S3 v TT used car prices - why the big difference?

[andy97]

Potentially looking for a cheap weekend fun car so that I can SORN my Ur Quattro over the winter.

Has to be reasonably good fun, reliable and able to take 2 people and 2 sets of golf clubs.

Don't really want to pay masses! Definitely don't want a convertible. Don't need any more than 2 seats.

Was thinking of an Audi TT or an S3 - quite surprised by the price delta between the 2. I think I'd prefer an S3 but virtually none below £3k. In contrast quite a few TTs.

As examples:
S3 - 2002 225 Bhp 140K miles - £3350

TT - 2002 225 Bhp 112K miles - £1850

I do appreciate that the S3 is the bigger car, and not so many built, but it is essentially the same chassis. Any reason to pay the extra for an S3?

Edited by andy97 on Tuesday 13th November 09:45

[g7jhp]

S3 are more usable and have more of a cult following. There were probably fewer built.

I'd take a good standard S3 over a TT.

[Sir_Dave]

andy97 said:

Any reason to pay the extra for an S3?

Not really.

Wife's had a TT225 for about 9 years/70k miles, as there is only 2 of us, its perfectly practical, the boot is fine if you fold the seats down.

Interior is also far nicer than the S3 imho. Oh and it looks better on the outside, a classic shape i think.

I nearly bought an S3 a few years back, but it simply didnt feel as nice as the TT

[andy97]

If i bought either car it would have to sit outside for 2 weeks without being used, and would then only be used for shortish journeys of about 20 miles.

A bit of an extravagance maybe, but it frees up our other car so that Mrs97 and dogs can get out and about whilst i an playing golf fir several hours! And i can put the Ur quattro away.

Not ideal for a car, i know, but will these cars take this lack of real regular use ok?

Dont really need the space of an S3 as most of the time it will just be me, golf bag and trolley!

I guess that this is the sort of thing I was thinking of:
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

I do like the S3 though, particularly in nogaro blue(!) but just not sure its worth the extra money. However, if 3.2 DSG TTs start coming in to the equation then the delta narrows!!!
Originally wanted to spend circa £2.5k but its creeping up!!!

Edited by andy97 on Wednesday 14th November 15:32

[Hiviss]

I've owned a standard s3 and a standard 225 and now drive a manual 3.2 tt. I found the s3 and the 225 very boring compared to the v6 tt. Lovely seats in the s3, though.

[JonChalk]

Not quite in the same league, but OH had an 04-plate FWD 150 Cab Mk1 TT - it only did 5/6 mile journeys for 5+ years, was perfectly reliable (we have a good local Indy) and she only got rid of it when the local council introduced an emissions-based car parking scheme which became expensive quickly. It stood for weeks without issues.

[Ahbefive]

TT is still a girky looking car. The S3 is more practical, has better visibility and a nicer interior. The S3 is also less common.

[va1o]

I was surprised that I paid the same for my TT last year as a Mk7 Golf GTI. Both quite a bit less than an S3 of the same age.

I think it's more the S3 residuals seem consistently very strong rather than the TT been weak.