Audi TT quattro Sport | PH Private Area
The run-out Mk1 is slowly inching toward unicorn status. This one munched some serious miles on the way
The last time we shone a light on a TT quattro Sport - in January of 2024 - it was a lovely one in customary Misano Red that had, in nearly two decades of life on British roads, covered, on average, less than 2,000 miles a year. That is shockingly little for a car that is generally considered the most appealing Mk1 TT to drive - and it resulted (somewhat inevitably) in an asking price of £21,995. Bold, when you consider that the model’s price when new was only £29,335. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that car is still for sale.
This one is different in three key regards. Firstly, it is Mauritius Blue, which is much less common and a much nicer colour. Secondly, it is valued by its owner at £5,300, which is a much more reasonable-sounding amount. And thirdly, it has amassed a more appropriate amount of miles - 230,000 of them, in fact. The equivalent of nine times around the Earth. Which, we think you’ll agree, is much more like it.
Even better: the chap selling it reckons the chap he bought it from had owned the car almost from new - and accrued said miles in supposedly everyone’s favourite way, by romping repeatedly up and down a motorway with the kind of diligence that would make a homing pigeon blush. Not only did the TT get a very regular workout, its servicing was said to be no less metronomic, with sufficient stamps for it to now be on its second book.
The current keeper (a chip off the old block in mileage terms, having added 20k of his own) cannot be accused of standing idly by either. The comprehensive mechanical refresh undertaken early in their ownership reads like a suspension engineer's Christmas list: complete front and rear suspension overhaul with new bushes, bearings, and top mounts; a 3cm drop on mid-tier coilovers; four-wheel alignment; and new Goodyear rubber at all corners.
No less importantly, the 1.8-litre turbocharged four-pot - tickled up to 240hp in the QS, lest we forget - hasn't been neglected either, with a new clutch, DMF, cambelt, water pump, and cam cover gasket all fitted. Inside, the cabin mostly defies its astronomical mileage. The Recaro seats – half leather, half Alcantara in the QS – show minimal wear, and even the notoriously failure-prone pixel display has been professionally repaired, ensuring all instruments function as they should.
The appeal of all this, of course, beyond affordability, is that the limited edition model’s place in the TT annals has long been recognised, and with Audi’s iconic sports car finally gone the way of the Dodo, well-kept examples of the QS have become to ascend in value - as the aforementioned Misano Red shows. But because they require significant outlay, financial anxiety tends to take the edge off later enjoyment. Not so today’s hero, which ought to be catnip for anyone who values provenance and attentive TLC over garage-stored perfection. Which is most of us, right?
I've been half looking at these for a bit as mechanically they're a bit of a known quantity for me vs things like slightly more expensive Caymans etc and I think they've aged really well. Would I buy this one? Absolutely no. Suspension looks shagged too...
EDIT - just seen "mid range coilovers" mentioned in relation to the suspension drop. At least set them up so theres equal arch gap...
Plus it’s dark green.
Plus it s dark green.
Really does seem like one for TT fanboys and the "future classic, sure fire investment" idiots, for the rest of us you can tart it up all you like but ultimately it drives like what it is; a nicely trimmed 90s Golf and taking out the rear seats to pretend it's some sort of focussed sports car is just silly.
I'd rather a 225bhp one and £3k change for fixing the inevitable old car issues, it's a nice brisk shed car then.
https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/auctions/2706-14-J...
I suggest that the car in the PH article is probably a couple of K over priced judging by that comparison.
https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/auctions/2706-14-J...
I suggest that the car in the PH article is probably a couple of K over priced judging by that comparison.
Did you checkout its history, I guess not?
Its past is so toxic it reads like a Sniff Petrol parody.
Instead of the 18 services it should’ve had – VAG’s interval was 12 months or 10k miles, whichever occurred first – it’s had only 4.
The last of which was 5 years ago.
Previously, it hadn’t been serviced for 8 years.
Its last cambelt refresh was 13 years ago; ideally should be changed every 4 years, 5 at a push.
I guess its 6(!) charming former keepers had to skip maintenance so they could afford their selection of oikish mods, which includes a remap.
But hey, it has some boy-racer seats beloved by forum nerds and osteopaths in need of extra work.
The PH car with 2 enthusiast owners, a perfect FSH plus recent suspension refresh, is a complete bargain imho. Worth every penny.
And it’s blue, not grey.
Chapeau to its owners. Deserves to sell soon.
Had a 225 for a couple of years now, its pretty basic all things considered, and they do have their fair share of problems as age takes its toll, but they're a design classic and pretty good bang for buck if sourced diligently. A solid, low mile QS with the proper seats would be a fine thing to stash away.
Maybe the comfort spec actually allowed this 200k+ miler to circumnavigate many globes
The rear seats, parcel shelf, spare wheel, harmonic damper and air conditioning were all removed to reduce weight. The battery was relocated to the back of the car to aid weight distribution. Recaro Pole positions were offered as a no cost option for further weight saving. Additional bracing was added, the power was increased, and the suspension was upgraded and lowered.
So again, I’ve never owned a TT, never driven a Quattro Sport 240, never owned a VW, and once owned an Audi S3 Sportback for a year, so I have no allegiance to this brand at all, but these cars still sound like pretty special things imo.
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