2004 Audi TT Automatic/Tiptronic gearbox question.

[williamw1987]

Hey guys,

My partner is interested in the MK1 Audi TT (180) as her next car and I'm curious about the automatic/tiptronic gearbox.

She previously had the i-Shift gearbox in a 2008 Honda Civic and that gearbox was awful. It essentially was manual gearbox with electric shifting gears etc and it was terrible at everything. Another downside (amongst the many) of that gearbox was that it didn't act like a traditional automatic, which meant that when on a hill for example you had to treat it like a manual gearbox (holding handbrake not to roll back etc). I believe this was because it doesn't use a torque converter.

From my research the TT automatic/tiptronic gearbox does use a torque converter. Does this gearbox behave like a traditional automatic i.e. will hold you steady on a hill without the need for the handbrake, constantly pull you forward from a standstill etc?

Thanks very much!

Matt

[2gins]

I presume you're not talking about the DSG box as fitted to the V6? That was very good, provided the mechatronic unit held up OK (known to fail, usually a 4 figure bill as far I can remember)

I didn't know there was any other option... if its the same unit that is in a Mk4 Golf auto, I've used that in hire cars and was very lazy.

Probably more info on the forum for TT owners.

HTH

[williamw1987]

Thanks for the reply mate!

The correct, it's the non DSG autobox that I'm wondering about... I believe that it's a tiptronic (which should be different to the MK4 golf gearbox).

I'll check out the TT forums too and see if there is any information on them there too.

[2gins]

I still have a soft spot for TTs. Make sure cam belt water pump and belt tensioner and damper have been done, do a full power run in 3rd from 20 mph to the red line and listen, feel for any hesitation or sluggishness. From about 2.5k it should pick itself up and get gone, if not it might have boost leaks. Cheap enough to fix but a pain to diagnose. Alternator requires plenty of dismantling to get at. Check front lower wishbone rear bushes, they split. Csn be pricey due to labour and mad not to do the ARB as well.
Make sure headlamp washers work if it has xenon lamps, bumper off to replace and MOT fail since about 2014. Rust common around roof rack rails, rear number plate lamps but otherwise they're pretty solid. The 1.8T responds well to remapping, people with more money than sense have had north of 400 bhp out of them... just make sure the tuner includes a health check. Good luck

[williamw1987]

That's great mate, thank you very much for the advice! I'll keep an eye out for those things for sure.