Test drive Audi A2 1999 - 2005 Minivan

Small spool but precious

Meet Audi A2
Agree that a car that can stand out in the road flow with its bright expressive appearance, you will meet infrequently. Moreover, in Russia, where a mass motorist is not spoiled by designer sorts, and the six -hundredth -related end of the dreams of most wealthy car owners. However, some of the automobile delights reaches us. Chrysler Pt Cruiser, VW New Beetle and, of course, Audi A2 are recalled from the latest revenues. About the aluminum baby who replenished the Russian gamut of Audi at the very end of last year, and will be discussed.
You can argue about the appearance of a small Audi. Personally, I have its aggressive, if not the evil appearance of sympathy does not cause sympathy. Unlike the living VW New Beetle, one look at the chubby contours of which is able to cheer up, A2 looks like a kind of cybernetic monster. Although, it may be just that the high -tech means of transportation of the future should look.
However, the family traits are clearly traced in the thrill of A2 extravagant exterior: the roof line with strongly littered, like a compartment, the characteristic contours of the front of the body, the shape of the headlights and the false radiator lattice. The generic features are also present in the interior. A single Volkswagen design of the device combination (four round dials), a chubby four -spitz steering wheel with branded rings, a standard audio system everything is like large Audi.
However, this family resemblance is exhausted. Still, creating a futuristic deuce, the designers could not deny themselves the pleasure of bringing original solutions to the interior. For example, apply the principle of axial symmetry in the design of the front panel. The monumental box of the central console is inscribed in the torpedo in such a way that on both sides there are equal in shape and size of the shelf, as if cut down in the gray monolith of the panel. One of them is crowned with a semicircular visor of the combination of devices, and a typically jeep handrail is mounted on the other in a passenger car.
However, running ahead, I can assure that this design sophisticated will have to do the front passenger very helpful. When driving on poor roads, the suspension does not indulge in excessive comfort: shaking and tangible blows transmitted to the body when overcoming major obstacles, optimism in estimates, I admit, are not added. As well as the frightening buildup arising at speeds above 140 km/h, apparently, the reason for this is not too successful in the point of view of aerodynamics of the body.
By the way, about the features of aerodynamics. In pursuit of a low coefficient of circuits, the designers actually sacrificed visibility. Looking through the salon mirror interferes with a wide spoiler on the fifth door. And a small window under it is instantly covered with a layer of dirt and finally deprives you of the opportunity to understand what is behind the stern. The situation is a little better with the front hemisphere. The only janitor leaves an impressive unpeeled space on the windshield, forming a solid dead zone in combination with a thick front persistent. As a result, the driver is forced to look in the bends in the side window.
But with the ergonomics of the driver's seat at the A2 baby, everything is in order. It will not be possible to achieve a convenient landing using three mechanical labor adjustments. By the way, I preferred Minivan, raising the seat pillow to the end. Fortunately, the high ceiling allows this. Turning the steering column (it is regulated here in two planes) and the configuration of electrified mirrors through typically Volkswagen joystick completes the adaptation process. It is noteworthy that the steering wheel switches A2 are also borrowed in the bins of the mother company. In general, the use of unified details in the assembly of cars of various departments of the Volkswagen concern is quite ordinary. The economy, as you know, should be economical
According to the wealth of options for transforming the salon, the baby A2 will give odds to other universals and minivans. Depending on the required useful volume, the rear seats (two single chairs) can be folded and pressed to the backs of the front, or even completely removed from the car. Therefore, the graph of the luggage compartment in the passport data indicates three different values: 390 l, 1085 liters and 1140 liters. True, with the placement of heavy and voluminous things like a refrigerator or washing machine, problems may arise: a spare wheel-dopatis wheel that replaces standard European sealants and compressor in the Russian configuration of A2 will prevent the box. For lack of a regular place for the spare, sellers simply throw the wheel at the trunk, under the rallocer, which, as it is easy to guess, will not stand the refrigerator. So when transporting such cargoes, you will have to break your head over where to put a reptity.
However, despite the luggage compartment quite impressive for a small car, the A2 owner is unlikely to occur to the baby for serious cargo transportation. If only because a person who decided to replenish his fleet with this non -cheap and not too practical car is clearly able to pay for delivery services. And to throw a couple of bicycles or even a full -sized baby stroller of labor into the interior freed from the rear seats. There will also be a place for packages with products.
In the passenger version, the A2 is quite capable of taking on board four adults. Moreover, those sitting from behind will not experience discomfort: there will be enough space for the legs even to tall passengers. True, you can’t call the space over your head excess (passport distance from the rear seats to the roof of 98.5 cm).
Unlike the bright, memorable appearance of the sled character, the deuce is not amazed. A small 75-horsepower motor, combined with a short transmission, allows you to start quite briskly (according to the manufacturer, acceleration up to a hundred takes 12 seconds). However, in the fourth and fifth transmissions for dynamic driving there is no longer enough: you have to switch to a step below.
There are no complaints to controllability and course stability at normal urban speeds (up to 100 km/h). A sharp, informative steering wheel allows you to confidently maneuver in a dense stream, and a hard suspension does not allow the machine to fall in corners. Vyzos will not allow vigilant electronics: the deuce is seriously equipped with almost all the well -known active safety systems, which at the right time strangle the engine and brake wheels.
However, even the entire electronic filling, including the anti -operating system, is unable to resist the militant indifference of domestic janitors. I categorically do not recommend moving to A2 from cleared highways: a low -power machine instantly gets in the snow. In addition, attempts to break through to the house on deep icy ruts, into which the driveways turn in winter, the sure way to become a welcome client of the car service.
Assessing the commercial prospects of A2 in the Russian market, dealers do not have vain illusions. Unpratroflaped, even in comparison with a much more utilitarian A3 (from $ 18.9 thousand), a car worth $ 21 thousand. It is unlikely that it will become popular. According to the director of the Audi Audi Center Moscow Arkady Briskin, two or three dozen of these cars will be sold annually in the country. Like other extravagant and not too suitable for everyday Russian use of cars, the fate of the expensive trinket of expensive trinkets is destined, the keys to which the owner of the large aluminum A8 will present to his girlfriend, who did not get along with the expansive Audi TT, let's say, on March 8.
Andrey Tsybulsky
 

A source: Wheel (company)