Mk1 Audi TT - buying advice please

[Triumph Man]

Hi all, my girlfriend is looking to upgrade from her Hyundai Getz in the very near future (unlike me who will be stuck with my fleet until 2020!) She is fixated on getting a mk1 Audi TT coupe, I did try to suggest the MX5 and Suzuki Cappuccino (just so I can have a go! haha).

She is the sort of girl who thinks my PD 130 Passat is "fast", so the boggo 1.8T will be more than adequate for her. I love my gf dearly, and I don't want her to put herself in a ditch because she tapped the loud pedal of the 3.2 and it ran away with her...

I know that on the internets there is plenty of information, but I don't trust the man with the paedo hat, and I feel that real life owner reviews and advice are best.

Budget is likely to be decided by the sale price of the Getz (around £4,000) plus whatever she can scrape together. Although I would imagine this is flexible if the right car comes along. Obviously I've already had a flick through the classifieds, but I would like to know of anyone who owned/owns one, and anything to look out for. Although being a mk4 Golf, surely it's not all doom? Or this me being naive...

Thanks all.

[veevee]

Maybe you could get an engine transplant from a 1.4 Golf?

[psychoR1]

I dont think they're such a bad car but our 190 Q coupe had some big bills. I would put her in the fwd TT soft top if she won't miss the performance as it doesn't have the haldex etc look at the window drops and the dash display. You should be able to get one around 5k

[Mr Gear]

There was a super-boggo FWD version with absolutely no sportiness available although you don't see many on teh roads. The 3.2 was st anyway - only on sale so the yanks could have it with an autobox.

The 1.8t exists mainly as a 180bhp and a 225bhp version. Power delivery is peaky, so you only really get a kick when you rev it hard and get the turbo spinning. They are virtually un-crashable though. You'd have to be a proper spastic to spin one into the ditch. As such, it's a very accessible car suitable for anyone really.

The boot on the soft-top is tiny (although a bit bigger on the FWD-only versions). Look in the service history for evidence the dashboard has been changed. This is a GOOD thing provided the mileage is correct. If it's been done by a pukka Audi dealer, there should be nothing to worry about. The original-fit dashboards are prone to failure. You don't want to be paying to change one....

Apart from that they are fairly reliable. Keep an eye on tyre pressures and oil consumption too.

[Triumph Man]

psychoR1 said:

I dont think they're such a bad car but our 190 Q coupe had some big bills. I would put her in the fwd TT soft top if she won't miss the performance as it doesn't have the haldex etc look at the window drops and the dash display. You should be able to get one around 5k

Thank you for your advice. I did suggest a drop top to her, but she seemed set on a coupe. I have no idea why, as the car would be garaged and getting the roof down would be a great thing to be able to do! When you say window drops, do you mean the little movement the window makes when the door is opened? Or just the general mechanism and cables etc?

[psychoR1]

Yeah window drops as in the movement made on door opening closing. Also the dash display as Mr Gear says.

If she wants a coupe then make sure she test drives one as the visibility isn't great and the bumpers are unforgiving. With a coupe you will be in either a 180 or 225 Quattro I would think. The engine is pretty reliable, build quality good (better than the 04 A4 Cab we had from new) and the cockpit is a really nice place to be. Heated seats, std sound system etc are great and the car is easy for a novice driver to place.

The car feels very planted at high speed - not sure thats a good thing for your GF! - and its handling trait is benign understeer first but lift off power oversteer can be provoked - most people dont get there tho'

I would do some research on haldex oil changes and also make sure the car has good discs - the fronts get heavy use and the rears dont get enough so corrode.

Also make sure you have a good independant garage to maintain - the car is pretty easy to look after but Audi mechanics and service managers (in Herts) are IMHO some of the worst I have evercome accross!

[Triumph Man]

Yeah re: your specialist comment, found a VAG specialist down here who I bought the Passat off, and he also services it. Good bloke, knows pretty much everything there is to know! And extremely honest as well, MTech near Shaftesbury if anyone knows it.

Edited by Triumph Man on Tuesday 20th March 10:10