Mk 3 TTRS worth the extra over TTS?
Discussion
Filling my days on lockdown looking at various cars and I see that a Mk 3 TTRS is available for around £35k vs £22 ish for a similar TTS - would you say the RS (S tronic only) is worth the extra over the S (which could be manual).
Obviously the engines are totally different but apart from the steering wheel they seem to be more or less identical in all other respects?
(As an aside I’d really like a 1M but finding one to my preferred spec - VO, no sat nav, manual seats - seems really hard, not to say impossible; so considering alternatives in the event we’re ever allowed to do anything ever again.)
Obviously the engines are totally different but apart from the steering wheel they seem to be more or less identical in all other respects?
(As an aside I’d really like a 1M but finding one to my preferred spec - VO, no sat nav, manual seats - seems really hard, not to say impossible; so considering alternatives in the event we’re ever allowed to do anything ever again.)
I hated the gearbox on the TTRS, but loved the sound the car made.
When it comes onto the power it's a proper angry growl.
TTS is a great car, good tech, nice interior, goes very well, easily remapped, nice quad exhausts.
Is the TTRS worth the extra?
For that engine, yes.
But I wouldn't buy another because of the gearbox.
Get a test drive involving lots of roundabouts.
Fine if you're setting off from a complete standstill, but if you're approaching the roundabout still moving, occasionally you'll experience the delay when you want to go.
When it comes onto the power it's a proper angry growl.
TTS is a great car, good tech, nice interior, goes very well, easily remapped, nice quad exhausts.
Is the TTRS worth the extra?
For that engine, yes.
But I wouldn't buy another because of the gearbox.
Get a test drive involving lots of roundabouts.
Fine if you're setting off from a complete standstill, but if you're approaching the roundabout still moving, occasionally you'll experience the delay when you want to go.
I'm going to be contentious and say no.*
I'm going to throw another one in and say I don't like manual MK3s. The driving position makes the manual feel like an afterthought.
An S Tronic TTS though I really rather like. More than enough performance, sensible economy, quite nice darty/direct seering, works in any weather, treat it as a 2 seater with a massive boot and it's even practical.
Look at the sides of the seats for broken trims, a lot of earlier cars suffered this and the official fix involves replacing the airbags at considerable expense (a lot were done under warranty but you won't get any goodwill now). If you want/need/like cruise control it's a surprisingly rare factory option and not currently possible to retrofit.
Everything else is as per 8V S3.
I'm going to throw another one in and say I don't like manual MK3s. The driving position makes the manual feel like an afterthought.
An S Tronic TTS though I really rather like. More than enough performance, sensible economy, quite nice darty/direct seering, works in any weather, treat it as a 2 seater with a massive boot and it's even practical.
Look at the sides of the seats for broken trims, a lot of earlier cars suffered this and the official fix involves replacing the airbags at considerable expense (a lot were done under warranty but you won't get any goodwill now). If you want/need/like cruise control it's a surprisingly rare factory option and not currently possible to retrofit.
Everything else is as per 8V S3.
- unless you want one. "I want one" is the only reason to buy the RS. That engine is forking fantastic.
Trevor555 said:
I hated the gearbox on the TTRS, but loved the sound the car made.
When it comes onto the power it's a proper angry growl.
TTS is a great car, good tech, nice interior, goes very well, easily remapped, nice quad exhausts.
Is the TTRS worth the extra?
For that engine, yes.
But I wouldn't buy another because of the gearbox.
Get a test drive involving lots of roundabouts.
Fine if you're setting off from a complete standstill, but if you're approaching the roundabout still moving, occasionally you'll experience the delay when you want to go.
I've no experience of that engine and gearbox combo, but plenty of various VAG engines with DSG and that problem is annoying. I always found dropping into Sport helps a lot with it.When it comes onto the power it's a proper angry growl.
TTS is a great car, good tech, nice interior, goes very well, easily remapped, nice quad exhausts.
Is the TTRS worth the extra?
For that engine, yes.
But I wouldn't buy another because of the gearbox.
Get a test drive involving lots of roundabouts.
Fine if you're setting off from a complete standstill, but if you're approaching the roundabout still moving, occasionally you'll experience the delay when you want to go.
missing the VR6 said:
Trevor555 said:
I hated the gearbox on the TTRS, but loved the sound the car made.
When it comes onto the power it's a proper angry growl.
TTS is a great car, good tech, nice interior, goes very well, easily remapped, nice quad exhausts.
Is the TTRS worth the extra?
For that engine, yes.
But I wouldn't buy another because of the gearbox.
Get a test drive involving lots of roundabouts.
Fine if you're setting off from a complete standstill, but if you're approaching the roundabout still moving, occasionally you'll experience the delay when you want to go.
I've no experience of that engine and gearbox combo, but plenty of various VAG engines with DSG and that problem is annoying. I always found dropping into Sport helps a lot with it.When it comes onto the power it's a proper angry growl.
TTS is a great car, good tech, nice interior, goes very well, easily remapped, nice quad exhausts.
Is the TTRS worth the extra?
For that engine, yes.
But I wouldn't buy another because of the gearbox.
Get a test drive involving lots of roundabouts.
Fine if you're setting off from a complete standstill, but if you're approaching the roundabout still moving, occasionally you'll experience the delay when you want to go.
I'd owned the car for nearly a year when I found out about the gearbox sport mode, pushing the gear selector back....
All modern automatics are performance-compromised to some degree by emissions/economy/reliability/refinement.
S-Tronic/DSG/PDK/DCT hesitancy I never find to be an issue; a release of brake pedal pressure slightly before switching to the throttle makes the hesitancy a non-event. Using hold assist has a similar effect.
S-Tronic/DSG/PDK/DCT hesitancy I never find to be an issue; a release of brake pedal pressure slightly before switching to the throttle makes the hesitancy a non-event. Using hold assist has a similar effect.
Dr G said:
I'm going to be contentious and say no.*
I'm going to throw another one in and say I don't like manual MK3s. The driving position makes the manual feel like an afterthought.
An S Tronic TTS though I really rather like. More than enough performance, sensible economy, quite nice darty/direct seering, works in any weather, treat it as a 2 seater with a massive boot and it's even practical.
Look at the sides of the seats for broken trims, a lot of earlier cars suffered this and the official fix involves replacing the airbags at considerable expense (a lot were done under warranty but you won't get any goodwill now). If you want/need/like cruise control it's a surprisingly rare factory option and not currently possible to retrofit.
Everything else is as per 8V S3.
I've not driven a RS but on the TTS I'd have to agree. I had a Mk2 before and, as you say, as a two seater, it works pretty well. Much like MGB GT in its day. I'm going to throw another one in and say I don't like manual MK3s. The driving position makes the manual feel like an afterthought.
An S Tronic TTS though I really rather like. More than enough performance, sensible economy, quite nice darty/direct seering, works in any weather, treat it as a 2 seater with a massive boot and it's even practical.
Look at the sides of the seats for broken trims, a lot of earlier cars suffered this and the official fix involves replacing the airbags at considerable expense (a lot were done under warranty but you won't get any goodwill now). If you want/need/like cruise control it's a surprisingly rare factory option and not currently possible to retrofit.
Everything else is as per 8V S3.
- unless you want one. "I want one" is the only reason to buy the RS. That engine is forking fantastic.
It's quite a bit stiffer than the Mk2, though putting F1 Asy's on has eliminated most of the jarring small bumps. There's not much to dislike about it as an everyday car, other than water getting in the boot when you open a wet hatch, and the ornamental reversing lights. Matrix lights are a bit flaky. I love the interior design, which is easy to use and much cleaner and more modern than the 235 was. The IT interface is so much simpler too. 38mpg on an A road run, but when I get back in my Z4 I realise what I'm missing re engagement.
Trevor555 said:
I have a confession, it'll probably get me thrown off Pistonheads.
I'd owned the car for nearly a year when I found out about the gearbox sport mode, pushing the gear selector back....
Really rfm, it's worthwhile. I use that a lot, as the DSG tends to default to a higher gear than you might want. I'd owned the car for nearly a year when I found out about the gearbox sport mode, pushing the gear selector back....
To be fair though, I still don't know why I'd want to put a SIM card in
We have a Mk3 TTS Manual, and as a long legged six footer I cannot say that the gearstick is wrongly placed for me. My shoulder blade stays firmly on the seat back. Its my wife's car and she hasn't mentioned any problems in the two years that we have owned it either.
She had a 182cup back in 2005, and I definitely felt a problem with the gearstick in that car.
I do agree about the autobox being slow at roundabouts though, and I test drove a few used cars thinking the gearbox was borked on the first two, before driving a manual because the dealer happened to have one.
Its nothing like as smooth in changing down for roundabout by using the sport mode as my B8.5 S4 was. but then, its a totally different drivetrain arrangement, so that's probably to be accepted.
The mag ride works very well, if you can get one with it.
The only thing I miss from the S4 is memory seats, but we didn't want the keyless entry it always comes with for security reasons.
I echo the thoughts about writing off the back seats entirely and that when down, there is a fair sized luggage area.
She had a 182cup back in 2005, and I definitely felt a problem with the gearstick in that car.
I do agree about the autobox being slow at roundabouts though, and I test drove a few used cars thinking the gearbox was borked on the first two, before driving a manual because the dealer happened to have one.
Its nothing like as smooth in changing down for roundabout by using the sport mode as my B8.5 S4 was. but then, its a totally different drivetrain arrangement, so that's probably to be accepted.
The mag ride works very well, if you can get one with it.
The only thing I miss from the S4 is memory seats, but we didn't want the keyless entry it always comes with for security reasons.
I echo the thoughts about writing off the back seats entirely and that when down, there is a fair sized luggage area.
Edited by Hol on Wednesday 17th February 11:19
Hol said:
I do agree about the autobox being slow at roundabouts though, and I test drove a few used cars thinking the gearbox was borked on the first two, before driving a manual because the dealer happened to have one.
Its nothing like as smooth in changing down for roundabout by using the sport mode as my B8.5 S4 was. but then, its a totally different drivetrain arrangement, so that's probably to be accepted.
This is interesting.Its nothing like as smooth in changing down for roundabout by using the sport mode as my B8.5 S4 was. but then, its a totally different drivetrain arrangement, so that's probably to be accepted.
The box in mine was awful. Audi initially said a software update would sort it, but later said it's normal FFS, along with my rattly exhaust, double FFS!
My brother in law says he's got no complaints about his.
I've been moving new, and nearly new, VW Transporters around for a dealer for a couple of years now, many of them DSG's.
Every now and then one just doesn't feel right.
The odd one has a very slight vibration when pulling away from cold.
Trevor555 said:
This is interesting.
The box in mine was awful. Audi initially said a software update would sort it, but later said it's normal FFS, along with my rattly exhaust, double FFS!
I would try another dealer if you can. When I had my Mk2 I took it to one with noisy aircon and a discoloured fuel cap (a known fault on TT Forum). Said aircon was OK, cap - 'acid rain, nothing we can do, try Halfords'. I took it to another dealer, checked it, aircon compressor and filler replaced, no questions. The box in mine was awful. Audi initially said a software update would sort it, but later said it's normal FFS, along with my rattly exhaust, double FFS!
Trevor555 said:
Hol said:
I do agree about the autobox being slow at roundabouts though, and I test drove a few used cars thinking the gearbox was borked on the first two, before driving a manual because the dealer happened to have one.
Its nothing like as smooth in changing down for roundabout by using the sport mode as my B8.5 S4 was. but then, its a totally different drivetrain arrangement, so that's probably to be accepted.
This is interesting.Its nothing like as smooth in changing down for roundabout by using the sport mode as my B8.5 S4 was. but then, its a totally different drivetrain arrangement, so that's probably to be accepted.
The box in mine was awful. Audi initially said a software update would sort it, but later said it's normal FFS, along with my rattly exhaust, double FFS!
My brother in law says he's got no complaints about his.
I've been moving new, and nearly new, VW Transporters around for a dealer for a couple of years now, many of them DSG's.
Every now and then one just doesn't feel right.
The odd one has a very slight vibration when pulling away from cold.
I had the S4 from new in 2015 and got adept at flicking it into Sport mode when entering/exiting tight corners and RAB's that it was very smooth.
When I test drove the first TTS, I tried the same trick and there was a noticeable 'shunt' when sport was engaged. I walked away from that first car wrongly assuming it had a fault.
In hindsight, I then realised that is more a feature prevalent in the TT drivetrain.
Although she wanted an Auto box, after 2 years in a new SLK (which did only 3K miles), she had an MX5 before that, so easily swayed towards a manual.
I actually wouldn't mind keeping it as my train station car, when its time to replace it.
Sticks. said:
Trevor555 said:
This is interesting.
The box in mine was awful. Audi initially said a software update would sort it, but later said it's normal FFS, along with my rattly exhaust, double FFS!
I would try another dealer if you can. When I had my Mk2 I took it to one with noisy aircon and a discoloured fuel cap (a known fault on TT Forum). Said aircon was OK, cap - 'acid rain, nothing we can do, try Halfords'. I took it to another dealer, checked it, aircon compressor and filler replaced, no questions. The box in mine was awful. Audi initially said a software update would sort it, but later said it's normal FFS, along with my rattly exhaust, double FFS!
I'll never use my local dealer again for any of my personal cars. They've proved time and time again that they're just too busy in the workshop and are simply trying to turn work away. Always two weeks before they can look at anything.
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