to mention the rear seat is completely removable, removing even more weight and making it almost a twin seat Volvo 850.

[@martin1649]

Aaaaalmost.

[@MianCowell]

I'm 5'6" tall. With the rear seat out and passenger seat all the way forward, I could actually lie flat diagonally.

[@bart7695]

@@MianCowell That passenger seat goes full flat: If you are so inclined you can have it reclined.

[@philipwright7186]

I bought a demonstartor 1.4 SE back in 2002 as a local runaround, had it for about 4 years, it ran perfectly, did around 50 mpg. It was a strict 4 seater but i had 2 young kids then so it was never a problem, rear legroom with me at six foot in front was perfectly reasonable. The design and quality were brilliant for a small car. You could tumble the rear seats forward and with the false floor in place have a level load bay, or remove the rear seats and false floor completely and have a surprisingly large load space. Mine had a double panel tinted glass sunroof the full widthnof thenroof rails, which was ace, it slid back in two sections to make a virtual convertible. If you had windows and sunroof open when you parked up, keeping your finger on the close button on the keyfob would shut everything, and do the reverse when you opened up. The car was so light the single windscreen wiper would gently rock it. Downsides? A bit of a choppy ride and short travel suspension could get caught out, but honestly, if Audi made it today, with a bit of light modernising, it would look terrific. I absolutely loved it.

[@SorcherFepp]

I really liked that car when it was released and was surprised that almost no one was sharing my enthusiasm. I always found this very smart and, for its size, formidable good good-looking car. THE city car, from my perspective.

[@rudsey]

I drove when when new, it was a very well engineered car, it’s shares a similar design ethos and aesthetic to the bmw i3 but way ahead of its time.

[@kenw1295]

I worked in the Automotive IT industry when this was released and most in the business realised it was a brilliant car and loved it, just shame the public didn't.

[@johnpirie3800]

I have a 1.4tdi and I love it. Brilliant on fuel, cheap tax and the shape is unique. Absolute gem of a car.

[@jackburtonstwin]

I am that two car A2 owner. I have a 2000 1.4 petrol and it sits proudly on my driveway beside a Audi S5 V8. As my sons would point out, I have almost as much fun hooning around in the A2 as its V8 stable mate. They are just great fun to drive and rev out the old Polo 1.4 engine. It has little power, but the car is light and you can use all of it without ever really getting into serious trouble. I can say that I am the shortest of my family at 6ft 1in, with my three sons all several inches taller and we all fit together in the A2! There is a useful footwell below the front seats that allows the otherwise limited leg room to accommodate those size 12 feet. Also, I should mention, that if you drop the rear seats, the load area is tall and surprisingly capacious. We are talking enough room to accommodate a washing machine and and tumble dryer stood vertically at the same time. Reliablity has been very good. I change the oil and filters and that's about it. The front suspension can be a bit "crashy", I think that's just an age- and wear-related issue. The sealed unit headlights are almost all prone to fogging (as was your test car's) and this is quite normal. The rear drum brake mechanism can also seize over time, again this is large age related as my car is now 24 years old. Otherwise, needless to say, the bodywork will be there, with the cockroaches, at the end of days and the port injected engine is a Trojan of 80s VW engineering. In summation, it is a great car that was criminally overlooked (partly due to price - although Audi allegedly lost thousands on every one they sold), has low running costs, hits 40-45 miles per gallon (with no effort, especially if I am driving it) and is shockingly practical for a car that resembles a hard top motorised golf cart (my partner's wheelchair loads vertically just dropping half the back seat down. Yet again, Jay brings us another excellent review of a lesser appreciated car.

[@ruisantos8291]

I still own a 2001 1.4 tdi with 458.000km now! Eager to achieve half a million kms soon! The more I drive it, the more I like it!

[@johnhyoutube]

Great car. I bought a used late model diesel one with 50k mile on it and used it to commute between Scotland and Northumberland, hence it fairly quickly racked up 200k miles, all of which it did with 100% reliability and at 60 mpg. I sold it to a fellow enthusiast who still keeps in touch and told me recently that the car had now done 250k miles, and was still in excellent condition and amazingly still had the original clutch, exhaust and battery in use. A truly excellent car, greatly under-rated and misunderstood by most motorists.

[@NerdInMotion23]

I went on the launch of this car along with the Allroad at Millbrook test ground when I worked for Audi. I set the fastest time on the slalom in the A2. Great little car very well put together and didn't roll over like the TT or the A class.

[@thomasmccormick6650]

I'm 21 and a final year uni student. I got an A2 1.4 TDI about three months ago, I paid £1500 for a Full Service History 125k miles "sport" good condition car and tbh I couldn't be happier. 60MPG on almost every tank, most i've got was 70 for a 50 mile round trip that was 90% motorway. Also £35 tax a year compared to the £200 i think for the petrol cars.

[@pistonburner6448]

Haha, "sport"!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@djgtuk2012]

@@pistonburner6448 the sport models have different suspension. They weigh under a tonne so you might be surprised how well they handle.

[@pistonburner6448]

@@djgtuk2012 Haha, a FWD crapbox is a FWD crapbox. Especially one made by VAG.

[@aidencoder]

@@pistonburner6448 I've owned one, and you've not. I've owned much more expensive cars, and the A2 was up there with them in terms of fun and capability. Mine was also a sport model, and the handling was excellent. Also, I lived somewhere snowy, and being so light, it got up icy hills that 4x4 cars couldn't.

[@pistonburner6448]

@@aidencoder I've not owned one because why would I? I know a lot more about cars, driving, etc. than you. The A2 is absolutely horrible to drive, not comfortable, not quiet. The handling is total sh. Just understeer. No feel. Vague steering...also with no feel. I've lived somewhere snowier than you have, and know more about winter driving than you. A2 is a horrible winter car, and absolutely no fun in the snow. Compare it to eg. an E87 BMW and there's no contest at all.

[@christopherdawes4414]

I am a unabashed A2 fan. My local dealer use to offer these as a courtesy vehicle when my Audi Cabriolet was being serviced back in the late 90's. My commute into London from the Thames Valley was a joy. Apart from the S3, this was my favourite substitute vehicle. It was perfect for a commute into London. Sufficiently lively, and a joy to drive. I think it was ahead of its time, and thus a rarity. If I was still in the UK, this would be my commuter (occasional) into London and general run around. (Allowing me to have 1 or 2 exotics to enjoy.) A master piece in my mind.

[@Br1anuk]

It's a small Audi, not a cheap Audi was the catch phrase back in the day. As an owner of a low mileage A2 Sport 90 TDI I can definitely say it was a fantastic car. It was the dream of owning a full optioned car that drove me mad on every car buying website.

[@Hairysnid]

I've championed these for years! Amazing little car, so ahead of its time.

[@baronvonjo1929]

What exactly is it ahead of? I don't see any car trying to use this body segment at this price in this current day.

[@jaffaj23]

@@baronvonjo1929 - The i3 is compromised because it doesn't have independent rear doors and a tiny boot in comparison with the A2. As mentioned, its aluminium space frame and sandwich floor meant it was light, strong and spacious. Bigger internally than the A4s of the same era!

[@tonycromby2704]

I loved my A2. We got a lot of attention on the motorways as it was one of the first in the UK. First brand new car I ever bought, and to be achieving 60mpg from the little 3 cylinder TDI diesel was brilliant. What was funny was the huge windscreen wiper made the car move when stationary. I killed my first one in a flood after only 2 or 3 months but got another straight after. The ride was too firm in the end and started to annoy me when going over manhole covers and potholes etc so we eventually moved on to the A4.

[@energymc22]

Great video as always! Another example of Ferdinand Piëch's madness of the era, many of which were unsuccessful (think Phaeton, W engines) but he wanted things his way so why not!

[@GoldenCroc]

Yeah he went a bit Bananas. But some of those "bragging rights" cars were a pretty good success, I like my first gen Cayenne.

[@martinbohm399]

In 2001 i had a A6 hatchback diesel 150hp 6 cylinder. I was 31years old . I went to the dealer and just said : i want a A2. It was a silver 1.2tdi that time. The man said : are you sure? I said : i m sure as i v never been bevore. Today i m still driving A2. The third one 75ps. Best car ever. Its mission is to drive - silent - efficient- durable. Disel with low km are hard to find because they have been used for what they were built for - driving. If u compare the car to others in 2000 - there was the smart 3l /100km and kind of opel eco 4l/ 100km and the 3l lupo (VW simmilar engine - worse chassis). The A2 was a state of the Art car. It is still now - ( the A2 1.2tdi had a top speed of 160km/h with 40Hp! If you switched the eco to normal the were 60Hp available and it speeded up to almost 200km/ h - silent inside......... When it comes to the A2 - lots of people talking few of them know - The shape of the car is now to be found a lot by all car manufactors. All vans and stuff like that...But Audi did it best. Its the last car built with a friendly smiling looking front - times have changed.....

[@ianwilliams3872]

Thank you for another cracking video! I owned a 2004 A2 TDi 90 ‘red eye’ which was the more powerful of the two diesels and it was truly entertaining to drive and would easily spin the front wheels if I was too heavy footed! I bought the car as an ex-demo from an Audi dealer with 12,000 miles and sold the car at 130,000. In that time it needed literally nothing spent on it other than sceduled servicing, £30 per year in road tax, insurance and diesel. When I sold it, it was still on its original brake discs and pads (just) and the original clutch was on its way out. I think this qualifies it as the most dependable car I have ever owned. Utterly brilliant car. Thanks again for the nostalgia trip.

[@dj_efk]

I own a 2004 TDI90 and with some choice upgrades (a remap, 6 speed gearbox) it’s just as usable and in many ways modern feeling as a 10 year old car - and of course totally reliable. Currently on 165k miles

[@ianwilliams3872]

@@dj_efk I thought about a remap but didn’t go ahead with it, though I think it might have been even more fun to drive had I have gone ahead with it. Where did the 6 speed ‘box come from? Any major modifications needed to install it?

[@GoldenCroc]

"red eye"? Man thats funny if it was an official name, I wonder what the Dodge fanboys would say about that car and name...

[@martin1649]

@@GoldenCroc meaning the I in TDI was in red.

[@GoldenCroc]

@@martin1649 Ah. Ok. Too bad, I would have liked to have trolled a few Dodge forums otherwise. Cheers.

[@jimbo123419]

Magnificent review. I have owned two A2's, both were diesel... Both were used as mileage munchers. The first was purchased from eBay and was really quite tatty... But did have Open Sky roof... Great addition, huge sunroof which I used regularly...this option is notoriously unreliable and very very expensive to repair.. I kept a can of silicon spray handy and regularly gave the cables a spray (cable seizure was main issue) The second A2 I purchased from a car auction was far nicer, lower mileage and better options... It had a brake warning light on which lit a lot of dealers off... Knowing my previous A2 the warning light was likely something simple so I took the gamble.. it paid off. It was fantastic... We put 110k miles on that car.. average mpg was 58.. it had Bose sound (in that small cabin it was superb)...only issues were bearings, and the timing belt.. which is a bit of a pig to access... My mechanic always said it was a great car but horrible to work on ! I will conclude by saying I felt (and still feel) this was a car before it's time.... If Audi built this car now they would sell thousands.

[@christophecamus3295]

An honest little car that deserved more praise, Great video thanks

[@HukeLussey]

Proud owner of a 1.4 TDI A2. The thermostats love to go on them, and apparently the non-OEM ones aren't very good. Relatively cheap OEM part, so not the end of the world.

[@Eatcrow]

1.4TDI @ 120bhp is very quick and very light

[@EnglishwithLiz]

Had my 1.4 Storm for 16 years now, regularly serviced and it has never let me down. So that's been 16 years of wasted breakdown insurance 😂

[@Alan_UK]

Excellent review. Thanks for making it. Some points: leather seats and rear electric windows were optional extras. In fact all the optional extras would have double the original base model costing £11k, so quite a range of optional extras can be found. Most options can be retrofitted but not the glass open sky roof (1 chap in Germany with the 3L model that never had the open sky option took a can opener to the roof!). Also, climate control cannot be retrofitted - the early base models just had heaters). And the 2 rear seats cannot be changed to the 3 seat rear bench seat. On the other hand, the 2 separate seats are easily removable but the single bench seat is heavy and awkward to remove. Many 75bhp TDi owners have remapped their engines to get 100+bhp. Some owners have fitted a 6 speed gearbox. 19k were sold in the UK. Probably about 8k left. I've had my A2 (a TDi) for 20 years and it's been very reliable. Been remapped and I changed the 5th gear ratio to something longer (an easy mod). Great for motorways but means B road tend to be 4th gear.

[@chrispotts9761]

These Guys are late to the scene Alan, 2025 big year for the export market 🇺🇸. You forgot to mention the webasto heater on earlier cars, and the reasoning for it. Something today's designers with the BEV uprising have failed to incorporate in latest models (Battery Heaters)

[@martin1649]

@@chrispotts9761 probably because filling the heater tank up with diesel would feel a bit awkward in a EV :D :D

[@chrispotts9761]

@@martin1649 it's the principal of the webasto, quicker warming better mpg, obviously new BEV wouldn't be using derv, but warming the batteries is an important option for better range.

[@martin1649]

@@chrispotts9761 I know, just the thought of filling and EV with diesel was funny.

[@chrispotts9761]

@martin1649 seen a few diesel generators charging them 😳

[@AlekreSD]

Underestimated and interesting car. Rare example where manufacturer created specific small car nothing like before and nothing like it afterwards. But seems like expensive small cars arent our thing. It had lowest aerodinamic drag at the time and it was economical. Would fit perfect even at todays world. Maybe it will be classic after they dissapear. To bad there wasnt 1.9TDI in it.

[@magnusdanielsson2749]

I found the Peugeot Partner with the nonnturboed 1.9 liter diesel (70 hp) alot of fun! I do like quirky cars it just feels hilarious driving with its clunky nature and strange seating position. But the engine is so fun, knaggly diesel that you need to really rev to get it to move. Spirited driving for sure if you want it to move. I was grinning every time I drove it 😄 Power isnt everything when it comes to having fun in cars.

[@justincredible5406]

The 1.4 TDIs are cylinders with a balancing shaft. The balancer chain needs to be changed at 200,000km. There is also some bushing that makes the shifters feel heavy. That needs to be cleaned periodically. Rest of the stuff is fairly standard for any car. There is a channel, AutoStrong where they tear one of those 1.4 engines down and explain.

[@NewHandle_]

Your flying with the great content lately mate I'm bet into all these videos of the past few weeks. Thanks

[@Dudemania3000]

Great review and thanks for sharing and producing. I do actually own both a A2 (1.6 FSI Sport, which is a lovely daily driver) and also an Audi R8 V10 Manual Coupe (low mileage), alongside another super car and a SUV. The A2 makes an awesome daily and fun driving car, I've put over 22,000 miles on mine and no thoughts of selling and no rust on the body/ Chassis (they mostly look like new for the alloy bits)! Things to look out for on the later cars is that they changed the front lower suspension wishbones from cast to pressed steel (mine is a 04 model) , the pressed steel wishbones can and will rust after all these years so have a good look at these and budget circa £300 - £400 for fitted replacements, worth it though to keep these awesome cars on the road

[@IMTHEBIGGESTCUNT]

Great Video! I know an old man that has a lovely dark Green one of these. 1.4 on a Y reg. He’s had it from brand new and absolutely adores it! I commented on it once and ended up having a very interesting and lengthy chat with him about it.. and everything else! 😃

[@lqr824]

I heard this actually had Audi's wealthiest average buyers' wealth, even higher than an S8 and so on. You haven't mentioned it by 14:38 but part of the proposition is trivial parking and driving in congested areas. I was contemplating a villa in the Swiss alps sort of 300m of tight switchbacks above the near-by train station and shops, and it was an unnerving drive up or down as most cars wouldn't give enough visibility to see where the road was disappearing off to. Finally, the interior must be fairly good quality, to look as good as it does after 25 years. The design is nice enough and calming. I'd certainly park it next to my F430 and M5 and (if I had them) yet more exotic cars.

[@time_to_lume232]

1.6 FSI Sport owner here 🙋🏻‍♂️ this engine configuration is known to have some quirks and failures but overall it's a good unit. Mine has the optional OSS (Open Sky System) panoramic glass roof which I think is a stand out option - the car is a small, light, airy place to sit at all times, although again the OSS is prone to having issues if its not used regularly. I sold a tired and dying BMW E46 coupe for this as a daily and it's been great. Placing and parking it is a breeze and in terms of cabin space up front it feels better than the E46 (obviously that's not true for the passengers and boot though). I think they're criminally underrated gems. If you're looking for a quirky, no frills daily for town or city life - these are a fantastic option.

[@Discovery_Dad]

THIS is the type of car manufacturers should have concentrated on for EV's. Efficient, light and enough to get people used to electric cars while the battery tech and motor efficiency improve enough for the bigger EV cars to make more sense.

[@massimilianokemp]

I still own a 1.4 TDI, totally in love with it! Thank you for this video Jay

[@MrPagnu]

Got myself one 2 years ago, 1.4 TDI 75, dark grey with cream interiors like the one of the test, at 1500€, 15 Audi service stamps and 100000km at that time. Replaced tires, brakes and shock absorbers with new ones and put another 70000 faultless motorway Kms on it over 2 years, at 20-22 km/lt. The cheapest €/km of my 35 years driving life and still goes strong, a real miles muncher. I’m going to keep it until it breaths. Just covered the headliner with new fabric and fixed the anti roll bar bushes issue.

[@safbeafbe]

I’ve had one, it was my first car. I loved it I really did, the sheer character of the car was infectious (especially with the 1.6 FSI) however you have to be careful. I got very unlucky - in a year of ownership, with a car that had over £1000 of work put into it before purchase, I myself have spend nearly £2000 keeping it on the road. The main job being brake servo failure. It genuinely broke me and left me in a really bad spot so I had to get rid. So if you’re getting one please just be careful !?

[@rogerc46]

I absolutely loved my A2, a very cool car, particularly in silver with the black glass sliding roof. Very nippy for a city car, sad to see it go, and you see very few of them days.

[@samdurling6053]

I remember when Jay wne to Audi HQ in Milton Keynes years ago and chose the a2 to review and drive over anything else. I'm considering buying an a2 and love it

[@Leehuss5582]

The car I always wanted to own, 1.4 preferably black or dark blue. A car which in my eyes has not shed any style in those 25years. So many audi's in different levels after the A2 have kept the noticeable design styles of A2. I would honestly buy one especially the diesel if I did the milage Great fashionable car that I think has not lost its sparkle..

[@Cincy32]

I was just searching for videos on these cars two weeks ago! Now my favorite car KZbinr posts this, thanks Jay!

[@mobilrz]

My wife had an A2 1.4TDI (75PS) for 6 years or so and absolutely loved it. Sold it, but stayed with German engineering and bought a BMW i3 REx. I used to maintain the A2 but as mentioned the Audi main dealer looked down their nose at it, but I remember it was ahead of its time. Space-age aluminium construction, so fuel consumption was around 50-65mpg. Interior does look a little drab now and the soft-touch buttons didn’t wear well on the stereo, windows or air conditioning. The bonnet hinges/catches used to wear too, so many a rattle could be traced to that. Servicing, diesels suffered from a mechanical ‘moo’ sound on acceleration that was traced to the EGR rubber mounts wearing. It had vented front discs and rear drums. The rear shoes were a bleed’n nightmare, with moisture ingress every winter and leaking piston. Front wiper as mentioned was weak point given travel momentum. I changed oil every 10k miles and took it to 150k miles. Engine and gear box were tight when sold. It used to eat rear springs and front suspension would clunk on high milers, but I renewed at 100k miles for Meyle HD arms and new shocks and it felt like new car. Halogen headlights were shockingly poor, and suffered from moisture and condensation. Bodywork, given panels were either plastic or aluminium meant it always looked great with a machine polish. Rear spoiler was known to fill with water. You can drill underside to drain, yes, that’s actually a thing. Audi sold the A2 Storm edition with some fantastic colours including Papaya Orange which was uber rare. They also had option of panoramic glass sunroof which was the subject of many a thread on A2OC as there seemed to be zero knowledge at main dealer so enthusiasts did it themselves.

[@fransb8543]

We had a 1.4 75hp one for a while. Slow as treacle off a spoon but a pretty decent, roomy car. Also, it would achieve good mileage without making an effort at driving economically.

[@dansutherland70]

Visibility is excellent - apart from the A-pillar which can be really obstructive. Electric windows were an option in the rear. The panoramic windows are a PITA, and the roof gutters block easily on sunroof cars. The boot was designed to hold a packaged washing machine. Repair costs are high, apart from when you realise all the oily bits are from a polo. Lastly - these are crying out for an EV conversion...

[@benjamindoyle668]

Great idea. A little extra weight from the batteries might settle the suspension as well. I would love to see one with 2CV-style suspension, lolloping all over the countryside

[@Alan_UK]

I bought a washing machine and asked for assistance to get it in my A2. Sales assistant said "no way" when he saw the A2 but it went it with ease. Same with an under worktop 'fridge. I'm sure 2 would fit in as well. I got a high backed arm chair in with ease. Definitely would have got 2 in!

[@ajdexter4195]

My mate had an A2 a few years back he picked it up for next to nothing, we were 18/19 so it got put on coilovers and straight piped and it was always the most talked about at meet’s because of how ridiculous it looked but how good it sounded 😂 😊😊

[@Ro32da72]

I love the way you get enthused about what many would see as just a 'shopping car'. I've always found the A2 to be a fascinating little car and it's definitely on my 'wants' list. Nice video - thanks

[@JustFamilyPlaytime]

I bought a new one of these, on a 53 plate, from Finchley Road Audi. Nothing, ever, at all, went wrong with it. I think I changed one light bulb. Brilliant little car.

[@keirbourne5323]

My A2 is about to tick over to 200,000 miles. I’m gonna sell it in a couple months. I got it on 150k for £900. in that time all its asked of me is 2 tyres, a couple of lightbulbs and a £20 oil sensor. Decent runabout and the only car I’ve ever reached 80mpg in - best I got was 630 miles on a 35 litre tank which I think was about 81mpg.

[@iankuah8606]

The A2 was a contemporary of the first generation Mercedes A-Class. The A-Class was a better package because of its flat rather than tapering roofline, which gave it a larger and more practical rear hatch opening. In every other respect, particularly build quality and handling, the Audi was the better car! Today the A2 is sought after, while we prefer to forget about the A-Class.

[@Scardrone]

I used to have a 1.4 tdi one of these, it was fantastic on fuel and had good visibility thats about where the merits stop, countless electrical issues, interior falling apart and excessive leaning in even slight corners. I imagine a well looked after example would be much different

[@nick140i2]

Good review James. I bought a 110,000 miles 1.6 FSi A2 in April last year as a weird little runabout. It has since become my daily driver for 6 months now doing 40/50 miles a day. Despite a few electrical gremlins it’s been good as gold. It has never left me stranded and is excellent on fuel (despite super unleaded being recommended for the 1.6). The A2 owners club is a fantastic source or support and knowledge so head there if you want to find out more. That’s one out of 2 cars I own reviewed for me now James. Are you going to do the BMW F90 M5 Competition anytime? Be good to hear your thoughts on that 👍🏻

[@user-ue2xh9vy8d]

As the owner of two A2 TDI's I am big fan. Average fuel consumption for me is over 70mpg, but can be over 80mpg on a long run. My wife's car did the trip to Poland for Christmas 2022 and it was brilliant. Only downside is ULEZ compliance in the UK and emission restrictions across Europe, but then if I really needed something I also have an R53 Mini Cooper S which is compliant with everything 😂

[@stevenevans7262]

Owned two (alongside other cars) in the last 4 years. A tdi and 1.4 petrol. So much information & experience within the owners community & an interesting car to own. My tdi was a genuine 55-60mpg car on a run without really trying. The petrol can realistically achieve 50mpg too. Decent little car to hustle too with good springs/dampers and decent rubber. As @jayemm says, the pace is better than the numbers suggest. A lot of tdi's owned by members of the A2 community will most likely be remapped toward 100bhp with a nice slug of torque too. Good cars tend to be traded within the A2 owners club website at sensible prices.

[@FicaGTI]

Looking to buy one, which one would you consider better, diesel 75 or petrol 75? thanks

[@davidsherrick898]

We only got an A3 here in the USA. I had a couple Audis in St Louis, MO. I never new until later my 1981 4000s 5+5 was super rare! It at least had 100hp. Great video as always!

[@mantarayal]

Bought a Honda Fit/Jazz 2005 ten years ago as a fresh import into NZ with 56,000kms for $6500 NZD. It has the 1.5 litre V-Tec which goes extremely nicely, quick enough, very smooth and quiet, handles great, has a lovely quite sporty interior which hasn't dated like the 2009 and up have, is IMMENSELY spacious with the famous magic rear folding seats (with incredible leg room) seats. We have just turned over 145,000kms, serviced it regularly, changed two tyres and about to change all four (yes the rear tyres are the originals), and a seized left brake caliper, and did all the brakes last year for $200. We have moved house largely using it three times, travelled all over the show and just can't see a reason to sell it. Looking for a cheap town car? Look no further.

[@HQBProductions]

It was a revelation to my friend and I when we saw it at the 1999 Motor Show but even then, few understood it so it was getting a mixed response for onlookers. Now, 25 years on, Audi could make a slightly updated version as an inner City EV with a 150 mile range…..and it would sell! A car that was advanced and showed the future before we had any idea we might need it….a friend had a diesel version and it was going well at 160'000….a good car!!😃😃😃😃

[@evoman4434]

Cool little buggy isn't it! I have one now on 265k miles, a 75Tdi still returning 62+mpg, good fun to hustle, super low running costs and functionality with rear seats removable

[@jkliao6486]

Great timing, as someone who recently found this brilliant channel, I just watched the A2 and 3L video yesterday. The aluminum space frame on this car is not only rare among audi rank, but also across the entire car manufacturer scene, only a handful of companies are still producing cars with them. I do wonder if the 1.3 billion loss on A2 has sth to do with the ASF, because audi was among the many companies to experiment the aluminum chassis on mass produced cars in the early 2000s, but ultimately pulled out just because who hard it is to make a profit building aluminum cars

[@chrishepworth6801]

Spent my childhood being driven around in one of these. My Dad has had two of them over the last 20 years! Brilliant cars!

[@hurstinator]

The engine in the A2 you reviewed looks similar to the 1.4 Vw Lupo/Polo/Seat Arosa. Main thing to look out for is the pedal box as they are known to snap on the clutch pedal (common issue on Vw Audi Group products of the time). Power seems similar to 1.0 75bhp Up these days. You also had the Lupo 3L which i believe has the same diesel engine as the 3L Audi A2, but they where import only.

[@wobblybobengland]

Twenty years back I got one as a replacement car after I had an accident with my Fiat Bravo HGT. Only thing I can recall is that although the car was ok, I couldn't get in or out of it very well (I'm only 6') it felt cramped and I couldn't see much out of the back. Pretty impractical piece of kit.

[@Mo-vk4dd]

A 2001 A2 SE 1.4 TDI with 40k on the clock was my pride and joy as I took it to 150k miles, selling it about 5 years later, for a good price. Great car, unique and super mpg however the front suspension just could not handle potholes of which these days there are so many that driving would be pretty awful.

[@Mo-vk4dd]

Thanks for the thumbs up guys .. did you experience that ‘suspension crashing’ phenomena ??

[@LittlePixelTM]

@@Mo-vk4dd Ours had that and we fitted some aftermarket bilstein progressive rate shocks that totally sorted the issue - soft around town but taut on the motorway.

[@Mo-vk4dd]

Oh wow .. I wish I’d done that to sort an otherwise super little car .. we live and learn 😅

[@LittlePixelTM]

​@@Mo-vk4dd We also got a TDI remap that took it from 75 hp to something like 113. And it was still super economical. Loved that car :)

[@Mo-vk4dd]

@@LittlePixelTM that sounds fantastic ..thanks for posting 👍

[@Dino_Dad.]

These should be in a tube that we send to space to show others what car and travel mean. That's why I like Audi. Its the wnky people that drive them that create the image. Nice video again James👌🦖

[@Knackebrot]

My favourite Audi, yes!

[@dj_efk]

There are many reasons why I love owning one of these (a mechanically upgraded 130bhp TDI90 with a six speed and plush heated leather seats) - but one of the main ones is this actively rebels against everything Audi now stands for!! In that respect it’s uncool, function-over-form, borderline-hideous styling absolutely suits it - This is not a car for people looking for a four-wheeled look-at-me mobile.

[@edwowen]

Love these. Still look fresh and way ahead of their time. I had a lovely low mileage 1.4 and now wish I'd kept it!

[@psions555]

I've used the 1.4 TDI in a Fabia and it's unbelievably economical. Harsh of course but nice sounding in some ways

[@bobmcl2406]

We never got these here in the colonies, so this video is my introduction to the model. Honestly, I really like it. Small, light, nimble, efficient. Where did we lose that recipe? Cheers from Canada.

[@My_Old_YT_Account]

When we became an American colony thanks to NAFTA

[@tababobi]

Transport Canada had an example for testing as well as public demonstration: they had a booth at a local shopping mall and showed it statically as an alternative to gas guzzlers, along with a diesel Mini, BMW and others. They were later sold for export, since not certified by their respective OEMs as meeting NA regulations.

[@dwarfshortage244]

I consider my mk1 TT VR6 a part of the mental VW era, and what a glorious car it is. A great time for motoring, that’s for sure!

[@marviwilson1853]

Beware the 1.4 petrol engine. Bad reputation for losing oil to the cylinder head. I was also a victim!

[@coalieroller5663]

used to own a 1.4 color.storm in the early 2010s. Very economical to run, very quirky and full of character. It has the open sky system with 5 seats. The common issue I heard back then is the sunroof can go bad, cracks on the body where the door hinge mounts. For 1.6 FSI, carbon deposit is the problem, but that should be fairly easy to fix with a walnut blast.

[@MrMarkusmulder]

Thanks for the video and Stay safe ✌️.

[@keijokojootti7790]

Audi A2 was the model that brought me to this channel a few years back. Cheers.

[@therealchayd]

I think my Mum's Skoda Fabia has the same 1.4 16V I4 engine and gearbox as this example. I have to say it's one of the nicest gearboxes I've ever driven, really positive feel and nice and light so you can really blat through the gears.

[@aidencoder]

I had an A2 (1.4 petrol) for a number of years and it is a car I miss quite a lot. Though I now drive an 8V RS3, the A2 is what I always talk about when discussing Audi engineering. It was a weird little car, but it was pretty perfect. Sadly I bumped it and everything forward of the windscreen decided to go in a different direction to the rest of the car. A specialist aluminium repair shop had it for 8 months! When it came back it didn't drive straight and was written off... Only to be re-registered in South Africa. I wonder where it is now.

[@martin1649]

So the insurance company auctioned it off and it got purchased and transported to africa ? That's cool

[@aidencoder]

@@martin1649 correct. It was superficially OK, and the insurer was going to give me the repaired car back. I had to demand another inspection after it drove oddly. The inspector found the front frame rails were welded 10mm off center. I refused the car and got a payout. A few months later the DVLA sent me a letter informing me the VIN was registered in SA and they wanted to check it wasn't stolen for export.

[@martin1649]

@@aidencoder Oh wow that's pretty neat that check. Even the UK's digital title transfer is a far easier deal when selling a used car. Over here you can't sell a car on a weekend or a holiday, or even later than 3-4pm, because you need to go physically to a vehicle department to make changes to the title(V5?), paying about 30 quid for that transfer, or you can get a purchase contract paper that one side signs at a local post, with which you're then supposed to go to the nearest department some time later, pay and have the car on your name. That's risky though, because some shady people never transfer it, perhaps just insure it (or not at all) and all you get mailed is the tickets or unpaid insurance fines, which is a nightmare becase in court you can't win a fight with an insurance company. A local youtuber made a video series about a cheap skoda superb that has had these title issues and after going through loops and hoops to get it in his name, the distraint(execution) office wanted to seize the car or get paid ludicrous money for the previous owners not having it insured. Would've pulled my hair out by that time

[@truebluemiata]

Thanks. Here in the US German cars (arguably even VWs these days) are severely skewed towards the premium market. I tend to forget they're much more than that ROW.

[@evansisgreat]

I really fancied one of these for a while as a winter car, but the lack of xenons and rarity of seated heats put me off. Still cool things and I give an envious look to the drivers of any I see.

[@bio10155]

I had two A2 1.4 TDI versions bought around 2014-2018 - both were 2000 reg. The first one had a head gasket failure - symptoms of loosing coolant and overheating. Although this was subtle from the 99k mileage. Rear drum brake line corrosion and piston leakage were noticeable also around that time. Also, the steering angle sensor went out on it. The other A2 - the turbo blew around 75k had to replace it. same issues with the brake lines and leaky rear pistons. I ran the second one upto 120k and I think the head gasket began to show signs of leakage as the first one. No mayo was observed on the oil cap though on both. Although sometimes you will get some sort of condensation - but that's mainly due to the way the spout is designed from the A2 and not a definitive indicator of head gasket problems.

[@JamesGadbury]

When Audi gave a damn and prioritised engineering, being led by Ferdinand Piech. Presumably, the 3L was so named due to... 3L/100km fuel consumption?

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

This generation of Audis just feel more solid than the current ones.

[@damilolaakanni]

If you count the E36 compact and E46 compact, BMW actually started making small cars before the 1 series.

[@dlysachev]

The grab handle may come very handy when one has to transport the enderly. And, over all, when i think about it, this car might be an attractive options for those, who lives with parents in their 70-90s. Despite the constant ageing of european society, there aren't really that many cars with these type of passengets in mind... something we better have to keep thinging and care about.

[@GoldenCroc]

Old people drive CUVs these days... as do almost everyone soon-ish it seems.

[@jonnygigs21]

Absolutely cracking little car. I’ve had my 2005 A2 1.4TDI 75bhp for 5 years now and it’s been nothing but excellent. I did a Cambelt kit, genuine thermostat and temp sensor when I bought it (non genuine ones don’t work), and it gets serviced every year at about 5k miles with Shell Helix. I’ve had a couple of drop links go and also replaced the top mounts. The suspension could really do with a refresh and a clutch wouldn’t hurt, but otherwise it’s great to drive and returns a strong 70+ MPG on a run. In the next 12 months I’ll do another Cambelt and a major service. Climate control is excellent and I still have ice cold AC in the summer. The only gremlin I have is that the electric heater can stay on if you turn the car off when cold then head back out… you get blasted with hot air which you cannot adjust but this rarely happens. I miss cruise control and an armrest but hey ho. These really do feel great on a long drive and I use this on an annual trip from Norwich to Bristol, then up to the NEC for the classic car show and it’s great. Super peppy and so frugal!! It’s a car you really fall in love with. These also respond well to a remap and some have achieved in the region of 107bhp… Worth a punt if you can find a cosmetically good one. Soft touch buttons can start to look like a pigs ear over time, but mine are fine. We did a review of my car on the Gem Spotting KZbin channel, so check it out!

[@nixer65]

James - please review the BMW i3 - very much in the same vein of “let’s do something different with an efficient small car”

[@LittlePixelTM]

Ours was a 1.4 TDI and it was relatively without issues. In the four years we had it the biggest problem was a small pond in the lower boot that killed the radio antenna amplifier PCB board. Cause unknown (it wasn't the opensky model so probably a seal on the rear lights). The other was a faulty brake light switch on the brake pedal. The large single wiper broke after a day's driving in terrible rain one time (hairy when there's only one - and a costly fix.) And the drivers front door 'maximum opening' restrainer bracket broke.

[@theadventuresofred19]

I really like these and was going ot get one. BUT a Volvo S80 V8 came along which I had to have. JayEmm you can review it if you like. The A2 "3L" stands for 3 litres/100km

[@davidmwood560]

I've never liked Audi after 2000. The A2 has always seemed to me to be an exercise in ugly. Having said that, I own a 1999 Audi A8 3·7litre 40 valve Quattro in immaculate condition. That's my idea of what an Audi should be. It's good that you give a fair and unbiased review of any car; most reviews are written to sell rather than assess fairly. I'm sure there are people who like the A2 - I'm just not one of them

[@Alan_GA]

Well put!

[@ticnatz]

I had an A2 for just over 20 years. My favorite car EVER !!!! It was a 1.4 petro.....

[@4wheelsgood]

Hi, I had a 1.4 SE A2 in 2007. Nice car but unable to sort a dodgy wheel bearing meant I only had it for 9mths. Nice high quality item and a bit different