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

[@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.

[@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.

[@IliaFomin-k2s]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@markfelstead2507]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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...

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@belaabodi8747]

Dont forget to replace the balance shaft chain and tensioner.

[@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.....

[@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.

[@MrCheez34]

My A2 1.4tdi I used to get mid 60s in terms of MPG without even trying. I remember one time I got an impressive 72 MPG

[@jonnywalker3208]

OOOOH how exciting!!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 😳

[@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.

[@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 😂

[@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!

[@christophecamus3295]

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

[@marviwilson1853]

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

[@Eatcrow]

1.4TDI @ 120bhp is very quick and very light

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

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

[@miketurin5233]

I had one back in 2005 and it was a great car. Super light and fuel efficient. Very spacious due to the low floor level and it felt sporty. Not a big Audi fan but I loved this one.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@Aeletaz]

An absolute beast of a car. I bought one with a 1.4 gasoline engine around a year ago, it has ran for 15k without issues, apart from the windscreen washer breaking. A buddy of mine bought one too after my praise.

[@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

[@0tispunkm3y3r]

This thing should be remade as an EV. Exactly as it was originally designed. Change nothing. It's such an incredible design. This and the original TT (sans boot spoiler) are design hall of fame for me.

[@aidencoder]

The boot spoiler was added because they flipped over at high speed. Not sure the spoilerless one is peak design there 😂

[@0tispunkm3y3r]

@@aidencoder yeah I know why they added it. I meant, just purely aesthetics. Doesn't have to be functional 😂

[@danigonzalez4299]

Petrol

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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 👍

[@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.

[@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 !?

[@RichPober]

Excellent review - affordability is the main issue these days.

[@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!

[@boing615]

it's amazing that we've gone from that wave of city cars, the Merc A class the Audi A2 the Smart Car etc to our current obsession with two ton SUV bricks, kinda sad. I thought this looked beautiful, much more classy than the A class. Any chance you could dig into the story behind the Spiritual concept cars and why they failed? the in-house successor to the mini that never happened, I thought they had a ton of potential and were much more interesting than the tedious pastiche that we got from BMW.

[@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..

[@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!!😃😃😃😃

[@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.

[@damilolaakanni]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@NoahEliasDennis]

When looking for a new car in 2003, I opted for an A3 1.9TDI quattro which was an impressive car: fast, safe, and the quattro was and is still incredible. I saw the A2 in the showroom and thought: what the f*** is that? Today I own an A2 90HP diesel from 2005 (which I bought in 2013). It has served me so well. I'm running on approx 5 ltr diesel per 100 km (no idea what this is in MPG). The car has 400,000 km now and is still in complete working order, passing every technical test here in Germany, and with only minor maintanance over the years. Summary: incredible reliable and cost efficient per year and km!

[@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.

[@MartWilliams]

The A2 was a cracking little car. I've had 3 of them, all the 1.4TDi. The first I bought was nearly new, and it lasted well until it was stolen! The second, was the 90bhp sport version which I sold when the miles had got higher than I wanted and replaced it with a modified and tuned one with about 140bhp, after-market wheels, exhaust and coilovers. It was fun to drive even if it wasn't quick in the way a properly quick car is. But it sounded fun and could go around bends very well - even the standard car could. They are a surprisingly practical car, you had useful space in the boot, but the rear seats could be folded up and out of the way, or even removed completely and having the space frame construction, the floor was low and flat, giving you almost a little van once those seats were out. I'd still buy one again. The ones I had were reliable. The only thing I wasn't keen on was the looked narrow head on.

[@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

[@massimilianokemp]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@ianemery2925]

The guy 2 doors up from me still drives an A2; he has owned it for as long as I have lived here - 24 years, so he probably bought it new. It still stands out amongst the sea of lookalike shopping trolleys and miniSUVs. The real life mpg does show how poor fuel quality is these days, and how the overburdening with gadgets messes it up even further; I used to own a 1983 Audi 100 2.2 CD Avant; and I would be grumpy if a tank returned less than 40MPG on a run; even at 100 mph; and cruising at 55 mph would easily give me over 50MPG - from a PETROL engine. I regularly went 800 miles between visits to the petrol station.

[@christopherdawes4414]

My car of choice as a courtesy vehicle when I had my Audi serviced. Perfect commuter car.

[@iainrobinson4280]

My 1.4tdi 75 has 233k miles on it now, I bought it for a grand 18 months ago and it hasn't put a foot wrong. A full set of Happy China Ditch Finder tyres was only £60 a corner, fitted, and it's needed two new bulbs. 70mpg most times on a cross-country potter from Cornwall to Dorset and back, and carries 4 people to McDonalds and back in comfort (if not quiet, since the artificially-balanced three-cylinder PD is a bit agricultural). Spend £250 on a private plate to disguise the age, debadge it and it looks timeless. One of the kids' school teacher saw it parked up, didn't recognise it, and asked me if it was 'a new electric one'. I barely had the heart to tell her it was only 3 years younger than her. What Jay says about it being a top-tier second car is spot on - I hop into the A2 and like the light, simple, tape-deck-radio, fuel-sipping oldschoolness of it, and then appreciate the wafty leather-cosseted pace of my 5-series more when I drive that instead. The kids prefer the A2 - it's just more fun. Everyone lets you out and other A2 drivers *always* wave. Don't worry about 3xing your spend getting the colour storm ones unless you really want a VERY YELLOW CAR, as the more common Audi resale silver is creditably aesthetic and buffs up nicely. Very highly recommended.

[@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.

[@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

[@alidivani]

I just bought a 2002 A2 1.4 Petrol (ULEZ compliant) from a friend and it has 126,000 miles on the clock but looks and drives like a new car. The interior has weathered 22 years of use in exemplary fashion and all the dash plastics are in as new condition. the seats are also in fantastic condition. It is definitely a credit to AUDi (albeit a huge loss-maker for them) to have attempted such an advanced city car all those years ago. All the electrics work and the air conditioning spews out ice cold air! There is not a scratch on the bodywork and the paint looks like new. It drives beautifully and is still as tight and firm as the day it left the showroom....and all this for £1700! If that's not the motoring bargain of the decade, I don't know what is!

[@Knackebrot]

My favourite Audi, yes!

[@chubbybrown4real]

I had an A2 TDI 90 sport, easy spot as they have rear discs and a higher spec dash,17 inch wheels. It left me with 141,000 miles and not a lot went wrong. Door check straps were a fave, which is why the old owners always bought them for stock. Finnaly I ran mine on polo blue motion 14" wheels, it constantly gave 50 mpg and over 60 on a run with its longer legged 5th gear. Forget to say owned it 13 years.

[@mazboengineer]

17:34 totally agree 🎯

[@Reaperman2020]

I owned one for about 3 years, loved it and then sold it to my sister who had it for a further 5 years. Very competent and economical. Issues at the end of her ownership and ultimately why she got rid of it; lost first gear, it just wouldn’t engage, the bonnet and only the bonnet started delaminating. Otherwise the gear shift is soft and smooth, fantastic economy and surprisingly practical.

[@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!

[@nivens.1604]

I've just bought one at the beginning of this month, paid £2k and it's only got about 60k on it. 2001 1.4 petrol 'Pine Green pearl' with a cream 'Satellite' interior, and it is a superb car. Coming from a mk4 Polo as my first car, it certainly feels like a nice upgrade, without feeling too different. Only things that seem to be wrong with it is simply how corroded the rear shocks are after 23 years and possibly some old rubber bushes which I think is to be expected at this age

[@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?

[@evilutionltd]

I've always been a fan of oddball cars. Smarts, Audi A2, Peugeot 1007, Renault Twizy, Honda Element etc. If the A2 could be made to be an EV, I'd definitely get one.

[@ralfhenke8148]

Another fun fact about the A2: You could choose between a 4 seater or 5 seater configuration. The 4 seater with a 50:50 split while 5 seats would give you a non-split bench. I'd disagree on the space issue btw: We are currently using a 1.6 FSI as a 2nd car (next to an e39 535i and a C70 convertible Volvo and at 3,8 m it provides ample space for 4 (my son and myself being 5 ft 9 and 6 ft) and the boot is absolutely massive for the size of the car. More conventionally built small cars of the era would typically have 80 to 100 litres less and the double floor gives it extra practicality. With a good 200km/h top speed it's also very capable on the odd Autobahn stretch and - in our case - the large "Open Sky" panoramic roof is something that especially our daughter is very fond of. (Though I have to say that these things do fail A LOT and repairs are hugely expensive (even for Audi standards) and practically no spare parts are available anymore. The 1.6 especially, also tends to produce some engine control failure alerts which are very hard to identify. It's a lot of guesswork mostly to find out whether you're dealing with a camshaft related issue, clogged or burnt injectors, or just the fuel pump. What makes this is especially costly is that the engine isn't all too easy to get to under that small lid. It's also hasn't got the most comfortable chassis so you need to be in favour of a pretty firm sn stiff ride (much reassuring, though) This is especially true if you opt to run it on 17" rims with 45 profile tires (which admittedly looks gorgeous on the car). Also, the 1.6 is not a particularly well refined engine. Gets better with revs but ... Still, though, it's pretty nippy, light on fuel (45mpg is easily possible while still having to keep an open eye for police and speed traps), it's quite spacious inside for such a small car, manouvrebility is just excellent and practicality, too: Besides folding the back down seats you can actually remove them rather easily, which leaves you with a humongous cargo area for those trips to IKEA or whenever you need to bring home that washing machine. In short: It's a brilliant, brilliant little car which oozes charisma. But you have to get your priorities right, you have to know what you love and what you'll be able to live with and you need to know what you're buying. It may still be cheap to buy but garages do rarely know the car at all (even Audi dealerships), parts are getting scarce and nothing you'll eventually want to replace will be anywhere near as cheap as it's purchase price. After all, it's still an Audi. And a very special one, too.

[@damadgeruk]

I've owned at least one A2 since 2006, currently four, one of each engine variant(75 & 90 TDi, 1.4 and 1.6 petrols). 75 TDi most frugal, typically 60mpg, had 70+ on longer runs. 1.4 petrol engine with slick gearbox is light and really suits the chassis though I miss the TDi torque. 90 TDi is fun due to the additional torque though the DMF and variable turbo can be costly to repair. FSi is a hoot though make sure it's been run on the correct fuel and that the EML hasn't been disabled (many have). Rear seat space is pretty good due to the lower rear floor. Boot also surprisingly large, rear seats easily removed to give van like space. The A2 community is very helpful, making ownership (and maintenance) much more pleasant.

[@richardcarter1000]

I had an A2 from new. Ticked all the options, leather, bose etc. Did 68k miles in it. Easy 60+ mpg. Good car, the Audi dealers were shocking.

[@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.

[@stevejones1318]

Excellent little car. No rust issues. Higher insurance, but lower road tax.

[@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👌🦖

[@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!

[@3wheeler1000]

I read every time that the Audi A2 was a commercial flop. It sold approximately 176000 units in 5 years. I also read every time that the BMW i3 - a vehicle almost identical to the A2 conceptually- was a commercial success. With approximately 250000 in 8 years sold. Now, my maths was never very good, but that averages out at 32500units p/a for the Audi and 31250units p/a for the BMW. Given the investment BMW made in batteries and the Carbon Tub, not mention the tooling for the body panels, seats etc and the standard components from the VW parts bin in the Audi, I would take an educated guess that the Audi was a success, but not significant enough for VW management to keep it going. I wonder what the loss was per unit for the BMW? Side note: The Adjusted retail price for the Audi A2 was approx £27000 and the adjusted retail price for the BMW i3 was £35000 approximately.

[@Cincy32]

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

[@terryjones9987]

Ive owned a tdii 75 for 22 years now. I just cant seem to like any other car to the point where i would want to change ot. Runnig costs are next to nothing £ 35 tax 65mpg and £200 insurance. I do most repairs myself - usual brake pads and the odd drop link, ball joint. No rust due to aluminium design. Looks fresh and plush when polished and cleaned. Never miss. It has saved me £1000s over the years. And being a yorkshire man - you can guess how happy that makes me lol

[@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.

[@LittlePixelTM]

"Audi hadn't really dabbled with small cars" - Audi 50 (aka Mk1 Polo) wants a word! But I forgive you for doing a video about the awesome A2, I had one - it was the best - and I'd still have it if someone hadn't T-boned it.