2000 Audi TT

[DelPico]

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/cto/1040663293.html

Add reads: Well maintained, all records. 77k low miles. 1.8L turbo, all-wheel drive. New timing belt. Heated leather seats, 6-CD changer Bose audio system. Silver, black interior. Extra - Audi wheels/winter tires. Asking is $8600.

Anyone know the goods and bads of these? What to check out? Does the price seem fair?

I have been driving a POS for three years and was hoping to go another to justify getting a nice car. Well the other day my 94 dodge shadow got some back news so my plan has changed.

Thanks,

David

[Embraer]

timing belt is the big issue. the dealer's said they were good for at least 75K miles....a lot started failing around 50K.

[DelPico]

New timing belt so that is a good thing.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Yeah, make sure the timing belt has been done. It's $1000 or more to have done, or a few hundred if you DIY. Audis also like to go through suspension bushings, electrical gizmos start to break, and the instrument display pixels start to go bad. Also check for oil change records, the 1.8T is prone to engine sludge and premature turbo wear if the oil isn't changed regularly. Note that regular isn't factory intervals.

Otherwise the price is fair. I've seen a few for less, but if its a well kept car go for it. The TT is a cool car.

[DelPico]

Thanks. Good to know.

[Bumper]

Check out audiworld.com More TT info than you will ever need! I have a 2001 and drive it everyday and love!! Great car just keep up with the maintenance

[Wickd89]

I have always liked the early TTs.
Now they are at a good price.

Go to a good independent mechanic and get it reviewed.
I am scheduling my timing belt change on my 2.7t and it will run me about 900 (new everything -all belts, all gaskets of course, new water pump, etc..). Should run awesome after that..

[JavaBrewer]

That's alot of car for the money. I have a '01 TT, 225, with now 61K miles. I bought it with 28K miles two years ago. Not a single problem so far. I located an independent mechanic to do the full timing belt service, water pump, and 60K service. Make sure all those items were done on the car. Good advice on oil changes from Matt.

Some days I wish I got a 4 dr car for kid convenience but the reality is that 90% of the time I am alone in the TT. The rear hatch allows a surprising amount of space for stuff and frankly the car drives really well and I still love being behind the wheel after 2 years. I also had the car chipped which really brightened up the power and I still manage 30-31 mpg on the highway at 75 mph. All around mileage is 25 mpg.

[JavaBrewer]

Some good TT links:

US based TT forum

This one has the most info and traffic

UK TT forum

[onewhippedpuppy]

I'm amazed how much TT you can get for under $10k. Even the 225 HP models. Its tempting.

[9dreizig]

David, I have a 2001 1.8T and have 185k on it.. drive the hell out of it.. Only really two issues, the timing belt is a for sure and there was a sludge recall on them, just make sure that is done.. otherwise great car and that's alot of car for the money.

[DelPico]

Thanks for all the advice. I will go look at.

[Sunroof]

For me I have had nothing but nightmares with my son's 1999 A4 with the 1.8T engine. Here's the heads up.................at 100k or thereabouts the gasket behind the oil filter housing is known to go. If that happens oil does not drip, it FLOWS out and if you do not stop when that oil light comes on you'll burn the bearings and screw up the crank QUICKLY!! To R&R the filter is a $100 fix and should be preventative maintenance early on. The 1.8T is known to suffer from "black death" or oil coking. If you do not have the engine checked out for that your screwed!! The oil gets way to hot because of the location of the turbo and the cat. converter (no shielding). Audi states..........you MUST USE MOBIL 0-40 or 10-40 or your dead!!!!!!!!!! The oil get so hot it cokes and plugs up the oil pump intake. They took off the pan of my son's engine and the pump pick up was clogged with debris so hard it felt like concrete and could not be removed. The pump was replaced and the lube lines cleaned at a costly sum. Audi's answer to the "black death"? Lets shield the cat. converter to deflect heat. So between, the coking, the oil filter housing gasket and a bunch of other crap, I gave up on buying a TT a while back or at least with the 1.8T. My suggestion is to get a thorough PPI at a dealer or reputable Audi shop and have all the items discussed thus far checked out.
There are a ton of TT's on the market these days and I would certainly take my time to find the one that was carefully maintained and that includes scheduled oil changes with Mobil 1. I would'nt get too compulsive based on a low price. These engines do have above normal issues and you'll pay dearly for a bad choice.

Bob

[911Rob]

Sweet car..... AND for that price!
Go for it!

[mike monde]

I have done the same and purchased a A4 1.8 for my son. I can tell you I was surprised with the negative feedback I have read about these cars and may not have purchased it after what I read. He has had minimal problems with it but the issues mentioned here and the required maintenance are real. Make sure what ever car you are looking at, regardless of the price, you get it checked out and it has a history of oil changes within the factory specs. Mobil 1 and nothing else! The repairs and maintenance on these cars can rival your 911.
There are plenty out there so take your time and find the "right" one!

[onewhippedpuppy]

It's important to note that on the 1.8T, especially the early ones, even following the factory intervals might not be adequate to protect the engine. Extended drain intervals have lead to engine sludge on Audi, Saab, Toyota, and other products. This was simply a result of companies trying to tout their products as "low maintenance", and cutting out maintenance that was actually necessary. Audi made the same mistake with their timing belts, as many break before the replacement is scheduled.

Bottom line is that changing your oil every 12k, especially on a turbo car, simply won't cut it. Unless they can verify that the oil was changed with synthetic using realistic intervals (I go 5k), pay a little extra for an inspection for sludge.

[willtel]

I never was a big fan of the TT, it is essentially a Golf in a pretty dress and handles a little too much like one for my preference. I spent some time in a 2001 225hp Quattro roadster, it looked pretty and the interior was very nice but the AWD sucked the fun out of it and it understeered like a pig (any Audi).

The new TT-RS they just revealed seems to finally be getting the drivetrain up to snuff with the looks of the car.

[Sunroof]

When my son bought his used 1999 A4 with the 1.8T from an Audi dealer, the sales guy actually discouraged him from buying the extended warranty (car had 67K on it) because he claimed the 1.8T was "bulletproof".

After the sludge issue occured the dealer would not stand behind any repair UNLESS records could be provided that showed the car had scheduled oil changes with Mobil 1 and by the dealer! That was an impossible feat, because the dealer would not release any information on the previous owner(s). It was a dead end.

We now are embarking on another disheartening road and thats a used engine for his car. He stills owes on the vehicle so because the engine crank and bearings are burned up, we have to search for a used 1.8T engine. As it stands, to R&R the engine with a used engine the costs are well above 3K or less than half the value of his car. Good money chasing bad for me.

Many Audi A4's and TT's are on the road with the 1.8T engines that have faired well. If however, you get a used Audi 1.8T with issues, its as big as a headache as fixing a Porsche.

For now, I tend to shy away from Audi ownership. My Porsche is enough to care for!

Bob

[Shaun @ Tru6]

boat?

[Wickd89]

Owned 2 audis

1. 1993 100cs. No issues.

2. 2001 A6 2.7t. A few small issues (bought it with 45K miles), but none to really bother me. I had an extended warranty (glad I did) but now the car is stable and reliable with 71k miles.