VW set about making it because they heard Renault were making a 3 litre Clio. VW thought they meant 3 litres per 100 km, Renault dropped a 3 litre V6 into a Clio where the back seats used to be. This may be an urban legend 👌🏾
@@andrewnorris5415 The version I heard (which I came down here to post) was that the car had been developed, but when VW heard about the 3 litre Clio, they wanted to pip them to the post and so rushed the launch which meant it was not as well publicised at it should have been given the revolution that it was, and this played a part in the poor sales.
I really like these, way ahead of their time. Most people can't get past the quirky looks but it's a genius bit of engineering and packaging. Quite frankly it's actually a VAG car with some character, unusual in itself!
Way ahead lmfao. Their PDE/ unit injectors are just so bad, it turns every engine into garbage. Complete cylinder head replacement and constant oil changes almost guaranteed.
@@e1npk167 Nope, he's right, Theese cars literally GROW on you, I simply LOVE theese. My worst mistake was replacing it with the BMW i3... Should have keept it, simply had to go out and source another :-)
@The Bump Test Guy Well... Having solar panels on the roof, I'd thought it would be fun (and more economic) to change to fully electric.. Dong get me wrong, I was very fond of the BMW i3 ,it drives like a dream.. But in all fairness, when i looked on "fuel economy only.. comparing diesel to electric, the cost pr km was almost spot on each other.. It cost the same to run the 1,2 TDI A2, as the i3.. NOT taking depreciation into account (majot win to the A2 here).. Any way, the i3 has gone again, and we now have 2 audi A2... Have had 7 different A2 so far, and I'm still on the lookout for another pearl :-D I always say, the Audi A2 1,2 TDI is he best car in the world!... If anyone should disagree, they simply have just not owned an audi A2 1,2 TDI, thus simply not knowing what they are talking about :-)
Just bought a ‘02 1.4 tdi for my girlfriend, she does lots of miles for her job and wants to cut her fuel bill. She loves it. It’s a bit tatty and has 160,000 miles but drives fine. The quality of the paint and interior really shows this was a premium product from Audi. Easy to maintain too. Great video!
Well done Sir, I've had my Audi A2 1,2 TDI for 5 years and still love it, never felt as relaxed in any other car. It's interesting to note that VAG discontinued production of the Audi A2 and the VW Lupo 2005, same year they implemented a new software that caused quite a fuzz a bit later.....
I have two at the moment. A diesel I have to get rid off for political reasons and "the new" one, from 2003. Never drove as economic and reliable before. Great car and very practical. The next one will be A2 again.
Bought one as my first car and now had it 16 years... Known to all my mates as Monty and has never let me down. With the red nappa leather interior it still feels a lovely place to be to this day. I can't really ever imagine parting with the thing!
You forgot one feature on the 3L: in eco mode, when you take the your foot from the accelarator and as long as you don't break, the car "glides" meaning the clutch disengaged. This is to stop any engine braking and save fuel. Source : I have one!
@@JackJones-pw6cw only possible on an automatic?? that would be possible in a manual too, just hold the clutch pedal down to disengage it, literally exactly the same thing. put it into neutral to avoid having to continually press the clutch pedal.
@@SeanWithaFada Yeah, but manual transmissions don’t really decrease efficiency that much unlike torque converter autos so there’s not much point in doing that in a manual Id say
@@JackJones-pw6cw that car isn’t a torque converter automatic, it’s an automated manual. and there would still be a point in doing it in a manual, even in the highest gear there still will be some engine braking, so holding the clutch down or going into neutral would avoid that, allowing the car to coast.
At work, we get an A2 3L in with nearly 600,000 miles on it and it still drive very well. We also get a MK3 Golf in with the 1.4 petrol engine that has got over 300,000 miles on it. I say a testiment to VW Audi Group!
That was their golden era for sure. Lately, they seem to have dropped though. In the latest, what car reliability survey all the German makes came below almost all of the Japanese makes. Also, all of the German makes (all of them, I repeat) were behind Alfa. Yes. My feeling is they focus too much on making a car that feels well put together, nice switches, quality interior materials, small panel gaps, no rattles, and less on the actual mechanics and quality control.
@@andrewnorris5415 I cannot agree more with you. Mercedes Benz build quality now is terrible compared to how it used to be. Same goes for VW Audi, only last week we had a 2015 A3 diesel in at work for a head gasket failure! And that not uncommon in them either. Says it all really
More like this please James! If your truly a car enthusiast you find this sort of thing just as interesting as sports/supercars. I know I do. Great review of a slightly forgotten, now budget car with some traits that differentiate it to the norm. Magnesium wheels and slimmer arches on the 3l! Never knew that. Your right about low used prices but I believe the all aluminium construction makes accident repair work awkward/pricey which might possibly be the reason why.
Brilliant! I have just bought my second A2 3L. Had the first one from 2008 to 2021 and took it effortlessly to 400’000km. Just bought a ‘new’ one last week. This is not a ‘fun’ car but a very relaxing, intelligent, economical cruiser. Way ahead of its time. Gets 90mpg on freeway. If everyone would drive cars like that, the planet would be in a better shape.
I drive a 1.4 petrol A2 and it was really a futuristic car. People are starting to love it now after 20 years and it doesn't look so old at all in my opinion.
I had a teacher who owned a A2 3L. He always drove around with the backseat removed to save weight, and had tanks at home on his property filled with diesel bought when it was particularly cheap. Proper way to own and run an A2 3L. I don't know which car would benefit your channel. I only know which cars i would like to see, and the Type 43 Audi 100 5E/200 Turbo are on the top of that list. I haven't seen one on the road in ages, and i've never driven one myself, but i LOVED these cars back in the day. Their elegant looks, comfy cabin and most importantly; the great five cylinder engines. Great cars :)
Funny you say that. I have a friend with a Smart CDI (the diesel version) in the US who has his home heating oil delivered to his basement tank for his heater, yet he has converted to gas heat a long time ago. He uses a fuel pump and pumps the heating oil into his car at night when his neighbors are sleeping. Home heating oil is actually dyed off road diesel so it works just like the other stuff. The oil delivery place is none the wiser and he is getting diesel nearly half off. LOL
@@gchsbus same over here in Ireland, all the farmers and their families get the red diesel for their tractors etc and they use it in all their cars lol
The A2 and Lupo where also one of the first cars to use electromechanical steering instead of hydraulics... The felt in the arches is needed to dampen the noise, because the A2 3L had no "dampening mats" on any of the panels (neither fenders nor doors or roof). In Eco mode the Lupo at least, would also disengage the gearbox and turn the engine off during coasting and save another 0,1% of fuel. There was a predecessor to many of these advantages, the Golf Ecomatic from the mid 90s, it also could coast and stop the engines during a stand still, and it also had no clutch pedal, but still hat a manual gear lever. The clutch was disengaged as soon as the driver would begin to shift and reengage when a gear was selected.
I dailied in a 1999 Corsa B last year and it had electronic powersteering too. It was an odd ,but nice little detail I sort of liked that did fit the car well. it was scary a couple of times as it would switch off due to battery and termainal clamps being bad, fixed those. unfortunately I am scrapping it. it was my daily turd driven car that burned oil and used way more fuel than one would assume for a 1litre 3 cylinder na petrol. I had fun doing a number of little tacky modifications to it and beat on it, it wasnt in a very good shape, but it ran fine even though I had to top off the oil semi frequently and I suspected the engine might go any moment as it rattled along and I did tend to find shavings in the oil filter when I did change the oil but I got it dirt cheap and it ran so I wasnt mad that it was in bad shape and thus I roll painted it in hammerite and installed some ricer hood latches, led bar, new grille and deleted some mufflers and a few more silly things just because I could do it and not feel bad for it . What happened was that a one of the pulleys on the engine seized and broke and the belt just got fucked up. It kept running ofcourse because it had a timing chain, but the battery icon lit up on the dash and the collant temp went up because that belt was driving the alternator and water pump and I decided it wasnt worth the hassle as I had pretty much already swapped it for a new bit nicer daily at that point.
@@hansgoranhogstrom1900 jupp the Corsa got electromechanical steering in 1997, though it was a much simpler system… it more or less was introduced for the same reason, fuel saving :-) and the weird Isuzu engines ;-) that Opel adopted.
I bought an A2 last year and it's a great little car. Handles really well too and the little 1.4 TDI is willing with a lot of torque. It's a small car built with the same philosophies and principals as the legendary small cars of yore: 2CV / Issignosis Mini / original Fiat 500 etc, which is why it works so well as a package with a lot of nice little details. People who slate these cars clearly don't really understand what makes good car design, or design in general and regurgitate the opinions of their demigod Clarkson. Sadly for them, the A2 is fast approaching modern classic status...
We've just bought our 2nd A2. We had one about ten years ago, but it was a really rough, early 1.4 petrol. We've now got a well cared for 1.4tdi, and it's super. It's also a test run to see if we want to get a 3L next year when we move to Sweden. The answer is definitely yes at this point. The steady, moderate speed driving with minimal braking and acceleration will suit it perfectly. It's such a shame that the production run was limited to 5 years. They were so far ahead of their time.
Thanks for a very nice video! My daily driver A2 1.2 tdi has now 300.000 km on the clock and it still makes 2.8-3,2 litres/100km effortless. I don't have powersteering though, so the steering is a bit "firm" when parking. But out on the road it just eats long distances so effortless! And after 18 years the body still doesn't show any single spot of rust (obviously...) or oxide or anything. The gearbox needs a yearly adjustment, and it might also need a rebuild every 200.000 km or so, but thats easy to forgive this lovely car!
I had one 3L for many years. Loved it. Interesting similaritys with my first car, a SAAB 96 from 1962. Same idea, with low drag, light weight, no motorbrake, actually the SAAB also had a three cylinder engine, but a two stoke one, and a 3 gear manual gearbox. In that way a very different experience, but still the same idea, with a motor with just enoug horsepower to do the job.
We’ve got a 54 Storm Blue 1.6 petrol. We love it to bits. Never leaving us. It’s worth more to us than anybody else that’s why it gets pampered and money thrown at it when needed.....it’s fairly quick believe it or not...
I don't know if it's only on the Lupo or also on the A2, but I'm pretty sure the clutch automatically disengages when you let the gas go, in order to get as much coasting and "free wheel" (not sure if the term is correct) as possible and basically zero engine braking
This video popped into my Autoplay box and because I have a Skoda Roomster 1.4 TDI with the same 3 cylinder engine I decided to watch it. The Audi makes exactly the same thrummy noise when you accelerate. Actually quite a nice engine note. However the Skoda is all steel and quite a bit larger (Golf 5 floor pan and Fabia 2 front end) so it is a good deal heavier and doesn't get anywhere the same fuel economy. 60+ mpg is easy to achieve on ordinary 2 lane A roads but this drops to 53 or so on the motorway. The boot is very large for the size of the car - larger than the current Discovery! You can also take the back seats out and you then get an absolutely unreasonable amount of stuff inside for what is not a very big car. Shame most car manufacturers have stopped making sensible cars with enough space inside for 6 footers in the front and back, or bicycles, or large pieces of furniture. Instead they want to sell us ghastly lumbering fuel-guzzling SUVs instead. Someone came to see some stuff I put on Gumtree a few weeks ago and tried to put a bicycle inside a Vauxhall Mokka, a much larger vehicle than the Skoda, and I couldn't believe how small the boot was. Probably smaller than the A2.
The other thing like the bonnet that not a lot of people know about is the false floor in the boot - you can actually get most of a weeks groceries in there , replace the top lid and still have room for two decent sized wheelie cases. Also the rear seats can be completely removed by popping a couple of latches at the back and then you have what's a basically a van. Also the battery is in the back for better weight distribution and there are two secret stowing panels (think millenium falcon) in the false floor under the front mats that contain fuses, ecu etc but could also be used to stow all manner of 'contraband' :)
My dad bought one of these written off years back for my mum he spent thousands on it trying to get it repaired mechanically but didnt worked out , ended up losing a lot of money and selling for dirt cheap, nice vid always had a interest in these cheers
Have owned my 1.4TDI S-line since 2003 now driven 230tkm. Some experience of that below Drives super nice and seats are fantastic. S-line is actually better to drive than respective era Fiat 500 Abarths or Mini Cooper S. I had serious intent to swap my A2 to either but could simply not argue it to myself. Only some later small cars are getting better on fuel economy and how they handle. The engine responds super nicely to a performance chip (75hp -> ~110hp/240Nm), have been running mine chipped for 150tkm. Has no real impact on fuel economy, but makes the car pretty fast. Some of the very few issues on these are: factory front brake flex lines need replacement, sunroof mechanism plastic wheels break (fix means new roof) and automatic AC control panel develops a mind of its own (as in all Audis of the time). Same say that gear box will break syncros, mine is still fine. Interestingly prices have lately started going up.
I do love the Audi A2. Also the first generation Mercedes A-Class (Yeah yeah, I know.). I think the A2 was really cool at the time, and it looked futuristic compared to everything else. The A-Class was a very weird car from Mercedes, and I think it deserves credit (alongside the A2) for developing the 'posh hatchback' concept a few years before it actually got any traction. The early 2000s was a good era. Especially if you were eight and you did nothing but read car magazines and collect car brochures like me.
I drive daily a 1999 A160, since new. It has 362,000kms and it runs like new. Great car. It is the best car I have ever had, and I 've had some very good ones.
That 3cyl 1.4.tdi pd was a gem of an engine, we had one in a 6N2 polo (2001) brilliant car and engine. once it hit 2k rpm it took off and died at 3k , so you changed gear and off it went again.
This is one of my favorite JayEmm videos. Your choice of car is very interesting, and your obvious happy enthusiasm for it is infectious. I also REALLY like these cars. I began driving in the late 70s, when the automotive world (both manufacturers and customers) was receiving a crash course in efficiency and low emissions. Especially from the mid-70s through the mid-80s, there were many neat little cars around. In particular, these Audis remind me of the original Honda Civic CVCC cars. For their day, they were amazing little jewels that did everything remarkably well - except resist rust. So they are basically all gone, which is a great shame. But I had the good fortune to have a friend who bought one around 1980. I was familiar with the exceptional build quality of Honda motorcycles, and the Civic lived up to that standard. The interior was a revelation in pleasing comfort, quality, and thoughtful details. At 6'1", I was comfortable in the back seat! Amazing for such a small car. It was a wonderfully entertaining little machine to drive, incredibly light and nimble, with a fun and fizzy character. Honda's CVCC combustion technology (basically a trick head) meant that it passed US emissions without a catalytic converter. The car was really a magnificent design and engineering achievement, which proved very small cars could be totally acceptable things to own and drive. Now, all you Brits are saying: "Um, excuse me, remember the Mini?" Well, no, actually, because I'm an American. At the time, I was driving a 1971 Dodge Polara, a typically humongous V8-powered American car that got about 10 miles per US gallon. I was aware of small cars, but adamantly disinterested in them. That is, until I experienced that little Honda, first-hand. I'm a performance enthusiast and I don't own anything like the A2 these days. But if we're being honest, most of us should be driving something like it, most of the time.
lol yeah got a 1.4 tdi and there is really no point to rev over 3k caus it got no power up there whatsoever. At daily driving u can shift into next gear at 2000 rpm max. Still it is lightweight with the short gearing it will still get to 60 mph quickly. It got more than enough torque for reliable, economic, daily driving. On my channel u can see it do 0-60. Its quick enough
In 2010 Lekker Energie converted an A2 to EV. It drove 600km from Munich in southern Germany to Berlin without recharging. Over the years there have been a number of EV conversions of A2s.
The 3L’s ecu can be programmed to deliver 90pk, which I had done to it and I can tell you it’s so much fun on the highway doing 180/190 km/h. Chasin’ bigger cars that will no doubt be amazed when they look in their rearview mirror 😂😂 Perfect little motor it is! Once even transported a dishwasher in it by the way, and used it as a mini moving van
I've had my A2 Colour Storm 1.4TDi for 6 years now. Great wee cruiser capable of 70mpg. The back seat on the 5 seater can be remove by pulling 3 levers if you are strong enough, no spanners required!!!
People berate the A2 but with regards to the exterior, I think it's aged really, really well. It's like the 1st Gen TT which still looks better than all its successors. Audi during this period was on fire. There are some cars that just transcend time and/or age really well. On the exotic front, I saw a 2001 TVR Tuscan Speed Six (1st gen) very recently in the flesh again and that's another car that still looks amazing and contemporary.
@R A You're clearly biased and no nothing about the 1.9tdi engine it was basically bulletproof I know multiple people who had them with over 300,000 miles on them. All they required was basic maintenance.
@R A 😂 😂 bias fan boy I know several people who owned them with over 300,000 miles with nothing but regular maintenance on them that's a fact. You clearly have some sort of agenda. A simple Google search would show you that you're talking tripe.
@R A Search on UA-cam Car Throttle this is what an engine with 432,000 miles looks like. It's a fact keep living in denial all you like. As I said I personally know 3 people who had them with over 300,000 miles on it.
Fantastic car, which has saved me shed loads of money over the last 17years (£30 road tax, 60-80mpg all day long). Being poly carb body; it still has no dints or rot
I bought a suspicious A2 TDI with no v5 or MOT from Gumtree. It was superb motoring for the year I had it. Really miss it. Just a shame it was a little too unloved even after I got it running ok. Wish I'd spent a bit more, got a better example and I would probably still have it. Great video, thanks for posting the A2 a bit of attention
The TT had a rough start with being a ditch finder car. It eventually took cult status in the 00's and used in videos. It were a fashionist car like the Mini and Beetle. It is very similar to the Renault Avantime in its story both being cars that wasn't intended for production but made it anyway due to motorshow success. There's also a close link with Renault and the TT as Audi used Renaults rights from the Renault Argos concept car of the 90's and created the TT.
@R A It really wasn't. I suggest you do your research. Avantime was too advanced for the time and didn't take off. Obviously they're not identical cars or in the same class but they both had big flaws when first launched due to being advanced. Both weren't intended for production but as technology and design exercises.
Here in France, Avantime, Vel Satis and most Renault from this time are considered as some of the worst and least reliables cars you could have. Laguna before 2007 also comes to mind.
There is an even more eco-driving version, without powerstering, and with a special seats. I once owned a car like the one you tested. you shoud have takan the backseats out - it then get a huge (small huge) room in the back. I loved the car and the freewheel. You could turn the motorbrake on with a light press on the brake, and freewheel again with a light press on the gas. My record was 1150 mpg ! (UK) - with four persons in!
I bought my Black A2 TDi 10 years ago - it's a later 90bhp version which was chipped by Stealth Engineering. It's also fitted with an original VAG body kit (an official accessory) which gives it a much better stance. It's now topping 130k miles but with around 120bhp on tap it pulls like a train. At no time in the last 10 years have I got into this car and not enjoyed it's versatility and it's willing character - just get yourself one before it's too late.
Used to own one of these purchased it back in 2001. A 1.4se with an open sky roof. It was a great car wish we'd never sold it! A future classic I think.
I bought my A2 with 10,000 miles on the clock 14.5 years ago. It has now done over 205,000 and sails through most services and MOTs with routine stuff. It also achieves a consistent average mpg of over 50mpg per tank. No rust, obviously, and I’m struggling to think of similarly well engineered aluminium replacement, which is why I still drive it everyday and with a boot bigger than a Ford Focus (don’t know about the new one though). Automotive genius. An architect’s car :-) Questions for Audi: Why was the A2 never bettered or replaced? Is the rumour that the body was engineered to be an EV true? Can I swap mine for a later low mileage 90 BHP one with ‘all the toys’ please? Not really expecting a reply to the last question :-)
@@JayEmmOnCars I also think that there is no place for a car like the A2 in the range now as you have the Q3/5 and that boxy looking one the q2, although SUV's the A2 is very similar especially compared with the Q2 looks wise.
Have driven a few of these over the years, mostly as courtesy cars and have a real soft spot for them. The packaging was brilliant and the engines interesting, they also drove well enough when you consider what they were intended for. I really wish Audi would do a reboot of the A2 as an EV.
I drove Audi A2 for four and a half years. First the 1.4 TDI then the 1.6 FSI. The diesel was great. The FSI constantly overheated in the city. I often had to power on the heat vents and lower my windows to not overheat myself. Guess that engine was never really meant for the A2. But I liked it.
Another thing with the 3L-cars is the tire-pressure. 3.0 Bar! Anyone who wants to save fuel (and climate) can do this. Tire- pressure up and speed down... :-) The thin tires 145/80-14 helps even more, to buy the thinnest possible tires for any car will help the consumption a lot.
I was loaned one of these by an Audi dealer, while my TT was in for yet another repair. It summed up any car that's build with economy in mine. Pretty unremarkable. I couldn't wait to get my broken POS TT back.
I had this car for several years and just loved it! Livings in Sweden, I imported it from Switzerland to find a good kept one. Owned by a lady that hardly used it, it was in great shape. Oh, how i miss it. whish I would have kept it! But, now driving a Model Y Tesla, I kind of get the same "contributing to preserve the environment" feeling.
That's the problem with this car it's misunderstood. It was basically show off for technology. But people don't see hidden features like the space frame for example. Many just cared about looks.
@@woody555kl yeah I get you 😉. Thing is not every small hatch is great on fuel. An example could be the 1 litre in the corsa in the mid 2000s. Wasn't great really in road tax and mpg compared to the 1.2. A great example is the Peugeot 107, Citroën C1 and Toyota aygo. These manufacturers came together and designed these cars to be cheap to buy, maintain and fix. The 1 litre engine was made by Toyota so you know its reliable. I used to own the 107 and I only paid £20 tax and around £30 of fuel a month. Clutch kit was only £37 and that was the improved larger plate found on the face-lift 😂
@@derb7462 Lets make a small, lightweight, somewhat streamlined car with a tiny, shitty diesel engine (and dont tell me its good, their pump injection engines are - besides their early 1.4 TSI's and VR6's - the most unreliable ones theyve ever made). "show off for technology" my ass. A Prius is a show off for technology und production efficiency. VW isnt even in the same ball league as Toyota when it comes to affordable technology.
I had one of these for new, it was such an amazing car. It just felt such quality. I really mis it. Great to see a review of this and the 3L on UA-cam.
I loved my A2, it was built like a Swiss watch. The only down-side, driving in high winds with the wiper on, the car became a pendulum. Oh, and the tyre sizes were considered "rare" and expensive.
Hi JayEmm, Due to turbocharger the 1.4TDI develops loads of torque above 2,000 rpm. Slip into lowish fifth year just below 50 mph and put your foot down: by 55 mph your acceleration will be phenomenal and will take you last 80 mph in no time at all. This car is great at overtaking on long journeys on fast A-roads and dual-carriageways. Any speed in fifth: 55, 60, 65, 70 mph instant flat-out acceleration is always on tap. 148 ft/lbs of torque and weight just on 1,100 kgs!
@@jdm.flair2020 Hi, as a matter of fact I am an Englishman who lives in Poland! But I am in England for 2 months a year. I have had a look on otomoto which is the Polish version of Autotrader and there are not many A2 with under 80000 miles and in any case most of them are imports from Germany. The Poles drive diesels hard with starship mileages. So let's see.... For sure I want a Tdi 1.4 and nothing else.
Steve M very good choice! The 1.4tdi is incredible and even delivers some fun! Only the 90hp model (great engine also and has reinforced pistons and rods) has sometimes a problem with the turbo because its a vtg turbocharger. But for the prives i just saw a few in England.. incredible. In germany we pay double to tripple the price
In the early 1980s, I had a 1976 Audi 80 that today one would not believe existed. It was an LS model, but it had the famous Scirocco engine of 1.5 liters and 85 hp, as well as the original sunroof and interior adjustment of the exterior mirror. Have been looking for one in Germany for 8 years, but do not exist, only the GL edition with the same engine. Fantastic car weighing 870 kg and accelerated as Golf GTI to 80 km / h and made its 175 km / h, which was a lot of time.
Ex's boss had one of these, I used to look after it for her. I loved driving it,it was so agile due to the light and fairly quick-ish too with the 1.4 petrol engine, you really should try a petrol version it's much better. Didn't know you could remove the rear seat!
I owned 5 Audi’s A2, together with 500.000 km, and it is for sure the best car ever! 2,5 liter at 100 km was my fuel consumption of the 3L. Gearbox was not so good, but topspeed was around 200 km on the German highway. 👍😀
22:38 Oh contraire the Lupo 3L had aluminium panels which ended up on the Lupo GTI. There was also an Arosa 3L. You have driven my all time favourite Audi and I am very jealous great review you anorak :)
Cool video, love the youngtimers Under the lid in the trunk, is 20% more trunkspace. And under that space is the battery 😀 I have one, 160.000 miles an stil going strong
Best car ever. I have three of them, two 1,2 TDI and one 1,4 TDI 90hp. And one Lupo 3L. The A2s are practical, but the Lupo is more fun to drive, and have a more.comfortable drivers seat
I actually really enjoyed this Video. I honestly can understand people not liking the little A2 because they think it's ugly but since I own one I am absolutely in love with it!
Vauxhall did a similar thing in 2001. The "Astra 1.7 DTi ECO4". It was a special version which had a specific eco engine tune. Different gearbox ratio's. A Full entire car length alloy body undertray. It was in the Guinness book of records as it achieved just over 100mpg ave from John o groats to Lands end. I went and got one as a company car just after that and I only ever got 74mpg best out of it. Still very good for a car from 2001 era.
Was anyone else hoping this thing had a 3.0 litre V6?
VW set about making it because they heard Renault were making a 3 litre Clio. VW thought they meant 3 litres per 100 km, Renault dropped a 3 litre V6 into a Clio where the back seats used to be.
This may be an urban legend 👌🏾
@@andrewnorris5415 The version I heard (which I came down here to post) was that the car had been developed, but when VW heard about the 3 litre Clio, they wanted to pip them to the post and so rushed the launch which meant it was not as well publicised at it should have been given the revolution that it was, and this played a part in the poor sales.
Thought Renault heard Audi were building a 3L small car,hence the 3.0 clio
the 1.6 is actually quite quick
The only reason I’ve just wasted 20min of my life.
Germans don't say hold my beer, cause they keep holding and drinking it while working
...Not while driving though😰
@@em8sal It's not illegal to drink and drive, if you keep it under the mark...
@@erebostdYou are absolutely right.
thats why they dont need cupholders
Sorry to destroy your dreams, our friends at the police take our licences when you have around 2 beer.
I really like these, way ahead of their time. Most people can't get past the quirky looks but it's a genius bit of engineering and packaging. Quite frankly it's actually a VAG car with some character, unusual in itself!
I think its looks like a shitbox personality
What a well thought out response.
He has a point. Good observation my good sir!
Way ahead lmfao. Their PDE/ unit injectors are just so bad, it turns every engine into garbage. Complete cylinder head replacement and constant oil changes almost guaranteed.
Gay
1. Mistake: Pressing the eco-button takes you *out* of eco mode. Eco mode is the standard mode. Source: I've owned 5.
5!?!
@@JoJoJoker he's probably bullshiting
@@e1npk167 Nope, he's right, Theese cars literally GROW on you, I simply LOVE theese. My worst mistake was replacing it with the BMW i3... Should have keept it, simply had to go out and source another :-)
@The Bump Test Guy Well... Having solar panels on the roof, I'd thought it would be fun (and more economic) to change to fully electric.. Dong get me wrong, I was very fond of the BMW i3 ,it drives like a dream.. But in all fairness, when i looked on "fuel economy only.. comparing diesel to electric, the cost pr km was almost spot on each other.. It cost the same to run the 1,2 TDI A2, as the i3.. NOT taking depreciation into account (majot win to the A2 here).. Any way, the i3 has gone again, and we now have 2 audi A2... Have had 7 different A2 so far, and I'm still on the lookout for another pearl :-D
I always say, the Audi A2 1,2 TDI is he best car in the world!... If anyone should disagree, they simply have just not owned an audi A2 1,2 TDI, thus simply not knowing what they are talking about :-)
5? Wow
Just bought a ‘02 1.4 tdi for my girlfriend, she does lots of miles for her job and wants to cut her fuel bill. She loves it. It’s a bit tatty and has 160,000 miles but drives fine. The quality of the paint and interior really shows this was a premium product from Audi. Easy to maintain too. Great video!
Well done Sir, I've had my Audi A2 1,2 TDI for 5 years and still love it, never felt as relaxed in any other car. It's interesting to note that VAG discontinued production of the Audi A2 and the VW Lupo 2005, same year they implemented a new software that caused quite a fuzz a bit later.....
Love the A2. I’ve had 2. Don’t forget the rear seats are removable. Like a little aluminium van!
all seats in all cars are removable if you have a spanner
@@darius2640 dude you serious nooooo really?
@@darius2640 Same as with the roof if you have an angle grinder, but that doesn't make your car a convertible.
@@robertoplanta4606 aaahahahahahah...made my day:)))
I have two at the moment. A diesel I have to get rid off for political reasons and "the new" one, from 2003. Never drove as economic and reliable before. Great car and very practical. The next one will be A2 again.
Bought one as my first car and now had it 16 years... Known to all my mates as Monty and has never let me down. With the red nappa leather interior it still feels a lovely place to be to this day. I can't really ever imagine parting with the thing!
You forgot one feature on the 3L: in eco mode, when you take the your foot from the accelarator and as long as you don't break, the car "glides" meaning the clutch disengaged. This is to stop any engine braking and save fuel. Source : I have one!
That’s such a cool feature! Only possible on an automatic too.
@@JackJones-pw6cw only possible on an automatic?? that would be possible in a manual too, just hold the clutch pedal down to disengage it, literally exactly the same thing.
put it into neutral to avoid having to continually press the clutch pedal.
@@SeanWithaFada Yeah, but manual transmissions don’t really decrease efficiency that much unlike torque converter autos so there’s not much point in doing that in a manual Id say
@@JackJones-pw6cw that car isn’t a torque converter automatic, it’s an automated manual.
and there would still be a point in doing it in a manual, even in the highest gear there still will be some engine braking, so holding the clutch down or going into neutral would avoid that, allowing the car to coast.
Just like an old Saab 2 stroke / V4 with the freewheel engaged :)
Thank God someone thinks of economy too at times, as we are not all in a position to buy expensive cars great stuff mate thanks
The Audi A2 is the best small car ever made, far, far ahead of it's time and therefore underrated when it came out.
At work, we get an A2 3L in with nearly 600,000 miles on it and it still drive very well. We also get a MK3 Golf in with the 1.4 petrol engine that has got over 300,000 miles on it. I say a testiment to VW Audi Group!
That was their golden era for sure. Lately, they seem to have dropped though. In the latest, what car reliability survey all the German makes came below almost all of the Japanese makes. Also, all of the German makes (all of them, I repeat) were behind Alfa. Yes. My feeling is they focus too much on making a car that feels well put together, nice switches, quality interior materials, small panel gaps, no rattles, and less on the actual mechanics and quality control.
@@andrewnorris5415 I cannot agree more with you. Mercedes Benz build quality now is terrible compared to how it used to be. Same goes for VW Audi, only last week we had a 2015 A3 diesel in at work for a head gasket failure! And that not uncommon in them either. Says it all really
Is it on its first engine? Has the engine been rebuilt during that time
@@bens9468 the A2 or the Golf? They're both on there original engines and neither have been rebuilt
only to their past, their newer engines don't last nearly as long
More like this please James!
If your truly a car enthusiast you find this sort of thing just as interesting as sports/supercars. I know I do.
Great review of a slightly forgotten, now budget car with some traits that differentiate it to the norm.
Magnesium wheels and slimmer arches on the 3l! Never knew that.
Your right about low used prices but I believe the all aluminium construction makes accident repair work awkward/pricey which might possibly be the reason why.
Thanks Steve, I'll try!
Brilliant!
I have just bought my second A2 3L. Had the first one from 2008 to 2021 and took it effortlessly to 400’000km. Just bought a ‘new’ one last week. This is not a ‘fun’ car but a very relaxing, intelligent, economical cruiser. Way ahead of its time. Gets 90mpg on freeway.
If everyone would drive cars like that, the planet would be in a better shape.
I drive a 1.4 petrol A2 and it was really a futuristic car. People are starting to love it now after 20 years and it doesn't look so old at all in my opinion.
You remind me of Top Gear in the 90's.
I had a teacher who owned a A2 3L. He always drove around with the backseat removed to save weight, and had tanks at home on his property filled with diesel bought when it was particularly cheap. Proper way to own and run an A2 3L.
I don't know which car would benefit your channel. I only know which cars i would like to see, and the Type 43 Audi 100 5E/200 Turbo are on the top of that list. I haven't seen one on the road in ages, and i've never driven one myself, but i LOVED these cars back in the day. Their elegant looks, comfy cabin and most importantly; the great five cylinder engines. Great cars :)
My teacher own Lupo 3L, striped to bare minimum plus radio, tanks at home because her husband work as lorry driver
Funny you say that. I have a friend with a Smart CDI (the diesel version) in the US who has his home heating oil delivered to his basement tank for his heater, yet he has converted to gas heat a long time ago. He uses a fuel pump and pumps the heating oil into his car at night when his neighbors are sleeping. Home heating oil is actually dyed off road diesel so it works just like the other stuff. The oil delivery place is none the wiser and he is getting diesel nearly half off. LOL
@@gchsbus same over here in Ireland, all the farmers and their families get the red diesel for their tractors etc and they use it in all their cars lol
The A2 and Lupo where also one of the first cars to use electromechanical steering instead of hydraulics...
The felt in the arches is needed to dampen the noise, because the A2 3L had no "dampening mats" on any of the panels (neither fenders nor doors or roof).
In Eco mode the Lupo at least, would also disengage the gearbox and turn the engine off during coasting and save another 0,1% of fuel. There was a predecessor to many of these advantages, the Golf Ecomatic from the mid 90s, it also could coast and stop the engines during a stand still, and it also had no clutch pedal, but still hat a manual gear lever. The clutch was disengaged as soon as the driver would begin to shift and reengage when a gear was selected.
I dailied in a 1999 Corsa B last year and it had electronic powersteering too.
It was an odd ,but nice little detail I sort of liked that did fit the car well. it was scary a couple of times as it would switch off due to battery and termainal clamps being bad, fixed those. unfortunately I am scrapping it. it was my daily turd driven car that burned oil and used way more fuel than one would assume for a 1litre 3 cylinder na petrol.
I had fun doing a number of little tacky modifications to it and beat on it, it wasnt in a very good shape, but it ran fine even though I had to top off the oil semi frequently and I suspected the engine might go any moment as it rattled along and I did tend to find shavings in the oil filter when I did change the oil but I got it dirt cheap and it ran so I wasnt mad that it was in bad shape and thus I roll painted it in hammerite and installed some ricer hood latches, led bar, new grille and deleted some mufflers and a few more silly things just because I could do it and not feel bad for it .
What happened was that a one of the pulleys on the engine seized and broke and the belt just got fucked up. It kept running ofcourse because it had a timing chain, but the battery icon lit up on the dash and the collant temp went up because that belt was driving the alternator and water pump and I decided it wasnt worth the hassle as I had pretty much already swapped it for a new bit nicer daily at that point.
@@hansgoranhogstrom1900 jupp the Corsa got electromechanical steering in 1997, though it was a much simpler system…
it more or less was introduced for the same reason, fuel saving :-) and the weird Isuzu engines ;-) that Opel adopted.
The A2 has Electro-hydraulic steering.....
Now on eBay looking for an a2, I need to stop internet...thanks guys
Well let's be real, according to VW all their cars are capable of 100mpg and low emissions
They’ll all do really good MPG, my dads old B5 estate managed 80-90 at times
Emissions are not mileage you dunce
@@hughjassstudios9688 woooosh
Vw are the brand to build a 6.0+ N/A V12 with 8-9k redline and say it does less than 100g of co2
I bought an A2 last year and it's a great little car. Handles really well too and the little 1.4 TDI is willing with a lot of torque. It's a small car built with the same philosophies and principals as the legendary small cars of yore: 2CV / Issignosis Mini / original Fiat 500 etc, which is why it works so well as a package with a lot of nice little details.
People who slate these cars clearly don't really understand what makes good car design, or design in general and regurgitate the opinions of their demigod Clarkson. Sadly for them, the A2 is fast approaching modern classic status...
We've just bought our 2nd A2. We had one about ten years ago, but it was a really rough, early 1.4 petrol. We've now got a well cared for 1.4tdi, and it's super. It's also a test run to see if we want to get a 3L next year when we move to Sweden. The answer is definitely yes at this point. The steady, moderate speed driving with minimal braking and acceleration will suit it perfectly.
It's such a shame that the production run was limited to 5 years. They were so far ahead of their time.
Thanks for a very nice video! My daily driver A2 1.2 tdi has now 300.000 km on the clock and it still makes 2.8-3,2 litres/100km effortless. I don't have powersteering though, so the steering is a bit "firm" when parking. But out on the road it just eats long distances so effortless! And after 18 years the body still doesn't show any single spot of rust (obviously...) or oxide or anything. The gearbox needs a yearly adjustment, and it might also need a rebuild every 200.000 km or so, but thats easy to forgive this lovely car!
I had one 3L for many years. Loved it. Interesting similaritys with my first car, a SAAB 96 from 1962. Same idea, with low drag, light weight, no motorbrake, actually the SAAB also had a three cylinder engine, but a two stoke one, and a 3 gear manual gearbox. In that way a very different experience, but still the same idea, with a motor with just enoug horsepower to do the job.
Still great to see them on the streets. They are like a good wine, revealing their value as time goes by. They will be wonderful oldtimers.
We’ve got a 54 Storm Blue 1.6 petrol. We love it to bits. Never leaving us. It’s worth more to us than anybody else that’s why it gets pampered and money thrown at it when needed.....it’s fairly quick believe it or not...
accidentally ended up buying one this week, after I watched the video a month ago xD
It’s design is absolutely beautiful. Everything! It’s just an eye catcher .
I don't know if it's only on the Lupo or also on the A2, but I'm pretty sure the clutch automatically disengages when you let the gas go, in order to get as much coasting and "free wheel" (not sure if the term is correct) as possible and basically zero engine braking
It is as long as you are in ECO-mode
This video popped into my Autoplay box and because I have a Skoda Roomster 1.4 TDI with the same 3 cylinder engine I decided to watch it. The Audi makes exactly the same thrummy noise when you accelerate. Actually quite a nice engine note. However the Skoda is all steel and quite a bit larger (Golf 5 floor pan and Fabia 2 front end) so it is a good deal heavier and doesn't get anywhere the same fuel economy. 60+ mpg is easy to achieve on ordinary 2 lane A roads but this drops to 53 or so on the motorway. The boot is very large for the size of the car - larger than the current Discovery! You can also take the back seats out and you then get an absolutely unreasonable amount of stuff inside for what is not a very big car. Shame most car manufacturers have stopped making sensible cars with enough space inside for 6 footers in the front and back, or bicycles, or large pieces of furniture. Instead they want to sell us ghastly lumbering fuel-guzzling SUVs instead. Someone came to see some stuff I put on Gumtree a few weeks ago and tried to put a bicycle inside a Vauxhall Mokka, a much larger vehicle than the Skoda, and I couldn't believe how small the boot was. Probably smaller than the A2.
The other thing like the bonnet that not a lot of people know about is the false floor in the boot - you can actually get most of a weeks groceries in there , replace the top lid and still have room for two decent sized wheelie cases. Also the rear seats can be completely removed by popping a couple of latches at the back and then you have what's a basically a van. Also the battery is in the back for better weight distribution and there are two secret stowing panels (think millenium falcon) in the false floor under the front mats that contain fuses, ecu etc but could also be used to stow all manner of 'contraband' :)
I was hoping it was a V8 powered car that got 100 MPG.
But..
It turned out to be a compact car with a 3 Cylinder, what a bummer.
The A2 is a car that got my attention when it first arrived, another great video thanks J
My dad bought one of these written off years back for my mum he spent thousands on it trying to get it repaired mechanically but didnt worked out , ended up losing a lot of money and selling for dirt cheap, nice vid always had a interest in these cheers
Always nice to buy a write off for the one you love some people are so cheap
Films Audis in a VW group car group.
Films with a Mazda jacket on.
Mad lad :p
Aaron L audi = vw
Audi Seat Volkwagen Skoda Porsche Bentley Bugatti are in the same group
@@lowiedewind1092 I know lol..
@@unchiusm
I doubt that Mazda are since you know Japan lol...
You guys forget Lamboghini, Seat Bentley and Skoda?
Aaron L or Ducati, Scania and MAN
Have owned my 1.4TDI S-line since 2003 now driven 230tkm. Some experience of that below
Drives super nice and seats are fantastic. S-line is actually better to drive than respective era Fiat 500 Abarths or Mini Cooper S. I had serious intent to swap my A2 to either but could simply not argue it to myself. Only some later small cars are getting better on fuel economy and how they handle.
The engine responds super nicely to a performance chip (75hp -> ~110hp/240Nm), have been running mine chipped for 150tkm. Has no real impact on fuel economy, but makes the car pretty fast. Some of the very few issues on these are: factory front brake flex lines need replacement, sunroof mechanism plastic wheels break (fix means new roof) and automatic AC control panel develops a mind of its own (as in all Audis of the time). Same say that gear box will break syncros, mine is still fine.
Interestingly prices have lately started going up.
I do love the Audi A2. Also the first generation Mercedes A-Class (Yeah yeah, I know.). I think the A2 was really cool at the time, and it looked futuristic compared to everything else. The A-Class was a very weird car from Mercedes, and I think it deserves credit (alongside the A2) for developing the 'posh hatchback' concept a few years before it actually got any traction. The early 2000s was a good era. Especially if you were eight and you did nothing but read car magazines and collect car brochures like me.
I daily drive a 2001 Class A 140 and I love it lol
Nicolò Basso no gearbox problems?
@@nashhodge3803 so far I didn't, the gearbox is actually really smooth
I drive daily a 1999 A160, since new. It has 362,000kms and it runs like new. Great car. It is the best car I have ever had, and I 've had some very good ones.
That 3cyl 1.4.tdi pd was a gem of an engine, we had one in a 6N2 polo (2001) brilliant car and engine. once it hit 2k rpm it took off and died at 3k , so you changed gear and off it went again.
The blue car was equipped with a trip computer but it was turned off, you need to press the button on the bottom of the wiper stalk
Like the mk4 golf then
This is one of my favorite JayEmm videos. Your choice of car is very interesting, and your obvious happy enthusiasm for it is infectious. I also REALLY like these cars.
I began driving in the late 70s, when the automotive world (both manufacturers and customers) was receiving a crash course in efficiency and low emissions. Especially from the mid-70s through the mid-80s, there were many neat little cars around.
In particular, these Audis remind me of the original Honda Civic CVCC cars. For their day, they were amazing little jewels that did everything remarkably well - except resist rust. So they are basically all gone, which is a great shame. But I had the good fortune to have a friend who bought one around 1980.
I was familiar with the exceptional build quality of Honda motorcycles, and the Civic lived up to that standard. The interior was a revelation in pleasing comfort, quality, and thoughtful details. At 6'1", I was comfortable in the back seat! Amazing for such a small car. It was a wonderfully entertaining little machine to drive, incredibly light and nimble, with a fun and fizzy character. Honda's CVCC combustion technology (basically a trick head) meant that it passed US emissions without a catalytic converter. The car was really a magnificent design and engineering achievement, which proved very small cars could be totally acceptable things to own and drive.
Now, all you Brits are saying: "Um, excuse me, remember the Mini?" Well, no, actually, because I'm an American. At the time, I was driving a 1971 Dodge Polara, a typically humongous V8-powered American car that got about 10 miles per US gallon. I was aware of small cars, but adamantly disinterested in them. That is, until I experienced that little Honda, first-hand.
I'm a performance enthusiast and I don't own anything like the A2 these days. But if we're being honest, most of us should be driving something like it, most of the time.
They should bring back the A2 as an EV
(4K redline on this diesel lump :O )
They did say they would at one point years ago.
@@MrConor159 I believe they built a couple and did some kind of electric range record. D'ya think a Tesla motor would fit? Hehehe!!
lol yeah
got a 1.4 tdi and there is really no point to rev over 3k caus it got no power up there whatsoever. At daily driving u can shift into next gear at 2000 rpm max. Still it is lightweight with the short gearing it will still get to 60 mph quickly. It got more than enough torque for reliable, economic, daily driving.
On my channel u can see it do 0-60. Its quick enough
In 2010 Lekker Energie converted an A2 to EV. It drove 600km from Munich in southern Germany to Berlin without recharging. Over the years there have been a number of EV conversions of A2s.
The 3L’s ecu can be programmed to deliver 90pk, which I had done to it and I can tell you it’s so much fun on the highway doing 180/190 km/h. Chasin’ bigger cars that will no doubt be amazed when they look in their rearview mirror 😂😂 Perfect little motor it is! Once even transported a dishwasher in it by the way, and used it as a mini moving van
I've had my A2 Colour Storm 1.4TDi for 6 years now. Great wee cruiser capable of 70mpg. The back seat on the 5 seater can be remove by pulling 3 levers if you are strong enough, no spanners required!!!
People berate the A2 but with regards to the exterior, I think it's aged really, really well. It's like the 1st Gen TT which still looks better than all its successors. Audi during this period was on fire.
There are some cars that just transcend time and/or age really well. On the exotic front, I saw a 2001 TVR Tuscan Speed Six (1st gen) very recently in the flesh again and that's another car that still looks amazing and contemporary.
@R A Not necessarily true the 1.9tdi was incredibly reliable.
@R A You're clearly biased and no nothing about the 1.9tdi engine it was basically bulletproof I know multiple people who had them with over 300,000 miles on them. All they required was basic maintenance.
@R A 😂 😂 bias fan boy I know several people who owned them with over 300,000 miles with nothing but regular maintenance on them that's a fact. You clearly have some sort of agenda. A simple Google search would show you that you're talking tripe.
@R A When these engines have been opened up with high mileage it's been shown that the wear on the engine is very minimal. Again this is a fact.
@R A Search on UA-cam Car Throttle this is what an engine with 432,000 miles looks like. It's a fact keep living in denial all you like. As I said I personally know 3 people who had them with over 300,000 miles on it.
Rs2 Avant. Next time
So happy this is not an april fools video! An often overlooked car, thank you for enthusiastic video!
I think Mr Regular would've love this
ye
Judging from his XL1 video, he wouldn't.
Nice
He’s too busy MAKING BROWN!
Really good video, I particularly liked your delivery. There's a vibe I caught onto and I REALLY like.
The car was cool too.
Thanks Tomas
Fantastic car, which has saved me shed loads of money over the last 17years (£30 road tax, 60-80mpg all day long). Being poly carb body; it still has no dints or rot
I have a VW Lupo 3L and i love it!!!
Well the Lupo is too small and "normal", this A2 on the other hand is so quirky and cute.
I bought a suspicious A2 TDI with no v5 or MOT from Gumtree. It was superb motoring for the year I had it. Really miss it. Just a shame it was a little too unloved even after I got it running ok. Wish I'd spent a bit more, got a better example and I would probably still have it.
Great video, thanks for posting the A2 a bit of attention
Can’t stop laughing about your response to removing the bonnet 😂
The A2 and TT to Audi is what the Avantime and Vel Satis were to Renault in the early 00's
Why the TT it was a good car for them and became a hit?
@R A It wasn't a terrible one either it was alright.
The TT had a rough start with being a ditch finder car. It eventually took cult status in the 00's and used in videos. It were a fashionist car like the Mini and Beetle. It is very similar to the Renault Avantime in its story both being cars that wasn't intended for production but made it anyway due to motorshow success. There's also a close link with Renault and the TT as Audi used Renaults rights from the Renault Argos concept car of the 90's and created the TT.
@R A It really wasn't. I suggest you do your research. Avantime was too advanced for the time and didn't take off. Obviously they're not identical cars or in the same class but they both had big flaws when first launched due to being advanced. Both weren't intended for production but as technology and design exercises.
Here in France, Avantime, Vel Satis and most Renault from this time are considered as some of the worst and least reliables cars you could have. Laguna before 2007 also comes to mind.
Finally, you've found the best car ever built. Who needs Porsches anyway ;-)
There is an even more eco-driving version, without powerstering, and with a special seats. I once owned a car like the one you tested. you shoud have takan the backseats out - it then get a huge (small huge) room in the back. I loved the car and the freewheel. You could turn the motorbrake on with a light press on the brake, and freewheel again with a light press on the gas. My record was 1150 mpg ! (UK) - with four persons in!
I have always liked these and appreciated them for their engineering
I bought my Black A2 TDi 10 years ago - it's a later 90bhp version which was chipped by Stealth Engineering. It's also fitted with an original VAG body kit (an official accessory) which gives it a much better stance. It's now topping 130k miles but with around 120bhp on tap it pulls like a train. At no time in the last 10 years have I got into this car and not enjoyed it's versatility and it's willing character - just get yourself one before it's too late.
Excellent choice! I've always been fascinated by the little A2.
Used to own one of these purchased it back in 2001. A 1.4se with an open sky roof. It was a great car wish we'd never sold it! A future classic I think.
I love this. It looks like a TT who had one too many doughnuts
i see😂
My grandmother had one of these, it was dark green that managed to look brown in sunshine. She kept it for donkeys years. Really nice to see one again
I bought my A2 with 10,000 miles on the clock 14.5 years ago. It has now done over 205,000 and sails through most services and MOTs with routine stuff. It also achieves a consistent average mpg of over 50mpg per tank. No rust, obviously, and I’m struggling to think of similarly well engineered aluminium replacement, which is why I still drive it everyday and with a boot bigger than a Ford Focus (don’t know about the new one though). Automotive genius. An architect’s car :-)
Questions for Audi: Why was the A2 never bettered or replaced? Is the rumour that the body was engineered to be an EV true? Can I swap mine for a later low mileage 90 BHP one with ‘all the toys’ please? Not really expecting a reply to the last question :-)
I think the answer as to why it was never replaced is probably "you didn't buy it"
@@JayEmmOnCars I also think that there is no place for a car like the A2 in the range now as you have the Q3/5 and that boxy looking one the q2, although SUV's the A2 is very similar especially compared with the Q2 looks wise.
Have driven a few of these over the years, mostly as courtesy cars and have a real soft spot for them. The packaging was brilliant and the engines interesting, they also drove well enough when you consider what they were intended for. I really wish Audi would do a reboot of the A2 as an EV.
I always think the i3 is kind of the spiritual successor to the A2
@@chrisbaker121924 I can see that now you mention it, good call.
I own a yellow A2 Color storm 1.4 and love it to bits
Nice color for this car
I drove Audi A2 for four and a half years. First the 1.4 TDI then the 1.6 FSI. The diesel was great. The FSI constantly overheated in the city. I often had to power on the heat vents and lower my windows to not overheat myself. Guess that engine was never really meant for the A2. But I liked it.
That man looks like an Audi A2 if it was a person
Best comment Ive seen so far
I think Jay's fuel consumption is higher and his drag coefficient is worse.
LOL at bonnet ! Enjoying your vids funny Brit!
Keep up the great mahi!
Kia Kaha from Aotearoa Jay🥰🙏🏻👍🏻🇳🇿☺️
Incredible cars. Look like they could have been designed yesterday. They were way ahead of their time but just too expensive.
Another thing with the 3L-cars is the tire-pressure. 3.0 Bar! Anyone who wants to save fuel (and climate) can do this. Tire- pressure up and speed down... :-) The thin tires 145/80-14 helps even more, to buy the thinnest possible tires for any car will help the consumption a lot.
I was loaned one of these by an Audi dealer, while my TT was in for yet another repair. It summed up any car that's build with economy in mine. Pretty unremarkable. I couldn't wait to get my broken POS TT back.
I had this car for several years and just loved it! Livings in Sweden, I imported it from Switzerland to find a good kept one. Owned by a lady that hardly used it, it was in great shape. Oh, how i miss it. whish I would have kept it! But, now driving a Model Y Tesla, I kind of get the same "contributing to preserve the environment" feeling.
Actually found this interesting. Didn't know audi had a motive with the A2 to make it a very fuel efficient car
I thought that was common knowledge especially with the shape of it, no disrespect meant by that.
It was the bmw i3 of its day and hardly anyone knows
That's the problem with this car it's misunderstood. It was basically show off for technology. But people don't see hidden features like the space frame for example. Many just cared about looks.
@@woody555kl yeah I get you 😉. Thing is not every small hatch is great on fuel. An example could be the 1 litre in the corsa in the mid 2000s. Wasn't great really in road tax and mpg compared to the 1.2. A great example is the Peugeot 107, Citroën C1 and Toyota aygo. These manufacturers came together and designed these cars to be cheap to buy, maintain and fix. The 1 litre engine was made by Toyota so you know its reliable. I used to own the 107 and I only paid £20 tax and around £30 of fuel a month. Clutch kit was only £37 and that was the improved larger plate found on the face-lift 😂
@@derb7462 Lets make a small, lightweight, somewhat streamlined car with a tiny, shitty diesel engine (and dont tell me its good, their pump injection engines are - besides their early 1.4 TSI's and VR6's - the most unreliable ones theyve ever made). "show off for technology" my ass.
A Prius is a show off for technology und production efficiency. VW isnt even in the same ball league as Toyota when it comes to affordable technology.
I had one of these for new, it was such an amazing car. It just felt such quality. I really mis it. Great to see a review of this and the 3L on UA-cam.
I loved my A2, it was built like a Swiss watch. The only down-side, driving in high winds with the wiper on, the car became a pendulum. Oh, and the tyre sizes were considered "rare" and expensive.
Vw Lupo would fair better
@@golf1diesel Rust better too. ;)
Hi JayEmm, Due to turbocharger the 1.4TDI develops loads of torque above 2,000 rpm. Slip into lowish fifth year just below 50 mph and put your foot down: by 55 mph your acceleration will be phenomenal and will take you last 80 mph in no time at all. This car is great at overtaking on long journeys on fast A-roads and dual-carriageways. Any speed in fifth: 55, 60, 65, 70 mph instant flat-out acceleration is always on tap. 148 ft/lbs of torque and weight just on 1,100 kgs!
Hopefully I will buy an A2 by the end of the year. Love them or hate them.... so cheap now. A great time to buy one.
Steve M if you have any questions feel free to ask :). And i guess you live in the uk am i right? In Germany the a2 is still pretty damn expensive :(
@@jdm.flair2020 Hi, as a matter of fact I am an Englishman who lives in Poland! But I am in England for 2 months a year. I have had a look on otomoto which is the Polish version of Autotrader and there are not many A2 with under 80000 miles and in any case most of them are imports from Germany. The Poles drive diesels hard with starship mileages. So let's see.... For sure I want a Tdi 1.4 and nothing else.
Steve M very good choice! The 1.4tdi is incredible and even delivers some fun! Only the 90hp model (great engine also and has reinforced pistons and rods) has sometimes a problem with the turbo because its a vtg turbocharger. But for the prives i just saw a few in England.. incredible. In germany we pay double to tripple the price
You are one of the very youtubers who's videos I dont skip through or dont even watch anymore.
I'm honoured. Thanks for sticking with it!
I have a Vel Satis if you're interested in filming one? That's another unusual and rare over engineered and expensive early 00's car
Absolutely! Message me on talk@jayemm.com
I dreamed about driving a Audi A2. Now it's on my wish list
Ask Audi if they will ever make another with this days technology. Great review!!
Not possible with todays emission requirements to make a engine with that kind of fuel economy.
@@Iceeeen but the low drag would make a very interesting city EV.
In the early 1980s, I had a 1976 Audi 80 that today one would not believe existed. It was an LS model, but it had the famous Scirocco engine of 1.5 liters and 85 hp, as well as the original sunroof and interior adjustment of the exterior mirror. Have been looking for one in Germany for 8 years, but do not exist, only the GL edition with the same engine. Fantastic car weighing 870 kg and accelerated as Golf GTI to 80 km / h and made its 175 km / h, which was a lot of time.
Absolutely brilliant!!! Loved it when you tuck the bonnet off Jay 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😉
I've seen four different colored ones parked next to each other with their bonnets swapped. A treat!
@@bart7695 🤣that's cool
Ex's boss had one of these, I used to look after it for her. I loved driving it,it was so agile due to the light and fairly quick-ish too with the 1.4 petrol engine, you really should try a petrol version it's much better. Didn't know you could remove the rear seat!
17:59 I totally disagree! One of the reasons I want an A2 1.4TDI is because it sounds the way it sounds!
If you're near London, you're welcome to come over and give mine a go. I might even be persuaded to part with it! :-)
Sadly I'm up North, but I might take thee offer one day! :-)
Thank you for comparing these two vehicles.
A comment from Germany :-)
Can't help thinking this was the way we should have gone instead of churning out crossovers and then pushing the world towards EVs
I truly appreciate your character, it's not overly exaggerated nor sound heavily scripted. Subscribed c;
Thankyou!
Oh my gosh, the mythical "drei Liter Auto"! Fantastic, what a great choice, I saw an XL1 when I was going round Beaulieu today, funnily enough.
The 3L in todays fuel climate seems the most legendary audi ever made.
My grandma had an A2, never appreciated just for cool they are
I owned 5 Audi’s A2, together with 500.000 km, and it is for sure the best car ever! 2,5 liter at 100 km was my fuel consumption of the 3L. Gearbox was not so good, but topspeed was around 200 km on the German highway. 👍😀
22:38 Oh contraire the Lupo 3L had aluminium panels which ended up on the Lupo GTI. There was also an Arosa 3L. You have driven my all time favourite Audi and I am very jealous great review you anorak :)
I own an A2 1.4 diesel 75hp, once i went from Lucca to Rome, and almost back to Milan with one full tank. Almost 900km.
Brilliant stuff.
edit: you better test the brilliant little Insight next, then I suppose you'll need the XL1 after that!
Thanks so much, you've determined that if short person sits in the front, a short person will fit in the back. Splendid
I'm 5' 10
Two long people also fit no problems. 184cm/190cm
Cool video, love the youngtimers
Under the lid in the trunk, is 20% more trunkspace. And under that space is the battery 😀
I have one, 160.000 miles an stil going strong
Fun fact: Youngtimer is just as much an English-sounding German word as oldtimer (which would be called vintage car in English).
Best car ever. I have three of them, two 1,2 TDI and one 1,4 TDI 90hp. And one Lupo 3L. The A2s are practical, but the Lupo is more fun to drive, and have a more.comfortable drivers seat
I actually really enjoyed this Video. I honestly can understand people not liking the little A2 because they think it's ugly but since I own one I am absolutely in love with it!
Tom Rösch buy a better car then.
@@Mikezowski I own one for 11 years now and i think it is ugly too.
But that all goes away if you drive it. That is what counts, not how it looks.
A had a 1.4 tdi 90 bhp+ stage 1 . Very reliable car and super good looking
i remapped mine too
Very economical toaster you got there
Big Smoke A toaster powered by diesel, nonetheless
Vauxhall did a similar thing in 2001. The "Astra 1.7 DTi ECO4". It was a special version which had a specific eco engine tune. Different gearbox ratio's. A Full entire car length alloy body undertray. It was in the Guinness book of records as it achieved just over 100mpg ave from John o groats to Lands end. I went and got one as a company car just after that and I only ever got 74mpg best out of it. Still very good for a car from 2001 era.