RE: Shed of the Week: Audi TT Roadster

[pSyCoSiS]

Always thought of these as a funky little car when they came out.

Great value if all working as it should, keep now and sell for the same if not more in the summer!

[Sir_Dave]

Not a fan of the cabrio, but the coupe is still a lovely looking car imho!!

My wife bought one 8 years (maybe 9 actually) on 60k, its now on 135k. Nothing has ever really broken bad enough to stop it moving, but its had 2 x cambelt/waterpump changes, 2 x rear springs, 1 x clutch/flywheel, 8 x coil packs, discs/pads all round & quite a few sets of Pilot Sports. Oh and the usual 12k oil/filter change, then 20/40k Haldex oil/filters. Its probably one of the only non-remapped 1.8T's in the UK

[MX6]

I like the TT and mentioned that are properly cheap now. It's surprising how old the early ones are, but they are still not rare enough to be different and a particularly interesting sight on the road yet. It obviously doesn't tick the RWD box but the engines are quite tunable so as a cheap coupe there's a bit of fun to be had.

The design was quite striking when the car came out, I think now the jelly mould shape is very much of the period now. It has a slightly blobby look but the lines are certainly very smooth and clean compared to todays cars.

[Ilovejapcrap]

I’ll stick with my mk3 mr2 thanks

[J4CKO]

2Btoo said:

J4CKO said:

I had a 944 S2 Cab and it was more engaging than the TT, a nicer engine but they did share a bit of a vibe, similar size 2+2 and a cosy interior.

I think TT's are perhaps slagged off more than they deserve and 944's a bit over eulogised, I found that they were nearer in ability than I would have expected, 944 was more fun but they both majored on being a needy pain the arse always thought the 944 felt faster than it had any right with 208 bhp.

Interesting - I've never driven a 944cab but they are reputed to be some way behind the hard-top ones in terms of rigidity.

I'm more with Rallycross. I bought my S2 because of the reputation of the chassis and handling, and it hasn't failed to deliver at any point. And I've driven enough other 944's to know that mine is a good one. Perhaps that's the problem; the TT drives perfectly OK for a dull hatchback and that's all most people want but I am too much of a fussy git to settle for it.

Have to say though, if you've only ever tried a soft-top 944 then try a tin-top one sometime and you won't be disappointed. And you're spot on about them being a needy pain in the arse!

Yeah, it was a bit floppy, and I think that did affect the handling, cant not really.

I would take the 944 over a TT every day of the week

[WJNB]

The almost immediate reference to MRS Shed & again later confirms that no red-bloodied normal man would be seen dead in one.
Recent attempts to man-up the rolly-poly shapely funfair Dodgem car which-end-is-the-front styling had failed miserably.
Still a tidy looking TT roadster for loose change though even allowing some dosh aside to put right the faults. And a better badge than Mazda or the awful MG.

[humphra]

I'm no expert, but I suspect a lot of people would want to be able to afford a ten grand Porsche 944 over a two grand Audi TT!

[Pedal_Loud]

Interesting to draw the comparison with the 944.

I had 2 x 944's in the early/mid 2000s, a 250 turbo and an S2. I now have a mk1 Audi TT. Everything that has been said is correct. From a handling perspective the 944 is very hard to beat.

The 944 is/was and probably always will be THE perfect car for me. It fitted me like a glove and ticked all my boxes. I miss both of them to this day.

However, when I came to want a cheap, quick, Germanic, 2+2 coupe with convenience as a daily driver nothing other than the Mk1 TT was coming back in my search results for the budget I had. This was annoying as I had always hated them.

Slowly I looked into them, did my research and after a lousy few months dailying a flimsy Mazda 3 Sport I finally found one. Sure I've been hit my a big service bill, the dash repair (which I was expecting), a new wing to fix a dent etc but really so far for the money the old TT is delivering.

It's been reliable (I know some aren't), it's well made, it has a good turn of pace, the boot is huge, I can get the kids in (just), its 4WD and it just has that VAG charisma that I really like.

OK, so it handles nothing like the 944's did but for 99% of my journeys it really doesn't need to. So all in all I'm super happy with it. It even has factory fitted sat nav that still works (red dot matrix arrows anyone?!).

I did a few vids for YT on it (one is even called 'why I bought a mk1 audi tt') and so far they've had more views than anything else such is the popularity of the things.

Sure the TT is no 944 but then it is a fraction of the cost and you still get a well made, Germanic, characterful, 2+2 coupe.

[humphra]

Sir_Dave said:

Not a fan of the cabrio, but the coupe is still a lovely looking car imho!!

My wife bought one 8 years (maybe 9 actually) on 60k, its now on 135k. Nothing has ever really broken bad enough to stop it moving, but its had 2 x cambelt/waterpump changes, 2 x rear springs, 1 x clutch/flywheel, 8 x coil packs, discs/pads all round & quite a few sets of Pilot Sports. Oh and the usual 12k oil/filter change, then 20/40k Haldex oil/filters. Its probably one of the only non-remapped 1.8T's in the UK

Nice looking one. Is that the grey leather interior?

[PistonBroker]

humphra said:

I'm no expert, but I suspect a lot of people would want to be able to afford a ten grand Porsche 944 over a two grand Audi TT!

Exactly! And that sums up my interest in these.

Ultimately I want a 911. A £30k 997 would do me.

But that's a way off so I'll settle for a Boxster.

Whilst I'm waiting, I could get into a cheap TT and tick that box.

[slipstream 1985]

I just sold mine a few onths ago, A 225 coupe with 140k on the clock. There was lots going wrong with it but nothing an amateur mechanic couldn't keep on top off.

It was a great car. The best heated seats of any car i've ever been in. It took my bike in the back ok seats down and passenger seat forward but the bike wheels all stayed on. 7
It kept up with everything on spirited driving hoons in Scotland
It took e and a mate and all our ski kit to varius ski resorts.

If ever there was a jack of all trades this was it.

[f1nn]

In May I bought a 2002 TT 180 Roadster from KGF Classic cars, and as you may expect it was likely one of the most original, well cared for examples on the market.

Stunning condition. Still good looking, even today.

But, it was dreadful. Lifeless steering, inert, imprecise handling, too much grip to be any fun. The structure felt too soggy, the suspension too stiff. The more you asked of it, the less it gave, although I am aware that some people are fans of the way the coupe drives.

I’ve never been a fan of the 20V turbo engine, and again it didn’t exactly sparkle here, feeling lazy and thirsty at the same time.

Once the novelty had worn off, the car just wasn’t fun enough for me to want to keep as a toy.

I kept it for about a month until a guy approached me and offered what I’d paid, so I was happy to move it on for someone else to enjoy.

Edited by f1nn on Friday 7th December 17:53

[2Btoo]

humphra said:

I'm no expert, but I suspect a lot of people would want to be able to afford a ten grand Porsche 944 over a two grand Audi TT!

Fair point, but the 944 was taken as a benchmark for a similar car built to fulfil a similar requirement, not as a price comparison.

(Price comparisons vary with time. 10 years ago you could get a reasonable 944S2 for £2k and the TT in this article would have been nearer to £12k. Were this piece to be written then then things would look even less favourable for the pretty-but-dim-witted Ingolstadt contender.)

[f1nn]

In May I bought a 2002 TT 180 Roadster from KGF Classic cars, and as you may expect it was likely one of the most original, well cared for examples on the market.

Stunning condition. Still good liking even today.

But, it was dreadful. Lifeless steering, inert, imprecise handling, too much grip to be any fun. The structure felt too soggy, the suspension too stiff.

I’ve never been a fan of the 20V turbo engine, and again it didn’t exactly sparkle here, feeling lazy and thirsty at the same time.

Once the novelty had worn off, the car just wasn’t fun enough for me to want to keep as a toy.

I kept it for about a month until a guy approached me and offered what I’d paid, so I was happy to move it on for someone else to enjoy.

[cerb4.5lee]

I've always liked the TT, I drove one when they first came out and quite liked it. My Mrs had a Mk1 Roadster 225 and a good friend also had the same car. I also remember driving a 3.2 Coupe with the DSG, and that felt very quick off the line to me at the time.

Also had a Mk2 TTS Coupe, and although it disappointed me dynamically I did like the way it looked and the interior. Plus it went very well too I thought. I love the shape of the current MK3 TT.

[Flembo]

I have longed for a TT for all of these 20 years but I needed a 4 seater. I did buy a 2002 Seat Leon Cupra 180 which uses the same engine. A truly great car but I never liked the looks.
In july I bought a 2005 coupe, 180hp 2 wheel drive 5 speed box, as a second car. Its truly a design masterpiece and a pretty good car to use. It needs a 6th gear as my leon had but thats all I can fault it for. 127,000 miles doesn't use oil or drip oil on my drive and has never failed to start first turn of the key. As a precaution I changed the cambelt pump and pulleys. The belt didn't really need a change.

[Gav147]

Bought an ex demo 225 roadster in 2004 and we kept it for 8 years, okay the handling isn't going to set the world alight but as has been posted it's basically a golf/A3 underneath so it was always going to handle like a hatch. A great looking car imo (especially in black with red leather ) enough power for what it is, interior is superb and decent enough stereo with the Bose. In 8 years the only fault it ever had was a dodgy sensor... Think of a lot worse cars to own to be fair.

Oh one downside was the back window got broken.... which as someone else posted means a new roof! At the time Audi quoted me £2500.00 for it to be done, found a full roof from one being broken on eBay and won the auction (only bidder!) for £99 so get roof and me and a mate decided to strip out the interior to see what it was like to swap, ~10-15 bolts and the whole mechanism lifts out, had it done within the day.

[droopsnoot]

J4CKO said:

I started looking for a parts car, but my thinking is if you need a parts car, or a spare car like the C1, just get something else that works

A fair point, but I get attached. I didn't expect to, as I spent the first year or two of ownership hating it, wishing I'd kept my previous car (a 1986 coupe quattro) on the road instead. But over the last 15 years I've sort of got used to it.

J4CKO said:

I did wonder where I was going to put it,

That's no problem, I've got a shed. I've been trying to tidy it up and make a bit more room, but I could easily go the other way and fill it instead.

[Flembo]

Sparky137 said:

Christ, these look dated now. Ugliest car on the road by a country mile. Only useful as an engine donor for something else!!!

It was the best looking car when introduced and it still is the best looking car on the road by a long way. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but you've either got apalling taste or you don't know what a mk 1 TT looks like.

[J4CKO]

droopsnoot said:

J4CKO said:

I started looking for a parts car, but my thinking is if you need a parts car, or a spare car like the C1, just get something else that works

A fair point, but I get attached. I didn't expect to, as I spent the first year or two of ownership hating it, wishing I'd kept my previous car (a 1986 coupe quattro) on the road instead. But over the last 15 years I've sort of got used to it.

J4CKO said:

I did wonder where I was going to put it,

That's no problem, I've got a shed. I've been trying to tidy it up and make a bit more room, but I could easily go the other way and fill it instead.

Can see your dilemma, they are quite endearing, despite all the hate.