Used car buying guide: Audi TT

Then there’s the Quattro Sport. Introduced in 2005, it features a 237bhp 1.8-litre unit under the bonnet, two lightweight Recaro seats (only) in the front and a two-tone body. It’s the lightest, sharpest and quickest TT, with a 0-62mph time of just 5.9sec. Only 800 examples were sold in the UK, solidifying it as a sought-after future classic. 

Finally, from 2005, the 148bhp’s power was tweaked to 161bhp and the 178bhp’s to 187bhp. A year later, the Mk1 TT faced its demise. It gave way to the second-generation car that would later step aside for the current, third-generation TT. 

Let’s get back to our original question, though: is the TT a true sports car? It turns out the answer depends on your definition of ‘true’, because while it doesn’t feature your traditional rear-wheel-drive sports car configuration, it certainly looks the part and has the performance to match, especially in Quattro Sport guise. And with excellent GT credentials as well, the TT is a car that will keep you positively smitten every day of the year.

What we said then

28 July 1999: “Its determination to be different means Audi has served up two deliciously appealing TTs. Choosing between the coupé and roadster isn’t going to be easy. When both the driving and visual experience are so enchanting, it’s a decision TT buyers are going to find extremely complex.”

An owner's view

Ted Welford: “I bought a Quattro Sport after valeting a normal TT. It feels special even though it’s not a hugely expensive car, and the Recaro seats in mine are really cool. It sticks to the road with the quattro system – as long as the car has some decent tyres on it. There is some turbo lag, but that encourages you to rev it above 3000rpm, because that’s when it really surges forward. Mine has proved quite expensive to service, but just do your research, find a good example and take it for a test drive. Other than that, it’s a fantastic car you can use every day.”

Buyer beware... 

Body: The TT’s body is aluminium so rust isn’t an issue, although it means damage is expensive to repair. The underside of the car is so well protected that corrosion isn’t a problem there, either.

Engine: The engines are strong, but check it has been fed a diet of Castrol fully synthetic 5W-30, changed at the correct intervals. Look for oil leaks from the cam cover gasket and timing chain tensioner gasket. The cambelt needs changing every six years or 60,000 miles, and the water pump should be changed at the same time.

Gearbox: Manual gearboxes are tough and clutches last up to 100,000 miles. DSG dual-clutch automatic ’boxes need an oil and filter change every 40,000 miles.

Transmission: The quattro four-wheel drive system needs its oil changing every 20,000 miles to keep things sweet.