8N Audi TT 3.2 Quattro... an accidental purchase

I shall set the scene a little first, but feel free to skip down to the only few pictures I've got just now.

I had dropped my S3 at Audi dealer for a service at the start of the week and arranged to collect the car on the Friday afternoon. Work got in the way a little and I called the dealer on Friday afternoon to let know that I'd not be able to collect the car and would be there on Saturday instead.

As I drove the courtesy car back to collect my car, I pulled up behind a MK1 TT Coupe in Merlin Purple indicating to turn into the dealership too. I feel like a MK1 TT is a fairly rare sight these days and the fact this one was in MP made it even more noticeable to me.

Anyway, I waited while they parked and then parked myself. As I was getting my stuff together I noticed that they had got out and were looking round my S3 which was parked a couple of spaces away.. I took a picture as just along from our cars there was a Vegas Yellow R8 and a Nogaro Blue RS6, yet they chose to look at my 2010 S3, which I thought was cool. #NerdAlert.

Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr

I went into the showroom and was waiting for the guy in Service to finish with the people he was dealing with. So I had a wander around the showroom to have a nosey at the cars in there, when my path crossed with the TT owner. I commented on his car and the colour of it, he told me that he had owned it for the last 16 years and loved it, but that he was looking for a new TT to replace it now.

A few more minutes chat and he offered to show me round the TT, mentioning that he was planning to trade the car in rather than sell private and deal with the hassle of a private sale. I have always liked the shape of a MK1 TT and so asked him if he would give me a call rather than trading it in because I'd be interested in it, price dependent. Here are the pictures I took outside the dealership after our chat:

Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant F, on Flickr

To my surprise he called me a couple of months later and said they had found the replacement and wondered whether I was still interested in the car. We arranged a time to view and after looking over the car and going for a drive, a deal was agreed and I will be picking it up in the next few weeks.


Basic Spec:

2004 Audi TT 3.2 Quattro
Audi Exclusive Merlin Purple
Audi Exclusive Leather
DSG Gearbox
91,500 miles


Factory Fitted Options:

18" 9-spoke Alloy Wheels
Audi Concert 2 Radio CD
Bose Sound System
CD Autochanger
GSM Mobile Phone Prep
Satellite Navigation (CD-ROM based)
Can Holders
Controls Pack (Extended Leather)
Cruise Control


Overall, the car is needing a little TLC but it seemed almost criminal to let such a high/unusually spec'd TT get traded in, go to auction and likely get broken for spares. There is some wear/rust patches on the bodywork, the interior is showing it's age in places, wheels could use a refurb, etc.. but certainly nothing out of the ordinary for a ~20yr old car really.

The engine is quiet with no noises from the chain, the gearbox changes up and down smoothly in every mode (D, S and Manual) and there are no knocks or bangs from the suspension either. It pulls cleanly through the rev range as well, so I'm really happy with it and keen to get hold of it so I can tinker away when time and funds allow.

Very, very nice. You sod!

Lovely colour…. I had a 2002 S3 from new in Merlin.

So many were blue, silver and black that a lot of folk stopped to look at mine.
Same 18” alloys on my S3 too.

That's a superb colour combination.

Love that spec, miles better than the boring grey scale ones!

Great car, and what a way to have seen one! Very envious as I last month sold my MK1 3.2 manual (Mauritius/Anis) for a Golf 1.5T.

What a great colour Merlin is. I'm trying to think what colour the interior is and the only one I can think of is Alabaster white.

If I remember correctly the steering wheel, gear knob, handbrake and knee pads in the same colour as the leather was called the Controls Pack.

Enjoy the car, look forward to updates!

If there was ever a case of it was meant to be! Great find, the owners clearly went to town on the options list. I'm sure you will work through any niggles without too much drama and will end up with a nice motor, perhaps a cheeky profit when you come to move on!

Very nice! The colour is fantastic!!

Please say you'll be lowering it a touch though, the rear is really high (I know they sit comically high at the back lol)

Fantastic car!

Very nice, and a fortuitous bit of timing to meet the last owner.