MK3 Audi TT Advice Please

[O-S-R]

Hi all, been a while since I posted on here, had the same fleet of cars in the family for 8yrs and busy period moving house twice, life stuff etc.

Long story short I've decided on a TT as a nice daily, I come from Golfs and still drive a MK4, but while the newer GTIs and R models are smart, they're just a bit samey to me. A mate suggested a TT and after previously dismissing them as a "hairdressers car" I went and sat in one and was pretty taken, never thought of a couple before and I like the space they fill; not a hot hatch, basically a golf in a suit, nice interior, sporty and not a Boxer/Cayman.

My conundrum is whether to go with a base model TT "40" of which there are plenty that seem to around £20k for 20k milage examples, or the TTS which come in at 50k ish miles for the same money?

I've done some research and definitely wanting MK3, and not the 1.8tfsi model. Is the TTS a better buy given increased mileage or do I focus on getting the cleanest, lowest mileage TT? From my research they seem pretty reliable with the water pump housing being the only major issue, but not sure when that manifests itself?

Any advice welcome!

[The Cardinal]

I'd go with a TTS every time - it'll feel more special, without the colossal price jump to a TTRS.

See my Readers Cars thread for details on mine, bought at a similar budget at the turn of the year.

[O-S-R]

Thanks for the reply, I think I'd always regret not getting the TTS if I went for the base model TT. Any particular issues to look out for in your experience?

[Hol]

My wife had one of the last manual TTS Mk3 cars and I have to say it was a brilliant car for the money.

The only issue we had over 4 years of ownership was a cracked thermostat housing, which was a known issue as they are plastic.

Apart from that it needed tyres (works well on michellin PS4’s) and brake pads. The fronts I fitted myself, but the rears needed a machine to retract the brake pistons due to the electronic handbrake.

Edited by Hol on Tuesday 25th June 17:29

[FifthGear]

O-S-R said:

Hi all, been a while since I posted on here, had the same fleet of cars in the family for 8yrs and busy period moving house twice, life stuff etc.

Long story short I've decided on a TT as a nice daily, I come from Golfs and still drive a MK4, but while the newer GTIs and R models are smart, they're just a bit samey to me. A mate suggested a TT and after previously dismissing them as a "hairdressers car" I went and sat in one and was pretty taken, never thought of a couple before and I like the space they fill; not a hot hatch, basically a golf in a suit, nice interior, sporty and not a Boxer/Cayman.

My conundrum is whether to go with a base model TT "40" of which there are plenty that seem to around £20k for 20k milage examples, or the TTS which come in at 50k ish miles for the same money?

I've done some research and definitely wanting MK3, and not the 1.8tfsi model. Is the TTS a better buy given increased mileage or do I focus on getting the cleanest, lowest mileage TT? From my research they seem pretty reliable with the water pump housing being the only major issue, but not sure when that manifests itself?

Any advice welcome!

The 2.0 TFSI quattro is the golf gti engine which maps up to near TTS power. If you get a good spec one with b&o and fancy seats it’s way closer to the TTS than the base 1.8 one.

[Hoofy]

Not quite relevant but still pretty relevant to what you've said but I have the FWD/2WD MK1 TT with a weak 180bhp and 16" wheels. Now that I've set your sights low, I can tell you that even though it's probably the most hairdresser TT of any TT over the last 20 years (ok, it's a coupé not a cab), the drive is superb. Everything is standard bar the air filter and exhaust, and it's a great everyday car to have. Do I regret not buying a tuned TT225? Not really. Mine's light and agile, and good fun whether on urban D/Cs or country roads. The acceleration is adequate for joining fast roads and it feels so good in the corners.

So just get whichever model you fancy. You can always tune it but it really doesn't matter in the moment. I'd just look at improving the sound; any MK3 TT is quick enough, and having 355bhp over 310bhp is only really impressive in the pub. Sort your gear changes out, lose weight if necessary, don't carry so much crap in the unexpectedly large boot.

[O-S-R]

Haha thanks for the replies all, it seems consistent that everyone who's owned one says they're great cars for the money. I'm excited ito be on this journey as to me it's something different, and way fancier if that's the right word than other cars I've owned.

I hear you about the base model TT and a remap, my MK4 is stage 2 and plenty fast enough for what it is (230hp reliable, basically maxed out on stock internals) and tbh I granny it around as I've owned it for 16 years and it's worth more in sentimental value than anything else. I kinda don't want to mod this one if I can help it, but I know I'll be a bit disappointed if I spend £20k on a car that I then feel I need to mod to make it quicker?

I'm also hoping this one keeps a bit of value so I can trade up over the next few years, I'd love a TTRS and Ultimately an R8 if I can get there but I've never owed anything nice enough or had the funds before to play the trade up game - how's a modern remapped car affected on sale do you think?

[Hoofy]

Forget the power itself, it's how it feels round corners. I've been in a 2 year old Golf and an 8 year old Golf after driving a TT and they feel like you're in an MPV or 4x4.

Audi have redesigned the position so you're a bit further back and lower down just like you're in a sports car. I do wonder if the Scirocco is similar as it's the same platform (I think?) but not had the chance to try one.

Oh, if you're considering an R8, do you mean a newish one... or any R8? You can get an older one for under £30k now so I'd be tempted to bypass a TT and go straight for that mid-engined supercar vibe. "But it's slower than a TTRS!" "I don't care."

Edited by Hoofy on Tuesday 25th June 21:54

[O-S-R]

Any R8 haha, I've always liked them! Not looked in any detail though but I think a TT of some form is a reasonable stepping stone, got a hard cap at £20k really.

I also feel the cheaper end of the R8 market is higher miles/ high owners, maybe doesn't matter too much if they have history etc but feels like it's true supercar territory with more to go wrong and bigger bills?

Edited by O-S-R on Tuesday 25th June 22:37

[Hoofy]

O-S-R said:

Any R8 haha, I've always liked them! Not looked in any detail though but I think a TT of some form is a reasonable stepping stone, got a hard cap at £20k really.

I also feel the cheaper end of the R8 market is higher miles/ high owners, maybe doesn't matter too much if they have history etc but feels like it's true supercar territory with more to go wrong and bigger bills?

Edited by O-S-R on Tuesday 25th June 22:37

Yeah but look at them.

[Hol]

Hoofy said:

O-S-R said:

Any R8 haha, I've always liked them! Not looked in any detail though but I think a TT of some form is a reasonable stepping stone, got a hard cap at £20k really.

I also feel the cheaper end of the R8 market is higher miles/ high owners, maybe doesn't matter too much if they have history etc but feels like it's true supercar territory with more to go wrong and bigger bills?

Edited by O-S-R on Tuesday 25th June 22:37

Yeah but look at them.

I test drove four within my 50k budget a couple years back and sadly two of those were rough, so I would exercise caution at the very bottom end.

[Hoofy]

Hol said:

I test drove four within my 50k budget a couple years back and sadly two of those were rough, so I would exercise caution at the very bottom end.

Oh. In what way were they rough?

[O-S-R]

I had a brief look last night and yeah I can imagine - I saw one on AT or the Bay (can't remember) and it had had 14 owners!!

I'd rather have lower mileage and nice base model TT than a rough R8, but will see if I can strike the balance and get a TTS at the top end of my budget.

[Hoofy]

O-S-R said:

I'd rather have lower mileage and nice base model TT than a rough R8, but will see if I can strike the balance and get a TTS at the top end of my budget.

I'm going off performance these days as I don't tend to race others so I'd like to know what the difference is between a base/slow TT and a TTS for the driving experience. I suspect there is not much. Even with a meagre 140bhp in a hatchback-sized car, you can join a motorway safely so it's more about how a car behaves mid-corner. One thing I didn't like about my C class "Sports Coupé" (the ugly one) was that it was a bit wallowy in the corners. Sitting higher up didn't help even though it was in a more sporty posture (not sit-up-and-beg like when you sit in a hatchback/saloon/4x4/mpv). The seating position in my TT is lower so it gives me more confidence in the corner.

[Dr G]

O-S-R said:

I also feel the cheaper end of the R8 market is...

..a really, really bad idea. Just don't.

Unless of course you want to spend £10k+ on it to end up with a worse car than simply buying a better one in the first place.

[O-S-R]

Dr G said:

..a really, really bad idea. Just don't.

Unless of course you want to spend £10k+ on it to end up with a worse car than simply buying a better one in the first place.

Agreed!

[Hol]

Hoofy said:

Hol said:

I test drove four within my 50k budget a couple years back and sadly two of those were rough, so I would exercise caution at the very bottom end.

Oh. In what way were they rough?

Both had misfires, one of them more noticeable that the other. And the worse ones owner was obviously getting rid because of it.
The better of the two misfires had missing undertrays and had non brand budget tyres.
Both of them were well overdue a service.

The other two good ones still had problems, but mostly minor cosmetic stuff or simply needing new tyres, which I counted as normal experience for an 11-12 year old car.


They weren’t the only make and model of cars I looked at though and my opinions are possibly biased by the fact that their age and mileage had gotten to the point that some big bills were to be expected.

[Hoofy]

Hol said:

Hoofy said:

Hol said:

I test drove four within my 50k budget a couple years back and sadly two of those were rough, so I would exercise caution at the very bottom end.

Oh. In what way were they rough?

Both had misfires, one of them more noticeable that the other. And the worse ones owner was obviously getting rid because of it.
The better of the two misfires had missing undertrays and had non brand budget tyres.
Both of them were well overdue a service.

The other two good ones still had problems, but mostly minor cosmetic stuff or simply needing new tyres, which I counted as normal experience for an 11-12 year old car.


They weren’t the only make and model of cars I looked at though and my opinions are possibly biased by the fact that their age and mileage had gotten to the point that some big bills were to be expected.

Oh, I see!