Sorry guys this maybe a bit OT but I was hoping someone with a first hand experience could chip in on this one:

I'm in the process of getting a new car for my gf and I'm thinking about the AUDI TT. I'm looking at the base model (180hp/automatic/coupe), she doesn't know how to drive a stick and she's not a real car enthusiast so this would be plenty of hp for her. I just want to find out if this is a fun car to drive and the reliability?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Peter

 

Reliable, but with the A/C on in the summer combined with the automatic, it will be sluggish.

I would go for the 225TT. That little extra hp makes a nice difference.

 

Definitely shoot for a 225, as Mike pointed out. I don't think it will cost you much more, and you'll appreciate it when you borrow the car The TT is a pretty porky car (heavy), so the base model is a bit underpowered.

The 1.8T engine is pretty bulletproof, and can be modded reliably (if that's something that interests you).

As with any Audi, Quattro is always a good buy... though in Seal Beach, with an every day driver (not someone who is going to appreciate AWD handling), you may not need to look for that option.

 

Thanks for the input. Actually I was also looking at the 225TT but unfortunately no 6-speed for her.

 

I agree completely. But since the car is for her then I have to put her interests over mine. She doesn't know how and also not interested in 6-speed manual, she also doesn't care about having enough hp...just a fun & reliable car to drive around everyday.

 

A friend of mine has the automatic 180HP TT Convertible. It's plenty zippy for people who don't care too much about performance. The coupe model weighs a few hundred pounds less so it should have even better performance than the convertible that I've driven.

The interior design is phenomenal - it looks very techy. Unfortunately, because of the pricepoint of the car, there is a lot of rubber/plastic instead of leather and metal.

For the same price I would also consider a few other coupes, all of which have better handling and performance than the TT:
- BMW 3 coupe
- Infiniti G35 Coupe
- Nissan 350Z
- Preowned Boxster Tip

 

go test drive it first make sure u spend enough time in it. the shape of the car is very nice but because of it the visibility is really bad. also the windshield will give kinda funny fish-eye view out. take that into consideration before making the decision.

 

Another good point.

 

My Wife drove a 1.8 for 2 years and we loved it. It was a stick of course. It was not underpowered, had great visibility, incredible cargo space, classic design and just took one test drive to fall in love with.

 

new design coming out next year..

 

Thanks guys for all your input and comments, I'll definitely check out all the available options before making the decision.

I just browsed through the Infinity website for the specs on G35 coupe, and talk about more bang for the buck...I was shocked to find that at about the same price level you can get a loaded G35 coupe with 280hp vs AUDI TT (180hp) & BMW 325CI coupe (184hp)! What's going on here? Is it cuz it's a rice rocket vs German engineering or there's more to it???

Peter

 

Before getting excited about the G35 Coupe, make sure she will tolerate the loud exhaust noise especially upon cold startup and takeaways!

 

C'mon mark...it's not that bad!

Plus, the Audi TT that my friend has is insulated VERY poorly so you get lots of wind noise and ambient noise inside the cabin. It could simply be the fact that it's a convertible.

Infiniti, Acura, & Lexus have always offered a great deal more bang for the buck than German marks. Add to that the fact that the japanese brands are kicking german *** reliability-wise, and you've got a winning combo.

A lot of guys on this board are adding an infiniti or lexus to their car collection. I'm considering getting an FX45 as a replacement for my turbo.

 

If you want to go new, the new S-Line TT with a 3.2 flat 6 has 255 horsepower, with an Automatic transmission (with paddle shifts), awesome exhaust note, and even Launch Control for perfect starts at the drag strip every time!

 

Hot Damn!