Matt Prior: I purchased an Audi A2 for £500 – and it is sensible

However while you factored in residual values, plus the A2’s gas effectivity, possession prices would have been extraordinarily aggressive. Patrons didn’t see it that means, although.

It’s a disgrace, however maybe no nice shock, that the A2 obtained no direct alternative, and that Mercedes ultimately let the A-Class morph into the trad C-segment hatchback it stays right this moment.

Now the A2 exists solely as a modern classic, then, and it’s nonetheless comparatively frequent: howmanyleft.co.uk says there are greater than 5500 on the street throughout all variants within the UK, which I believe is a remarkably excessive quantity.

The physique doesn’t rust like metal, after all, though insurance coverage prices could be expensive as a result of aluminium panels are more durable to restore. Mine value £250 to insure however a colleague, making an attempt so as to add his learner daughter, discovered it was twice as costly as a VW Polo.

Mine is a 1.4-litre 75bhp diesel, it might probably return 70mpg on a run and I’m informed the issues to be careful for are common cambelt modifications and fragile, rust- and fatigue-prone decrease suspension arms.

The headlining peels and apparently door hinges can sag, however I suppose I’ll discover out extra the longer I personal the automotive.

Mechanically, A2s are in any other case from a extra easy age, and in utilizing frequent VW elements (I changed a wheel bearing, the identical as a Golf’s, for £30) plus with a thriving house owners’ scene, it ought to be attainable to maintain it working indefinitely.