Why The AUDI TT Mk1 Should Have FAILED! And How Audi Saved It..
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- On paper it should have been a disaster, woeful underpinnings, lethal handling, uninspiring to drive.. and yet they managed to make the MK1 Audi TT into a big success.
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My good friend Freeman Thomas designed the original TT. He has told me that the original design had a small electrically deployable rear spoiler to negate the lift at speed. The spoiler was scrapped by the bean counters and it cost Audi many times over to correct it. Back in 2000 I was working at a race track in England with ties to Audi. This was around the time of the TT recalls and Audi was giving track day experiences to owners as a thank you for their patience in waiting for their cars to be fixed. As a result I got THOUSANDS of laps in a TT hooning it around. Lots of fun and great memories.
Accountants and lawyers destroyed the Rover Group, Saab, FIAT and many others.
Fastinating. I admire the purity of the original design. The baseball mitt upholstery option was stunning. Do you know if Freeman Thomas has one of the Mark 1's? I read that when tasked with the design he was looked to Auto Union's aerodynamic racing cars of the 1930s. Driven by Tazio Nuvolari and Achille Varzi they were very successful.
@@archiegoodwinjr As it happens Freeman does have an original MK1 TT. It is the last one delivered to the US and it currently has just 49 miles on it. I saw it earlier this year. As for the baseball stitching that was inspired by a baseball glove purchased at Big 5 Sporting Goods in California which he still has today. We have exchanged tons of stories on the TT and he has even made me some original sketches I have in my office. A lovely guy that I am so proud to call a friend.
Your friend didnt design jack s ... nor did Audi made this car originally.
The original was a Serbian design made in Zastava Automotive Developments Group called simply Project Ivan. It had different concepts and this was one of them. During the 90s wars all that has been stolen and later as a cherry on top the factories bombed by NATO. Most designers in Zastava and other Serbian vehicle manufacturers including the designers who made this original car ended up working in Germany for Mercedes, BMW, Audi etc. Some of them still work there today.
Renault also made a very similar cars years before the TT but forgot the model name, I wouldnt be surprised if it's the same sourced one from Zastava. Renault ones were lightyears better looking and driving then what ever Audi botched together. You can find those cars in their museums if you want to dig around.
@@minmogrovingstrongandhealthynah
For me, the Coupe is the better looker.
As the owner of a SUV (Honda CRV…well my wife’s) I’m sick to death of everything being AND becoming a crossover… the new Ford Capri being the final straw!!! Bring back fun, compact, and exciting cars… pleaaaseeeee. (PS, I have an MX5❤)
@@PatrickHostler So do I, a Mk 1. Well, I mean, no one’s forcing you to buy the new Capri. To me, these electro-SUV’s all look much the same to me, so why get worked up about it?
Exactly! Dumb decision to end production! Essentially, it was the launch of the Mazda MX5 which led other car manufacturers to take notice and design their own lightweight compact sport convertible’s ( Namely Mercedes’ SLK & BMW’s Z3 ) . I guess Audi Think less people will enjoy driving a lightweight convertible for the fun of it, and see their cars as premium A-B conveyance…😂
@@paulsz6194there’s no market for them any more. Hence why most manufacturers have killed off ‘affordable’ sports cars. They make more money selling SUVs, sadly.
The dash still looks great today
Much better looking than modern Audis, has more class too
thats absolutely clear - what most manufacturers make today is like " WTF ? "
A5/7 Sportback is a design classic in my opinion.👍The coupe has a massive following too.
Terrible thing to drive, though. Dull, inert under-steer, wobbling terribly, droning engine, list goes on and on.....
@@EvoraGT430 Try the 3.0 tdi , it’s a fast, economic, quiet and a beautiful design in Coupe or Sportback.👍
Enjoyed watching this one. Owned a mark 1 since 2011, and still love it. Not a fan of all the SUV's being driven around today.
not a fan at all of all those useless SUV's - that era ( from the TT ) was when superb cars where still made with common sense - styling , confort & no useless gyzmos
Along with audi having to redesign the rear to control lift, remember ford having to add ' ears' to the side of the first Sierra to add stability in side winds.
Lol, I drove one of the originals without "ears" - any speed over 60 ensured a change of underwear! Couldn't hold a straight line, back end was light and all over the place - not good for a RWD car.
We ordered a 180 which eventually turned up in 2000 due to the rework. When it did turn up it turned out to be a 225, which the dealer offered to us at the 180 price! :-) Denim blue with blue interior. Looked sensational. Interior design was a leap forward compared to anything else, and the zenon lights were a revelation. Audi originally sold it as a limited run model to ensure values held up but it sold bucket loads, after which the early onwers (including us) complained to Audi and were given a £1000 refund!
You got a smashing deal 😀
@@Shane-zx4psexactly. I would have thought the dealer would have been cheeky & said we a great deal for you, we can give you the 225 for only £500 extra, and pocketed it!
Like the looks of it, but that door shut in the beginning makes a Alfa Romeo 147 and 156 door shut sounds like a Rolls door!
My sister had a MiK 1 that she used to drive like a demon.
Now she’s got a MiK 3 and she drives like an old woman !
Strange. What happened to her 😂
@@andrewwaller5913 Nothing happened to her … It’s what happened to the car.
The mark one was an absolute joy to red line … The new one is a limo in comparison.
@@Hickalum Yes, love my Mk 1. It puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.
What's a MiK?
uploaded the day I sold my TT mk1... don´t make me regret it 😞
I had one of these, 225 quattro with the bam engine, i absolutely loved it, amazing car, in 8 years nothing went wrong and I thought it was nice to drive, i miss it, they still look amazing after 20 years!
Terrible thing to drive, though. Dull, inert under-steer, wobbling terribly, droning engine, list goes on and on.....
@@EvoraGT430Nonsense, obviously never driven one properly. Stick to your mum's Corsa
Never wanted a car as much as I wanted the TT, but absolutely hated owning it. You had to shift 3X from 0 to 40 mph. Cornering was uncomfortable due to the short wheelbase. It looked like a million bucks but performance was terrible. Was a huge relief when I traded it in for an A4.
Automotive journalist: The car is unsafe.
Audi: OK, we fix it.
Automotive journalist: The car feels too safe.
Happy owner of a 225 mk1… it’s the second mk1 TT I’ve owned.. I love them.. think I’ll buy another.. they’re sure to go up in value
Great little car, picked up a Mk 1 225hp for £1800, few little jobs, 2 new tyres and a service and she's running perfectly. Overtake most stuff on the road with ease.
MK1 TT is the Abba of cars.
1st wow, then hate then let it lie for a decade or two and then remember why they were popular in their day.
Now, the MK1 TT looks clean, germanic and compact compared to the bloated, fake-vented and fussy newcomers.
Handling can be much improved by changing front arm bushes to 30mm versions (Cookbot sleeves), and uprating the rear anti-roll bar. Then you don't have a Golf in a frock, you have a really pretty S3.
1st Wow, it's so horrible that changing the Golf's outer shell actually made it dangerous and it unalived people! But that's how VW Group makes 'sports cars': by using the worst layout, worst components, and then finishes it off by making it as flawed as possible.
One of the worst cars in history.
And of course time hasn't changed its technical properties and it remains horrible.
@@pistonburner6448 just say you cant drive lil bro
@@fabium3410 Did you really think that was a good comeback? You didn't manage to shoot down a single argument I made. All my points still stand.
@@fabium3410 BTW I'm a million times better than you are at driving, and I have many times more training, experience and merits (like race wins).
@@pistonburner6448 uhh tbh it was about as good as your low effort delusional assessment if i could even call it that 💀 we went over this already and i dont wanna waste more of my time arguing with a smooth brain 😘
Also loved the baseball glove seats
There is only one Audi TT Mk1 in my country, Ghana and i am the proud owner of red orange MK1 3.2 DSG 😍
Sounds perfect for a convertible, 4 wheel drive ,lightly tuned engine and nothing done to hide/ alter its looks, all for £4 TO 5K
And yet those specs tell you nothing about the car.
Convertible: even less rigid body and makes the car even creakier (even when new)
4wd: it's a FWD car with added drive to the rear, meaning it still drives like a FWD meaning terminal understeer. But it's just heavier and even less lively than other FWD cars. And the little bit of rear drive just makes it less logical and less adjustable to drive.
Lightly tuned engine: A horrible, boring, personality-lacking, dull engine with ridiculously huge lag and it still has as high consumption in real life as BMW's bigger sixes.
That what people say when they buy a 40ft boat for $3,000… what a steal!! The only reason the previous owner charged $3k was because they couldn’t give it away. Then some noob thinks “What a Bargain!!!” But to get the boat in the water and operable for a year would cost $30k… hence the boat sits in the back yard with weeds growing around it until they have to pay someone $3k to remove it.
I think the Mk1 TT really stood out from the crowed in its day! I loved the looks of the TT more so the hard top. Cracking stuff as always Jack buddy 👍
When you say Scirocco, you put up a picture of a Corrado, and when you say Corrado, the Scirocco is shown. 😜
You even say "like the Scirocco, and the Corrado that came before it" - but that's the wrong way around. The Scirocco was first (unless you mean the third gen Scirocco - but that's not what the picture is).
Wonderful car, the Corrado. Wish I had never sold my VR6. VW promised a successor, which never happened.
Odd you did this vid today Jack, I bought an 05 TT convertible yesterday!
And I bought an 03 225 convertible last week
I have a ‘good’ MK1 225 coupe and absolutely love it. Comfortably handles a remap and a few engine mods to make it quick even by today’s standards.
It’s heavy and the handing needs some tweaks, but the BAM engine is still very very capable.
I think they look better every year that goes by too. These days they’re a lot of car for the money! There’s also a big community around them so common fixes are relatively easy considering the amount of resources available.
I remember being in Manchester in 1999 and seeing a massive billboard placed at the bottom of Deansgate advertising the TT, it looked so space aged back then...
Fast forward to 2009 and I got to drive the TT in 3.2 V6 with a DSG box from Johannesburg to the Natal South Coast in South Africa and giggled like a kid all the way there!
I`d still love to own one now...
It's a design classic really, still looks interesting today. Much like your video on the Puma, it's crazy that there's no interest in cars like this any more!
Terrible thing to drive, though. Dull, inert under-steer, wobbling terribly, droning engine, list goes on and on.....
@@EvoraGT430 Hmm, fair enough! 😆
Wow jack, where are all these bot-comments coming from all of a sudden?
Actually looking for a 225 Coupe right now!
i am also looking for one but from the second generation - just for a question of design & taste .
Plenty out there but be careful, some are a bit rough. Pay at least 2k
I had a mk1 225Q in 1999. I refused the stick on spoiler upgrade. It was a great build and design and the fit and finish was great. The wheezy 5v 1.8T engine was a disappointment as was the handling. Never inspires hard driving let alone on the lint on the roads driving. I have a GR Yaris these days, which is a world apart in driving. TT Mk1 was a cool coupe tho in its day. There was nothing else like it when it fist came out. As an early order customer, I got to go to the UK launch at Design Museum and met the team.
People will pay more for the original version that's not as good without the spoiler? What's wrong with them?
A classic car and a modern classic car channel. Great combo.
Loved the baseball glove seat option, the style, the sound. Never quite warmed up to the handling. But I only got to drive stock examples. Who new this made a great tuner platform?
If you press ESP, it turns off all stability control and switches the power distribution to be more power to the rear wheels
I like the original TT Spyder Quattro. There needs to be more Roadsters with Manual gearboxes and AWD systems. If you’re gonna drive exposed, you might as well shift your own gears but also be able to stick to the road.
Stick to the road? 4wd doesn't do that, and the TT was so poorly designed, so un-dynamic, that it actually unalived many people before they recalled it and put some (poor) band-aids on it!
The TT is one of the worst cars in history.
Back in Jan 1998 I bought a SW20 MR2 T-Bar. Summer that year, my mate and I went to the pub close to where he lived (with the roof out). Parked there was one of these and was getting some attention. My MR2 got much more! Another friend of mine has got a very modified hard top RS+ TT (he has spent a lot of money buying and maintaining it). I'm no Audi fan, but it impressed me engineering wise. Nice review though Jack.
As I look out the rear window of my Clio 182 in the petrol station, all I can see is the radiator grill of the Range Rover behind me. I step out and his bonnet is the height of my roof ! I honeslty don't get SUV/crossovers/'high cars' at all... They're not new. They've been around for over 50 years, but I can't figure out why people have decided they need them now to the exclusion of everything else. The three H's - huge, high, heavy - seem to be the go to for car buyers at the moment.
Thanks for the details on the TT, I never got a chance to drive one, but certainly it was, and remains, a bit of a looker. Though a hairdresser's car in Australia in its day, it had plenty of power for what it was.
It still looks like nothing else today.... Like it or not, this car is iconic and everyone instantly recognises one if it passes by on the street.....
I remember the first time I saw one parked on the westcoast of Sweden in my teens. It felt like seeing the future.
My son ran a Mk11 Black Edition for several years and loved it. Very reliable, cheap to own and great fun to drive. He traded it for a Porsche Cayman and boy did he regret it. That car was nothing but a world of pain, fault after fault, very expensive to run and not that much fun.
I had a 225 coupe and loved it. Yes, it wasn't particularly fast but as an experience and to look at in Avus Silver/black leather with 17" Competition alloys it was stunning.
Had three of the Mk1 coupes back in the day. First was a very early 225 which was written off after I was hit from behind when stationary and catapulted into a tractor. Second one was the same but a bit newer and the last, one the first V6 models with a very early iteration of the DSG box. You’re right they weren’t an out an out sports car, but as my sole transport it worked well, had a reasonable turn of speed and was quite practical with a surprisingly spacious boot with the rear seats folded. The Mk1 design still is striking, and the quality superb. The V6 probably wasn’t much quicker than the 225 due to its increased weight, but the exhaust note was way better than the four cylinder models!
Re: Uninvolving. Way back, I had a Peugeot 405 HDI 110. Come the day that it died on me ( fuel injection system ), I quickly bought a Golf Mk4 TDI, thinking to get into a car of quality. Absolutely stunned to find that it was really rather dead to drive. Not a patch on the Peugeot, which I could easily chuck into corners. Yes, a big disappointment. The PD engine, though, was a peach. So much low down torque. I think those underpinnings on the Mk1 TT are what puts me off , even though they are still almost as cheap as chips to buy. Thank you for putting up this video.
It is a terrible thing to drive. Dull, inert under-steer, wobbling terribly, droning engine, list goes on and on.....
@@EvoraGT430jeez troll take your copy and paste hate somewhere else
Had a mk2 diesel and have a mk2 v6. Just so accomplished on such a wide variety of roads from tiny lanes to the motorway. I get the lack of drama complaints but at that price point at the time I’d say it was the unicorn car to actually live with month in month out.
The one car i regret selling the most, although the Chrysler 300c comes a close second. Had a blueish silver 225 coupe with red leather and factory BBS split rims. Lowered it and mild tune with thicker rear ARB. Handled much likelier than stock. My 8yr old at the time fitted perfect in the back and his first car without a booster as theyre registered as child seats legally.
Good video, i absolutely loved my 2004 3.2 dsg coupe until the 5th replacement dsg gearbox died around a year ago. I rarely thrashed it and had the gearbox bits serviced regularly! Great box when working, potentially very costly when failed! Regrettably scrapped it and had tears in my eyes whenni left her! Bought a very low mileage mk2 manual 3.2 TT s-line to console myself at the loss! Still miss the old car though!!!
FIFTH?????
@@EvoraGT430fiveth 😂
I remember when they first came out and they were considered extremely futuristic looking and very eye-catchingly beautiful. But in the car design World, advancements come thick and fast and a modern car can soon look old.
You see very few on the streets here in the US.
I have a 225 Roadster and it is kept as a future classic. We love it.
Had a 180 Quattro, bought without knowing about the 180vs225 models. But after a few mods and remap it was superb. Really nice car to drive and so much fun. With winter tyres it was unstoppable in the snow too. I’m hoping to get a V6 next year if things go well, want to do the NC500 in it.
The spoiler on the rear was a total red herring. It was so Audi made you think something had been done to it on recall. Its real issue was actually super needle sharp steering geometry...which at speed people were not used to...so they oversteered it and crashed at high speed. . Audi changed the suspension arms to make it all.softer. if you replace them with one's made to original design it handles superbly!.
TT? Handles superbly??
🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🥸🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I hate to embarrass anyone, even anonymously… but the five deaths from instability occurred on the autobahn. I’ve driven the autobahn many times. Apparently, I missed the sections with the hairpin turns.
Aerodynamic lift over the rear axle at autobahn speeds was very real and the stubby rear spoiler did play a part in reducing it. What Audi also did (but does not like to talk about) was to add a big lump of metal to the rear bumper to counteract this problem. Audi calls it a "harmonic damper" but it is patently obvious what it's true function was. But you are right about the front steering arms - owners who have restored these have reported much sharper handling characteristics.
@@pistonburner6448 IKR.
The whole of Italy is watching your shorts with supicion 😅
When I was living in Europe, I had a German colleague who bought one. He took it out on the Autobahn and promptly returned it back to the dealership.
Hey Jack,
Had a 225 bhp coupe which I bought cheaply from a guy who was skint! Not sure he realised that it had been breathed on by tuners ABT but I soon found out! WOW what a pocket rocket, it had been lowered, chipped, boost uprated, short shift kit fitted, that car gave many an R32 a bloody nose! Clung to the Twisties like a limpet. In the end I sold it as the speed was so addictive that I feared I'd either end up in a hedge or lose my licence!😬😄 Great video as usual bud!👍👏👏👏♥️
Definitely a design classic in its original form, particularly in silver with echoes of the Auto Union racers of the 1930s. I see one parked near me every day and still a very modern look.
Your editing has stepped up big time. Great work 😊
You can add to the German list of disasters, the Mercedes A class. The original version turned over so easily under sharp cornering, it was deemed unsafe. So much so that, Jeremy Clarkson had to make one of biggest U turns on Top Gear to highlight the problem after calling the car a revolution in design just the week before.
I had a 2k1. Dark blue. I put BBS wheels on it, a Koni sport suspension, and chipped it for more power. During the same period I owned a Golf GTI. the TT became a blast to drive!
Can't abide these, ever since Ihad one as a replacement when someone hit my Elise - about 2021. By comparison it felt both bulky and cramped, very noisy (tyre, mainly), sluggish, and bad on fuel, with a hideous engine and exhaust note. Brand new. And loathsome. Thanks for the vid, Jack. ❤
Spot-on. It looks nice but drives like cack.
It really was EYE POPPING when I was first released. Have owner 2 MK1s (2002 roadster - Nimbus Grey with Baseball interior , 225 coupe in silver ),also a black MK3 coupe - loved each one . Great review as always. Cheers from Brisbane
They look so much better without the spoiler… In the uk the recall was actually optional, but most took it up. I’d love to build a mk1 coupe with a functional diffuser and no spoiler… But I don’t fit in them.
Yes finally, you have featured my car (well almost), I have been hoping you would review one and was very interested to hear your comments. I have a MK1 3.2 V6 roadster here in Canada and I absolutely love it! You are right about the lack of thrill as it corners with ease. I would like to suggest that you try out Subaru BRZ or the UK equivalent! The handling is amazing! Cheers for now Jack!
The Subaru BRZ was sold in the UK, but the identical (bar the badges, etc) Toyota GT86 seemed to be more popular here, maybe due to price?
Great review - more interesteed in design and how customers wishes are changing product requirements . . . which is not good for enthusiasts
Try buying a small, modern, petrol, hatchback with acceleration to 60 better than 8 seconds AND a manual gearbox -- last built in 2019
In the US, VW/Audi had 4 variants of the Mk4 platform - Jetta, Golf, New Beetle and the TT. Having had a Goof 1.8T, TT and MINI Cooper S cabrio, the TT with a chipped ECU, shocks/struts by Koni or Bilstein, thicker rear anti-swaybar, comes alive. In stock form, the Cooper S has much better driving dynamics. At the end, kept the Cooper S for its go-kart handling and versatile space.
I owned a Mk1 225 Quattro for a while, which must have been remapped in its past because it flew, which I loved, my G/F at the time didn't like it, said it was too small inside, and it also managed a 360' spinny thing on a wet Autostrada in Italy a few years ago, when I lived there, which wasn't much fun. 🤨
I subsequently bought a Mk2 Quattro TDI, which I've owned a few years now, and I have to say I prefer, it maybe not quite as fast as my Mk1 in a straight line, but on all other levels is a better car imho and I've never had any cause for concern on wet road grip again, and feels so well planted, it's comfortable does distance really well and 50mpg, looks great, whats not to love.
I hate all those lardy SUV boxes, that seem to proliferate our roads now, so I can't see me selling my TT any time soon, I think Audi has made a mistake ending the TT, but I guess sales figures talk..... tbh, if I were to swop it in I'd probably go for a TT Mk3 or even an A5 Coupe Quattro.
Had a 225 MK1 coupe. It was ok. Not particularly fast and didn't handle that great. Repairs were a pain as many involved either bumpers off or subframe being dropped
Wasn't the biggest fan when they came out but it's grown on me throughout the years
Compared to the god awful rabbit hutches being churned out by car manufacturers these days, the Mk1 TT looks like Dan Dare’s wet dream.
Great review, friend has a very early coupe tucked away, I wonder if it’s got a spoiler! Would love to see a review of a Corrado 👍
iF i REMEMBER RIGHT THE EARLY TTs HAD A FAULT WITH THE DASHBARD N THEY NEEDED REPLACING AT £500 A Time A HEFTY Sum THEM DAYS the original Audi 100 was a rust bucket them days too, German cars are well build but British n Italian cars are the ones I love the most
I just bought a 225 Coupé. Love it to bits
I recall having wait to get that whole spoiler kit and associated upgrade on my Swiss model until the beginning of 2000, due to the backlog.
1:04 Audi were originally part of Auto Union way back in 1904 which included Horch. Wanderer and DKW (hence the four rings) later becoming Sachsenring. After a falling out, August Horch took the Audi brand, eventually to West Germany and thus was split from the ring. Audi were bought by VW and were merged with NSU, the NSU name was dropped and Audi became VW's luxury brand.
Fun fact; The Daihatsu Copen had the same flaw, but it wasn´t a big problem probably because it´s a slower car. The later models has a big spoiler on the back.
Great review of a car that everyone wanted when it came out. The 4 cylinder turbos also were very easily tuneable and sturdy. Audi used them in practically all their models at the time
Terrible thing to drive, though. Dull, inert under-steer, wobbling terribly, droning engine, list goes on and on.....
It’s a great retro design, what bugs me are the comments that it’s a hairdressers car… I can’t understand people that like a car bit won’t buy it because it’s “associated” with a group of people
the mk 1 is the best looking Audi TT for me.....
I find the look of both couple and convertible very appealing, what I don't like about them is the reputation the engine has for failure. As I've never owned one it's only hearsay.
With the sunnies on kinda remind me of the sun from the vitalite margarine advert from 80s lol
ruclips.net/video/XQQnuPWyzbA/видео.htmlsi=eTP3jmi_aQ8VJC0I
One BIG reason that the Germans succeeded where the Italians failed is the fact that all major magazines heavily criticized the Italians for the same issues the Germans had. I think some heavy payments were made to ensure this was the case.
The German manufactureres over the years have suffered significant issues with their vehcles. The difference is how the German makers addressed the issues. A friend in the 1990s purchased a 7 series BMW and it succumbed to the Nikasil cylinder failure. The BMW dealer didn't flinch - and just simply replaced the engine and provided the customer with a new 7 Series BMW for entire period the car was in for repair. Needless to say, my friend was extremely complimentary of the car company - so returned to purchase more BMWs.
The Italians bribed heavily journalists in the 80s 90s and 00s to promote their cars. Every car that came out of the FIAT group was celebrated as "stylish" only because it was Italian. Cars that are arguably ungly and today nobody cares about, like the barchetta and the brera had raving reviews about their styling.
So sad the demise of sporty coupes, had my gen 7 Celica for 8 years. I can't stand the thought of owning an suv/crossover. So bland.
A girlfriend of mine still has a Mk 2 version she bought new around 2010. It's got over 150K on the clock and has NEVER given a bit of trouble. Mind you, it's a 4cyl/6sp manual and Sharon has been fastidiouos about maintenance. But I don't know anybody else who's had such good luck with a European car made after about 1998. Of course, it's too digital for an old fart like me, but it's comfortable and handles decently for a FWD car. For some reason, it's always reminded me of my long-lamented 356C Porsche, which I sold to buy a 427 Cobra when they were new. Interesting aside: I bought the Cobra for a bit over $6000 in 1966, which was a pretty deep discoount if I remember correctly. The dealer in Atlanta, where I lived at that time, was also a Porsche dealer...and he could not for the life of him understand why I'd want the Cobra, or sell the 356. Then, there wasn't a thing on the road that could touch it, and I delighted in gobbling up big-block Corvettes. But it was a lousy car to live with, hot in summer and it leaked like a sieve in even a drizzle. It WAS pretty, and an unusual spec - no hood scoop and narrow fenders. I kept it for a couple years and sold it for $4500...with under 15K miles. Not one of my better decisions, rather like the slightly tatty GTO I passed on in 1971...for $5000. Funny how the cars that are HARD to live with appreciate the most! Good video.
you need dark glasses Jack in case somebody sees you. Cabin crew! Where is the Detomaso
For me. A chassi and steering guy I have never driven a fun audi yet. I wish they would address that. Nice and comfy. Yes. Special and engaging. No. But then again it doesn’t need to be. Lots of people likes these cars for other reasons.
Wow, I looked these up because I was curious and here in the US they're still pretty expensive.
Terrible thing to drive, though. Dull, inert under-steer, wobbling terribly, droning engine, list goes on and on.....
God forgive the buying public for desiring soulless suv’s..horrible things to look at and drive.
well screwed together once raced one around Oulton park get them for peanuts great value
Smooth race-track maybe, but on any sorts of bumps it wobbled like a jelly.
This and the modern Beetle were the beginning of the whole retro thing. Mr Schroeder did a great thing when he penned this car. I owned a Mk 1 with a stage 2 remap, exhaust and Komi springs & dampers. I still regret selling it because it surprised everyone, including plenty of V8’s. The quality of the design and finish was amazing with aluminium parts rather than metal coated plastic.
Beetle looks awful now though. TT is a classic
Did it come before or after the new Beetle? Because I think it looks similar to that, so (to me at least) it didn't quite have the shock of the new in appearance.
The last generation has a fantastic interior which almost no other non-exotic car has; no touchscreen simple and elegant… The issue has been the pricing; until 2019 you could get a S3 convertible sinilar to 45 TFSI price; that car had the same platform with TT. Unless you really wanted to be original and loved the looks of TT, you could not justify the price difference; heck you could have got A5 Coupe in the same Audi dealership with the same price. I understand coupes are bought with “ more passion and less logic” but still Audi brand is a little bit dull for that kind of buyer. Nevertheless, I believe the last gen will age beautifully with that interior and clean exteriorz
My colleague in Leyland at the time bought a 1.8 turbo and it was an absolute steal for the price!
What a car for the money.
Greetings from the Netherlands
PS: bought second hand of course...
Sadly the 1.8T in my A4 turned me off to the turbo 4 with a timing failure.
The MkI I wanted was the VR6 but wasn’t offered with the manual in the states. 😢
Another great little video Jack ….no pompous diatribe from a Clarkson wannabee just clear concise info
Have to disagree on one thing though…
…the car market is determined by the manufacturers not the customers……e.g. EV’s
I prefer the coupe which has a more Bauhaus Bullet feel about it.
I notice that quite a few of your videos - good and I enjoy them - you are not always driving the car when approach / passing shots made ....
Oh and just a comment - Haldech is not 4WD .. its AWD ...
On the low shots of the car going through the corners, it sure looks like it's understeering.
For sure a modern classic, back in 2016 I was looking for a convertible for the summer/ weekends. Got very close to buying one but went for a 1999 Alfa Remeo 916 Spider 2.0TS instead which also has very distinctive styling. 8 years later I still own it but still think the MK1 TT is a great looking car.
Terrible thing to drive, though. Dull, inert under-steer, wobbling terribly, droning engine, list goes on and on.....
TY J🙏🙏. Style over substance. Customer base had some cash to spare, & wanted the latest 'thing'. I saw the prototype at Le Mans, & it did seem something different.
“Cash to spare”?? Quite the opposite, this was always an entry level Home Depot worker car.
Great vlog. Any you could drive a first generation BMW z3?
Hiya mate always love the show, just one thing why have you changed the camera angles for filming, was uncomfortable to watch apart from the long shots, just constructive criticism
This is like the BMW Z3, I thought they were ugly when they first came out but they have bot( brown on me.
I never likes the push-me pull-me styling of the original TT. I much preferred the Alfa GTV and Fiat Coupe in that department. The Alfa V6 and Fiat 5 pot were also much more charismatic engines than the dreary sounding 4 cylinder in the TT.