Hey guys, just want to get some opinions from you. I couldn't find anything in previous posts, but if I was mistaken, then feel free to take this thread off.

I'm 21 and will be making a purchase for my third car, and I'm looking to spend about $20,000. I have a few used Saabs, Volvos and Hondas in mind, but something came up earlier, which is why I'm here.

A friend offered me his 2001 Audi TT 1.8 5-spd for $14,000. It has 80,000 miles on it, which I know is a lot, but he is the original owner and he KNOWS how to drive a stick and babies the tranny and all. Also, the car has been in California its entire life, so most of the miles are highway miles and the car has never seen snow/salt and very little rain. So in terms of the condition of the car, it's immaculate. What I want to ask you guys is if you have had any experience or just heard of any recurring problems in older TTs, mechanical/electrical flaws that turn up after a while, etc.

I have my opinions about the car and I know all the standard facts, so I would appreciate it if there weren't any posts hating on the TT or someone trying to justify it because of how the car performs, etc. I am just looking for just problems/annoyances with the car. Thanks for all your help!

eww imo i hate the TT styling

eww imo i hate the TT styling

Thanks for your reply, and I appreciate your attention to my post, but it's very frustrating to me that you CLEARLY YOU DID NOT READ WHAT I WROTE. I respect both positive and negative opinions on the TT, but I AM NOT ASKING FOR OPINIONS. I am asking if anyone has heard of or experienced any mechanical problems, electrical problems, engine problems, etc. on TTs that are more than a few years old, SIMPLY for the sake of knowing how much I should expect to pay for maintenance and if the car will have problems running smoothly when it hits 100k miles, for example.

To clear things up, I DON'T WANT ANY OPINIONS AT ALL, JUST RUMORS AND FIRST/SECOND HAND STORIES OF FACTUAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TT. Again, NO OPINIONS.

lol chill man

lol chill man

I'm sorry, it's nothing personal, and I'm not angry or anything, but like I said, it's just frustrating to write up a post with a serious concern and then have someone respond who clearly didn't read the post to begin with.

one of my dad's friend has had two so far. Both were 1.8's. He sold the first one just because he's fickle as hell, and he bought an A6. But then he just sold it around a year later and bought another TT.

It didn't sound like he had any major problems with it. You may want to join an Audi or a TT forum or something, and ask those guys.


I hate to say it, but most people on this forum don't know their dick from a piston head. Over half of everyone on here can't even drive. However, there is a few very intelligent members on this forum, and they actually respond to serious questions like this with actual answers when they know something.

Which version is it ? Is it quattro ? If it has two exhausts at the back it is the 225bhp version, if only one it could be either the 180 or 150bhp version

One of my brothers friends had one and loved it, although he did have some problems with electrical equipment going wrong, probably a one off though.

TT's are a very nice car and also very tuneable if you want to go down that road

You may want to join an Audi or a TT forum or something, and ask those guys.

I hate to say it, but most people on this forum don't know their dick from a piston head. Over half of everyone on here can't even drive. However, there is a few very intelligent members on this forum, and they actually respond to serious questions like this with actual answers when they know something.

haha, thanks for the heads up on the members here, as well as the advice to join an audi forum. i've just did that and already got several detailed responses. thanks again.

Which version is it ? Is it quattro ? If it has two exhausts at the back it is the 225bhp version, if only one it could be either the 180 or 150bhp version
i'm pretty sure it is the 180hp FWD version

It's an Audi, it should last the distance. Then again, the A6 from that time was awfull.
Edit: I just read this in a what car? price guide:

Reliability 3/5
Electrical faults dog some cars.
Cambelts can snap before recomended 60k mile change point
ignition coil failure cured by fitting modified parts.

Hope it helps.

well, i used to have a 180hp fwd tt from 2003 and i work in an audi dealership so i tell you wel have serval tt's of that kant now around 180.000 km and they still run just fine. The most common problem we have are the instument dails, sometimes one or more seem to fail and you need to replace the whole unit. apart from that they have no abnormal problems in general.

Welcome to SCF audi_boy

welcome to the forums but the tt styling isn't the best there is but its not bad

lol chill man
s40kTaNG had every right to yell at you. (sort of) If you asked about mechanical faults with a certain car specifically saying that you don't want opinions then somebody just came out and said they hate the car while giving no backing, you'd be pissed as well.

Aside from that, my family owns an A6 from that era. I think it is an 02 model but it could be an 01. Either way we have had very few problems with it since we got it. Both we faults of the second hand dealership not Audi.
I believe that the early TT's had problems with lifting at high speeds but this was corrected on later models and the early ones were recalled. If you haven't already I would suggest that you look into that.

Other than that, enjoy your new car whatever you decide to get.

hmm Audi TT, with 1.8T engine.

The earlier TTs were quite unreliable and with the 1.8T its going to be slow

You can find a BMW 325 for similar price

http://www.myaudittsucks.com/
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2000-to-2006-audi-tt-2.htm

hmm Audi TT, with 1.8T engine.

The earlier TTs were quite unreliable and with the 1.8T its going to be slow

You can find a BMW 325 for similar price

http://www.myaudittsucks.com/
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2000-to-2006-audi-tt-2.htm

Hey, thanks a lot--to you and others who responded. I was originally shopping for a Saab 9-3 or a Volvo S40, and the only reason I started thinking about this used Audi is because the seller is someone I know, so I think I'm going to go back to the Saab/Volvo thing rather than look into the used BMWs, but thanks a lot for your advice, I appreciate it!

If you can afford it, go for the Volvo S60 R. I know it pretty much is the top of the line Volvo, but damn is it cool :) I mean, if you want safety and reliability, you might as well make it go real damn fast too.

I believe that the early TT's had problems with lifting at high speeds but this was corrected on later models and the early ones were recalled. If you haven't already I would suggest that you look into that.

Other than that, enjoy your new car whatever you decide to get.

Hey, thanks for your comment. I think I read somewhere that the lift problem was why they designed a spoiler for it, but I'll double check with that issue. I'm a relatively safe driver and I rarely go more than 70-75ish on the interstate and I don't plan on taking it to the track, so I think that won't be a huge problem, but I'll do some more research on it. Thanks again!

It's a FWD, non quattro 1.8T Audi TT: A really expensive VW beetle is what you will be buying

For the price I'd recommend getting an Acura TSX, or if you want an Audi get an A4 thats at least quattro!