Discussion
Hi all - I'm after a bit of feedback from original TT owners.
I am considering changing my current daily for an original TT for a fun driver over winter - doing a bit of research on the day to day experiecne with a TT...
I have always liked the design it is aging very well - but i have never driven one...
It is quite a departure from my current 6 series BMW and much smaller!
I'm 6'1 - will i fit okay?
The ride of the 6 series is firm with 19" wheels and run flats - how will the ride of the TT fair? - are they overly firm / do they handle potholes and speedbumps well (i.e. damping?)
Appreciate that they are difficult to compare and the creature comforts will not be similar but as a little fun car with nice engine / power they look appealing.
Any thoughts would be good!
I am considering changing my current daily for an original TT for a fun driver over winter - doing a bit of research on the day to day experiecne with a TT...
I have always liked the design it is aging very well - but i have never driven one...
It is quite a departure from my current 6 series BMW and much smaller!
I'm 6'1 - will i fit okay?
The ride of the 6 series is firm with 19" wheels and run flats - how will the ride of the TT fair? - are they overly firm / do they handle potholes and speedbumps well (i.e. damping?)
Appreciate that they are difficult to compare and the creature comforts will not be similar but as a little fun car with nice engine / power they look appealing.
Any thoughts would be good!
I owned a Manual 3.2 Coupe for just over a year and found that the ride was perfectly fine over most conditions. Ii think that the 3.2's are slightly softer sprung.
At 6ft 1ins you should have ample room in the drivers seat.
They hold the road well in all conditions providing there is sufficient tread on the tyres. The only draw back is that they like to drink the fuel more than the 225's, but that V6 is a very smooth engine.
Try one at a dealers.
At 6ft 1ins you should have ample room in the drivers seat.
They hold the road well in all conditions providing there is sufficient tread on the tyres. The only draw back is that they like to drink the fuel more than the 225's, but that V6 is a very smooth engine.
Try one at a dealers.
I owned a 3.2 DSG from new for a year in 2004 because like you I loved the design.
Cabin was great, a nice place to sit, comfy leather. I'm also 6ft, no issues with room. I spent a lot of time travelling between London and South Wales at the time, it was a nice place to be to despatch the tedium of the M4.
I loved the engine, but did not get along with the DSG gearbox because of how it used to momentarily stutter to do something from moving off from stationary. It was as though there was a mental pause for the electronics to get the mechanicals in action, given that at the time I did a lot of urban stop start driving it irked me more than a little. I replaced it with an E46 M3 SMG which I've put 70k miles on with no such similar troubles. Alas I bought the TT in a hurry on a massive dealer discount without a proper lengthy test drive, in hindsight I should have gone for the manual, or perhaps got the gearbox looked at. I had a lot going on in my personal life at the time so didn't really have time for messing about.
The 4WD was expectedly competent, engine was very smooth on a long run and it really did feel like it could pick up its skirt and fly, but the steering did feel a little bit divorced from the overall handling experience. It's not what I would call 'a driver's car' on the twisties.
What ultimately killed it for me, however, was that some scrote put the back window through with a house brick one night to nick my laptop out of the boot. That was all dealt with on insurance, but the glass breaking into thousands of pieces meant that lots of them got down into unreachable cavities in the chassis and boot lid. Despite the best efforts of me, Autoglass and my local Audi dealer we could never get rid of them all, so my finely engineered German automobile used to rattle like a can full of shrapnel over bumps. It got to the point that I began to hate driving the car and traded it on.
It seems I'm not the only one to suffer this fate - wish I had seen this thread at the time! https://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=50...
I bought an E46 M3 as a replacement and have never wanted to change it in 70k miles, so it was all part of life's rich tapestry. I've since driven a 630i and a 645D BMW, both excellent. Would I want to go to a 3.2 TT after those? Not sure. Get a good test drive would be my advice.
Cabin was great, a nice place to sit, comfy leather. I'm also 6ft, no issues with room. I spent a lot of time travelling between London and South Wales at the time, it was a nice place to be to despatch the tedium of the M4.
I loved the engine, but did not get along with the DSG gearbox because of how it used to momentarily stutter to do something from moving off from stationary. It was as though there was a mental pause for the electronics to get the mechanicals in action, given that at the time I did a lot of urban stop start driving it irked me more than a little. I replaced it with an E46 M3 SMG which I've put 70k miles on with no such similar troubles. Alas I bought the TT in a hurry on a massive dealer discount without a proper lengthy test drive, in hindsight I should have gone for the manual, or perhaps got the gearbox looked at. I had a lot going on in my personal life at the time so didn't really have time for messing about.
The 4WD was expectedly competent, engine was very smooth on a long run and it really did feel like it could pick up its skirt and fly, but the steering did feel a little bit divorced from the overall handling experience. It's not what I would call 'a driver's car' on the twisties.
What ultimately killed it for me, however, was that some scrote put the back window through with a house brick one night to nick my laptop out of the boot. That was all dealt with on insurance, but the glass breaking into thousands of pieces meant that lots of them got down into unreachable cavities in the chassis and boot lid. Despite the best efforts of me, Autoglass and my local Audi dealer we could never get rid of them all, so my finely engineered German automobile used to rattle like a can full of shrapnel over bumps. It got to the point that I began to hate driving the car and traded it on.
It seems I'm not the only one to suffer this fate - wish I had seen this thread at the time! https://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=50...
I bought an E46 M3 as a replacement and have never wanted to change it in 70k miles, so it was all part of life's rich tapestry. I've since driven a 630i and a 645D BMW, both excellent. Would I want to go to a 3.2 TT after those? Not sure. Get a good test drive would be my advice.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Thursday 1st October 13:38
citizen smith said:
I owned a Manual 3.2 Coupe for just over a year and found that the ride was perfectly fine over most conditions. Ii think that the 3.2's are slightly softer sprung.
At 6ft 1ins you should have ample room in the drivers seat.
They hold the road well in all conditions providing there is sufficient tread on the tyres. The only draw back is that they like to drink the fuel more than the 225's, but that V6 is a very smooth engine.
Try one at a dealers.
Thats really helpful thanks - yes it would make sense to find one at a dealer (there arent many local to me unfortunately of the 3.2 anyway) At 6ft 1ins you should have ample room in the drivers seat.
They hold the road well in all conditions providing there is sufficient tread on the tyres. The only draw back is that they like to drink the fuel more than the 225's, but that V6 is a very smooth engine.
Try one at a dealers.
Would say it is comfortable enough for a daily driver?
PurpleTurtle said:
I owned a 3.2 DSG from new for a year in 2004 because like you I loved the design.
Cabin was great, a nice place to sit, comfy leather. I'm also 6ft, no issues with room. I spent a lot of time travelling between London and South Wales at the time, it was a nice place to be to despatch the tedium of the M4.
I loved the engine, but did not get along with the DSG gearbox because of how it used to momentarily stutter to do something from moving off from stationary. It was as though there was a mental pause for the electronics to get the mechanicals in action, given that at the time I did a lot of urban stop start driving it irked me more than a little. I replaced it with an E46 M3 SMG which I've put 70k miles on with no such similar troubles. Alas I bought the TT in a hurry on a massive dealer discount without a proper lengthy test drive, in hindsight I should have gone for the manual, or perhaps got the gearbox looked at. I had a lot going on in my personal life at the time so didn't really have time for messing about.
The 4WD was expectedly competent, engine was very smooth on a long run and it really did feel like it could pick up its skirt and fly, but the steering did feel a little bit divorced from the overall handling experience. It's not what I would call 'a driver's car' on the twisties.
What ultimately killed it for me, however, was that some scrote put the back window through with a house brick one night to nick my laptop out of the boot. That was all dealt with on insurance, but the glass breaking into thousands of pieces meant that lots of them got down into unreachable cavities in the chassis and boot lid. Despite the best efforts of me, Autoglass and my local Audi dealer we could never get rid of them all, so my finely engineered German automobile used to rattle like a can full of shrapnel over bumps. It got to the point that I began to hate driving the car and traded it on.
It seems I'm not the only one to suffer this fate - wish I had seen this thread at the time! https://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=50...
I bought an E46 M3 as a replacement and have never wanted to change it in 70k miles, so it was all part of life's rich tapestry. I've since driven a 630i and a 645D BMW, both excellent. Would I want to go to a 3.2 TT after those? Not sure. Get a good test drive would be my advice.
Fantastic info - thanks! I have an S2000 for the sunny weather and agree i doubt the TT would be a driving match for that and wont pretend to be. Cabin was great, a nice place to sit, comfy leather. I'm also 6ft, no issues with room. I spent a lot of time travelling between London and South Wales at the time, it was a nice place to be to despatch the tedium of the M4.
I loved the engine, but did not get along with the DSG gearbox because of how it used to momentarily stutter to do something from moving off from stationary. It was as though there was a mental pause for the electronics to get the mechanicals in action, given that at the time I did a lot of urban stop start driving it irked me more than a little. I replaced it with an E46 M3 SMG which I've put 70k miles on with no such similar troubles. Alas I bought the TT in a hurry on a massive dealer discount without a proper lengthy test drive, in hindsight I should have gone for the manual, or perhaps got the gearbox looked at. I had a lot going on in my personal life at the time so didn't really have time for messing about.
The 4WD was expectedly competent, engine was very smooth on a long run and it really did feel like it could pick up its skirt and fly, but the steering did feel a little bit divorced from the overall handling experience. It's not what I would call 'a driver's car' on the twisties.
What ultimately killed it for me, however, was that some scrote put the back window through with a house brick one night to nick my laptop out of the boot. That was all dealt with on insurance, but the glass breaking into thousands of pieces meant that lots of them got down into unreachable cavities in the chassis and boot lid. Despite the best efforts of me, Autoglass and my local Audi dealer we could never get rid of them all, so my finely engineered German automobile used to rattle like a can full of shrapnel over bumps. It got to the point that I began to hate driving the car and traded it on.
It seems I'm not the only one to suffer this fate - wish I had seen this thread at the time! https://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=50...
I bought an E46 M3 as a replacement and have never wanted to change it in 70k miles, so it was all part of life's rich tapestry. I've since driven a 630i and a 645D BMW, both excellent. Would I want to go to a 3.2 TT after those? Not sure. Get a good test drive would be my advice.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Thursday 1st October 13:38
The 635d i have is great, smooth and very powerful but big and as much as it handles its not a car to hustle really. Im 40 and dare i say it it feels like a golf club car (a whiff of old man perhaps - maybe its just my perception) My commute has just halved after changing career path and much of the commute is on twistes and local roads.
Always liked the R32 but don't need a hatch back and the design of the Mk1 (in 3.2 guise) is a real draw....
I suppose my concern is that the old TT will be a signifcant drop in quality (or will it? many say the fit and finish is good) but i expect the ability to hustle it and the sound from the vr6 is what i'm looking for.
I recently sold my pride and joy Alfa GTV V6 which sounded immense so am looking for something to daily which has that sort of feel (if that makes sense)
PurpleTurtle said:
I owned a 3.2 DSG from new for a year in 2004 because like you I loved the design.
Cabin was great, a nice place to sit, comfy leather. I'm also 6ft, no issues with room. I spent a lot of time travelling between London and South Wales at the time, it was a nice place to be to despatch the tedium of the M4.
I loved the engine, but did not get along with the DSG gearbox because of how it used to momentarily stutter to do something from moving off from stationary. It was as though there was a mental pause for the electronics to get the mechanicals in action, given that at the time I did a lot of urban stop start driving it irked me more than a little. I replaced it with an E46 M3 SMG which I've put 70k miles on with no such similar troubles. Alas I bought the TT in a hurry on a massive dealer discount without a proper lengthy test drive, in hindsight I should have gone for the manual, or perhaps got the gearbox looked at. I had a lot going on in my personal life at the time so didn't really have time for messing about.
The 4WD was expectedly competent, engine was very smooth on a long run and it really did feel like it could pick up its skirt and fly, but the steering did feel a little bit divorced from the overall handling experience. It's not what I would call 'a driver's car' on the twisties.
What ultimately killed it for me, however, was that some scrote put the back window through with a house brick one night to nick my laptop out of the boot. That was all dealt with on insurance, but the glass breaking into thousands of pieces meant that lots of them got down into unreachable cavities in the chassis and boot lid. Despite the best efforts of me, Autoglass and my local Audi dealer we could never get rid of them all, so my finely engineered German automobile used to rattle like a can full of shrapnel over bumps. It got to the point that I began to hate driving the car and traded it on.
It seems I'm not the only one to suffer this fate - wish I had seen this thread at the time! https://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=50...
I bought an E46 M3 as a replacement and have never wanted to change it in 70k miles, so it was all part of life's rich tapestry. I've since driven a 630i and a 645D BMW, both excellent. Would I want to go to a 3.2 TT after those? Not sure. Get a good test drive would be my advice.
Totally agree about the DSG. In 2005 a Main Dealer let me have DSG for a days test drive and that convinced me to search for a Manual. I found the DSG/Paddle shift to annoying to live with - only good if stuck in a traffic jam.Cabin was great, a nice place to sit, comfy leather. I'm also 6ft, no issues with room. I spent a lot of time travelling between London and South Wales at the time, it was a nice place to be to despatch the tedium of the M4.
I loved the engine, but did not get along with the DSG gearbox because of how it used to momentarily stutter to do something from moving off from stationary. It was as though there was a mental pause for the electronics to get the mechanicals in action, given that at the time I did a lot of urban stop start driving it irked me more than a little. I replaced it with an E46 M3 SMG which I've put 70k miles on with no such similar troubles. Alas I bought the TT in a hurry on a massive dealer discount without a proper lengthy test drive, in hindsight I should have gone for the manual, or perhaps got the gearbox looked at. I had a lot going on in my personal life at the time so didn't really have time for messing about.
The 4WD was expectedly competent, engine was very smooth on a long run and it really did feel like it could pick up its skirt and fly, but the steering did feel a little bit divorced from the overall handling experience. It's not what I would call 'a driver's car' on the twisties.
What ultimately killed it for me, however, was that some scrote put the back window through with a house brick one night to nick my laptop out of the boot. That was all dealt with on insurance, but the glass breaking into thousands of pieces meant that lots of them got down into unreachable cavities in the chassis and boot lid. Despite the best efforts of me, Autoglass and my local Audi dealer we could never get rid of them all, so my finely engineered German automobile used to rattle like a can full of shrapnel over bumps. It got to the point that I began to hate driving the car and traded it on.
It seems I'm not the only one to suffer this fate - wish I had seen this thread at the time! https://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=50...
I bought an E46 M3 as a replacement and have never wanted to change it in 70k miles, so it was all part of life's rich tapestry. I've since driven a 630i and a 645D BMW, both excellent. Would I want to go to a 3.2 TT after those? Not sure. Get a good test drive would be my advice.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Thursday 1st October 13:38
The comfort levels were very good and far superior to an BMW E85/86, where the ride can be very crashy over bumpy roads even after you change those dreadful run flat tyres.
You could say that the TT is a little boring, but it covers long distances so easily and can be very swift when you want it to be.
It really depends on what you are looking for.
They're fine, not limo like but comfort and noise levels good.
Try to avoid very low profiles, arb bushes can get a bit crashy but cheap and easy to replace.
Haldex clutch can be suspect if abused or not serviced correctly. Window regulators are weak, the auto drop feature puts them under a lot of stress when the car is frozen. And DIS display can play up.
Try to avoid very low profiles, arb bushes can get a bit crashy but cheap and easy to replace.
Haldex clutch can be suspect if abused or not serviced correctly. Window regulators are weak, the auto drop feature puts them under a lot of stress when the car is frozen. And DIS display can play up.
Interestingly a manual is in a higher tax bracket than a DSG. Ride is firm, well mine certainly is. Dashboard DIS display often suffers from missing pixels and sometimes the water temp and fuel gauges give incorrect reading. Be aware front discs for Mk1 are expensive compared to the 4 cylinder versions.
Had mine 4 years and still love the look of it.
Had mine 4 years and still love the look of it.
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