Audi TTS (2008)
Discussion
Again I’ve not tried the Audi but you’re going through similar searches to ones I’ve looked at in the past. People say the TT is dull to drive but I think it looks good, seems to go well and is quite good value. Obviously you sacrifice RWD but the AWD could be good.
Here’s another option to look at.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211151...
Maybe a higher risk of big bills but they’ve always appealed to me.
Here’s another option to look at.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211151...
Maybe a higher risk of big bills but they’ve always appealed to me.
I never felt anything for any of the TTs. It's a typical VAG product, made to a budget and to leverage the use of a mundane lackluster FWD platform. Just another way to sell the same car again in a different wrap. They don't even look good IMO. It's not a real sports car and there are so many "better" options out there. As pretenders and posers go, the TT is probably the worst.
Personally I find the fwd TT mk2 better to drive than the golf gti mk5, not sure why the gti is praised and the TT more or less ignored.
However my mate was a big fan of the mk2 TT and couldn’t wait to drive an S but was very disappointed.
Understeered much more readily and felt heavy.
I’ve drove an 8p S3 so not quite the same but that just understeered the more it was pushed.
Give one a go you might enjoy it
However my mate was a big fan of the mk2 TT and couldn’t wait to drive an S but was very disappointed.
Understeered much more readily and felt heavy.
I’ve drove an 8p S3 so not quite the same but that just understeered the more it was pushed.
Give one a go you might enjoy it
Yorkshire_LY said:
Just following on from my recent Toyota GT86 thread as a comparison - these seem to be a similar kind of car with 4 seats but with quite a bit more power.
Anyone own one? Budget of £11k.
If you want a good steer for under 11k that's got some power, a good steer & space for 4, I think you'll be hard pressed to beat the Astra GTC VXR:Anyone own one? Budget of £11k.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210230...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211221...
TTS's are decent cars & you should be able to buy a 2010> as a drivers car they're not there but as an all rounder they're a very good option.
If you're looking more for an allrounder why not go for the G37 it's the same platform (but longer) as the 370Z & has four seats but it is Auto (there's the odd manual around but these are super rare) only:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208259...
ZX10R NIN said:
Yorkshire_LY said:
Just following on from my recent Toyota GT86 thread as a comparison - these seem to be a similar kind of car with 4 seats but with quite a bit more power.
Anyone own one? Budget of £11k.
If you want a good steer for under 11k that's got some power, a good steer & space for 4, I think you'll be hard pressed to beat the Astra GTC VXR:Anyone own one? Budget of £11k.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210230...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211221...
TTS's are decent cars & you should be able to buy a 2010> as a drivers car they're not there but as an all rounder they're a very good option.
If you're looking more for an allrounder why not go for the G37 it's the same platform (but longer) as the 370Z & has four seats but it is Auto (there's the odd manual around but these are super rare) only:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208259...
Just to add that after quite a long search for a sporty coupe with back seats I ended up buying a hot hatch (mk7 Fiesta st3).
Having had a 3 series coupe I thought I really wanted RWD but in all honesty I don’t miss it. You can have just as much fun in a FWD hatch with a decent chassis. On top of that was back seats you can actually use and a reasonable boot. Then there’s the value for money. Your £11k will buy a newer hot hatch than it will a coupe. I bought a 2017 Fiesta ST3 for less than a 2012 GT86 which at the time was a no brainer.
If you want good power combined with a sharp drive there’s the Astra VXR that ZX mentioned as well as the Megane RS250. They should feel as quick as your old 350Z, give you the space you need and provide you with something a bit different.
Having had a 3 series coupe I thought I really wanted RWD but in all honesty I don’t miss it. You can have just as much fun in a FWD hatch with a decent chassis. On top of that was back seats you can actually use and a reasonable boot. Then there’s the value for money. Your £11k will buy a newer hot hatch than it will a coupe. I bought a 2017 Fiesta ST3 for less than a 2012 GT86 which at the time was a no brainer.
If you want good power combined with a sharp drive there’s the Astra VXR that ZX mentioned as well as the Megane RS250. They should feel as quick as your old 350Z, give you the space you need and provide you with something a bit different.
ChrisH72 said:
Just to add that after quite a long search for a sporty coupe with back seats I ended up buying a hot hatch (mk7 Fiesta st3).
Having had a 3 series coupe I thought I really wanted RWD but in all honesty I don’t miss it. You can have just as much fun in a FWD hatch with a decent chassis. On top of that was back seats you can actually use and a reasonable boot. Then there’s the value for money. Your £11k will buy a newer hot hatch than it will a coupe. I bought a 2017 Fiesta ST3 for less than a 2012 GT86 which at the time was a no brainer.
If you want good power combined with a sharp drive there’s the Astra VXR that ZX mentioned as well as the Megane RS250. They should feel as quick as your old 350Z, give you the space you need and provide you with something a bit different.
I know people have different sensibilities, but would you say your "just as much fun" is heavily influenced by the fact you need more practicality and probably don't have another option or as many? Having had a 3 series coupe I thought I really wanted RWD but in all honesty I don’t miss it. You can have just as much fun in a FWD hatch with a decent chassis. On top of that was back seats you can actually use and a reasonable boot. Then there’s the value for money. Your £11k will buy a newer hot hatch than it will a coupe. I bought a 2017 Fiesta ST3 for less than a 2012 GT86 which at the time was a no brainer.
If you want good power combined with a sharp drive there’s the Astra VXR that ZX mentioned as well as the Megane RS250. They should feel as quick as your old 350Z, give you the space you need and provide you with something a bit different.
I myself just can't have as much fun in a FWD, not matter how much I try. And there is nothing one can really do about it. You take a flawed, dull RWD car, do suspension work, brake work, engine work and you have a solid drive. You do all that with a FWD and you still end up with FWD.
I always saw the whole hot hatch market as preying on those who can't have the real thing for whatever reason and need to settle for a compromise. This is fine. I just never understood the whole "it's as good as the real thing" line of thinking. It's not and it can never be. Even if it might seem, out of the box.
Unfortunately this attitude is what killed the sports car market and now ironically and maybe deservedly it's what is killing the hot hatch, as it is being killed by the sport SUV (if there was ever a more stupid term) because people are buying them over hot hacthes based on the very same reasons as they bought hot hatches over sports cars.
Edited by Shifter1 on Friday 25th November 21:55
Shifter1 said:
ChrisH72 said:
Just to add that after quite a long search for a sporty coupe with back seats I ended up buying a hot hatch (mk7 Fiesta st3).
Having had a 3 series coupe I thought I really wanted RWD but in all honesty I don’t miss it. You can have just as much fun in a FWD hatch with a decent chassis. On top of that was back seats you can actually use and a reasonable boot. Then there’s the value for money. Your £11k will buy a newer hot hatch than it will a coupe. I bought a 2017 Fiesta ST3 for less than a 2012 GT86 which at the time was a no brainer.
If you want good power combined with a sharp drive there’s the Astra VXR that ZX mentioned as well as the Megane RS250. They should feel as quick as your old 350Z, give you the space you need and provide you with something a bit different.
I know people have different sensibilities, but would you say your "just as much fun" is heavily influenced by the fact you need more practicality and probably don't have another option or as many? Having had a 3 series coupe I thought I really wanted RWD but in all honesty I don’t miss it. You can have just as much fun in a FWD hatch with a decent chassis. On top of that was back seats you can actually use and a reasonable boot. Then there’s the value for money. Your £11k will buy a newer hot hatch than it will a coupe. I bought a 2017 Fiesta ST3 for less than a 2012 GT86 which at the time was a no brainer.
If you want good power combined with a sharp drive there’s the Astra VXR that ZX mentioned as well as the Megane RS250. They should feel as quick as your old 350Z, give you the space you need and provide you with something a bit different.
I myself just can't have as much fun in a FWD, not matter how much I try. And there is nothing one can really do about it. You take a flawed, dull RWD car, do suspension work, brake work, engine work and you have a solid drive. You do all that with a FWD and you still end up with FWD.
I always saw the whole hot hatch market as preying on those who can't have the real thing for whatever reason and need to settle for a compromise. This is fine. I just never understood the whole "it's as good as the real thing" line of thining. It's not and it can never be. Even if it might seem, out of the box.
Unfortunately this attitude is what killed the sports car market and now ironically and maybe deservedly it's what is killing the hot hatch, as it is being killed by the sport SUV (if there was ever a more stupid term) because people are buying them over hot hacthes based on the very same reasons as they bought hot hatches over sports cars.
Edited by Shifter1 on Friday 25th November 21:52
The need for some practicality does come into it, as it obviously does with the OP. The beauty of a hot hatch is that you very much can have it all. Having back seats in a sports coupe is a compromise not worth having IMO, they’re pretty much useless which is why there aren’t many to choose from. GT86 is overpriced and underpowered, the Audi TT not particularly fun to drive. And neither of them have back seats you can really use so what’s the point? I wouldn’t say that they were particularly special either. They’re okay but no better than anything else.
With a budget of 11k and a need for useable back seats what would you suggest?
None of the TTs have really got 4 seats. Audi advise a maximum height for people sitting in the back of around 5ft iirc, but that's not really an issue as anyone taller would have to leave their legs behind anyway.
I wanted a TTS, really enjoyed the test drive, it's quick, grippy, much better all round than my Mk1, but it was too small inside for me even with the front seat pushed up against the rear.
I wanted a TTS, really enjoyed the test drive, it's quick, grippy, much better all round than my Mk1, but it was too small inside for me even with the front seat pushed up against the rear.
May not help, as I was looking for a commuter rather than a sports car, but I bought a 6 series instead. If that's a bit heavy and GTish, there are smaller BMW coupes depending on how seriously you need the rear seats, and both the 2 and 4 are meant to be decent to drive. I had a 2 series convertible as a hire car and even with the crappiest diesel engine it was still quite good fun and surprisingly spacious inside.
Yorkshire_LY said:
Shifter1 said:
I would agree. Although not any more chavvy than a BMW M car or any tuned on steroids cars.
The look of the BMWs bore me to hell. The newer Z4 is the only one that looks half decent. Plus,BMWs are so common on the roads. I like to have a rare car hehe. ChrisH72 said:
Shifter1 said:
ChrisH72 said:
Just to add that after quite a long search for a sporty coupe with back seats I ended up buying a hot hatch (mk7 Fiesta st3).
Having had a 3 series coupe I thought I really wanted RWD but in all honesty I don’t miss it. You can have just as much fun in a FWD hatch with a decent chassis. On top of that was back seats you can actually use and a reasonable boot. Then there’s the value for money. Your £11k will buy a newer hot hatch than it will a coupe. I bought a 2017 Fiesta ST3 for less than a 2012 GT86 which at the time was a no brainer.
If you want good power combined with a sharp drive there’s the Astra VXR that ZX mentioned as well as the Megane RS250. They should feel as quick as your old 350Z, give you the space you need and provide you with something a bit different.
I know people have different sensibilities, but would you say your "just as much fun" is heavily influenced by the fact you need more practicality and probably don't have another option or as many? Having had a 3 series coupe I thought I really wanted RWD but in all honesty I don’t miss it. You can have just as much fun in a FWD hatch with a decent chassis. On top of that was back seats you can actually use and a reasonable boot. Then there’s the value for money. Your £11k will buy a newer hot hatch than it will a coupe. I bought a 2017 Fiesta ST3 for less than a 2012 GT86 which at the time was a no brainer.
If you want good power combined with a sharp drive there’s the Astra VXR that ZX mentioned as well as the Megane RS250. They should feel as quick as your old 350Z, give you the space you need and provide you with something a bit different.
I myself just can't have as much fun in a FWD, not matter how much I try. And there is nothing one can really do about it. You take a flawed, dull RWD car, do suspension work, brake work, engine work and you have a solid drive. You do all that with a FWD and you still end up with FWD.
I always saw the whole hot hatch market as preying on those who can't have the real thing for whatever reason and need to settle for a compromise. This is fine. I just never understood the whole "it's as good as the real thing" line of thining. It's not and it can never be. Even if it might seem, out of the box.
Unfortunately this attitude is what killed the sports car market and now ironically and maybe deservedly it's what is killing the hot hatch, as it is being killed by the sport SUV (if there was ever a more stupid term) because people are buying them over hot hacthes based on the very same reasons as they bought hot hatches over sports cars.
Edited by Shifter1 on Friday 25th November 21:52
The need for some practicality does come into it, as it obviously does with the OP. The beauty of a hot hatch is that you very much can have it all. Having back seats in a sports coupe is a compromise not worth having IMO, they’re pretty much useless which is why there aren’t many to choose from. GT86 is overpriced and underpowered, the Audi TT not particularly fun to drive. And neither of them have back seats you can really use so what’s the point? I wouldn’t say that they were particularly special either. They’re okay but no better than anything else.
With a budget of 11k and a need for useable back seats what would you suggest?
And I couldn't disagree more with hot hatches having it all. It has an engine facing sideways, over or worse beyond the front axle, with the same wheels doing the steering and the moving, with huge overhang, totally unbalanced design, well I could go on but it's far from having it all. What it is, is just a practical car which can go fast in some ways. As a cheap, practical transportation pod, which is what they were created to be, hatchbacks are brilliant. The problem started when we started to pretend they were sport cars.
But we agree about backseats in a sports car. Totally futile. If you want a sports car, go all in. Get a 2 seater. If you can't, then admit, accept and buy a practical car with backseats. You can buy one which goes fast. Just know no matter what it is not a sports car. And if FWD, know it will have that other compromised added on top.
Also agree the GT86 is overpriced. Grossly so IMO. And again agree with you on the TT.
The problem for the OP is wanting something that will do it all. I used to be trapped in that fallacy. But such car doesn't exist. Either buy the sports car or accept you can't have it. So I would look for a fast 4 door saloon. Or if I really wanted to pretend I drive a sports car which is not, I would look for a fast coupe with real backseats, which would undoubtedly be saloon based or just a 2 door saloon instead of a real coupe. But I find that foolish, as you might as wel just buy a 4 doors saloon and have the extra added practicality. But if it was me what I would really really do is buy a practical car for 5K and a sports car for 6K. Or whatever price break that worked. Or saved up a couple more quid. I would have to go a bit older, but at least it would be doing it right and really having all. Just my opinion.
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