Audi TT Mk1 - qS or V6

[Escapegoat]

Begrudgingly coming to the view that the Mk1 TT will be seen a design classic. Lesser models can be had for £2k, but the interesting ones seem to be the qS and V6. Are they worth the extra?

Apart from choosing a manual (not the DSG), any thoughts from owners of either/both?

[RS Grant]

There's already been a clear rise in value of Quattro Sport models from what I've seen, that's where I'd be putting my money if I was buying a MK1 TT.

[Plate spinner]

Personally I'd go for a QS and a red one at that, because:

Red with a black roof
Lower production run
Good reviews back in the day vs the nose-heavy V6
Fantastic wheels
Red with a black roof

[J4CKO]

I was pondering one recently but decided to not bother and wait a few months, I would say go for a QS but dont pay a daft premium.

The V6 is a nice car but the DSG Mechatronic can yield a 2K bill as can the Cam Chain if it is stretched, do your research and take a VAG Com module and check that the values returned are in spec and be very wary of anything with any engine noise as it will have a go at bankrupting you, lovely engine but it does have an Achilles heel, it is a pig of a job to do apparently as the engine has to come out, all very tightly packed in a TT.

I know you said manual, and they are out there but quite rare, then you get into whether its a convertible, the colour etc, the V6 isnt that numerous anyway, I would say buy the best that has had those items attended to already

I think the V6 is a bit of a hard sell, some qualify for the £530 VED as well, I think the 4 cyl ones are a bit less prone to understeer, the QS being the most sporting of the TT Mk1's, though a 225 with a few choice mods can replicate it quite well, but will never have the cachet of the QS.


The MK1 is iconic, I love them, but the MK2 is a better car in every way but looks, can get a MK2 2.0 FSI for five grand, the car was lighter than the MK1 and go quite well, can remap to 250 bhp plus as well.

[hondansx]

I can't see them ever really being a proper investment. As with any car, good ones will become rarer so people will expect more money for what's left. The TT is let down by it's humble underpinnings and so-so handling. It's not like it's a weekend car you take for a good thrashing.

I drove past a red QS yesterday and nowadays they look quite anaemic. Remember the DB7 being the most beautiful car ever made? Saw one of those too recently and just felt they look really dated. Lifecycles of cars are so short now - time is savage to older cars.

So, TT an 'icon'? I don't see it.

[J4CKO]

hondansx said:

I can't see them ever really being a proper investment. As with any car, good ones will become rarer so people will expect more money for what's left. The TT is let down by it's humble underpinnings and so-so handling. It's not like it's a weekend car you take for a good thrashing.

I drove past a red QS yesterday and nowadays they look quite anaemic. Remember the DB7 being the most beautiful car ever made? Saw one of those too recently and just felt they look really dated. Lifecycles of cars are so short now - time is savage to older cars.

So, TT an 'icon'? I don't see it.

Cars being dated, your username is Honda NSX....

[Ahbefive]

A friend recently bought a QS. He also has a remapped 225 with coilovers. The QS looks better but the 225 is better to drive due to coilovers and the seats are unbelievably uncomfortable on a longish journey.

I'd stick with a 225 if you really want a TT.

[Alias218]

hondansx said:

I can't see them ever really being a proper investment. As with any car, good ones will become rarer so people will expect more money for what's left. The TT is let down by it's humble underpinnings and so-so handling. It's not like it's a weekend car you take for a good thrashing.

I drove past a red QS yesterday and nowadays they look quite anaemic. Remember the DB7 being the most beautiful car ever made? Saw one of those too recently and just felt they look really dated. Lifecycles of cars are so short now - time is savage to older cars.

So, TT an 'icon'? I don't see it.

Have you been rubbing your eyes with bleach? The DB7 undoubtedly remains one of the prettiest cars to have ever seen the light of day.

[Escapegoat]

Thanks all. So the V6 is out for handling reasons (hadn't thought about that). Narrows it down to qS or regular 225 with manual gearbox?

For sure it looks easier to find the 225 with lower miles and nicer colours. The darkish blue looks good, the black and silver a bit anonymous, yellow = no, but the red... maybe.

I do think the original TT is a design icon - epitomising that turn-of-millennium styling. (Like the contemporary Ford Focus, although that was klunkier.) In silver it looks like a solid piece of milled aluminium and there are no angles from which it looks uninteresting.

As car design has moved on so quickly, and as the thousands of Mk1 TTs die off, the design somehow becomes more noticeable again. YMMV, of course.

Plate spinner said:

Personally I'd go for a QS and a red one at that, because:
Red with a black roof

It does look good in red/black. But being picky about colour on (fairly) rare cars is a PITA!

Ahbefive said:

A friend recently bought a QS. ... the seats are unbelievably uncomfortable on a longish journey.

That's not good! Are there two types of seats - Recaro Pole Positions in some and some alcantara thingies in others?

[Ahbefive]

Basically the bolt upright pole position Recaros which ime are hard as fk on the arse, maybe the limited padding goes flat over time. Or just the standard seats with alcantara which is pointless as the seats are the main feature of this car.

225 for 1/3 the price is a better buy.