Test drive Audi A2 1999 - 2005 Minivan

Fat super -explorer

The rules exist to make exceptions to them. As a rule, Audi produces thick cars: solid and high -speed. Exception - Audi A2.
In the process of its evolution from the concept car to a serial car, this model changed two names. The first name was Al2. The final is A2. In Arabic, Al is a certain article. In English, A is indefinite. In the process of conception, the Audi concern clearly imagined whom he wanted to give birth - a small, economical, but comfortable car. The result was something uncertain. Although, undoubtedly, elegant and with a highlight.
The skeleton in the closet. In the Volkswagen Museum in Volsburg on special scales-Bezmen there is the pride of the Audi-ASF (Audi Space Frame) concern. The skeleton, the backbone of the A2 model is a spatial frame made of aluminum. How much this design weighs, I honestly don’t remember. But using a couple of beer, we easily raised it the three of them - in fact, this primitive attraction is for such heroic joys and is designed: the new car is light, but strong. The ASF installations made of plastic are installed on the ASF, they are significantly smaller than that of competing models, and this also helps to burn fat.
Speaking about body panels, one cannot fail to note one funny novelty - the hood in the A2 does not lean back, but is removed. Pull the handle in the cabin, and first opens the radiator cladding. Behind it there are neckline for filling oil and liquid for the washer of the windshield, as well as an oil probe. And only by checking two clamps, you can completely remove the hood-it weighs a maximum of 5-8 kg.
As a result, the empty Audi A2 pulled only 895 kg - it is 150 kg easier than all other cars of such an complexion. Is it good or bad? On the one hand, good - weight loss leads to fuel saving and improving dynamic characteristics. On the other hand, a light car is not so tightly pressed against the asphalt that it cannot but affect its controllability.
UGLY DUCK. On the road, A2 behaves, let's say, not quite like the glorious representative of the Audi family. Firstly, it makes itself felt very short and hard suspension. Obviously, the designers took into account the sad experience with moose, which almost destroyed Mercedes A-Klasse in due time. In sharp turns, when rebuilt in a dense city stream, A2 is still relatively stable, and it seems easy to move around the city with anti -submarine zigzags, but you need to carefully monitor speed. Too sharp acceleration with a turned steering wheel can lead to the demolition of the front of the car, and it has to be caught by the steering wheel.
Very painfully A2 reacts to all irregularities, the pleasure of driving this sharp car can only be obtained on a very flat road. And when the front right wheel fell at speed into a small and outwardly not at all terrible pit on the Savelovskaya Estekad, the front suspension was struck so that we bite the tongues and tried to keep quiet all the way.
A 1.4 -liter motor is a stick for the two -edges. On the one hand, 75 hp It seems enough to quickly disperse the car of such a mass. The engine is very economical, which is attractive at the current fuel prices. But even with a mechanical 5-speed box, A2 accelerates rather sluggishly. The impatient driver is constantly forced to hold the gas pedal drowned to the floor. There is no delightful sensation of the supply of stroke in this machine, which is so characteristic of a more powerful Audi. Regardless of which transmission is currently enabled, A2 goes to the limit, which is accompanied by a rather annoying engine noise in the cabin.
Audi in miniature. The internal interior A2 is decorated on the principle of poorly, but clean. Although no, the poor word is poor. Modestly. The finish of the front panel and doors is made of solid plastic dark gray. In combination with anthracite-black elements, everything looks somewhat gloomy for small in size of the car. A sort of claim to the representative class.
But the front seats are clearly made with a hint of sports and resemble the recruitment of recaro. They are very similar in shape and an abundance of side support pillows for the products of a famous company. Only these pillows are not so embossed. The adjustment of the front seats is exclusively manual, but its set is the same for the driver and passenger: back and forth and in height. Therefore, I had no problems with fitting A2 under my height (174 cm) - the steering wheel is also regulated in two planes. But a larger ride is unlikely to feel comfortable - the spaces between the steering wheel and the seat are not enough. In addition, the right leg constantly rubs on the central panel, but this, alas, is the trouble of all Audi.
Otherwise, A2 Audi. The instrument block is decorated in a classic style - a round tachometer and a speedometer with an information display in the middle. Since there was no trip computer in A2, the temperature of the outboard air was constantly displayed on the display, and immediately after starting-information about the state of the car systems.
On the central panel there is a gentleman's set-an audio system (without a CD changer) and an air conditioner control unit. Of other amenities, there are windows for front doors and electrical control of the rear view mirrors. In short, the minimum, according to current concepts, a set of amenities.
Mal spool, yes ... much more seriously in Audi approached the security of the driver and passengers. In this regard, A2 is much ahead of the cars of its class. In addition to the ABS system with the electronic distribution of the EBV brake force on A2, the disconnected stabilization system of the ASR course stability is installed. The autopilot welcomes its presence, but is very skeptical of the need to have its blocking. There was a full set of airbags, including side, hidden in the backs of seats. The front seat belts are regulated in height and equipped with pyrotechnic pretensors. All these systems increase the cost of the car, but the decisive factor when buying is only abroad. We have not yet paid attention to this. Although in vain.
Among the possible competitors for A2 in our market, only Mercedes A-Klasse is visible. This is the only car that resembles Audi in price and configuration. But if you come less addicted and proceed only from consumer qualities and functional capabilities, we will find a lot similar in significantly cheaper Mikroveni of Korean and Japanese production. And if suddenly such cars begin to buy in Russia, then the latter have much more chances.
The first copy of Audi A2, which you see in front of yourself, is sold for $ 24 thousand. This, of course, is a trend. All new products come to the market at breathtaking prices exceeding the subsequent by 15-20 percent. When real ones begin, and not single deliveries to dealers, the price will be more earthly. The question is another, will it be in the region of $ 14 thousand? In our opinion, only then the novelty from Audi has good chances to win our market as a reliable compact city car. And not a symbol of prestige with four rings on the radiator grille.
Text Nikolay Kachurin, photo Alexey Ilyin

 

Source: "Autopilot"