Comments on: Homage to the Audi TT – and an expensive lesson in owning a car. http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/ things that go on in my world and in my head Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:53:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Keith Hookey http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-378 Keith Hookey Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:37:56 +0000 http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-378 Interesting and slightly depressing article. I have just bought a 2001 225hp roadster and really love it. It replaced a beautiful Marlin kit-car and, before that, a 2.8 BMW Z3. I love the solid feeling and performance. Sad to say it exhibits many of the problems referred to by so many other owners. I have had to replace temp. sender, mass air meter, roll bar and bushes, cam belt (as car has done 68k. miles and the handbook advice of 115k. no longer applies (wish I had known before buying!), new door mirror switch, new tyres (noisy, worn unevenly), new thermostat (probably not needed as no improvement - £160 cost to identify dash problem which everyone knows about already, apparently). Finally, the connection to the heated rear window has just broken off. So far big money spent but not disastrous. BUT I am told need to spend £1000 on Haldex control unit and £800 on dash-pod! I really love the car and will have to live with the minor frustrations of dodgy temp. gauge etc, hoping nothing more serious goes wrong. As you can imagine, the original excitement and gloss have diminished greatly. Fortunately it is a "fine weather car" as we have two everyday cars, but it is VERY disappointing to find that what seems to be one of the best made cars around is the most troublesome and expensive to maintain. I have had a good 30 cars in 45 years of motoring and have never done much more than routine serving apart from things like batteries, exhausts, etc. Interesting and slightly depressing article. I have just bought a 2001 225hp roadster and really love it. It replaced a beautiful Marlin kit-car and, before that, a 2.8 BMW Z3.

I love the solid feeling and performance. Sad to say it exhibits many of the problems referred to by so many other owners. I have had to replace temp. sender, mass air meter, roll bar and bushes, cam belt (as car has done 68k. miles and the handbook advice of 115k. no longer applies (wish I had known before buying!), new door mirror switch, new tyres (noisy, worn unevenly), new thermostat (probably not needed as no improvement – £160 cost to identify dash problem which everyone knows about already, apparently). Finally, the connection to the heated rear window has just broken off.

So far big money spent but not disastrous. BUT I am told need to spend £1000 on Haldex control unit and £800 on dash-pod!

I really love the car and will have to live with the minor frustrations of dodgy temp. gauge etc, hoping nothing more serious goes wrong. As you can imagine, the original excitement and gloss have diminished greatly.

Fortunately it is a “fine weather car” as we have two everyday cars, but it is VERY disappointing to find that what seems to be one of the best made cars around is the most troublesome and expensive to maintain.

I have had a good 30 cars in 45 years of motoring and have never done much more than routine serving apart from things like batteries, exhausts, etc.

]]> By: john devlin http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-156 john devlin Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:49:03 +0000 http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-156 i just recently bought a 2001 225 ive had it for a about a week...my brother has a 2003 type r which i thought was the ticket and he did too, but after drivin my tt he is changin the type r for a 225 and hes only had the honda for 2 months..a woman previously owned my car..i had to put a balljoint in her and judgin by the state of the wheels(kerbed to the max) il need wheel allignment to..ive had the whole hairdresser car thing all week..but these are boys who drive hyundai getz and have 3 kids to feed..its not my fault they made theyre bed they can lie in it i just recently bought a 2001 225 ive had it for a about a week…my brother has a 2003 type r which i thought was the ticket and he did too, but after drivin my tt he is changin the type r for a 225 and hes only had the honda for 2 months..a woman previously owned my car..i had to put a balljoint in her and judgin by the state of the wheels(kerbed to the max) il need wheel allignment to..ive had the whole hairdresser car thing all week..but these are boys who drive hyundai getz and have 3 kids to feed..its not my fault they made theyre bed they can lie in it

]]> By: Jason Rogers http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-151 Jason Rogers Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:26:08 +0000 http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-151 I just bought a used 2004 quattro 225hp TT and thus far I love it. Its got about 44k miles on it. Only problems I've had are the break lights sometimes get stuck on, I think a little silicon spray will fix that. And I filled up with the car running and my check engine light came on telling me the fuel pressure solenoid was bad. reset it and no problems since. I am planning to add a remap and some other goodies, just hard finding places in the U.S. everything I've found so far has been UK. Any suggestions? Thanks! I just bought a used 2004 quattro 225hp TT and thus far I love it. Its got about 44k miles on it. Only problems I’ve had are the break lights sometimes get stuck on, I think a little silicon spray will fix that. And I filled up with the car running and my check engine light came on telling me the fuel pressure solenoid was bad. reset it and no problems since. I am planning to add a remap and some other goodies, just hard finding places in the U.S. everything I’ve found so far has been UK. Any suggestions?
Thanks!

]]> By: ste bishop http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-135 ste bishop Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:54:03 +0000 http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-135 ive owned a 180 tt for 5 yrs now and only had to replace the battery and 1 coil,But i do only drive it at weekends! its done 99500miles and its left hand drive i live in gt britain. very interesting web site,thanks. ive owned a 180 tt for 5 yrs now and only had to replace the battery and 1 coil,But i do only drive it at weekends! its done 99500miles and its left hand drive i live in gt britain. very interesting web site,thanks.

]]> By: More Audi TT info « living for the weekend http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-61 More Audi TT info « living for the weekend Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:20:19 +0000 http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-61 [...] 18, 2008 As many of you are visiting my blog regards my experience with the Audi TT, I thought I’d share some extra [...] [...] 18, 2008 As many of you are visiting my blog regards my experience with the Audi TT, I thought I’d share some extra [...]

]]> By: andrew http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-54 andrew Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:19:07 +0000 http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-54 I have dad both typr-r and TT. Type-r is more fun and better to drive than TT, TT holds more kudos and is a hairdressers car. Buy a type-r, best for the money I have dad both typr-r and TT. Type-r is more fun and better to drive than TT, TT holds more kudos and is a hairdressers car. Buy a type-r, best for the money

]]> By: Finding the perfect (regular) American Car - Part 2 - Luxury « living for the weekend http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-43 Finding the perfect (regular) American Car - Part 2 - Luxury « living for the weekend Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:36:42 +0000 http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-43 [...] say that this is a great car - except Audi reliability issues in the past (see my Audi TT post), although the A4 has a better reputation that the TT. Forbes seems to rate the A4 extremely highly [...] [...] say that this is a great car – except Audi reliability issues in the past (see my Audi TT post), although the A4 has a better reputation that the TT. Forbes seems to rate the A4 extremely highly [...]

]]> By: Paul http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-33 Paul Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:37:02 +0000 http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-33 Thanks James - I sent you a long email but here's my conclusion from that email: If we were to consider a TT and Type R side by side both in fully working condition and I had to make a choice... If money wasn't an issue and I had another car I'd chose a TT but would have to get a 225 or 3.2; Otherwise I'd get a Type R ... infact when I moved to the US, the first thing I did was look to see if I could get a Type R... but I still look at TT's too... Test drive both - bring a CD with you to listen to the sound system - think about how important interior space is to you ... either way if you buy one you'll always wonder about the other!! :) Hope this helps! Thanks James – I sent you a long email but here’s my conclusion from that email:

If we were to consider a TT and Type R side by side both in fully working condition and I had to make a choice… If money wasn’t an issue and I had another car I’d chose a TT but would have to get a 225 or 3.2; Otherwise I’d get a Type R … infact when I moved to the US, the first thing I did was look to see if I could get a Type R… but I still look at TT’s too…

Test drive both – bring a CD with you to listen to the sound system – think about how important interior space is to you … either way if you buy one you’ll always wonder about the other!! :)

Hope this helps!

]]> By: James http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-32 James Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:03:16 +0000 http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-32 I came across your post googling 'type-r or audi tt' as I'm stuck trying to choose between the two. I've had the usualy blurb of Hairdressers car, but after driving one i absolutely loved it, I also love the type-r as well, it's bulletproof, quick and good fun to drive, just not as special as the TT. Like yourself I can get a nearly new model with low miles civic, or a higher mileage, older TT. I'm just worried if I get the TT it's going to be very expensive to run and maintain. If you were me now which would you get knowing what you do now? I came across your post googling ‘type-r or audi tt’ as I’m stuck trying to choose between the two. I’ve had the usualy blurb of Hairdressers car, but after driving one i absolutely loved it, I also love the type-r as well, it’s bulletproof, quick and good fun to drive, just not as special as the TT. Like yourself I can get a nearly new model with low miles civic, or a higher mileage, older TT. I’m just worried if I get the TT it’s going to be very expensive to run and maintain.

If you were me now which would you get knowing what you do now?

]]> By: Cars » Homage to the Audi TT - and an expensive lesson in owning a car. http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-19 Cars » Homage to the Audi TT - and an expensive lesson in owning a car. Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:27:38 +0000 http://one7.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/homage-to-the-audi-tt-and-an-expensive-lesson-in-owning-a-car/#comment-19 [...] Paul wrote a fantastic post today on “Homage to the Audi TT - and an expensive lesson in owning a car.”Here’s ONLY a quick extractAsking around on the UK TT Forum I suddenly realise that the TT is renowned for going wrong - if you compare that forum for problems with vehicles against say, the Ford Focus or Honda Civic forums, it’s quite ridiculous how much grief … [...] [...] Paul wrote a fantastic post today on “Homage to the Audi TT – and an expensive lesson in owning a car.”Here’s ONLY a quick extractAsking around on the UK TT Forum I suddenly realise that the TT is renowned for going wrong – if you compare that forum for problems with vehicles against say, the Ford Focus or Honda Civic forums, it’s quite ridiculous how much grief … [...]

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