Learn me Audi TT

This is a very general "learn me" thread. I know next to nothing about these cars other than they're in general unreliable or else expensive to maintain. My wife loves the look of them though, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't agree with her.

So, basically any Audi TT that in 1-2 years will be $15,000 or less (and less can be $3,000 or $14,000). Are there any that are better? Any that are worse? Years, engines, transmissions, FWD vs. AWD? If we ever got one it would be driven about 3k miles a year, plus a few autocrosses.

I know this, the baseball-glove interior is probably the nicest place I have ever sat.

I only know about the Mk1s, as they are the only ones I like. I'm hunting for the right FWD myself. The FWD ones are a lighter 1.8T GTI with better front suspension, and they are great value for money since nobody wants a "base model" Audi. The AWD ones add a lot of weight and complexity for not a lot of gains; they are 400-500lbs heavier depending on whose numbers you use along with the model and options. Considering the weight difference it is very easy to make a FWD much faster than an AWD around a dry racetrack...also I think Haldex AWD is dumb but some people like it, decide which camp you are in and your decision will be made.

In general they are complicated, fickle beasts like any early 2000s 1.8T VAG product. Everything I have read seems to indicate they would be great for my purposes (track car) but probably a pretty E36 M3ty choice for a daily driver. Lots of critical components made of plastic under the hood, coils fail, and there were lawsuits over the timing belts breaking early. Huge aftermarket and a lot of ways to solve the platform's issues, but don't expect Honda part prices.

According to Mr. Clarkson they are "A cow in a track suit."

My wife had an early fwd first gen car. It was one of my most and least favorite cars.
I loved looking at it and driving it. Comfortable, plenty of power for what it was,when it worked it was amazing.
Electrical problems were random and largely undiagnosable. The worst was the car locking you inside requiring you to roll down the window and use the outside door handle. Then sometimes the window wouldn't roll back up for a couple of key cycles. It was an adventures.
The last straw with the car was the increasingly fragile underhood plastics. Any work required moving small plastic tabs which immediately broke off. I finally had to change one of the HID headlights. By the time I was done I had to choose between a new housing at something like $400 or zip ties. I chose zip ties and put it up for sale.
If you go in expecting the problems you'll be fine, but be careful choosing a car. Don't buy a black one from the middle of the country with zipties under the hood.

Did you guys Daily Drive it?

Their name sounds like the Tagalog (Filipino) word for penis.

Otherwise they are VW GTI's underneath for whatever that is worth to you.

Personally, I think there are better, potentially more reliable deals out there in 2-seater convertibles.

I know there is a lot of VAG hate here, but I have had my 01 audi for 10 years. No real issues, TB had to be changed, controls arms were done, and the stupid locking pump. But no big issues, its getting tired and will probably get sold or traded in this year.

My wife's was daily driven. About 15k per year. The only time it left her stranded was a coolant elbow that let go on her commute. It was reliable from a technical standpoint.

KyAllroad wrote: According to Mr. Clarkson they are "A cow in a track suit."

First thought that comes to mind anytime I see a TT or any mention of one is the Clarkson bit where he has to change clothes 50 times before getting in the TT. "I drive an Audi TT"

That's really all I have to contribute, but it does nicely sum up my impression that these cars are all about style with relatively little substance.

I sat in a 2012 model recently, didn't drive it though. Man did it have nice seats. Getting back in the BRZ was like slumming. And from the right seat, it was quick. I wouldn't mind having one, but I can't get myself up to go down the German road again.

pointofdeparture wrote: I only know about the Mk1s, as they are the only ones I like. I'm hunting for the right FWD myself. The FWD ones are a lighter 1.8T GTI with better front suspension, and they are great value for money since nobody wants a "base model" Audi. The AWD ones add a lot of weight and complexity for not a lot of gains; they are 400-500lbs heavier depending on whose numbers you use along with the model and options. Considering the weight difference it is very easy to make a FWD much faster than an AWD around a dry racetrack...also I think Haldex AWD is dumb but some people like it, decide which camp you are in and your decision will be made.

Except that the 225 version has an extra 45hp over the FWD and an extra gear.

I had a 2000 TT 180 hp coupe quattro. I loved the car. I hated the car.

It was great when there wasn't anything wrong with it. Every other month it was in the shop for another $1K repair.

If you are going to get a 1st gen, get the ALMS version of the 225 coupe. The red leather looks amazing.

I love the baseball glove seats and, even though the end result would be counterproductive (understeer), an Audi TT would look fantastic with 930 flares over the rear wheels.

Thanks. Seems like our intended use would be the best way to own one--it would either be my DD (which means about 5k miles a year) or just the extra car (2-5k miles a year), until we get tired of it. Hopefully it should be ok for that, whenever we do get one.

It is the wife's dream car, and since it is within reach we're going to do it sometime in the next few years. Why not, right? I got my Miata and E30 and someday will get a Porsche; she can have an unreliable VW for awhile. Especially when it looks like that one does.

In reply to Devilsolsi:

The extra gear is a bigger deal than the 45hp, which is a reflash away on a FWD car. Even then, I don't think the 225 is worth the extra weight and complexity. But that's just me.

Convertible or coupe'?

They can be DAMN fast autoxers.

2011 audi TT wins D-stock

EDIT: from the article: Competing in the tough D-Stock class with "his Mom's" 2008 TT 3.2q, Mark set raw times on both the east and west courses that were faster than the winning cars in the so-called "faster" A-Stock class, primarily made up of C5 Corvettes and Porsche Cayman S!

I still can't believe anyone would own a vehicle that would need regular servicing of the control arms that's a real deal breaker to me. What a crappy car company. I've owned 37 different Japanese cars, all of them over 100k miles. Never had a hard suspension component fail.

In reply to Trackmouse:

To be fair it isn't the control arms that fail, it is the bushings and ball joints contained within them. Which fail on pretty much every car eventually.

Oh! Gotcha.

If someone was going to venture down TT road, I'd only go with the FWD models..

pointofdeparture wrote: In reply to Trackmouse: To be fair it isn't the control arms that fail, it is the bushings and ball joints contained within them. Which fail on pretty much every car eventually.

and because of the way VAG designed the damned things, requires replacement the entire assemblies as the balljoints are not serviceable. BMW does this nonsense as well, so until the aftermarket comes to the rescue with reasonable price parts, its many hundreds of dollars every 30-50k at the dealer.

For example, the steel control arms used on the 924 and early 944 are VW Rabbit based and new balljoints are $17 and if you bend a control arm, they are another $24/ea.. After 85, the 944 used an aluminum version of that control arm (with essentially the same geometry and mounting points) and the entire control arm and ball joint assembly is about $500/ea. Oh and instead of bending, they crack, which is a lot of fun on a track car. Sure you can rebuild the ball joints. Once. For about $185/pr.

Yet another point towards cars of today being throw away vehicles after they reach the end of their warranty aka life cycle.

You can rebuild the control arms on later 944's too, you just have to get the old stuff out. We rebuilt my 944 Turbo arms. Someone will eventually, hopefully, make the parts.

racerdave600 wrote: You can rebuild the control arms on later 944's too, you just have to get the old stuff out. We rebuilt my 944 Turbo arms. Someone will eventually, hopefully, make the parts.

Yes and its $185 for that kit. I did my 944 Turbo arms as well. You also get to epoxy the parts in place, so you got one shot at it. Its a stupid solution to a stupid engineering requirement.

pointofdeparture wrote: In reply to Devilsolsi: The extra gear is a bigger deal than the 45hp, which is a reflash away on a FWD car. Even then, I don't think the 225 is worth the extra weight and complexity. But that's just me.

IIRC The 225 had a different turbo, intake manifold and intercooler from the 180. I don't recall if anything else was different.

More power is always better....right?

I never chipped mine, but you could feel it start to run out of power as you approached the redline.