Want an Audi TT but is it suitable for a commute?
Discussion
Im interested in getting a old shape Audi TT, but have a long daily commute.
I lift share, but this means that i do about 1300 miles per month.
Is a TT suitable for this?
Do i go for the 180bhp or the 225? What are the differences?
I have owned a Porsche 944 Turbo, Porsche 968 and a 1989 911. I really want the feeling of speed, will this car give it to me ? BTW, the 3.2 is out of my price range :-(
I lift share, but this means that i do about 1300 miles per month.
Is a TT suitable for this?
Do i go for the 180bhp or the 225? What are the differences?
I have owned a Porsche 944 Turbo, Porsche 968 and a 1989 911. I really want the feeling of speed, will this car give it to me ? BTW, the 3.2 is out of my price range :-(
I'm sure it'll be a decent commuter. My uncle has been using a TT Roadster (originally 225PS) since 2001, now over 100,000mi he says he still loves it and never wants to sell it. This ones tuned to something like 350bhp, lowered and site on 19inch Audi Motorsport alloy wheels, so if that's good enough for him (who I think does alot of driving) I'm sure a normal TT would be good enough for you. Go for the 225ps, you'll kick yourself if you don't!
Tom
Tom
Rav said:
Im interested in getting a old shape Audi TT, but have a long daily commute.
I lift share, but this means that i do about 1300 miles per month.
Is a TT suitable for this?
Do i go for the 180bhp or the 225? What are the differences?
I have owned a Porsche 944 Turbo, Porsche 968 and a 1989 911. I really want the feeling of speed, will this car give it to me ? BTW, the 3.2 is out of my price range :-(
We've just sold a 180bhp TT quattro which was doing ~520 miles a month on the station run. It's a very nice place to spend your commuting time. very good interior, comfortable seats and I loved the way it drove, at times I would have liked more power overtaking, but that was really down to being in the wrong gear and generally being not that good at this driving lark!I lift share, but this means that i do about 1300 miles per month.
Is a TT suitable for this?
Do i go for the 180bhp or the 225? What are the differences?
I have owned a Porsche 944 Turbo, Porsche 968 and a 1989 911. I really want the feeling of speed, will this car give it to me ? BTW, the 3.2 is out of my price range :-(
It's also quite handy for your junk once you have the seats down. I managerd a snowboard+ 2 sets of skis + lots of luggage for 2 before.
My friend had a 180 Quattro Coupe for four years and used it on his 40 mile (each way) commute over a mixture of motorways and B-Roads, and you couldn't really ask for a better cruiser this side of a Conti GT. Impeccable comfort, wonderful cabin, infrequent servicing and good economy on a run.
As for performance, the 180 had enough for a nice thrash whilst keeping it within the realms of legality (which is always nice) but to match a 944 level of performance you'll want the 225. Insurance won't be much more but I'm not sure how the economy stacks up. The 180 wasn't quite spinning the turbo at motorway cruising speeds, so it was very efficient. From my experience in a 225 demonstrator it seemed as though the turbo came in lower down the revs, but then the gearing will probably be longer.
As for the 3.2, word on the street is that (on average) the 225 is a close match in performance terms. It's down by about 30bhp, but also lighter and less nose-heavy. If anything would tempt me away from the 225 it would be the Quattro Sport.
As for performance, the 180 had enough for a nice thrash whilst keeping it within the realms of legality (which is always nice) but to match a 944 level of performance you'll want the 225. Insurance won't be much more but I'm not sure how the economy stacks up. The 180 wasn't quite spinning the turbo at motorway cruising speeds, so it was very efficient. From my experience in a 225 demonstrator it seemed as though the turbo came in lower down the revs, but then the gearing will probably be longer.
As for the 3.2, word on the street is that (on average) the 225 is a close match in performance terms. It's down by about 30bhp, but also lighter and less nose-heavy. If anything would tempt me away from the 225 it would be the Quattro Sport.
thinking of going down this route myself, its just, well, the image that always seems to be a problem!
Having said that, I do think that if you get the right one, it doesnt look soft at all- granted the 3.2 has a more aggressive look but ive seen a couple of 225's with the v6 spoiler and splitter and it genuinely does look quite purposeful.
I really like the look of the dolomite grey ones (with red leather) and rekon if you lowered it a touch it would look the part.
Im not sure about tuning, but i know a chip can get you an extra 40bhp and im sure the addition of a zaust and downpipe would take you up towards 270-280bhp, which is plenty really and would give my 350z a run for its money.
Commuting wise, the 180bhp engine in the octavia vrs is VERY frugal and ive had it upto almost 40mpg on a run.
I think the challenge is to find the right one which has been tweaked to take away that hairdresser image that seems to afflict tt's.
They are also becoming a lot more affordable too so im certainly going to keep an eye out I think...
Having said that, I do think that if you get the right one, it doesnt look soft at all- granted the 3.2 has a more aggressive look but ive seen a couple of 225's with the v6 spoiler and splitter and it genuinely does look quite purposeful.
I really like the look of the dolomite grey ones (with red leather) and rekon if you lowered it a touch it would look the part.
Im not sure about tuning, but i know a chip can get you an extra 40bhp and im sure the addition of a zaust and downpipe would take you up towards 270-280bhp, which is plenty really and would give my 350z a run for its money.
Commuting wise, the 180bhp engine in the octavia vrs is VERY frugal and ive had it upto almost 40mpg on a run.
I think the challenge is to find the right one which has been tweaked to take away that hairdresser image that seems to afflict tt's.
They are also becoming a lot more affordable too so im certainly going to keep an eye out I think...
Having owned one for three years, I might have a bias, but imo if you take a Coupe in classoc muted colours, it's hardly suitable for a sissors-merchant.
Ours was Avus Silver with black interior. Darker Greys look stunning, maybe not black as it mutes the profile.
The extra trim on the 3.2 didn't add anything, imo. Sure you looked at it, but that's because you knew it was the 3.2, not because the rear valance was of any interest in itself. The spoiler trim is an ugly touch, too.
Ours was Avus Silver with black interior. Darker Greys look stunning, maybe not black as it mutes the profile.
The extra trim on the 3.2 didn't add anything, imo. Sure you looked at it, but that's because you knew it was the 3.2, not because the rear valance was of any interest in itself. The spoiler trim is an ugly touch, too.
The best thing about the 3.2 is the DSG which makes it even better for commuting and can also be good fun. The fuel consumption on the 3.2 will be quite a bit higher than a 225 particularly in town and if you are thinking of doing any modding in the future then I would go for the 225. I had a 225 and then a 3.2 and did a high mileage in both and they are both very comfortable cars which both feel very secure whatever the weather.
If I was in the market for a TT again I'd go for the QS but I've no idea how their prices are holding up.
If I was in the market for a TT again I'd go for the QS but I've no idea how their prices are holding up.
VeryRisky said:
Sure you looked at it, but that's because you knew it was the 3.2, not because the rear valance was of any interest in itself.
Hear, hear. I think the 3.2 is sort of a "marketing top trump" model, but the big numbers don't really translate into an all-conquering model.I wouldn't worry about DSG. Sure autoshift is nice, but the TT's manual shift action and clutch are so good that it's still dead easy to drive in traffic. The one I drove had 50k on the clock with the original clutch and it was still wonderfully smooth to change.
red_zed said:
thinking of going down this route myself, its just, well, the image that always seems to be a problem!
I actually bought an S3 rather than a TT just because every other driver had a TT (SW London) and I loved the subtlety of S3 (petrolheads look and nod and everyone else ignores you). Forget the stereotypes and stop worrying whatever everyone else thinks - it is still a very nice car, and the styling is iconic (still can't help admiring them).They just need the quattro GmbH enhanced suspension kit and a chip and they are great
Mine's up for sale and it doesn't need a penny spending on it - see classifieds.
3.2 DSG - perfect for commuting - not on and off the clutch all the time and the best SMG you can buy.
Also if you're doing steady mileage then it won't drink the fuel. I have commuted in mine for over 2 years and it's brilliant for that purpose. Avus silver with red leather for the record.
3.2 DSG - perfect for commuting - not on and off the clutch all the time and the best SMG you can buy.
Also if you're doing steady mileage then it won't drink the fuel. I have commuted in mine for over 2 years and it's brilliant for that purpose. Avus silver with red leather for the record.
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