Remaining Numbers in UK and Germany
The number of remaining A2's is decreasing over time. The aluminium chassis is frequently written off by insurers due to the relative dearth of "aluminium specialists" - for example one in all of Scotland - and the training and experience required to repair the shell. Welding is frequently required and aluminium is seen by many as difficult to weld, mainly due to the very high melting point of the outside oxidation, requiring the part to be welded to be prepared correctly.
Combined with relatively high parts prices and hourly rates, apparently minor bumps may mean 'beyond economic repair'. Many examples of damage and subsequent repairs can be found in both the UK and German A2 owners club forums, often with tales of personal repair efforts and costs involved. Since the community is small, it has been seen that the repairer drives an A2 and therefore has an interest in both a correct repair and documentation has been provided in the UK forum. Other repair specialisations are subject to denial on the part of Audi both in the UK and Germany, especially when dealing with Open Sky. Certain dealerships, such as the mentioned Autohaus Rinner in Bad Tölz in southern Germany, have specialised in roof repairs and replacements.
The KBA ("Kraftfahrtbundesamt") released numbers on request and after payment to the German A2 club which indicate that around 70,000 A2s are registered in Germany as of end November 2010. Of those, less than 5,000 are 1.6 FSIs. This information was released on condition that it was not for publication, so the full statistics are only available to members. Colour information is not recorded.
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