DON'T BUY A MK1 AUDI TT BEFORE WATCHING THIS DETAILED BUYING GUIDE

[@danonath]

Bought a 3.2 with exclusive colour and all factory options...spent £££ during COVID and was best money ever wasted

[@alexandercook3470]

I've had my 225Q for 20yrs and it's now safely garaged and SORN while I enjoy my S4. One thing I would add to your inspection list is the alarm siren, as at this age they will probably be on their second or third replacement unit. Not a big issue to replace yourself but expensive new.

[@volkswizard]

Good point re alarm. I've replaced a few of those, not too bad to do. The internal batteries leak and damage the PCB.

[@richweston6202]

Worth noting coolant temperature sensors are a very common fault on the 1.8Ts. This won't always cause issues that can be noticed easily. However, it can cause rough running. The temp gauge should rise to 90 degrees and not move up or down.

[@volkswizard]

Done a few of those, they can put the EML on but not always. I had an A4 that would not start when left for a bit with hot engine. It was fine hot and cold. Turned out to be the CTS which was dropping out in middle of its range and going open circuit and flooding engine. If I was to say in the guide look out for faulty CTS's, I'm not sure how this would help the typical buyer viewing a car without a diagnostic laptop. I've tried to keep things simple and look at it from the perspective of the lay person.

[@richweston6202]

@volkswizard yes was very common in the day wasn't it. Make sure the temp gauge rises to 90 and doesn't move at all is definitely worth looking at on a test drive, Obviously even if it doesn't move that's not a guarantee there isn't a fault but its a very common one. Great guide I really enjoy all of your videos :)

[@glenlittlefair4767]

Great informative video Andrew. Could you do a similar video for the Mk2 TT please.

[@danielrussell446]

I think he has I know he reviewed his wife’s mk2 TT on the channel some time back

[@sailingman71]

When I had mine, thermostat failure was quite common, causing the engine to run cold.

[@closetmechanic]

I bought a 2001 roadster a couple of months ago. Engine gets to 66 max so it's on my list!

[@volkswizard]

that's a very good point, not too bad to do on those unlike Mk5 2.0 TFSi

[@samcadwallader2899]

I almost don't want you to make this so I can buy a good one! Great work though. I doubt you remember but I was going to swap my Golf diesel Anniversary with you for a TT225 but your car wasn't quite up to the level of mintiness as my Golf and I couldn't see out of it so I demured.

[@volkswizard]

I do vaguely recall that Sam. I recall more vividly how I posted something about buying your Anniversary which cost me, I never made that mistake again :)

[@volkswizard]

HF52 OLO - Breeze VW,

[@garymcgregor7048]

Loved my 225, but for a second car so expensive to run these days. Insurance was £40 per month, £30 tax per month then it drank the fuel. So I enjoyed my 12 months with it. And can say I had one 😂

[@volkswizard]

Well at least they don't lose a lot of money these days :)

[@74endo]

Brilliant video! I had a 1.8 225 a few years ago now own a mk2 TT TDI but going to view a mk1 3.2 through a dealership on Saturday and they’re saying it has warranty so hopefully a safe bet 🤣

[@volkswizard]

@@74endo thanks! Check warranty terms and conditions carefully as it’s an old car and no good warranty company covers old cars thoroughly as risks are too high. You have protection in law though but best advice is to check carefully before committing as likelihood of inheriting issues is greater than new issues happening. Good luck 👍🏻

[@74endo]

@ yeah definitely will look at the terms as I thought no chance of having warranty with a car so old! My mk2 had warranty and it had about 4k of warranty in the first 2 months

[@retractablehybrid6110]

A friend of mine bought a 1.8t 180 for around 1200. It had a few things needed doing but he wasn't fussed as he deemed them inexpensive... He knew of a slight blow in the exhaust, however, he ended up with a tractor like noise a month into owning it and that blow turned out to be a exhaust flexi... which would cost more to replace than he bought the car for! Think he was quoted around 1.5k..

[@volkswizard]

Ooh that’s not good.

[@jonathonbrett-qn1ic]

Great video Andrew Good luck with the search and can’t wait to see your new mk1 on the channel VDub:)

[@volkswizard]

Thanks JB 👍 Shouldn't be too long before I can reveal what I am buying ;)

[@TimLemonn]

On the 3.2: you can check for chain stretch easy enough if you have a basic dongle like and OBDeleven or similar. You can hear if the guides are worn BUT worn guides does not necessarily mean a bad chain so it’s important to check both.

[@volkswizard]

That is true Tim and dongles aren’t dear these days especially considering cost of chains but I still think most buyers won’t do that so assuming there are due at 80k is safest bet though that might mean missing out on a decent one potentially. I’ve been looking for a 3.2 and have decided the lower mileage route is the best one

[@TimLemonn]

@ In Papaya Orange I hope?!

[@andyblake1849]

That one is very nice indeed , but then it should be I guess. That little Corsa kept up well,on your drive lol

[@danielrussell446]

Hi Andrew a great video and very thorough it will be a great asset to anyone looking for a TT wish I was able to always loved them! Enjoying the series and looking forward to seeing you find a great TT! Merry Christmas to you and Kate and best wishes for the new year! Daniel

[@volkswizard]

Glad it was helpful Daniel, Merry Christmas to you and yours too sir!

[@dirkdingle7926]

Nearly bought one in the early 00s but the horror stories I heard put me of especially the gearbox fault then had to buy me sis her first car then looked at a mk4 r32 at a stealership asked about said it needed in inspecting had flat tyres flat battery scuffs everywhere wish I bought it now had the wing back seats in leather but thought my mk4 gti turbo was the boss but was crap 😂

[@MercSLRFan]

Try punctuation, you might end up liking it.

[@kevinneary2283]

Great review. Lots to look out for. Not sure I would chance one !

[@volkswizard]

Thanks! The good thing is if you don’t pay much and have to scrap it you’ll get most of your cash back

[@Greig300]

That’s a very nice example of the TT.

[@volkswizard]

Yes indeed, Audi UK’s pride and joy from new

[@richfixescars]

Lots of similar issues to a MK4 Golf that it's based on. Was that JLR Gaydon you drove past.

[@volkswizard]

Yes indeed, lots in common with Mk4 though on the V6 4motion/R32 had the multilink rear suspension of the AWD TTs. Well spotted, yes that was Gaydon

[@garymcgregor7048]

Aaaah are you going for that one in Bristol. 3.2 manual 😮

[@volkswizard]

Not seen that Gary, there is one on Autotrader in Colchester under 100k, the rest are too high miles. Even under 100k doesn't guarantee chains are OK and you can pay £5k for one and spend £5k on chains including all guides, flywheel, thermostat etc. Not what I had in mind so a dearer low mileage car makes a lot more sense.

[@markymarktt8697]

Bought my low mileage mk1 roadster a few weeks ago and managed to find some new old stock parts from Audi in German which I’m waiting for but now am thinking I should off waited for a good 240QS😞

[@volkswizard]

I personally think the qS is overrated, every other TT is far better VFM and offers most of the driving experience. But I'd still have one :)

[@markymarktt8697]

@ true but thay lovely in cars and a good investment if your gonna look after it a a 3rd car

[@salzar4431]

Doesn’t 80k miles sound terrible for the useful life of a timing chain.

[@volkswizard]

It does but it's only because Audi were promoting the ironically named 'Long Life' servicing back then which basically shortened the life of oil related components due to the extended oil change intervals, so later owners got hit with these sorts of bills, and very conveniently for Audi when the cars were out of warranty.

[@davidhaygarth648]

Thats a lot of costly potential faults for a cheap car.

[@volkswizard]

Indeed and that's why so many get scrapped and why prices can only go one way

[@LeoAudiVW]

You keep calling it Quattro but any proper Audi tech will tell you this is NOT a Quattro all wheel drive system, its 4 Motion. Audi purists consider Haldex inferior to Torsen systems. You missed a couple of common problems too, PS lines and steering racks fail on older TT's and also the PCV hoses (and suction pump) under the intake manifold on all 1.8T's fail a lot.

[@volkswizard]

I tried to avoid getting into too much technical detail on failures as I wanted the guide to be easy for normal people to follow. So if it drives OK and there are no lights on dash or funny noises I wouldn't worry too much. I did mention the vacuum hose network in relation to a lack of performance. Likewise, confusing people with what's real quattro and what isn't won't help them, all they need to know is if it works. BTW 4motion can also mean Torsen on B5 Passat and other longitudinal engine VWs but calling that proper quattro would be even more confusing. Fair point re racks, saw a few back in the day but most will have been done by now, do they keep on failing?

[@LeoAudiVW]

@ I was going to mention the B5 Passat as a Quattro but didn’t want to confuse things. I guess each brand has its terms but…it’s worth mentioning. Thanks for the response.

[@Cous1nJack]

If it says Quattro on the boot it’s Quattro in the diff.

[@LeoAudiVW]

@@Cous1nJacknot exactly mate. Ask any technician and they’ll tell you

[@Cous1nJack]

@@LeoAudiVW I understand the differences. But it’s not the 80s and I’m not Walter Worhl so I don’t really care.