RE: Audi TT Mk1: Guilty Pleasures
Discussion
James Junior said:
Totally agree - one of the most iconic and timeless pieces of automotive design on the road in my opinion, though look a bit underwheeled without the optional 18" wheels. Cabins are really classy too, though the steering wheels are massive!
The later versions look really bland to my eye by comparison and agree about the RS - that wing is gross.
A remapped 225 with upgraded suspension is a really quick and capable car that wouldn't cost much to buy or maintain.
Yes, they are great after some tweaks, here is the one I used to own.The later versions look really bland to my eye by comparison and agree about the RS - that wing is gross.
A remapped 225 with upgraded suspension is a really quick and capable car that wouldn't cost much to buy or maintain.
Have an unmolested Mk 1, 225 BHP TT Coupe for sale. Mine from new, amazing condition, fullest possible history. Most bloggers seem to prefer unmolested examples, and it has the factory 18 inch wheels, and all the options available. See advert on Pistonheads: dark blue, West Midlands, private, £6,750. If you search using maximum price £7,000, and select highest price first, it's about the fourth one down.
Some of this is just wrong and confusing...
I had a 2001 Audi S3 (225bhp) from new and ran it for 2-3 years (47k miles)
1. Steering - Lifeless, dead, uninspiring and truly awful (oh and an S2000 does not have sharp steering, I had two S2000's)
2. Running costs - They weren't cheap at all, servicing cost a fortune and it also required an additional Haldex oil change every 20k IIRC. 40 mpg???? Never saw that, I averaged 26mpg in the lifetime of the car.
3. Handling - Probably the worst part of the car, understeer heaven.
4. Engine - Okay for a 1.8 turbo it was fairly rapid especially back in 2001 but it sounded industrial and didn't like revving out to the redline.
5. Gearbox - long throws and not confidence inspiring
What I did like about the car was it's very classy and understared looks, great interior, awesome traction and all weather capability.
I had a 2001 Audi S3 (225bhp) from new and ran it for 2-3 years (47k miles)
1. Steering - Lifeless, dead, uninspiring and truly awful (oh and an S2000 does not have sharp steering, I had two S2000's)
2. Running costs - They weren't cheap at all, servicing cost a fortune and it also required an additional Haldex oil change every 20k IIRC. 40 mpg???? Never saw that, I averaged 26mpg in the lifetime of the car.
3. Handling - Probably the worst part of the car, understeer heaven.
4. Engine - Okay for a 1.8 turbo it was fairly rapid especially back in 2001 but it sounded industrial and didn't like revving out to the redline.
5. Gearbox - long throws and not confidence inspiring
What I did like about the car was it's very classy and understared looks, great interior, awesome traction and all weather capability.
I recently purchased my 1st Audi - an 02 225 Coupe with silly K&N air filter that makes whooshing noises on the gear change and go faster black 18"s (these are proven to take 0.1 sec of the 0-60 time by someone with their baseball cap on the wrong way).
It has 137k on it, full history and although having some paint in its life still seems to scrub up quite well. It doesn't use excessive fuel, feels quite quick and is generally a great car - all for £2000 (or the depreciation on a new car driving off the forecourt) - yes its never going to win any concours events or keep up with the latest and greatest BMW bore machine, but its £2k. if it goes drastically wrong I can sell it for parts and recover a chunk of the outlay. It takes me too and from the station every day and the occasional weekend blat and still makes me smile when I get a whoosh!
I never normally like silver, but think it highlights the design of the TT
There will always be lovers and haters, but for me, its a great value fun car and i'm a happy driver
It has 137k on it, full history and although having some paint in its life still seems to scrub up quite well. It doesn't use excessive fuel, feels quite quick and is generally a great car - all for £2000 (or the depreciation on a new car driving off the forecourt) - yes its never going to win any concours events or keep up with the latest and greatest BMW bore machine, but its £2k. if it goes drastically wrong I can sell it for parts and recover a chunk of the outlay. It takes me too and from the station every day and the occasional weekend blat and still makes me smile when I get a whoosh!
I never normally like silver, but think it highlights the design of the TT
There will always be lovers and haters, but for me, its a great value fun car and i'm a happy driver
Edited by mattman on Friday 12th June 10:26
Nice article, and refreshing to see some affectionate comments too.
I've loved the look of these since they first appeared, and after many years of mundane, sensible cars, I bought one as a retirement present to myself last year.
'03 plate 225 coupe in Mauritius Blue, with the 18" wheels and Feather Grey leather. Was one owner with low miles, full service history and with cambelt and water pump recently done.
...and I love it. Fast enough, with reasonable economy, and as has already been mentioned - surprisingly practical, and with a fabulous cabin. Yes, it is more of a GT than an out and out sports car, but I knew that when I bought it, so no disappointment.
I still reckon the MK1 is the best-looking of them all and is a genuinely bold and original design.
In my opinion the later versions (particularly the MK2) look comparatively bland.
With regard to running one, I agree about the one-make forums - useful for advice, but if you spend too much time on them , you'll start to get paranoid that your car is about to self-destruct.
And I think unmolested MK1s with good history and low mileage will be the ones to have in a few years' time.
I've loved the look of these since they first appeared, and after many years of mundane, sensible cars, I bought one as a retirement present to myself last year.
'03 plate 225 coupe in Mauritius Blue, with the 18" wheels and Feather Grey leather. Was one owner with low miles, full service history and with cambelt and water pump recently done.
...and I love it. Fast enough, with reasonable economy, and as has already been mentioned - surprisingly practical, and with a fabulous cabin. Yes, it is more of a GT than an out and out sports car, but I knew that when I bought it, so no disappointment.
I still reckon the MK1 is the best-looking of them all and is a genuinely bold and original design.
In my opinion the later versions (particularly the MK2) look comparatively bland.
With regard to running one, I agree about the one-make forums - useful for advice, but if you spend too much time on them , you'll start to get paranoid that your car is about to self-destruct.
And I think unmolested MK1s with good history and low mileage will be the ones to have in a few years' time.
johnclap said:
Have an unmolested Mk 1, 225 BHP TT Coupe for sale. Mine from new, amazing condition, fullest possible history. Most bloggers seem to prefer unmolested examples, and it has the factory 18 inch wheels, and all the options available. See advert on Pistonheads: dark blue, West Midlands, private, £6,750. If you search using maximum price £7,000, and select highest price first, it's about the fourth one down.
I see this thread has already started prices rising !
When looking for a replacement, 2 yrs ago for my much loved Puma Millennium as a daily runner, I toyed with idea of a cheap TT Coupe, mainly for the looks really.I would run it for a few months to get it out of system and then move it on.
My commute is only 5 miles, so it would hardly be used for "hooning" to work. All the adverse comments and posts didn`t really put me off, I liked the looks, (the car HAD to be Misano or Brilliant Red) and the interior really is a quality place to drive in.
After looking at a couple of dogs, i spotted what was a poorly written/illustrated advert on E-Bay which needed investigating.
To cut a long story short it ended up being this, which was bought for an unbelievable price, even my mates in the trade said it was to cheap!
04 3.2 DSG Misano with Silver nappa, 69K Full history, milltek sports exhaust Bilstein coilovers.
It gives the best of both worlds, auto for pottering around, or Sports DSG mode if the mood takes you.
OK it under steers a bit, its gets called a hairdressers car, it only gets about 26mpg,it has its flaws, but I love it and it won`t be going anywhere soon.
The biggest problem I had was, the Mrs!! she drove it a few times and when she found out they did a DSG Roadster, she went and bought one of only 3 factory White MK1 3.2s
Strangely I don't get called a hairdresser in the other car in the stable
My commute is only 5 miles, so it would hardly be used for "hooning" to work. All the adverse comments and posts didn`t really put me off, I liked the looks, (the car HAD to be Misano or Brilliant Red) and the interior really is a quality place to drive in.
After looking at a couple of dogs, i spotted what was a poorly written/illustrated advert on E-Bay which needed investigating.
To cut a long story short it ended up being this, which was bought for an unbelievable price, even my mates in the trade said it was to cheap!
04 3.2 DSG Misano with Silver nappa, 69K Full history, milltek sports exhaust Bilstein coilovers.
It gives the best of both worlds, auto for pottering around, or Sports DSG mode if the mood takes you.
OK it under steers a bit, its gets called a hairdressers car, it only gets about 26mpg,it has its flaws, but I love it and it won`t be going anywhere soon.
The biggest problem I had was, the Mrs!! she drove it a few times and when she found out they did a DSG Roadster, she went and bought one of only 3 factory White MK1 3.2s
Strangely I don't get called a hairdresser in the other car in the stable
moffat said:
Some of this is just wrong and confusing...
I had a 2001 Audi S3 (225bhp) from new and ran it for 2-3 years (47k miles)
1. Steering - Lifeless, dead, uninspiring and truly awful (oh and an S2000 does not have sharp steering, I had two S2000's)
2. Running costs - They weren't cheap at all, servicing cost a fortune and it also required an additional Haldex oil change every 20k IIRC. 40 mpg???? Never saw that, I averaged 26mpg in the lifetime of the car.
3. Handling - Probably the worst part of the car, understeer heaven.
4. Engine - Okay for a 1.8 turbo it was fairly rapid especially back in 2001 but it sounded industrial and didn't like revving out to the redline.
5. Gearbox - long throws and not confidence inspiring
What I did like about the car was it's very classy and understared looks, great interior, awesome traction and all weather capability.
Not quite sure how you were driving yours, but over the 4 years I owned mine, I averaged around 36mpg over mixed driving conditions. If you did point A to B on nothing but motorways then 40 was very realistic. I never got the impression it didn't like to rev either. And in terms of steering, I found it far better than anything modern I've come across. I was given a 2012 A4 diesel as a courtesy car once and the steering had no feedback whatsoever, you could turbn the entire lump with one finger. Getting back in to the S3, it felt solid and heavy. Although the steering wheel was rather large and a full turn could be a bit awkward. Loved the car though, I regret having to sell it.I had a 2001 Audi S3 (225bhp) from new and ran it for 2-3 years (47k miles)
1. Steering - Lifeless, dead, uninspiring and truly awful (oh and an S2000 does not have sharp steering, I had two S2000's)
2. Running costs - They weren't cheap at all, servicing cost a fortune and it also required an additional Haldex oil change every 20k IIRC. 40 mpg???? Never saw that, I averaged 26mpg in the lifetime of the car.
3. Handling - Probably the worst part of the car, understeer heaven.
4. Engine - Okay for a 1.8 turbo it was fairly rapid especially back in 2001 but it sounded industrial and didn't like revving out to the redline.
5. Gearbox - long throws and not confidence inspiring
What I did like about the car was it's very classy and understared looks, great interior, awesome traction and all weather capability.
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