Audi TT Quartro vs. Chrysler Crossfire?

[Sunroof]

I need some advise here from anyone who knows these two cars. We are looking at buying either a used (2004) Chrysler Crossfire or Audi TT (2003) Quartro Roadster. Both have good miles (35K) and both around the same amount of money (17-18K). Both are 6-speeds.............

The issue is, which is the better all around driver and which is more dependable? Sort of the 64k question without throwing in all the variables. This will be my wife's car daily driver and probably the roadtrip vehicle for us both.

To me, both are beautiful vehicles, but the Audi Quattro may provide a bit more "Sport" then the Crossfire. I find both body styles appealing, but a bit more of a luxurious interior in the Crossfire. Mechanically, I get concerned about that 1.8 turbo coking up if not maintained and the Mercedes beast in the Crossfire that has more management controls then the space shuttle!


Thanks for any and all opinions, good bad or ugly. The Boxster is not an option!

Bob

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I have the "real" version of the Crossfire (the M.B. SLK-320). It's a great, reliable platform. I imagine the Crossfire is similar performance-wise. Benz makes fantastic drivetrains.

[Trotskyite]

TT all the way. At the end of the day the crossfire is a 10 year old benz that looks like a dog squatting.

[Sunroof]

The Crossfire body style is appealing, but as with its competitor (Audi TT) both have front seats that do not recline and both have well laid out interiors. From the getgo, I think the Audi interior is put together better and metal parts are actually metal not coated plastic!

Looking at published reviews, owners of both cars love their vehicles.

Keep those cards and letters coming..................

Bob

[RLJ]

Cost per mile will or could be much less with the Crossfire over the all wheel drive TT.

Freeman Thomas designed the Audi TT (and also allot of the New Beetle). I think he had some influnce in the Crossfire as well. He did work for Audi as the man who penned the TT, then he changed jobs and worked for MBZ (Crysler 300M project designer), before moving on to FoMoCo.

The TT with the new 3.2 motor rock and rolls. IMHO

Randy Jones
1971 911 "Iris"

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Have you looked at the AMG32? It's about the same price range now and is VERY fast. It'll run circles around the TT.

[Sunroof]

Thanks for the input on the other cars (AMG 32 and the 3.2 TT), but I am sticking to either the Crossfire or the Audi TT (1.8) based on price and miles right now. If I had the $$$$ it would be a new Aston Martin, but that may have to wait til the ship comes in!!!!


Bob

[JP911]

I have a 2001 TT Quattro Roadster. It's a great car and it's my 2nd TT (first was a FWD coupe). The turbo 4 is fun and the quattro is nice to have on a daily driver, but my biggest issue is the increasing cost of ownership. I stopped taking it to the dealer when the warranty expired and doing the maintenance work myself to save on labor charges, but the parts themselves (similar to most German cars) are expensive.

[Sunroof]

My son has a 1999 A4 with the 1.8 turbo. I ran a thread here last year about the engine and its weaknesses. He bought the car with 65K from a reputable dealer and three months later the "Check engine" light came on. It turned out that he spent 2K to have the engine oil pick up tube replaced, and the engine totally cleaned of coked oil. Audi admitted its enginerring error and took care of the probelm by shielding the catalytic converter to reduce heat toward the engine. Simply, between the turbo and catalytic converter that small 1.8 gets hot!!!! As I researched further, the VW 1.8 models suffered the worse. When we tried to get Audi and the dealer to pay for the repair, they requested we have oil change records from day one! We lacked two, but they failed anyways to help. Many praise the 1.8 turbo while others curse it! The bottom line is that the oil changes must be done as recommended by Audi, Mobil synthetic is necessary. The Audi TT we are looking at is offered by a dealer and I will certainly have a PPI done on it, with emphasis on that damn oil pick-up problem. The cost of Audi repair goes hand in hand with Porsche and probably the Crossfire since its a Mercedes power train. But, we are all crazy about our cars, are'nt we?!

Bob
73.5T

[tcar]

I read somewhere that the Crossfire is built in Germany, not here.

Drove a rental Crossfire last summer, it was very, very nice.

[Macroni]

Audi TT (2003) Quartro Roadster not even close.

[tcar]

Now there are 2 of you spelling quattro with an 'r'.

Just stop.

[Kevin Stewart]

I thought this was a porsche forum? maybe i clicked the chrysler link by mistake

[Pingo]

The Crossfire will fall to pieces in 5 years.

[imcarthur]

The TT is built in a large Audi plant in Gyor, Hungary. My wife's 2nd cousin builds 100 doors a day for them.

And yes, this should be in OT.

Ian

[RLJ]

Kevin.............sometimes the fellas go a bit sideways. A Porsche forum asking questions about Audi and Chrysler cars. Only on Pelican!

Randy Jones
1971 911 "Iris the Slut"

[JP911]

Originally Posted by Sunroof

My son has a 1999 A4 with the 1.8 turbo. I ran a thread here last year about the engine and its weaknesses. He bought the car with 65K from a reputable dealer and three months later the "Check engine" light came on. It turned out that he spent 2K to have the engine oil pick up tube replaced, and the engine totally cleaned of coked oil. Audi admitted its enginerring error and took care of the probelm by shielding the catalytic converter to reduce heat toward the engine. Simply, between the turbo and catalytic converter that small 1.8 gets hot!!!!

The 1.8 in the TT is transverse mounted vs. the longitudinal 1.8 in the A4 and Passat. I wonder if this makes any difference with regard to this problem. I've spent quite a bit of time on the Audiworld TT forums since owning my first TT (2000) and I've never seen this issue come up.

[N11Porsche]

I place a lot of trust in Consumer Report's car ratings. The ratings come for subscribers' own experiences with cars. Info they gain through a subscriber's detailed survey. In this years car issue the 2004 & 2005 Chrysler Crossfire make their list of "used cars to avoid". The 2000 & 2003 Audi TT also make that list.

My son purchased a car on their list of used cars to avoid and it was a disaster, the only thing that made the car close to being bearable was that he also purchased the dealer's extended used car warranty. The dealer couldn't wait for the warranty to expire! ymmv

[nostatic]

I would not own an Audi that was out of warranty.

And I own an Audi. But when it hits 95K miles (I have 100K mile CPO warranty), it will be sold. My ex has an A8 that is out of warranty. Costs her over $5K/year to keep it running. Always something breaking on it.

I wouldn't even consider the Chrysler. Pales in comparison to the TT imho. And you can't touch an AMG for under $20K, can you? I also doubt those will be cheap cars to keep running...

[craigster59]

I have an '06 A3 that is at 87k ( I know, I drive ALOT!) with a 100k warranty. No problems yet (looking for wood to knock on...)