jonster

Hello all,

I’m in the market for a used TT 2008-2011 and this forum has given me lots of very valuable information. However, I would like to ask for advice from experienced owners. I’m narrowing it down to the cars below which are all in like new cosmetic condition and all feel very tight on a test drive. Which would you choose and why, or would you just rather wait for something better to come up? My budget is pretty limited at C$17,000ish, although I might stretch it to around $20,000 if it can save me a bit of a headache, so here’s the list:

- C$14,000 for a 2010 TT S-line with 140,000kms (87500miles). I was really leaning towards this car because it’s being sold by the original female owner and has a full service history. However, the car has been a daily driver with frequent stop and go driving and was involved in a front end collision in 2011 which the owner describes as a small accident, although the repair bill on car fax was $21,000 back in 2011. The car has had the intake manifold replaced twice in the last 3 years, and had an antifreeze leak that seemed to be coming from the radiator so the radiator was changed. The owner got the intake manifold replaced the second time and listed the car for sale right away. The owner’s husband owns a garage and he serviced the car after the warranty expired. I wonder if he noticed something bad going on with the engine and that’s why they listed the car right away after fixing the intake manifold. What’s your take? Is it worth taking the car in for an inspection at the Audi dealership, or would it be a waste of time and I should rather walk away?

- Second option for C$16,000 2008 TT FWD top of the line trim with 161,000km (100k miles). The car is being sold by an Audi dealer and it great condition inside and out. It drives really well and the suspension feels very tight, as a whole the car feels like new. The car had 3 owners, and was last serviced 3 years ago. At this age and milage I’m concerned for the lack of detail service records (the car was serviced at the dealership and then at an independent garage after the warranty expired, from 2013-2016. However, the garage won’t disclose what work they’ve done to the car because of consumer privacy. There’s no service records from 2016 to date) I asked the dealer to change the timing belt/tensioners/water pump and they might do it for the price. I’m also pushing them to change the transmission fluid and spark plugs and coils. Would you consider the car if they do this work, or there’s no real catching up with missed service?

- Third option. C$19,000 2009 base TT quatro with 75,000K (46k miles) sold by a Mercedes Benz dealership. The car looks like new and for the age it was barely driven and it might come with an aftermarket extended warranty. However, it seems the car hasn’t had any routine service done since purchased apart from oil changes. Is the low milage a good or bad thing given the age of the car?

So that’s my dilemma. What would you do?

Vegas-roadster

Wait for something else. If you read this FAQ https://forums.fourtitude.com/showth...-MK2-TT-a5-FAQ, you would only buy a 2011+ model year if you were buying a base Mk 2 TT. The only possible exception might be a manual tranny 6 cylinder. So that eliminates options 2 and 3 assuming #3 is a 2L engines. #2 is definitely a 2L engine because it is FWD.
Regarding #1, the manifold issues are not normal and would scare me off. The wreck would not bother me since the owner was obviously satisfied with the repair. Even a minor body repair is expensive because the parts are aluminum and must be replaced rather than beat out. A truck backed into my front end of my 2011 while I was parked in a lot and the cost was $12K US in 2013.

The TT is a scarce car and you have to shop nationwide to get the best deal. In the US, a clean 2011 TT roadster with about 75K miles is selling (not the asking price) for about $13K US. Coupes are even less.

jonster

Thank you for your insight. Are the 2011s and newer more reliable, or just a step up in performance with the same reliability issues.

What's your take on the 3.2 V6 manual? I've read that early engines had timing belt failures, and that 2010-2016 had timing chain tensioner issues as well. Are those isolated incidents or something more or less common?

martian4000

The TT 3.2 V6 is a chain car as far as I've ever heard. It's my understanding that it's the plastic internal chain guides that fail in poorly maintained / oiled cars primarily. The condition of chain can be tested using VCDS for some peace of mind. The 3.2 isn't very tuning friendly but the exhaust note sounds pretty awesome and it can get up and move just fine. Enjoy the shopping.

Vegas-roadster

If you want a manual tranny, the Mk 2 3.2 is your only option besides a Mk 2 TTRS. 3.2 Drive trains are excellent.
Only chain issues have been with cars that have not had oil changed at 10K intervals and/or cheap oil. The problem is that the chain is oiled via a small port which gets clogged if oil changes are not to spec.
2011+ base TT have the same reliability (and a lot more standard equipment) as earlier models except that they are all chain engines as explained in the FAQ. All TTS have timing belts. As explained in the FAQ, TB failures began to appear in early Mk 2s so equipped after about 7 years irrespective of mileage. Personally, I would change a TB every 6 years irrespective of mileage. What risk a $5K+ repair on a TB failure? The Mk 1 was notorious for TB failures which may be what you are referring to and was the subject of a law suit which Audi lost. Change intervals for a Mk 1 are 5 years or 60K. The 3.2 has a chain.

jonster

Good stuff. There was a nice one owner 3.2 v6 for sale by the original owner with 30,000km on it. I'm about 1000 miles away and so I had a bunch of questions for the seller to figure out whether it'd be worth my trek. Turns out the car was sold as soon as listed and the buyer is even further away that I am!

I went to see my local indy Audi specialist today and he kinda talked me out of the TT. He said that they're always in the shop and that seals among other parts wear out fast so the cars get leaks frequently. He seemed really pessimistic, I wonder if he's had to work on a few lemons and thus developed his views. I am prepared to deal with repairs and maintenance, but I'm a bit in the dark not knowing what to really expect. How much money you reckon is safe to put aside for repairs/maintenance if I drive about 15,000miles (25,000kms) in a year, with half of those miles being hwy runs? I know there's a lot of things that can go run and a lot comes down to luck really, but a ball park idea would be great. Say $2000 /year? $4000? more?

Thanks guys, you rock!