Audi TTS - will the gamble pay off?
Discussion
The TTS was in the paint booth this week...
Following which, I feel like we're getting there with my build:
It looks like a really good job and the paint man went to some extensive lengths to refinish that poor previous job I mentioned before. I think this has tidied the looks of the car up a lot:
I've also fitted replica plates for that original look:
I'm happy with the brake calipers' new matching colour. The incorrect (old style) TTS decals will be replaced by these correct ones:
I'm having those Brembo discs & pads fitted this week, and I've caved-in by buying some overpriced OEM tailpipes following my efforts to re-finish the originals, which wasn't proving durable. This should bring the preparations for my ownership towards a close now.
Sadly my dad passed away during the week, which was a hectic one and involved nearly a thousand miles of too-ing and fro-ing in my Golf GTD (which I'll cover separately).
The TTS was partly bought with visiting my dad in mind, so I'll have to see how I now end up using it as the year progresses. My Mum likes the car a lot and so I took her out today in it to look at a natural burial ground.
I'll keep the thread updated.
Following which, I feel like we're getting there with my build:
It looks like a really good job and the paint man went to some extensive lengths to refinish that poor previous job I mentioned before. I think this has tidied the looks of the car up a lot:
I've also fitted replica plates for that original look:
I'm happy with the brake calipers' new matching colour. The incorrect (old style) TTS decals will be replaced by these correct ones:
I'm having those Brembo discs & pads fitted this week, and I've caved-in by buying some overpriced OEM tailpipes following my efforts to re-finish the originals, which wasn't proving durable. This should bring the preparations for my ownership towards a close now.
Sadly my dad passed away during the week, which was a hectic one and involved nearly a thousand miles of too-ing and fro-ing in my Golf GTD (which I'll cover separately).
The TTS was partly bought with visiting my dad in mind, so I'll have to see how I now end up using it as the year progresses. My Mum likes the car a lot and so I took her out today in it to look at a natural burial ground.
I'll keep the thread updated.
Thanks everyone.
Those Brembo Xtra discs and pads were fitted last week, following which I took the car over to see my Mum and catch up with friends where I grew up.
On these familiar Welsh roads the TTS makes everything seem too easy, and it confirmed again that it's feels closer to my old RS3 than S3 in pace - despite not being remapped like those two were.
Also reminiscent of the RS3 is the distant but controlled thumping of bigger wheels on magnetic shocks, never bottoming out and giving amazing grip but missing a touch of lightness in its steering. Overall, though, it feels more nimble and slightly more usable than the RS on tighter roads - only missing out on the soundtrack, though even that is quite decent with exhaust valves open.
The incorrect TTS decals will have to stay on the front calipers after all, as it seems that they've been lacquered over. Not a big deal really!
Visiting my Dad was one of the main reasons for having this car, as he was mainly cared for at home by my Mum. The car's now finished just after he's left us, so I'll have to see what that means for how I use it because my Mum will be much more independent.
Those Brembo Xtra discs and pads were fitted last week, following which I took the car over to see my Mum and catch up with friends where I grew up.
On these familiar Welsh roads the TTS makes everything seem too easy, and it confirmed again that it's feels closer to my old RS3 than S3 in pace - despite not being remapped like those two were.
Also reminiscent of the RS3 is the distant but controlled thumping of bigger wheels on magnetic shocks, never bottoming out and giving amazing grip but missing a touch of lightness in its steering. Overall, though, it feels more nimble and slightly more usable than the RS on tighter roads - only missing out on the soundtrack, though even that is quite decent with exhaust valves open.
The incorrect TTS decals will have to stay on the front calipers after all, as it seems that they've been lacquered over. Not a big deal really!
Visiting my Dad was one of the main reasons for having this car, as he was mainly cared for at home by my Mum. The car's now finished just after he's left us, so I'll have to see what that means for how I use it because my Mum will be much more independent.
I've now had 4 complete months with the car, doing around 1,600 miles in that time. Only a few hundred of those have been done recently, related to my Dad's passing away, lower business miles and a well-needed holiday.
Some more pics now that it's brightened-up a bit:
And some close-ups of bits that I've improved recently:
I'm tending to use it once or twice a week, often doing something with one of the kids while my wife has the other.
The next and final renewal should be a new windscreen because of all the small stone chips. I'm procrastinating a bit as this version has a camera (due to matrix LEDs) and that means a fairly steep cost.
As I said earlier, I'm going to suck it and see with this car for the year given the amount I've invested upfront in its renovation. It's clearly not doing essential miles, but they're always enjoyable - this is definitely a good times / feelgood car and it's nice to be able to have something like this ready to go.
In the longer run it would make sense for this car to become a 5-door again (maybe another RS3?), while the current Golf GTD stablemate would become something insurance-friendly for our kids as they come up to Learner age.
Some more pics now that it's brightened-up a bit:
And some close-ups of bits that I've improved recently:
I'm tending to use it once or twice a week, often doing something with one of the kids while my wife has the other.
The next and final renewal should be a new windscreen because of all the small stone chips. I'm procrastinating a bit as this version has a camera (due to matrix LEDs) and that means a fairly steep cost.
As I said earlier, I'm going to suck it and see with this car for the year given the amount I've invested upfront in its renovation. It's clearly not doing essential miles, but they're always enjoyable - this is definitely a good times / feelgood car and it's nice to be able to have something like this ready to go.
In the longer run it would make sense for this car to become a 5-door again (maybe another RS3?), while the current Golf GTD stablemate would become something insurance-friendly for our kids as they come up to Learner age.
Edited by The Cardinal on Friday 26th April 13:08
I had the windscreen replaced today, which is the final piece of the jigsaw. You can't really see in the photos but has really made a difference to driving. Nearly 60k miles of stone chips are gone in an instant, matching the front end nicely.
It's a Pilkington glass, which together with an ADAS camera recalibration (for Matrix LEDs, Lane Keeping Assist etc) cost just under £700, or about 4% of the car's trade value at the moment. Quotes varied quite wildly. Nonetheless I know most people won't have gone this far...
Take your pick of whether I'm "in for a penny, in for a pound" - or deep into a sunk cost fallacy - with this TTS.
The justification for me is that I'd have lost far more already in depreciation on a newer or more expensive car, and that stopping at the front end re-paint would have left this car unfinished in my eyes.
Despite the change in circumstances after my Dad's passing, I am confident now that this car will be staying so that I can get some benefit from it. I mean, what a lovely thing to have garaged and ready to go when I want to? Thankfully it's very affordable for me, even if it's going to hover around 3-4k miles per annum.
I've got no other plans for it for the time being, except to enjoy it.
It's a Pilkington glass, which together with an ADAS camera recalibration (for Matrix LEDs, Lane Keeping Assist etc) cost just under £700, or about 4% of the car's trade value at the moment. Quotes varied quite wildly. Nonetheless I know most people won't have gone this far...
Take your pick of whether I'm "in for a penny, in for a pound" - or deep into a sunk cost fallacy - with this TTS.
The justification for me is that I'd have lost far more already in depreciation on a newer or more expensive car, and that stopping at the front end re-paint would have left this car unfinished in my eyes. Despite the change in circumstances after my Dad's passing, I am confident now that this car will be staying so that I can get some benefit from it. I mean, what a lovely thing to have garaged and ready to go when I want to? Thankfully it's very affordable for me, even if it's going to hover around 3-4k miles per annum.
I've got no other plans for it for the time being, except to enjoy it.
The Cardinal said:
The new exhaust tips turned up the other day. Unfortunately they were the wrong size and for reference the TTS 8S part number for these is 8S0253825A (left) and 8S0253826A (right). The omission of "A" meant I got the standard round pieces:
I was a bit annoyed as the non-A parts are listed as fitting the TTS, and thanks to post-Brexit arrangements I will have to reclaim the import duty on the returned parts.
Given all the above plus the higher prices of the TTS-compatible items at £70 a pop, I decided to have a second and more intensive attempt at cleaning-up the originals:
With some Bar Keeper's Friend, 0000 wire wool and Radio 4 for company, I then spent (too many) hours getting the four to this state:
Second attempt fitted on right, in comparison to the first attempt on the left:
This will do me. It's an 8-year old car after all and, instead, I will use some of the funds towards new discs and pads. These will also need doing over the course of my ownership, so my logic is that I might as well do them now to maximise the benefit.
Hence I've ordered some of these with matching pads all round, and will get them fitted soon.
Where did you end up buying them from and how do you take the tips off?I was a bit annoyed as the non-A parts are listed as fitting the TTS, and thanks to post-Brexit arrangements I will have to reclaim the import duty on the returned parts.
Given all the above plus the higher prices of the TTS-compatible items at £70 a pop, I decided to have a second and more intensive attempt at cleaning-up the originals:
With some Bar Keeper's Friend, 0000 wire wool and Radio 4 for company, I then spent (too many) hours getting the four to this state:
Second attempt fitted on right, in comparison to the first attempt on the left:
This will do me. It's an 8-year old car after all and, instead, I will use some of the funds towards new discs and pads. These will also need doing over the course of my ownership, so my logic is that I might as well do them now to maximise the benefit.
Hence I've ordered some of these with matching pads all round, and will get them fitted soon.
Summer 2024
The car's been with me for 8 months now, with just a few hundred added since the last update - mainly on a business trip and with some local errands with the kids in tow. 59,162 miles as of today, with 2,331 being mine.
Shortly after the last update I had the car detailed, brining the rest of the bodywork up to the standard of the repainted front end. As I've said before, this is a real feelgood car and competitively priced for something that has credibility beyond a hot hatch in the eyes of Joe Public and the motoring press. Cars like this are rapidly disappearing from the new market and I doubt there will as many options to choose from in future.
In the meantime, it's due an MoT in a couple of months time and I'm mulling whether to replace 2 or 4 tyres (measuring 3-5mm at the moment). The current 245/35/19 Conti Sport Contact 6 with massive "R02" Audi spec rim protectors seem fine, but I wonder about a nice set of matching Michelins. Whatever I go for, £2-250 per corner makes this another test of commitment for a car not being used a lot...
I'm more sure now that my plan is to convert this car into juicy but compact 5-door again and also replace our Golf GTD with cheap-to-insure wheels for our teenage kids so that they can access driving in times to come. But there's no hurry.
The car's been with me for 8 months now, with just a few hundred added since the last update - mainly on a business trip and with some local errands with the kids in tow. 59,162 miles as of today, with 2,331 being mine.
Shortly after the last update I had the car detailed, brining the rest of the bodywork up to the standard of the repainted front end. As I've said before, this is a real feelgood car and competitively priced for something that has credibility beyond a hot hatch in the eyes of Joe Public and the motoring press.
Cars like this are rapidly disappearing from the new market and I doubt there will as many options to choose from in future. In the meantime, it's due an MoT in a couple of months time and I'm mulling whether to replace 2 or 4 tyres (measuring 3-5mm at the moment). The current 245/35/19 Conti Sport Contact 6 with massive "R02" Audi spec rim protectors seem fine, but I wonder about a nice set of matching Michelins. Whatever I go for, £2-250 per corner makes this another test of commitment for a car not being used a lot...
I'm more sure now that my plan is to convert this car into juicy but compact 5-door again and also replace our Golf GTD with cheap-to-insure wheels for our teenage kids so that they can access driving in times to come. But there's no hurry.
The Cardinal said:
BlueEyedBoy said:
Where did you end up buying them from and how do you take the tips off?
The tips came from LLL parts, and the old ones pull off (with a tap of encouragement from a hammer behind when necessary). The Cardinal said:
Summer 2024
The car's been with me for 8 months now, with just a few hundred added since the last update - mainly on a business trip and with some local errands with the kids in tow. 59,162 miles as of today, with 2,331 being mine.
Shortly after the last update I had the car detailed, brining the rest of the bodywork up to the standard of the repainted front end. As I've said before, this is a real feelgood car and competitively priced for something that has credibility beyond a hot hatch in the eyes of Joe Public and the motoring press. Cars like this are rapidly disappearing from the new market and I doubt there will as many options to choose from in future.
In the meantime, it's due an MoT in a couple of months time and I'm mulling whether to replace 2 or 4 tyres (measuring 3-5mm at the moment). The current 245/35/19 Conti Sport Contact 6 with massive "R02" Audi spec rim protectors seem fine, but I wonder about a nice set of matching Michelins. Whatever I go for, £2-250 per corner makes this another test of commitment for a car not being used a lot...
I'm more sure now that my plan is to convert this car into juicy but compact 5-door again and also replace our Golf GTD with cheap-to-insure wheels for our teenage kids so that they can access driving in times to come. But there's no hurry.
That garage looks incredibly compact given the TT isn’t a large car! Do you have to push that in? Pees me off no end house builders won’t just give an extra few bricks which would make all the difference. The car's been with me for 8 months now, with just a few hundred added since the last update - mainly on a business trip and with some local errands with the kids in tow. 59,162 miles as of today, with 2,331 being mine.
Shortly after the last update I had the car detailed, brining the rest of the bodywork up to the standard of the repainted front end. As I've said before, this is a real feelgood car and competitively priced for something that has credibility beyond a hot hatch in the eyes of Joe Public and the motoring press.
Cars like this are rapidly disappearing from the new market and I doubt there will as many options to choose from in future. In the meantime, it's due an MoT in a couple of months time and I'm mulling whether to replace 2 or 4 tyres (measuring 3-5mm at the moment). The current 245/35/19 Conti Sport Contact 6 with massive "R02" Audi spec rim protectors seem fine, but I wonder about a nice set of matching Michelins. Whatever I go for, £2-250 per corner makes this another test of commitment for a car not being used a lot...
I'm more sure now that my plan is to convert this car into juicy but compact 5-door again and also replace our Golf GTD with cheap-to-insure wheels for our teenage kids so that they can access driving in times to come. But there's no hurry.
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