Audi TT mk1 - Any Experience?

[Cloudy147]

Hi all,

Considering a TT mk1 for the good lady. Anyone got any recent experience, and any gotchas to watch out for please?

Checking the MOT history, these cars seem to fail a lot! Particularly on breaks and suspension components - is this a weak point and what are the costs like?

It'll only do about 2,000 a year and we'll probably change after a year so it's not a long term prospect. That said, I don't want my family bezzing about in a death trap, so any advice appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[stevemcs]

We have owned one for 9 years, it was on 49k when we got it and its on 56k now. We covered most of that in the first few years.

Ours has had most of the issues fixed and not all in our ownership, in no particular order

Rear springs break - only fit genuine
Dashpod
Anti roll bar
Coil packs
MAF
Vac Hoses
Cam cover gasket
Rear brake lines (contain the flex too)
ABS module

They drive ok but look good, ours has a Milltek and Stg1 remap (a must) they can also suffer from oil strainer pick up issues from poor servicing.

Roadster (ours) suffers from scuttle shake

They don't handle the best, we have a Mini Convertible to replace it although i still need to sell the TT

Edited by stevemcs on Wednesday 17th April 21:14

[rottenegg]

As above, don't expect a thrilling experience in the corners, especially from the 3.2. It's a proper boat and really feels it's weight and age.

The OEM springs are terrible and will just keep snapping. Eibach Pro or H&R would be a good upgrade and aren't bone shakingly stiff, or silly low.

I would steer you towards the MK2 TT as it's leagues ahead and you get the (marginally) more economical direct injection engine, but if your heart is set on a MK1, a youthful 225hp or a Quattro Sport would be my choice.

[Cloudy147]

Thanks both appreciate the response.

I'm looking at Mk1 purely on grounds of cost (didn't really want to spend more than £1500-2k, but scope creep is now at £2.5k).

However, it seems that the Mk2's all come in at 4k, with a wealth of choice at the £5k mark. Whilst double the budget, its not a massive amount of cash for what seems to be a much better car. The MOTs for the Mk1's seem to be littered with suspension type issues, wheras the Mk2s seem to all be about tyres and brakes (standard fare).

I'm thinking it might be worth pushing the boat out for a more modern, pleasurable ownership experience....

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

We loved ours. Did 40,000 miles. As said the dash pods fail (but will have been replaced by now). Anti roll bars are suspect, but cheap to replace.

I liked the way it drove, but then I'm a pretty steady eddie

[rottenegg]

Cloudy147 said:

Thanks both appreciate the response.

I'm looking at Mk1 purely on grounds of cost (didn't really want to spend more than £1500-2k, but scope creep is now at £2.5k).

However, it seems that the Mk2's all come in at 4k, with a wealth of choice at the £5k mark. Whilst double the budget, its not a massive amount of cash for what seems to be a much better car. The MOTs for the Mk1's seem to be littered with suspension type issues, wheras the Mk2s seem to all be about tyres and brakes (standard fare).

I'm thinking it might be worth pushing the boat out for a more modern, pleasurable ownership experience....

Absolutely the MK2 is worth stretching the budget for. I'm not sure what prices the TT-S currently fetch, but if you could stretch to that one, you would probably use it more than SWMBO! Awesome car.

The MK2 TT is so much more than the MK5 Golf on which it's based, with a good amount of aluminium up front to reduce front end weight and a wider track for keener cornering.

It feels much lighter on it's toes than the MK1, more reliable, better appointed, better looking (imo), better ride quality, better built, better performance, MUCH better handling.....all of it.

Having said that, the MK1 is such a classic design, especially the interior. If you prefer driving dynamics over styling, the MK2 is definitely the better proposition.

[stevemcs]

I think 3k for a reasonable Mk1 is where you want to be, 1.5k will be towards the bottom of the market and its a risk. I would rather take a Z4 over a Mk2 TT, yes the MK2 is a better drivers car but the Mk1 TT is the better looking car, the Mk2 iss more comfortable. There are a couple of Mk1 TT's running the 2.0TFsi engine though.


Our TT when i get around to advertising will be closer to 5k though .... the Quattro sport is the one to go for if you can but its expensive, although i think its the only one that will increase in value

[Cloudy147]

Thanks again all for your advice.

In the end we went for a mk1 TT but upped our budget to £3k to make sure we got a decent one. I didn't want to spend more than that, and this one came in under budget but with a decent MOT history, lots of stamps, pumps being done and a friendly private seller with a genuine story to tell. Everything works inside, including the dashpods and it has a CD player too.

Mainly for the wifey just to run about in - first impressions are good whilst we are getting to know the car. Certainly feels punchy through the gears and is in good overall condition. We looked at a few pretty ropy ones before we came across this one so very pleased.











I'll add a thread into the Readers Rides section I think. Should be a fun one over the summer.

Thanks again!!

Running report here : https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edited by Cloudy147 on Friday 10th May 22:00

Edited by Cloudy147 on Saturday 11th May 16:50

[stevemcs]

Looks tidy, i guess its the 150ps version ?

[Cloudy147]

stevemcs said:

Looks tidy, i guess its the 150ps version ?

Its the lower power one yeah, but I think it might have 180/190bhp as its a facelift model.

[Gren]

It'll be the 180 (non quattro). The 150s were all roadsters from memory.

Had a 225 for around 7 years and 75k miles before it started to cost a bit of cash.

Both rear springs broke
Arbs went
Temp sensor
Radiator fan
Dashpod
Coil packs

I always felt the car was not quite ready for release. Did the same miles in a mk2 TTS and it was bullet proof

[R8Steve]

Gren said:

It'll be the 180 (non quattro). The 150s were all roadsters from memory.

Had a 225 for around 7 years and 75k miles before it started to cost a bit of cash.

Both rear springs broke
Arbs went
Temp sensor
Radiator fan
Dashpod
Coil packs

I always felt the car was not quite ready for release. Did the same miles in a mk2 TTS and it was bullet proof

Can i ask what the symptoms were when it needed a new temp sensor?

[stevemcs]

Temp gauge reads low or high - you can check the actual using the climate panel

https://wak-tt.com/climate/climatecodes.htm

[TTOBES]

Nice car!

I bought a 3.2 in March and it's great back-to-basics motoring! It doesn't live where I do so it's a bit of a luxury but looking forward to getting it out more in the summer.

(I do have the dash pod issue so that it top of the list to be done next since I've now had a service (plus other bits) and MOT done)

[jimbouk]

Be careful, I purchased a TT 225 roadster, eighteen years ago, as a stop gap.

I clocked up 250k miles last month....

Just keep on changing the oil frequently!