RE: Audi TT Mk1: Guilty Pleasures

[Baryonyx]

I have always liked the Mk1 TT. It's been much maligned over the years, firstly by a load of trendy poseurs who had no interest in driving, and then again later on by a load of motoring enthusiasts who strangely lumped it in with proper sports cars and sporty GT cars. Consider the competition it was often considered against: proper sports cars like the MR2, Boxster, Cayman and S2000 and RWD GT coupes like the 350Z and Z4. It falls down next to competition like that because it's built from a Golf platform; it was never going to be a wildly impressive steer at the absolute limit.


Consider it as a cheap, comfortable GT and it makes a lot more sense. I've owned one (albeit very briefly) and driven a few more. I prefer the 225, it's a great balance of performance and comfort. Lovely seats, lovely gearshift, the rest of the interior is passable but not sexy, bland engine but strong performance and great road holding, and not as prone to understeer as some make out providing you set it up for a bend and get it turning for the apex early. Leave it late in the bend and try to correct and yeah, you'll notice it's not as pliant as a Boxster.


The later revisions to the Mk1 TT I'm not so convinced by. The V6 sounded lovely but the engine did make for a noticeably nose-heavy car (moreso than usual). I also thought the DSG in it was a neat bit of kit, but stole some of the interaction provided by that lovely gearshift. Again with the TT Sport Quattro, looked fantastic from the outside but the interior revisions were daft. No back seats, and stiff, fixed buckets? That just spoils the practical/GT positives the car has whilst trying to force it into competition with the real sports cars, which didn't work.

I didn't like the Mk2 TT, it just looked cack. However, a colleague recently traded her R8 for a TTRS and I am pleased to report that the noise it makes it sublime and it's pretty quick too.

[kambites]

The ride quality was pretty shoddy for a GT remit.

[Baryonyx]

kambites said:

The ride quality was pretty shoddy for a GT remit.

It was hardly pillow soft but I don't need a GT to ride like a magic carpet. In terms of ride, is it compromised to help the car 'handle' and cross a variety of tarmac quickly and with good stability? No doubt, but it's not a deal breaker.

[kambites]

Baryonyx said:

kambites said:

The ride quality was pretty shoddy for a GT remit.

It was hardly pillow soft but I don't need a GT to ride like a magic carpet. In terms of ride, is it compromised to help the car 'handle' and cross a variety of tarmac quickly and with good stability? No doubt, but it's not a deal breaker.

I could perhaps forgive it the ride if it actually handled well but it doesn't. It's simply too stiffly sprung, IMO.

[entropy]

Loved it when it first came out. Like the the R8 it predates the inspirational use of of the sleek curvy lines of pre-war Auto Union racers.

I remember my heart sank after going round a roundabout whilst on a test drive, confirmation it was a blinged up Mk4 Golf. Hated them ever since.

p.s. The rear spoiler was added because it was a death trap going into bends with snap oversteer.

[tomjol]

iloveboost said:

Yes of course they do, or where would you put the rear diff?! Sorry I should have said that better I'll edit it.

Edited by iloveboost on Wednesday 10th June 17:35

I was just pre-empting the inevitable

[leedsutd1]

In around 2009 I bought a 225 convertible with hard top ,was a 2002 , with 160,000 miles 2 owners ,really liked it ,think I paid around 5k ,looked different with the hard top,

Edited by leedsutd1 on Wednesday 10th June 22:44

[carpetsoiler]

R_U_LOCAL said:

A few weeks after we'd sold it we got an NIP from South Yorkshire Police asking for the new keeper details - the TT had been clocked at 97mph in a 30 limit.

[redhotrocket]

Loved reading this, but then I would do being a Quattro sport 240 owner

Great looking cars and the QS doesn't tend to get modified as they come with fantastic extras already, including recaros that can easily accommodate a drive to the ring and not get out with a sore back. But I've come to the point where it's time for a change so looking at getting something a bit for sporty and hopefully a lot more smiles per mile. Red QS is in the classifieds if anyone's interested

[tom5678]

I had a 225 MK1 for several years and it was great at what it did. I had a mainly motorway 30 mile commute so slightly harsh ride and handling weren't an issue. When I did show it some corners it seemed to cope fine, but then perhaps that's a reflection of my driving rather then the car, however, not everyone wants to be 'on the limit' as soon as they meet a B road. The cabin was a really nice place to be, decent stereo, heated seats etc, and mpg from the 1.8 engine was pretty good. Quattro was useful in the snow which was a bonus! I've also owned several variants of Z3 and I disagree that the Z3 handled better? To me they felt much heavier and less direct, but again, that may just be my driving style! I wouldn't hesitate in buying another MK1, especially at the tempting price point they've now reached.

[anonymous-user]

R_U_LOCAL said:

I hated it.

That low roofline looks good, but if you're long-in-the-back like me, there's virtually no headroom & I banged my head so hard getting in it once that I ended up with a genuine whiplash injury (yes, I know it's my fault for being a dopy git, but it's never happened in any other car I've driven).

I thought the driving experience completely lacked any element of feel or feedback, the ride was horribly harsh and crashy, the steering didn't feel like it was connected to anything other than the dashboard and the gearchange was click-clacky (not in a nice Ferrari way - more of a toilet brush in a metal toilet way).

What he said. My former office had one that was a directors car but could be used as a pool car if required. I was almost skipping with excitement at my first drive in it but came disillusioned for exactly the reasons stated above.

The roofline also meant I had trouble seeing traffic lights if i was the first or second car in the queue unless I hunched over the wheel - not the most comfortable way to sit.

I was expecting something a bit better really. I do like old Audis (I too have a D2 S8) but my choice would be an unmolested S2 Coupe.

[scherzkeks]

abitlikefiennes said:

What he said. My former office had one that was a directors car but could be used as a pool car if required. I was almost skipping with excitement at my first drive in it but came disillusioned for exactly the reasons stated above.

The roofline also meant I had trouble seeing traffic lights if i was the first or second car in the queue unless I hunched over the wheel - not the most comfortable way to sit.

I was expecting something a bit better really. I do like old Audis (I too have a D2 S8) but my choice would be an unmolested S2 Coupe.

An S2 over a TT in the handling dept.? The S2 is the very definition of a "Nasenbär"

[k9l3k]

I had a mk1 tt and a 350z i have alsobhad a s2000. Now i have a mk2 tt tfsi.

The tt is a great looking car the mk2 is much better performance as its bice and light and a much better drive i do think the first tt was a bit boring to drive. The 350z is a smashing car but a bit bulky and thirsty. The s2000 is amazing and will be highly collectable i reckon due to the engineering that makes the car.

The good thing with the tt is the option of 2 seater sports car or 2+2 coupe if you sometimes need the seats its very helpfull.

[jqhn80]

aka_kerrly said:

jqhn80 said:

"Cheap to run"? Take a look at ttforum.co.uk to have an idea. Still, a great piece of car design, and for me that goes even more for the interior.

The danger of one car forums is almost everyone goes on there to ask how to fix a problem or a minor problem experienced by a dozen people is exaggerated to be a problem EVERYONE will experience.

Very rarely will those who don't have problems feel the need to post every month saying "nothing broke.

Generally you do have a point. But VAG cars of that era (early '00s) are not exactly famed for their reliability, especially those based on the MK IV Golf platform. And the sheer number of different people posting in that forum as well as the diversity of common problems, I think add to the fact.

[anonymous-user]

scherzkeks said:

abitlikefiennes said:

What he said. My former office had one that was a directors car but could be used as a pool car if required. I was almost skipping with excitement at my first drive in it but came disillusioned for exactly the reasons stated above.

The roofline also meant I had trouble seeing traffic lights if i was the first or second car in the queue unless I hunched over the wheel - not the most comfortable way to sit.

I was expecting something a bit better really. I do like old Audis (I too have a D2 S8) but my choice would be an unmolested S2 Coupe.

An S2 over a TT in the handling dept.? The S2 is the very definition of a "Nasenbär"

Naturlich; das ist alles Audi oder?

And that's where my GCSE German stops.

I'd have the S2 for edge over the TT in terms of practicality and rarity. At least I'd be able to see out of the screen; the TT was like trying to drive while peering through a letterbox. I did like everything about it apart from driving the thing. Maybe I'll buy one and hire a chauffeur.

[ChasW]

I remember seeing one of these in the flesh for the first time. We were on holiday in France. Walking leisurely with the kids in a small rural town we turned a corner and there was a brand new TT parked between a tatty 2CV and a Renault 5. The TT was still to be launched in UK and I had not seen pictures of it previously. It was a genuine WOW moment and made a lasting impression. Daring and different.

[XM5ER]

kambites said:

Baryonyx said:

kambites said:

The ride quality was pretty shoddy for a GT remit.

It was hardly pillow soft but I don't need a GT to ride like a magic carpet. In terms of ride, is it compromised to help the car 'handle' and cross a variety of tarmac quickly and with good stability? No doubt, but it's not a deal breaker.

I could perhaps forgive it the ride if it actually handled well but it doesn't. It's simply too stiffly sprung, IMO.

This was the problem with the Mk4 platform all round IMO. Stiff springs and soft dampers which meant that bumps hit you twice, once on the way up and once on the way down. I strongly suspect that poor body control was the real reason for lift off over steer, the sudden release of the energy stored in springs changing the grip dynamics too quickly back to front.

[ocallen]

Audi used to lend me cars from their corporate fleet and one weekend when using a TT mk1 I visited B&Q and put a new kitchen door in the back. I had to put the seats forward so I drove in the position of a short person but it worked and I drove round the North Circular with a full size door in an Audi TT Mk1.

[Motormatt]

I've never driven one but I've always suspected they're more capable than they're given credit for.
I remember getting in line behind a 180ps Mk1 at the 'ring about 8 years ago, thinking I'd be passing him in no time in my Prodrive fettled WRX, after all, i had way more power and, according to the motoring press, the WRX was at the opposite end of the dynamic spectrum to a basic TT wasn't it? Well, after a whole lap, I had juuuuust managed to keep in in sight.
Now, I have no idea how experienced the TT driver was (it was wearing German plates) and I was a relative novice around that circuit, but there's no doubt it carried lots of speed through the corners and it certainly didn't look like an under steering wobbly mess from where I was sitting!

[MichaelAC]

I relate it to an episode of Top Gear when they all said they'd have the Alfa Romeo Brera after it had gone round the track under steering more than the TT did and getting a time several seconds slower. They still defended it because it was an Alfa and they love Alfas, as I do. These cars are more than the specifications or lap times and handling, they evoke passion and emanate pure style and flair.

For me, the TT does this too and so it's flaws are forgiven.

Nice article and quite brave too