Simplicity is the key to its timeless appeal. The original TT was a real labour of love by Audi's team of designers. The most distinctive line in my view is the ovoid line that separates the turret from the rest of the car body (in the coupe). I understand part of this ovoid line required laser brazing to achieve. It gave the turret a really clean appearance.
It's a sweet little gem. If I'm not mistaken it was kind of Audi's entry into a dying segment of small roasters that pretty much dyed out with the Plymouth/Pontiac Solstice.
I hate how Audi changed so much the TT design, the new ones dont stand out of the crowd the same way as the MK1 did.(and still does) PS. I owe a S3 8P and the interiors of the S3 kinda looks like a modernization of the ones in the MK1 TT
I have the Roadster 225hp for almost 10 years. I’ve had a few cars, but none gave me maintenance headaches like this one. I am at that point now where (hopefully) there isn’t much more parts to change, because i’ve changed it all 😅
I have a 225 cupè and can relate with that😂 my problem now is with the MOT, it won’t pass because it doesn’t show the engine management light when the ignition is turned on. But have now learned that early cars don’t even have a EML, so now I’m trying to get a written statement from audi that confirms this!
The fuel cap and all the interior trim is aluminum, not plastic. Audi developed a special aluminum for light weight, luster and corrosion resistance. The 225 is indeed the better car for overall performance but the 180's smaller turbo spools up faster so it's not bad for fun factor. The best part of these cars is that there's a huge aftermarket of performance upgrades available to take it anywhere you want to go. Nice video
I felt it was the peak balloon/earthworm design era and I couldn’t warm up to it. However you have brought me a new appreciation of it. The follow-up design was much nicer.
I see what you're saying. I agree that I find the next generation a little more pleasing aesthetically, but I love the commitment and out there avant-garde quaility that Audi did with this first generation. So unique, and introduced stying features that made their way into future TT generations, and I would argue the eventual Audi R8 as well.
I owned one, TT MK1 225, same color, from 2006 till last year when I was obliged to sell it because it didn't meet city emission demands so I could not drive it where I live here in Europe, bought an Audi TT MK2 :)
Just had one of these given to me by my mother inlaw. She couldn't drive it anymore. I didn't know what model it was. I didn't know they had one with a single exhaust. Mine is dual exhaust. The only problem with the car is the driver's door is stuck closed. I have built cars since 1995. This is my first audi. And the first time i cannot figure out a door. I did everything i found online door will not open. I even ripped the door panel off to get to the cables. Nothing is opening this door. So dukes of hazard it is 😂 kinda fun jumping through the top 😂 glad its a convertible or it would be a tight squeeze through the passenger side. These are kinda death traps. 1st car in almost 30 years i cannot figure out. I've tried everything i seen online and apparently this is pretty common on these. My pride is preventing me from a professional. Because i have never had to put a car in the shop ever in my life. But feel this car is over my head. Good thing it was free. And I can't sell it because it was a gift. I have a heart.
@@evangepologist i wish i could. But that may be more rude than selling it 😂. Im just going to drive it until the wheels fall off. So far drivetrain is all working perfectly. Just that stupid door still 😂 i think the door latch is electronic and the fuse is behind the door. Brilliant idea 😂
Nope, real aluminium, not plastic. On the fuel cap cover, radio cover, ventilation bezels, door releases. Everything that looks metallic is metallic. This is Audi, not Porsche. It's designers believed in the honest use of materials.
I would have thought reincarnation of the Porsche 356. The TT's designer, Freeman Thomas, has cited the work of Erwin Kommenda as one of his key influences.
I have a 99' 225 coupe which has been chipped by the previous owner to about 265 bhp! It does feel very rapid and I recon it will easily keep up with my E36 M3 on the twisty roads at least. I do enjoy driving it and it also does get attention from other cars and people. It is a very comfortable car to drive and the cockpit is a nice place to be. The only downside to my TT is the Turbo lag at low speeds, which because I drive my naturally aspirated M3 the other days can be a bit annoying when you've got used to a more linear power curve in a naturally aspirated car. Apart from that the TT is a very enjoyable car to drive and own 😎
I love the design and yes body line flows etc but where they made a mistake is when they added the rear spoiler,should have been sat in line with the rear lights about 1 inch -2 .
My friend absolutely hates this car for its jellybean appearance. Me? This was the first car I ever picked in a racing game, namely FM2. Mostly because of the acceleration stat, but also because I didn't want to start with a MKV VW Golf. I started with the 3.2 V6, which was classified as a D-Class back then when the class system just went from D to S/U and then R4, R3, R2, R1 (GT3, GT500, GT1, Prototypes performance levels) I would love you to cover a Citroen Xsara Picasso one day.
Nice little review :-) have a coupé, with quattro as a weekend car with some decent mods. Totally beautiful and fun car. Btw.: afaik VAG build the 1.8t 20v until 2010 (in Seat Exeo, badge engineering of Audi A4 B7)
A fancy sports tuned VW Bettle with a cabriolet and Quattro AWD option. Brilliant idea for marketing. I would of done so if I was Audi too but we really know what it is
I don't think that was necessarily a bad thing. The price wasn't terribly high, and was meant more as a styling exercise and cruiser type of car. Admitttedly, I didn't realize a lot of them had a similar tune to Jettas, A4s, etc. My dad bought a used 2004 Jetta 1.8T when my sister started driving, and the engine seems like it was tuned essentially identical to this. That version of the Jetta even seems like it might have been styled by the same team, as it also had a similar both rounded and angular symmetrical quality to the design. I miss that car...my dad eventually gave it to my sister and she sold it when it started having more problems and she needed a more reliable car.
Is $3,500 bucks too much to spend on a 2001 TT Quattro convertible 1.8T with 144,000 miles? (Standard transmission) The owner says it'll need struts and there's a subtle thumping or thudding coming from the rear. The guy/owner says he thinks it's a bearing. Also, I can easily replace the rear struts on a 2016 Subaru legacy. Is it just as basic to replace the struts on this Audi? Thanks guys 🍀🌲
It's a GIRL car..... that's why no one bought it..... very of them on the road even back in its glorious days.... nowadays, you hardly see it on the road.... it's a terrible car with horrendous reliability problems..... expensive repairs with terrible reliability problems..... so it went dead on the car market.... even the latest model has terrible reliability problems...... that's why people don't buy it.... it's a GIRL car
Yeah, but you're wasting your time here watching a girl's car videos. When I don't like something, I don't waste my time on it. I think you love the girl car like you say
The fuel cap and radio cover flap are anodised aluminium, not plastic. It’s highly offensive to a mk1 TT owner to call these plastic haha
I was looking for this comment!
yes, read the comments for this statement.
I remember the version that had baseball glove seats.
That’s right! Yes those were cool.
i have that one and it looks really cool
Simplicity is the key to its timeless appeal. The original TT was a real labour of love by Audi's team of designers. The most distinctive line in my view is the ovoid line that separates the turret from the rest of the car body (in the coupe). I understand part of this ovoid line required laser brazing to achieve. It gave the turret a really clean appearance.
Very nice video with attention for the TT design. Will be a timeless classic soon... and I'm looking to buy my 3rd TT MK1 !!
It's a sweet little gem.
If I'm not mistaken it was kind of Audi's entry into a dying segment of small roasters that pretty much dyed out with the Plymouth/Pontiac Solstice.
I hate how Audi changed so much the TT design, the new ones dont stand out of the crowd the same way as the MK1 did.(and still does)
PS. I owe a S3 8P and the interiors of the S3 kinda looks like a modernization of the ones in the MK1 TT
I have a absolute mint condition one in my garage at home. Really cool cars, mine in jet black 🖤. They look absolutely amazing 😊😊😊😊😊😊
I have the Roadster 225hp for almost 10 years. I’ve had a few cars, but none gave me maintenance headaches like this one. I am at that point now where (hopefully) there isn’t much more parts to change, because i’ve changed it all 😅
I have a 225 cupè and can relate with that😂 my problem now is with the MOT, it won’t pass because it doesn’t show the engine management light when the ignition is turned on. But have now learned that early cars don’t even have a EML, so now I’m trying to get a written statement from audi that confirms this!
The fuel cap and all the interior trim is aluminum, not plastic. Audi developed a special aluminum for light weight, luster and corrosion resistance. The 225 is indeed the better car for overall performance but the 180's smaller turbo spools up faster so it's not bad for fun factor. The best part of these cars is that there's a huge aftermarket of performance upgrades available to take it anywhere you want to go. Nice video
They can’t say aluminium though 😂
7:43 It's real aluminum, not plastic.
Had one for 4 years early 2000s, coupe 225 bam. Loved it and miss it. Traded it for a Ford and the Ford quality was absolutely trash in comparison. 😮
I felt it was the peak balloon/earthworm design era and I couldn’t warm up to it. However you have brought me a new appreciation of it. The follow-up design was much nicer.
I see what you're saying. I agree that I find the next generation a little more pleasing aesthetically, but I love the commitment and out there avant-garde quaility that Audi did with this first generation. So unique, and introduced stying features that made their way into future TT generations, and I would argue the eventual Audi R8 as well.
The best Audi ever made
I owned one, TT MK1 225, same color, from 2006 till last year when I was obliged to sell it because it didn't meet city emission demands so I could not drive it where I live here in Europe, bought an Audi TT MK2 :)
What a shame you had to get rid of it.
So which one did you prefer? Mk1 or mk2?
Just had one of these given to me by my mother inlaw. She couldn't drive it anymore. I didn't know what model it was. I didn't know they had one with a single exhaust. Mine is dual exhaust. The only problem with the car is the driver's door is stuck closed. I have built cars since 1995. This is my first audi. And the first time i cannot figure out a door. I did everything i found online door will not open. I even ripped the door panel off to get to the cables. Nothing is opening this door. So dukes of hazard it is 😂 kinda fun jumping through the top 😂 glad its a convertible or it would be a tight squeeze through the passenger side. These are kinda death traps. 1st car in almost 30 years i cannot figure out. I've tried everything i seen online and apparently this is pretty common on these. My pride is preventing me from a professional. Because i have never had to put a car in the shop ever in my life. But feel this car is over my head. Good thing it was free. And I can't sell it because it was a gift. I have a heart.
Can I have it please 🙏
@@evangepologist i wish i could. But that may be more rude than selling it 😂. Im just going to drive it until the wheels fall off. So far drivetrain is all working perfectly. Just that stupid door still 😂 i think the door latch is electronic and the fuse is behind the door. Brilliant idea 😂
Nope, real aluminium, not plastic. On the fuel cap cover, radio cover, ventilation bezels, door releases. Everything that looks metallic is metallic. This is Audi, not Porsche. It's designers believed in the honest use of materials.
It's a sort of spiritual successor to the Karmann Ghia. Smooth lines and design beauty define both of these vehicles.
I would have thought reincarnation of the Porsche 356. The TT's designer, Freeman Thomas, has cited the work of Erwin Kommenda as one of his key influences.
I agree with your 356 statement.
I have a 99' 225 coupe which has been chipped by the previous owner to about 265 bhp! It does feel very rapid and I recon it will easily keep up with my E36 M3 on the twisty roads at least. I do enjoy driving it and it also does get attention from other cars and people. It is a very comfortable car to drive and the cockpit is a nice place to be. The only downside to my TT is the Turbo lag at low speeds, which because I drive my naturally aspirated M3 the other days can be a bit annoying when you've got used to a more linear power curve in a naturally aspirated car. Apart from that the TT is a very enjoyable car to drive and own 😎
I love the design and yes body line flows etc but where they made a mistake is when they added the rear spoiler,should have been sat in line with the rear lights about 1 inch -2 .
My friend absolutely hates this car for its jellybean appearance.
Me? This was the first car I ever picked in a racing game, namely FM2. Mostly because of the acceleration stat, but also because I didn't want to start with a MKV VW Golf.
I started with the 3.2 V6, which was classified as a D-Class back then when the class system just went from D to S/U and then R4, R3, R2, R1 (GT3, GT500, GT1, Prototypes performance levels)
I would love you to cover a Citroen Xsara Picasso one day.
Best looking car ever made for daily driving
I would a Black Audi TT 2005, is my joy, but as the car goes old is annoying to keep maintenance, but nonetheless this car is hella fun
The design of the mark one is incredible 😊😊
Nice little review :-)
have a coupé, with quattro as a weekend car with some decent mods. Totally beautiful and fun car.
Btw.: afaik VAG build the 1.8t 20v until 2010 (in Seat Exeo, badge engineering of Audi A4 B7)
The website for the TT was also amazing! Who remembers that?
Awesome car
Its not plastic all pieces are in aluminium.
1 Exhaust = 2WD, 2 Exhaust = quattro - "smaller" engines were also available as quattro, 225hp+ came only as quattro
A fancy sports tuned VW Bettle with a cabriolet and Quattro AWD option. Brilliant idea for marketing. I would of done so if I was Audi too but we really know what it is
I don't think that was necessarily a bad thing. The price wasn't terribly high, and was meant more as a styling exercise and cruiser type of car. Admitttedly, I didn't realize a lot of them had a similar tune to Jettas, A4s, etc. My dad bought a used 2004 Jetta 1.8T when my sister started driving, and the engine seems like it was tuned essentially identical to this. That version of the Jetta even seems like it might have been styled by the same team, as it also had a similar both rounded and angular symmetrical quality to the design. I miss that car...my dad eventually gave it to my sister and she sold it when it started having more problems and she needed a more reliable car.
What a beauty
Great and enjoyable video.
Thank you!
Is $3,500 bucks too much to spend on a 2001 TT Quattro convertible 1.8T with 144,000 miles? (Standard transmission) The owner says it'll need struts and there's a subtle thumping or thudding coming from the rear. The guy/owner says he thinks it's a bearing. Also, I can easily replace the rear struts on a 2016 Subaru legacy. Is it just as basic to replace the struts on this Audi? Thanks guys 🍀🌲
Shame that this TT's interior didn't have the baseball mitt style.
5:16 LOL!
That was weird… I had to back that up!
Looks like a fancy VW Beetle.
NSU was not the name of Audi. Audi and NSU were fused together under VW management
A thick sausage with a bubble on top of it, I don't like it...
C'mon, you are designer. Please, find more nice location to review the cars. An unlovely location makes a nice car look worse in such a location
Bold statement here, obviously subjective but in my head this is one of the ugliest cars ever made.
It's a GIRL car..... that's why no one bought it..... very of them on the road even back in its glorious days.... nowadays, you hardly see it on the road.... it's a terrible car with horrendous reliability problems..... expensive repairs with terrible reliability problems..... so it went dead on the car market.... even the latest model has terrible reliability problems...... that's why people don't buy it.... it's a GIRL car
Yeah, but you're wasting your time here watching a girl's car videos. When I don't like something, I don't waste my time on it. I think you love the girl car like you say
How the hell is a car a "girl car" girls ride Challengers what does that make it? A girl car?
i have an mk1 225. Just a simple stage 1 tune and a new radio with blue tooth having the TT aluminum cap closed makes the car timeless