What’s a used Audi TT coupe like?
Whoever said familiarity breeds contempt has obviously never spent time with the Audi TT.
The TT’s silhouette has become very familiar since its launch, but the car itself has become more and more appealing over time.
Wife Pauline and I love the 2010 Audi TT styling and uniqueness, especially in Black duco. So upgrading to a Black Manual that she loves!
So much so, in fact, that it’s been our current TurboClub.com Hero favourite coupé for four years with no problems. All images are of both our Audi TT coupes and the eagle eyed would spot we bought both from same Awesome Dealer George.
We have not taken delivery of the TT RS yet as Pauline in hospital right now. Ambulance trip to hospital day before due to pick up the RS for blood pressure problem, I say from the excitement of getting this weapon! Going to have to Drive like Miss Daisy the 300 kilometers home after picking it up!
12/02/2022 – Just picked up Pauline from hospital today so arranging to go to Melbourne to swap the TT’s next week tue/wed maybe!
However, this isn’t about our cheaper version sitting lower down the range, or even the sportier TT S.
Which 2010 Audi TT coupe did Pauline and I Trade up to?
No, this is about the top dog with the big gun: the range-topping Audi TT RS. 0-62mph in a claimed 3.7seconds.
Now, it’s excellent value for money, too. It was website What Car? Used Car of the Year winner in the Coupe section in 2017.
2022 FEB 15 – FINALLY OURS!
By Pauline Campbell
We did it. Welcome to the real thing. Audi TT RS Quattro. Super car!
Introducing the “Beast.” Audi TT RS Quattro. RS= Renn Sport = Race Sport. Our little previous Audi TT 1.8 Turbo FWD’s big brother. Big mean brother – in a civilised way. Greg did a magnificent job driving the 600klms plus, round trip to Melbourne and back. “Where are the headrests?” exclaimed the passenger. The seats are worth $7,000 in themselves. They mold to the body. We figured the lack of headrests are due to a HELMET wearing racing individual needing the space – for the helmet! That would make sense. This car was a gift. To us. For us. By us. We expected to paint the house. We are denied international travel. This decision was totally mine, Greg didn’t say a word, could not believe it. In fact he still can’t. He is so wrapt to have it. So am I.
There will be few cars currently on the road who can beat it (for 0-100 @ 3.7seconds) speed. That is what it was built for. Not that we will be thrashing it around the hills. Greg has a Jeep for that. We stuck to the speed limit of 110, with everyone flying past us oblivious to the fact that we could blow them out of the water! A beauty of a white convertible Lamborghini was parked there .”Can the Audi beat that?” I asked. ” Reversing ” he said. I gave our little Audi trade-in a gentle pat on its little spoiler. as we left it behind. Thanks for the pleasure.
Melbourne traffic is crazy. The West Gate isn’t as I remember going over it to work the Ships. The barriers (to prevent the Jumpers!) hinder any view and the traffic is so horrendous yet the City is quiet. St. Kilda is derelict, like a ghetto. This is St.Kilda. with Luna Park, cake shops, markets and loads of people around..so many visits there did we enjoy. May be busier on the weekends. I hope so . Daniel Andrews labour government has wrecked a once proud and vital City. I see it..in the empty shopfronts, the deserted streets, the lack of people vibe.
I had a drive myself today, just locally. Bit heavier on the turns because of the AWD, louder but basically very similar in feel . How did that hill disappear so quickly going up it?!
Impressing for its unbeatable combination of talents, its class and solidity and its affordability.
It’s a hardtop (Coupé) which means it offers the TT’s usual choice of practicality or al fresco thrills.
Our version has the TFSI 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engine, which pumps out – wait for it – a mighty 395bhp.
Yes, you did read that correctly, and it’s all sent manage-ably to all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. That gives it some seriously impressive performance figures, as well as awesome all wheel grip.
After the radical styling of the original Audi TT, this second-generation version might look a little underwhelming. However, underneath its same-again body lies a full-on sports car that’s stunning to drive and tonnes of fun.
The majority of the car’s chassis and bodywork is aluminium, making it lighter than the first car, yet it’s bigger and has slightly more room inside. This weight loss gives the TT amazing agility and, combined with the peppy engine options, it’s very fast in a straight line and grippy round the bends.
The ride is firm but not excessively so. Despite the performance, the TT RS is easy to drive and refined at low speeds.
The interior feels solid and durable, and quality materials are used throughout. The rear seats are suitable only for the smallest of children, however, but the boot is a good size for a coupe.
The standard six-speed manual gearbox is slick and well matched to the engines 400 HP and 0-62mph in a claimed 3.7seconds..
Some TTs also have the Magnetic Ride suspension system fitted, which can be used in Comfort or Sport settings, although the standard suspension is brilliant anyway.
All models are well equipped, with climate control, alloys, electronic stability control, curtain airbags and half-leather sports seats as standard. Metallic paint is essential for good residual values.
Audi’s quattro four-wheel drive system can shuffle up to 100% of the TT RS’s power to the front or rear wheels as required, helping transfer all of the engine’s power onto the road’s surface with devastating effect – in both wet or dry conditions.
The Coupé is faster than the Roadster, rushing from 0-62mph in a claimed 3.7seconds. Then will then carry on to 155mph, unless you have it unshackled further by Audi for an extra cost, in which case the top speed increases to 174mph. The manual gearbox is usefully responsive when you’re driving hard and changes smoothly when you’re cruising. Ticking the sports exhaust option box is tempting, but Audi’s lovely five-cylinder engine sounds superb even through the standard tailpipes
The TT RS is quicker than the A110, 718 Cayman S and BMW M2 Competition, and the massive amount of grip it produces means it can cover ground at a staggering rate.
Every RS comes with a part-Alcantara steering wheel, which is much like the one you’ll find in Audi’s flagship performance car, the R8. Among the controls on this wheel are two large round buttons – one to start the engine and another to flick between driving modes. The steering, gearbox, accelerator and optional adaptive dampers are all made more aggressive in Dynamic mode, and it’s here that the TT RS feels best when driven hard.
Aside from loads of road noise at motorway speeds the TT RS produces very little wind noise. Switching to Comfort mode quietens the exhaust note to a sensible level, too.
The car manages a convincing split personality, though. Fitted with standard 10mm-lower springs and 19in alloy wheels, its ride is certainly firm but is also beautifully controlled, and rarely uncomfortable as a result. The same is true on the optional 20in wheels. Those adaptive dampers add greater spectrum to the ride, depending on which driving mode you select, so are worth adding.
The Audi TT RS interior layout, fit and finish
It’s a case of close but no cigar for both Porsche’s Cayman and Boxster and also BMW’s M2 when trying to match Audi’s interior quality. The Alpine A110 isn’t even close. The interiors of lesser TTs, with their soft plastics, chrome accents and beautifully damped switches, are already mightily impressive, and there’s more of the same in the TT RS. It’s the little details, such as climate controls that are integrated stylishly into the air vents, that make it feel special but also very easy to use.
Audi’s Virtual Cockpit is fitted as standard behind the steering wheel, where you’d normally expect to find analogue instrument dials. Its 12.3in digital screen displays your speed and engine revs while also acting as a hub for all of the infotainment functions, such as the stereo, Bluetooth and sat-nav.
The whole thing is easy to use while you’re driving, unlike the touchscreen systems in the Cayman and A110. Instead of struggling to hit icons with your fingers, you control the TT RS’s system by twisting and pressing a big rotary dial between the front seats, with some handy shortcut buttons available to take you directly to specific functions.
It’s a similar system to the M2’s iDrive, and works almost as well. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring are standard in the TT RS, which means you can access Waze and Google Maps through the infotainment screen.
There’s lots of adjustment to the steering wheel and the sports seats, but the pedals feel too close to you and the seat is set relatively high – more like that of a hatchback.
The view forward is good and judging where the nose of the car ends is pretty easy. However, both versions of the TT RS suffer poor rear visibility — the Coupé because of its sloping rear roofline. Front and rear parking sensors are standard, though, and a rear-view camera is on the options sheet. Effective LED headlights are standard, too, which you can upgrade to even better adaptive ‘Matrix’ units.
What are the most common problems with a used Audi TT coupe?
Owners are generally very happy with their cars, and there are few reported faults.
The leather seats can wear quickly – particularly the side bolsters of the seat base. You can help prevent excess wear by regularly applying a quality leather cream, but it can’t restore the seat if it’s already badly worn.
The front brakes can make a squealing noise, although it doesn’t appear to reduce the brakes performance. There is no exact cause and sometimes only replacing the brake pads cures it.
A few dashboard and glovebox rattles can appear over time and the door seals can whistle and higher speeds. Poor-quality paintwork has also been reported, although it is rare.
Our 2010 TT 8J 1.8 of this generation at 70K miles seems to be bullet-proof so far.
Basic Information for my article was gleaned and re-edited from What Car? They have a CAR buying service – Find out more
