I Drive The Mythical Audi A2 3L - The REAL 100 MPG car!

I decided to ask Audi if I could borrow something from their heritage fleet - as I felt like the much unloved A2 needed to be re-evaluated. What I didn't know was the fact that they also have an example of the legendary super-frugal A2 3L.... and they let me loose in it!

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[DashDrones]

Was anyone else hoping this thing had a 3.0 litre V6?

[spainter]

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!

[ShiggledeeGuy]

Germans don't say hold my beer, cause they keep holding and drinking it while working

[johntheman]

Love the A2. I’ve had 2. Don’t forget the rear seats are removable. Like a little aluminium van!

[ShortCycle.]

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.

[ob]

1. Mistake: Pressing the eco-button takes you *out* of eco mode. Eco mode is the standard mode. Source: I've owned 5.

[polygamous]

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

[perperson]

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

[chriswarren]

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!

[conorl]

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!

[jodk]

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 :)

[JamesAlexanderFoxhal]

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!

[TheJulesh]

The Audi A2 is the best small car ever made, far, far ahead of it's time and therefore underrated when it came out.

[andrearomano]

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.

[zoidberg]

You remind me of Top Gear in the 90's.

[erikborglin]

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.

[olofsweden]

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!

[alaininswitzerland]

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.

[miskatonic]

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.

[DooMMasteR]

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.