The TT MK2 Buying Guide for Bargain Hunters

Bargain Hunting

As the years creep by, the Audi TT MK2 has slowly become more and more of a used car bargain. And that makes it rather attractive, perhaps more so than it already is in physical form. After all, the MK2 TT is essentially a concept car in production form, and it's new enough that it comes with modern tech features and some enticing powerplants. Regardless, as is the case with every car, there are many things to keep in mind when shopping for an MK2, as Fast Car recently pointed out.

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Engine

The MK2 was fitted with a total of five different engines over the years, but luckily, each of them is mostly reliable so long as proper maintenance is performed. Early EA113 2.0-liter cars will need cambelt replacements at 75k miles, while ignition coil packs can lead to misfires. Another thing to keep in mind is that these cars tend to consume a lot of oil, which just means you'll want to check it often.

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Transmission

The popular DSG gearbox was recalled for cars built between August and September of 2009 for incorrect ECU clutch temperature readings, so you'll want to check and be sure that was completed. With the S Tronic DSG, look for hesitation or stuttering at low speeds, particularly after the engine and gearbox are warm. This can signal a faulty Mechatronic control unit, which along with the Haldex system, can be expensive fixes. In terms of manuals, clutch life is around 60,000 miles, so no worries there.

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Suspension

Most MK2s came with a newly refreshed multilink rear/MacPherson strut front suspension setup, but a few were available with magnetic ride. The latter is obviously more expensive to acquire, and Sport mode presents a pretty rough ride quality, so most tend to skip it in favor of the more traditional setup. Like many sports cars, the MK2 tends to eat up tires pretty quickly, so factor that into your budget as well.

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Brakes

Audi issued a recall for cars built between May and July 2009 related to the servo on the vacuum pipe, which can become damaged. The MK2's front brakes also tend to squeal at lower speeds, which can be rectified by adding copper grease to the brake pads or simply swapping out the discs and pads.

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Interior

The biggest thing to check on the inside of the MK2 is that everything simply functions as it should, from lights and switches to the top operation. Speaking of the top, make sure it's sealed properly, as some tend to leak over time and leave stains on the door panels.

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Pricing

These days, the MK2 can be had for bargain prices, in many cases less than $10k, albeit with higher mileage. As is usually the case, spending more will get you a much nicer, lower-mile example that won't cause as many immediate headaches for the still-reasonable price of $20k or more.

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>>Join the conversation about finding the right MK2 TT right here in the Audi World Forum!

For help with the service of your car, check out the how to section of AudiWorld.com.