Mk1 Audi TT quattro 180

[5harp3y]

These are ridiculous value at the moment, we just picked one up for my wife. under 2k and packing everything (including the worlds most outdated hilarious sat nav)

[C70R]

6cylGolf said:

C70R said:

zero motorsport pedigree,

Although it only shares the shape!

Edited by 6cylGolf on Thursday 10th November 13:02

Winning one season of one racing format in one country does not give "pedigree"! It just means that it was the best car for a particular year.

[Ahbefive]

These handle and steer like quite a pudding compared to an impreza etc but they are great value, can be pretty good with upgrades and the design has aged very well.

Imo they look much nicer than the new ones, shame its not a 225 to start with though.

[T16OLE]

People go on about the "handling" I think they're a better steer than any E46 that I've had (5 of them).

I can't believe how well they've aged, some 18 years old.

[aka_kerrly]

XJ40 said:

Is there a consensus on how the TT handles generally? With the extra weight mentioned is it more hot hatch or small GT than a sports car as such? With the 4WD I should think the grip/traction is good...

The TT was always designed to be a more of a GT than a hot hatch.

The TT compared to the mk4 golf for instance, a FWD 180hp mk4 golf weighs in at 1289kg, the Quattro TT 180 1320kg but benefits from a lower centre of gravity, the use of aluminium in the chassis influences the weight distribution and the stiffness.

Comparing a mk1 TT at 1320kg to for example a RX8 at 1309kg, 1485kg for a bmw e46 325i coupe or 1534kg for a Nissan 350z the TT appears to be on the lighter end of the scale.

• disclaimer * all figures sourced from Parkers online.

[keith2.2]

My TT - lets get this bit out of the way; It's a roadster - - was an "at that price it has to be worth a go" replacement for my Painfully Pretty, Comically Overpowered and Woefully Undrivable Chimaera which itself was a replacement for the "You ruined it you STUPID BOY" edition S2000 that started as an engineering masterclass and ended too noisy and too stiff.

She's a 225 Quattro. I fitted a Forge recirc valve the day I got it, and followed up with a Jabbasport 97RON remap a couple of weeks later. My thoughts:

I miss the grunt of the TVR
I miss the directness of the S2000
I miss the drama of both of them


I love the all-weather confidence
I love the fact I know it'll start

The recirc valve and remap have got rid of the annoying habit of falling off boost during a gear change that made it feel like it had the wrong ratios.

The best way to corner as far as I can work out is turn in then boot it. It grips superbly.

So. It's dependable and pretty, It's confidence inspiring and undoubtedly faster than it feels. It's very capable if not exciting. The steering lacks feel, and is always either too light or too heavy. It sounds dull. The ESP is woeful in its intrusiveness. With (albeit haldex) awd - does it REALLY need to cut the power entirely when pulling out of slippy junctions?

I like it - I really do. But I don't love it. My intention will be to sell it in the spring and replace with a 350z. Realistically I know I should give a boxter a go but I just don't like them. So I'll wait for a 911.

It's a really good car. I just feel it lacks personality - I blame the engine for this. Knowing how good the R32 sounds I expect the V6 would remedy this but it's no quicker and suffers in the handling for it. So I think it just isn't quite the car for me.

Having said that, it's definitely the car for me at this time of year. The S2000 was unpleasant in the winter, the TVR was down right terrifying - so I ended up garaging it and going everywhere in the carbon-offset-scheme hybrid.

[C70R]

aka_kerrly said:

The TT was always designed to be a more of a GT than a hot hatch.

The TT compared to the mk4 golf for instance, a FWD 180hp mk4 golf weighs in at 1289kg, the Quattro TT 180 1320kg but benefits from a lower centre of gravity, the use of aluminium in the chassis influences the weight distribution and the stiffness.

Comparing a mk1 TT at 1320kg to for example a RX8 at 1309kg, 1485kg for a bmw e46 325i coupe or 1534kg for a Nissan 350z the TT appears to be on the lighter end of the scale.

• disclaimer * all figures sourced from Parkers online.

Pretty much on the money. It does sometimes frustrate me when armchair/Parkers enthusiasts are throwing around the usual shtick about cars like the TT - weight being one of them. Yes, it's not a bantamweight - but the 225 (more like 1400kg) is lighter than the 350Z, lighter than an E46 M3, lighter than a 991 GT3. It's a shade heavier than cars which are reputed to handle "fantastically", like the PZ RX8 (almost 1400kg) and the Honda NSX.

It's clear that it's not going to behave like a Caterham-esque scalpel, but I've seen some driven very effectively, in spite of their shortcomings.

[wjb]

Thanks for all the contributions to the thread, I'm only on day 4 of ownership so far and used it just for commuting.

Things I like so far;

Looks - Even though the design is 18 years old I still think it looks very stylish in black, however I am considering a wheel change in the summer, staying with 18's but a different design. These can stay for now though.

Performance - In the world of "PH pointless willy waving" it isn't a fast/powerful/quick/rapid* (*delete as appropriate) car, but at the end of the day it has more than enough power for the road, 204hp if the graph is to be believed. I haven't felt like I've needed more power in any situation yet. And I've owned a car with double power the standard 180. I guess I'm growing up eh?

Handling - Sure-footed is how I'd describe it. I havent really pushed it, but so far so good. The tyres are not really premium mind, so that's something that can be improved upon.

Stereo - nice little Kenwood USB job.

Sound - it's obviously no TVR, but its quite nice.

Reliability - it hasn't threatened to kill me or leave me stranded yet.

Economy - not bad so far, but coming from an RX8 an unserviced space shuttle would be an improvement.

Things I don't like so far;

Comfort & Practically - it's fine when I'm in, but I've hit my head on entry a couple times!

Exhaust - there's only one!

All in all I'm really enjoying the TT so far and I can't believe that I've not bought one sooner.

Now is the time if you want one, some real bargains out there, plenty of unloved dogs too though, as I found out while searching.

Edited by wjb on Saturday 12th November 08:39

[wjb]

Getting accustomed with the overflow car park

[wjb]

Oil service, plugs and full check up done.

Mechanic said it was a good clean car, but he recommended removing the ram air filter for a smoother idle, not that it's particularly rough.

I was considering putting the original airbox back on anyway, but I'm not sure if this will negatively effect the car as it's been mapped

[keith2.2]

Original box with a k&n or pipercross panel filter will probably benefit because your ram (I'm guessing) is taking air from the engine bay not outdid so it's warmer air and won't be flowing much more than a good quality panel.

[wjb]

keith2.2 said:

Original box with a k&n or pipercross panel filter will probably benefit because your ram (I'm guessing) is taking air from the engine bay not outdid so it's warmer air and won't be flowing much more than a good quality panel.

Not much warm air around at the moment, but I see your point!

Gonna order a new panel filter and do the swap, I've been so busy lately that I've not even had a chance to wash it properly. Not missed a beat yet though.

Edited by wjb on Tuesday 29th November 22:54

[wjb]

Wanting a definitive answer on the minor idle issue, I ordered a code reader and it has registered a couple of faults that relate to the maf and coils.

So I've got a couple of extra things to get sorted now, along with the filter.

[slipstream 1985]

Cupramax said:

If you do anything make sure its pop the sump off and check the oil pickup strainer isnt blocked, very common issue on old 1.8t's. Result if unsorted, dead engine and cooked turbo through oil starvation. Other than that and coil packs, good car.

what are the symptoms of that?

[Cupramax]

None, until your oil pressure light comes on. The only way to be sure is drop the sump.

[wjb]

Well the TT has been fine, until I went to get some fuel one evening last week, and then it wouldn't restart!

It wouldn't turn over at all, all lights on the dash were ok, just nothing happened when I turned the key...

I was only a mile from home, called out recovery and took it to the local garage who looked at it the following day and said the starter motor had died.



Starter motor replaced, and I bought a new Yuasa HSB013 12V Silver Car Battery for good measure as the one fitted had seen better days.

So from alive, to dead and back to alive again in a few days!

Edited by wjb on Saturday 7th January 16:09

[Vitorio]

keith2.2 said:

My TT - lets get this bit out of the way; It's a roadster - - was an "at that price it has to be worth a go" replacement for my Painfully Pretty, Comically Overpowered and Woefully Undrivable Chimaera which itself was a replacement for the "You ruined it you STUPID BOY" edition S2000 that started as an engineering masterclass and ended too noisy and too stiff.

She's a 225 Quattro. I fitted a Forge recirc valve the day I got it, and followed up with a Jabbasport 97RON remap a couple of weeks later. My thoughts:

I miss the grunt of the TVR
I miss the directness of the S2000
I miss the drama of both of them


I love the all-weather confidence
I love the fact I know it'll start

The recirc valve and remap have got rid of the annoying habit of falling off boost during a gear change that made it feel like it had the wrong ratios.

The best way to corner as far as I can work out is turn in then boot it. It grips superbly.

So. It's dependable and pretty, It's confidence inspiring and undoubtedly faster than it feels. It's very capable if not exciting. The steering lacks feel, and is always either too light or too heavy. It sounds dull. The ESP is woeful in its intrusiveness. With (albeit haldex) awd - does it REALLY need to cut the power entirely when pulling out of slippy junctions?

I like it - I really do. But I don't love it. My intention will be to sell it in the spring and replace with a 350z. Realistically I know I should give a boxter a go but I just don't like them. So I'll wait for a 911.

It's a really good car. I just feel it lacks personality - I blame the engine for this. Knowing how good the R32 sounds I expect the V6 would remedy this but it's no quicker and suffers in the handling for it. So I think it just isn't quite the car for me.

Having said that, it's definitely the car for me at this time of year. The S2000 was unpleasant in the winter, the TVR was down right terrifying - so I ended up garaging it and going everywhere in the carbon-offset-scheme hybrid.

Did some minor research into TTs a few years back (as i was tuning TTs in Forza motorsport... shoot me), and from what i could find about the real car is that a modification to the haldex (i think a different controller which engages the rear wheels more) plus a fiddle with the back ARB (i think stiffening it) would successfully get rid of the standard audi understeer and make it handle much less FWD-y (up to the point where the MK2 TT-RS would outperform a non modded R8)

I do like TTs, but somehow they are ridiculously expensive over here, €3K gets you a barried/ruined 185 with loads of miles, you need at least 5K to find something id consider buying

[wjb]

Vitorio said:

I do like TTs, but somehow they are ridiculously expensive over here, €3K gets you a barried/ruined 185 with loads of miles, you need at least 5K to find something id consider buying

Well in the UK £2k can get you a nice example, high miles yes, but not "ruined or barried" at all

[steve-5snwi]

wjb said:

Oil service, plugs and full check up done.

Mechanic said it was a good clean car, but he recommended removing the ram air filter for a smoother idle, not that it's particularly rough.

I was considering putting the original airbox back on anyway, but I'm not sure if this will negatively effect the car as it's been mapped

Our TT runs a jabbasport remap and we just use a green panel filter and we haven't any issues. Ours has covered 6000 miles in 7 years and has had a number of issues, some common to the car.

[Ahbefive]

850miles a year?