RE: Audi TT Quattro Sport: Catch It While You Can
Discussion
Well the main problem with the way the Panda 100hp drives is the electric power steering weight and feedback, but apparently Chris Rees owned one! 
The problem with criticising the TT isn't that the criticisms aren't valid, but that they are invalid for virtually everybody who buys one and then only uses it on the road. The only real downside to a TT is more understeer than desirable, but this is a downside found in almost every road car, and only on a race track!
An early Z4 is a nice car compared to a Mk1 TT Sport but mild understeer is all you probably get unless it's wet or you massively provoke it with the steering/throttle. The steering is above average for an electric system but it's not good, which is why the 'M' chucked it in the bin!
The RX-8 seems like a good car but your engine will/may need a rebuild. Also it has 350Z or M3 like mpg with the power of a four or six cylinder.
The S2000 is more expensive to insure and low on torque for 237hp, Also it can snap oversteer with little warning and the electric power steering is usually described as 'ok weight but no real feedback.'
350Z also has expensive insurance and is far more expensive to fuel. Also has poorer interior quality and more road noise.
You could look at alternatives that have issues you have to live with day to day not just on a track day, and then you buy a TT.
It's the most popular car of it's type for a reason and people buying it obviously don't care! Maybe it's a bit dull on a track but that's the price you pay when it has to work for everybody, and VAG don't want the media to report that their cars are unsafe. For anybody that doesn't go on track days it's a good choice.
Plus on the 'Sport' those red backed racing seats are just awesome. They add at least 100hp to the car alone.
The problem with criticising the TT isn't that the criticisms aren't valid, but that they are invalid for virtually everybody who buys one and then only uses it on the road. The only real downside to a TT is more understeer than desirable, but this is a downside found in almost every road car, and only on a race track!
An early Z4 is a nice car compared to a Mk1 TT Sport but mild understeer is all you probably get unless it's wet or you massively provoke it with the steering/throttle. The steering is above average for an electric system but it's not good, which is why the 'M' chucked it in the bin!
The RX-8 seems like a good car but your engine will/may need a rebuild. Also it has 350Z or M3 like mpg with the power of a four or six cylinder.
The S2000 is more expensive to insure and low on torque for 237hp, Also it can snap oversteer with little warning and the electric power steering is usually described as 'ok weight but no real feedback.'
350Z also has expensive insurance and is far more expensive to fuel. Also has poorer interior quality and more road noise.
You could look at alternatives that have issues you have to live with day to day not just on a track day, and then you buy a TT.
It's the most popular car of it's type for a reason and people buying it obviously don't care! Maybe it's a bit dull on a track but that's the price you pay when it has to work for everybody, and VAG don't want the media to report that their cars are unsafe. For anybody that doesn't go on track days it's a good choice.
Plus on the 'Sport' those red backed racing seats are just awesome.
They add at least 100hp to the car alone. Fine looking car. Could the handling be adjusted to be less prone to understeer by adjusting some of the suspension geometry settings or are different ARBs the only way to go. Do you put a stiffer one on the rear? I reckon that maybe they toned down the handling after the initial spate of high speed crashes in Germany when they recalled cars for the addition of the rear spoiler and suspension adjustments.
I had a 225roadster for a couple of years, was seduced by the looks and the interior and I did enjoy my time with it but I always found the ride too hard and never gelled with the steering and right at the point along a nice Broad where you felt you should be going faster I usually ended up backing off. I was less interested in driving then than I am now so never explored what the options were for making it drive better
I had a 225roadster for a couple of years, was seduced by the looks and the interior and I did enjoy my time with it but I always found the ride too hard and never gelled with the steering and right at the point along a nice Broad where you felt you should be going faster I usually ended up backing off. I was less interested in driving then than I am now so never explored what the options were for making it drive better
I had a 2004 Mk1 TT for about 2 years.
It was a fantastic place to sit still in, but what I found even worse than the handling and the fact that it pulled to the left at speed was the way it buzzed and rattled as you were driving along. There just wasn't enough sound deadening in it and rattled like crazy.
The TT forum is full of little fixes that people have made or are attempting in the vein attempt to stop the annoying bloody thing from driving them crazy.
I took it to the TT shop to see if they could improve the pulling to the left - I was told that the only way to do that was to fit the Superpro adjustable suspension bushes (I think they were called) at £400.
Mine was 4 years old when I got it - the rattling made it feel like an old banger. I really can't imagine what a 10+ year old one would be like.
I might buy one when they get really cheap, only so I can put it in my garage and look at it though - I wouldn't want to move it as that would just ruin the experience.
It was a fantastic place to sit still in, but what I found even worse than the handling and the fact that it pulled to the left at speed was the way it buzzed and rattled as you were driving along. There just wasn't enough sound deadening in it and rattled like crazy.
The TT forum is full of little fixes that people have made or are attempting in the vein attempt to stop the annoying bloody thing from driving them crazy.
I took it to the TT shop to see if they could improve the pulling to the left - I was told that the only way to do that was to fit the Superpro adjustable suspension bushes (I think they were called) at £400.
Mine was 4 years old when I got it - the rattling made it feel like an old banger. I really can't imagine what a 10+ year old one would be like.
I might buy one when they get really cheap, only so I can put it in my garage and look at it though - I wouldn't want to move it as that would just ruin the experience.
I had one of these in blue with black roof from new in 2006 till last year - I thought it was the best compromise of a car and as someone else said a jack of all trades vehicle! I part exchanged mine for a similar vintage Cayman S and I swear it feels slower point to point and far less well made compared to the Audi...but the chassis and steering are in another league in the poverty pork!
I don't think they are an investment though - its too similar to the base model and just isn't as good as say an RS Focus compared to an ST to warrant such a premium. Great car though and in fact I used to drive mine to speed dating events!
I don't think they are an investment though - its too similar to the base model and just isn't as good as say an RS Focus compared to an ST to warrant such a premium. Great car though and in fact I used to drive mine to speed dating events!
tomic said:
..Mine was 4 years old when I got it - the rattling made it feel like an old banger. I really can't imagine what a 10+ year old one would be like...
My 12 year old 225 is still completely rattle, buzz or whatever free, and that's even with the shoddy tarmac here in south Warwickshire & Gloucestershire. Yours might have had a hard life I guess?I always remember sitting in one of these when launched. I was totally taken by how special it felt.
Yes it had the beautifully designed Audi interior, then you take in the suede wheel, the bucket seats, the lack of rear seats, it did feel like something you wanted to jump in and drive.
I can't help but feel as a project car, be it for road or track use these have big potential. The chassis is easily improved, there are loads of power options...
Yes it had the beautifully designed Audi interior, then you take in the suede wheel, the bucket seats, the lack of rear seats, it did feel like something you wanted to jump in and drive.
I can't help but feel as a project car, be it for road or track use these have big potential. The chassis is easily improved, there are loads of power options...
Andy75 said:
My 12 year old 225 is still completely rattle, buzz or whatever free, and that's even with the shoddy tarmac here in south Warwickshire & Gloucestershire. Yours might have had a hard life I guess?
Not really, mostly driven around London.Mine had all of the rattles here
http://www.kevin-t.co.uk/tt/rattles/index.htm
(You can see at the end of the page above that there is actually an Audi part no for the felt used to damp out the rattles)
Plus, I also had to carry out 2 other fixes. One where I filled the parcel shelf with silicone to stop it buzzing. The other where I wrapped heatshrink around the boot catch to damp out the noise because it couldn't be adjusted properly. There was still an annoying metal on glass sound when I sold it that I could never figure out.
If you've got access to the TT Forum, this guy stripped his entire car out and sound proofed it because of the rattles.
http://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&a...
Edited by tomic on Saturday 13th September 00:51
Test drove a Quattro Sport and a MK5 GTI Edition 30 back to back from a dealer last year. Both had 'not your plain vanilla one' limited production appeal, but I bought the Golf as it had more low down torque and just rode / handled so much better. Looks better too.
To me the QS just felt like a crashier, noisier version of the normal TT and was only slightly quicker overall. The same bland feeling underpinnings were still present. The staggered wheels also means a more expensive tyre change.
To me the QS just felt like a crashier, noisier version of the normal TT and was only slightly quicker overall. The same bland feeling underpinnings were still present. The staggered wheels also means a more expensive tyre change.
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