Fri
Sep 12 2008

First impressions on our TT TDi

Dan Stevens

So this is where I will be spending the next year (not all of it, obviously ­ just the driving bits)­ our new long-term diesel TT. It  turned up yesterday and I took it home for the first time last night so all I know about this car is based on driving it from Teddington to Shepherds Bush and back again (about 20 miles).

But that's enough time to work out that the TT has a great driving position, and the interior retains the cocoon-like feel of the original car that made it feel so special when it was launched in 1998. It looks great in white and I like the 19-inch retro-style split rims.

Less endearing is the somewhat lifeless steering and the fact it doesn't have an external boot release. Sounds minor but I can see myself still going for a non-existent handle under the boot lid in six month's time.

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About Dan Stevens

Having written for a local paper and a Land Rover magazine, Dan was quite pleased to serve up the scoops in Autocar's news section. One day he'll buy a Unimog.

Comments

Quattro369 September 12, 2008 1:55 PM

I very nearly put an order down on a car in a very similar spec (but thought id wait and see how the 'recession' goes) so im very interested to see how this review goes...

First impressions were that whilst still being well built the interior quality has taken a slight step backward especially in terms of the plastics used.

motorman July 9, 2009 2:14 PM

Hi,

Three weeks ago I took collection of a TT TDI, but have had a mixed experience so far. Firstly, the car is GREAT to drive - very comfortable, frugal (even though it only had 350 miles on the clock) and with the 19 inch wheels a real head turner. However, for the past 10 days the car has been off the road - because of a puncture!

I picked up the puncture on the motorway and pulled onto the hard shoulder - I knew there was no spare tyre, so used the compressor supplied to pump in the tyre sealant - but this had no effect. Ended up calling Audi Assist, and after and hour's wait the AA came and towed the car home (50 miles). Next day I contacted the dealer who said he would get me a tyre "at cost price" from their supplier - however I am STILL waiting for this to arrive. I was told it would be here on Monday (5th July), then yesterday (7th July) and now am told it is in transit and will be delivered tomorrow (9th July). Apparently the tread pattern (and size of the tyre) mean they tend to be an "order only" item - but effectively I've been without a vehicle (which wasn't cheap to buy) for two out of three weeks.

I asked the dealer about the possibility of a space saver tyre for future "calamaties", only to be told they aren't available! (I have asked him to re-check this with Audi...surely this can't be the case, or is it something to do with the Quattro system - does it need all 4 tyres to be the same size?) .

Anyone else had a siimilar experience - and if so, did you get a space saver?

Kieran

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