Mk1 Audi TT 225 - My first enthusiast car.

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Hello!

Welcome to my first ever post on here and my first ever enthusiast car!

Back in October, when my car insurance dropped significantly, I knew I could finally insure something a bit more spicy without paying through the nose AND out my backside for it.

In the interest of keeping my posts a succinct length where possible, I'll explain my reasons for my choice in a lot more detail in subsequent posts.

However, around about this time, I absolutely fell in love with the first generation Audi TT.

It had never won the hearts of the motoring press; often derided as a golf with a lovely outfit on. Which is probably why I hadn't paid much attention to it until recently.

Nevertheless, I realised I adored the way it looks and it apparently drove brilliantly. The internet and the enthusiast VAG scene concluded that, despite the odd problem, it was an absolutely brilliant car.

I knew it would scratch my "sporty car" itch and thus I started my hunt.

It took a long time due to an ill combination of work commitments, a silly insistence on trying to find a Merlin Purple one and of course, that belligerent disease that has plagued our lives over the past year and a bit.

Finally though, last Tuesday, thanks to the great guys at TT Spares in Crewe, who I'd thoroughly recommend, I picked up this beauty!



So he/she/it (not decided on an name) is a facelift MK1 Audi TT with the 1.8T BAM 225 engine. It's obviously a coupe and is Moro Blue with Ivory Interior.

It has done 120k miles and has a full service history. A fully stamped book with tons of invoices. Tbh, the service history is outstanding and is definitely the chief reason why I've gone for this particular example. It showcases countless pieces of work, including a new gearbox with clutch and two instances of cam belt and water pump changes.



Save for a new headunit and reversing camera, the car is completely stock.

The bodywork is straight, the wheels are immaculate considering, the engine has no codes and it is driving fantastically.

The body has the odd scratch and mark, but nothing you wouldn't expect from a car that has been out on the open road for so many years.



It also has an oil leak as noted in the MOT. It is quoted as being "not excessive' which I agree with. Its deffo damp in places, but its not wet everywhere. Ive checked the oil level more than once and its not really changed so I think its a bit of seepage from a gasket somewhere. More investigation needed. And degreaser lol.

It also has the problem with the instrument cluster LCD screen that is seemingly ubiquitous on these



Fortunately, the rest of the instrument cluster works just fine, which I've learnt is not always a given on these.

Overall, my first week with the car has been wonderful. I couldn't be happier. I'm loving the TT as a car in general and I seem to, touch wood, have found a solid example. It's nice to find one that has been used, but not abused.

Im hoping to document my time with the TT on here so stay tuned for more if you interested.

I will get better pictures of it, just been busy in general and also busy driving it!

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Ayahuasca said:

I used to have one of those, it was pretty bulletproof and a good drive.

Glad to hear it was bulletproof! Always encouraging. How long ago did you have it?

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5s Alive said:

There's a chap on Detailing World with a long running 2006 TT225 thread. Whatever you're likely to need to do he's probably detailed (sorry) whats involved. Showroom/Projects thread IIRC.

Haha no worries thanks for letting me know. Their thread will doubtless help me with stuff. This thread will be a mixture of stuff I do to the car and with it also. Got Goodwood, Caffeine and Machine, Audis in the Park etc planned for it.

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How u doing said:

I love these too, the mk2 is undoubtedly better but this is the original.

For anyone looking don't be put off by the 180, not as quick but still a cool car.

Not driven a 180, but I will deffo take your word for it. I feel like they are all great!

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MightyBadger said:

Great little cars. Had my 225 remapped to 280 and really went well.

You can get the lcd repaired by these guys for not much money
http://www.bba-reman.com/gb/content.aspx?content=a...

Enjoy the car, looks nice.

Dayum. With 280 it must've really flown! Did it take well to the remap? Any problems related to that afterwards?

Thanks for that link!

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Court_S said:

These have aged really well. I think they still look good inside and out.

Could not agree more. I think it is genuinely a timeless design. One of the best looking ever cars in my opinion. Especially amongst cars that aren't Aston Martin's and the like.

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TTOBES said:

Nice car, good purchase!
I've a 2005 3.2 coupe. It too needs the dashpod looking at - I've both the DIS and fuel gauge issue.

Ref MK2 mentioned above, they too are nice cars but I don't think they'll age as well as there were more factory options for them not to have been specced with.

Would like to go to a TT meet/drive one day.

I bet the V6 is lovely! I'd love to meet some fellow TT owners. Hoping to meet some on here and on the TT Owners Club too. I deffo need to spend some time with the MK2/ 8J but I think you are right. Lots more options and trim levels to omit and leave it lacking. I think all MK1s look great. From 150 all the way to the Quattro Sport.

With the MK2, the base spec ones look good still, but still inferior to the better specced siblings. S line made a colossal difference. Another example of a manufacturer designing their cars around the trim levels to make the higher levels much more desirable. S line, M sport etc.

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Ructions said:

I had a number of TTs over the years, the MK1 is a design classic. You’ll get all the info and help you need over on the TT Forum https://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/index.php

Big fan then! Any favourite in particular? Did you have a V6 and or a 225 in your time? Ahh yes, that forum is definitely something I need to join, make use of and hopefully help others a bit too!

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Ructions said:

I had a number of 225s both Coupe and Roadster, I didn’t like the 3.2, too heavy and thirsty for what it was, though I did have the 3.2 rear spoiler on most of my cars.
The 225 is very tuneable and the handling can easily be sorted.

I always loved this ad for the TT https://www.adforum.com/talent/10916-jimi-hendrix/...

What colours did you have for the 225s? How did the convertible drive compared to the coupe? Im not really keen on convertibles but I am intrigued whether or not the roadster wobbles and has scuttle shake?

Ive heard that about the V6. Loves a slurp of fossil juice and is a big lump right in the nose. Id love to give a V6 manual coupe a go for the experience. I do think they sound nice, but I'd be very surprised if I ended up getting one.

Im thinking of getting the V6 honeycomb rear valence for mine. Just a nice little OEM+ mod for the 225 to set it off nicely. Easy as pie to fit too.

That advert is amazing! Thank you for showing me that!

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Ayahuasca said:

Best Audi ad for me was ‘Tell Charles I’m on my way...’

https://youtu.be/7qI4no2xDco

That advert is an absolute classic. So clever.

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Ructions said:

First TT was a grey roadster with baseball leather, it was less than a year old. I loved that car. Then I had a number of coupes, first one was plain old silver. It stopped one day, petrol gauge was showing quarter of a tank so we knew that wasn’t the issue. Couldn’t figure it out until a friend decided to add some more petrol just in case, turns out he was correct and I had the dreaded dashpod issue. Wasn’t a cheap fix in those days. I think the last one was an Elderberry coupe, an odd colour but it worked on the TT. Saw a nice one during the week that got me thinking I’d like a nice sorted TT again. Probably had seven or eight in different guises over the years.

Not as keen on the newer model, though there is a 2016 S locally that looks and sounds well.

Thank you for telling me about your TT history a bit! What did you think of the baseball leather?

Being very young when the TT came out, probably about 4 or 5, I don't remember the general reaction to the TT upon its release. Was there a bit of a buzz around it?

Oh dear I imagine that cost you a bit to get the dashpod rectified back then!

Elderberry is a lovely colour. Thumbs up from me there!

One thing I love about the TT is the colours that it came in. The standard palette was fantastic. My Moro Blue one is an example of that in my opinion. I know colour is subjective but I really like Moro Blue. Deep navy in the shade but really pops in the sunshine!

Combine that with the mix of Audi exclusive colours and you've got a TT kaleidoscope going on. Papaya Orange, Merlin Purple, Goodwood Green, Nogaro Blue etc etc.

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TTOBES said:

I worked at an Audi dealer as a driver when the MK1 was still in production so was driving a fair few of them with delivery miles and I've wanted one ever since. I remember seeing a customer car, a 150 in Elderberry, coming off the transporter and it looked great. I got a 3.2 because it's a second car and lives somewhere else so it's not a mile muncher. Mine's Mauritius with Anis but have to say Moro with Anis was the pairing I was looking for, but as I wanted a manual I told myself not to be too fussy.

That’s a really cool insight into the dealership world around the time of the TT launch. I bet it was awesome to see them new. Was there a general excitement about them? From customers and/or the dealership staff?

Mauritius and Anis is a great combo. Your like me then; definitely prioritise the manual!

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jimbouk said:

OP, Reckon it should have a few more miles in it.

My 225 roadster has clocked up 260,000 still on original clutch

Currently being rejuvenated with a new front subframe and haldex unit after 20 years.

Dread to think how many tyres I have had fitted over that time ….

Just keep on changing the oil regularly!

Edited by jimbouk on Friday 25th June 17:40

260,000! That does encourage me I have to say! Would love to see the results of that work!

Got some new oil for it already, will be updating when I put it in

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aaron_2000 said:

Other than the awful visibility, these are brilliant cars. Way more practical than people realise too

I deffo agree about the practicality. The boot is far larger than people realise! Plus its got a good size interior too. I have a lanky frame so fitting in a smallish car is always a bonus.

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Hello! TT update.

Firstly, it's been lovely talking to you guys about the TT. Its been really great and has meant a lot.

Last Saturday, I took the car to London for a shopping trip with a friend. Performed flawlessly. Easy to drive in London. I love how you don't have to drive like a prick to hear the turbo. It gently inhales and exhales audibly under normal acceleration. Also, I feel comfortable in it on long journeys. 4 hours or so in the car that day and my lanky frame was absolutely fine in there.

TT in Westfield shopping centre



However, a bit of a problem occurred afterwards, which fortunately I spotted before it became a massive one.

When going out to look at the car in the evening, I spotted a bulge in one of the front tyres. Game over for that one.



Bit of a shame as while the tyres are a nondescript brand, I was going to make use of the good tread on them before upgrading to some Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres when the time came.

However, poo happens. So I found two PS4 tyres on Gumtree for a great price that had ample tread depth, stuck the TT up on axle stands and took the two front wheels to get these new Michelins fitted in my ever trusty Polo.

Safely in the back of the Polo



Fitted on the Audi.



Incidentally. Whilst the TT was up on the stands, there was a break in the rain and I had an evening spare, so I treated it to its first wash. It was quite dirty as the following photos show and I was desperate to see it looking sharp!





I cracked out my pressure washer and my products and got to work. This was just a "good wash." No decontamination on body, polish or wax etc. That will come. Just a degreaser/traffic film remover, snow foam and the good old fashioned two bucket method.







I did decide to use some iron remover on the wheels as I had them off anyway. Look at that purple! So much brake dust!



Anyways, once I stuck the wheels back on with their new rubber, I took it out for a drive. It had been 5 or so days so I was desperate. Drove some lovely flowing country roads to Diddly Squat Farm Shop. Jeremy Clarkson's one in Chipping Norton. Well worth a visit and provided a nice location for a photoshoot!

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martin mrt said:

That looks a cracking example you have there.

I think these have came through the long in the tooth mid life stage well and values will only go one way now.

Original unmolested ones are getting harder to find it seems.

Thank you!

I deffo agree. Looking at the classifieds can be quite a sorry sight for these things. So many have been neglected and/or messed about with.

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bangerhoarder said:

I tend to jump in on TT thread as I like the cars - on my second 225 which I bought on a whim while I still owned the first. Punted number 1 on as it was a bit of a hound.

I’m a big fan. They’re not that ‘fun’ to drive (I have a Puma for that) but capable, fast (when remapped) great grip, and fairly simple mechanically. The list of issues they can suffer from is well documented and long, but oil sludging is the most critical. That should be checked as soon as possible after purchase.

Keep an eye on the vacuum, PCV and boost pipework. I once lost brake assistance due to this cracking on the servo feed (slight browning occurred). The wastegate and diverter valve control valves are also prone to dying, reducing performance. Stripping this equipment off the car is popular but I wouldn’t recommend it.

I haven’t done every job on mine (garage did the cam belt and the oil pump) but I know my way around a fair bit of them.

Thanks for your message and the advise it contains! In my research of the TT in general, I did look up some of their foibles. It is a somewhat long list but documented as you say. Since it is fairly simply mechanically, most of it isn't too daunting.

Im going to be changing the oil soon. However, as I do so, Im going to take the sump off, change the pickup pipe and give the sump a cleanup too.

I will also be having a good look in the engine bay and underneath soon; definitely looking out for hose problems. There is definitely a big silicone hose market for these for a reason...

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Court_S said:

How was the traffic around the farm shop? It’s been pretty bad from what I can gather.

I have family in Chipping Norton so a trip there is very much on the cards.

The traffic was non-existent when I went since I arrived when the farm shop was closed. Only the bar was open. I did notice the car park is literally 10 times bigger than it was last time I visited so hopefully that should ease the traffic problems. I imagine people are flocking there off the back of the rather brilliant Clarkson's Farm program.

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Jandywa said:

Superb cars. I had a TT Quattro Sport for nearly 6 years and absolutely loved it. It was bulletproof, and always felt quicker than it’s horsepower suggested (mine was standard). And the grip. Sweet Jesus the grip. Until it understeered of course.
Keep on top of the maintenance and it won’t put a foot wrong. Awesome bits of kit

Dayum a Quattro Sport! That is the holy grail of MK1 TTs in my opinion! Such tasteful sharpening of the TT. Will deffo keep on top of the maintenance. Got some bits ready to put on very soon.

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Ructions said:

The QS is the sweet spot of the MK1 range, those seats are fantastic, though I reckon they would be a little snug these days. Over 10K for a good one and as they are becoming rarer the price will only go one way.

I love the seats too! A Quattro Sport would've been amazing for me, but simply too much for me. Price sadly going only one way as you say.