Mk1 TT - 225 or V6?

Thanks again one and all.

We decided that a lack of more desirable motors around £2k meant the Celica would be repaired up to that value, insurance write-off or not. Then the assessor mentioned £3k all-in and even my friendly body-repairer said £725 exVAT or parts.

It seems even a £26k car (as this once was) doesn't need technical complexity to kill it!

The garage which fixed my car gave me the impression it was a revised component as the old and replacement part numbers were different. As Teg suggests - if you can you get a warranty which would cover replacement parts then you're covered.
I've just dug out the bill, and the ECU itself was £1596 inc VAT, then four and a half hours labour; DSG filter; oil etc - not good my friend!
I absolutely love the car - inside and out and will enjoy it until a family car beckons ... I guess you just have to remember that you may think you're buying a bargain compared with that they were new - but cars like this revert back to being £30k cars when something goes wrong!

From experience.

Early DSG not that reliable. The V6 eats front tyres as it suffers loads of understeer compared with the 1.8 car which is lighter at the front.

Fuel, road tax and running costs on V6 pretty high for little gain.

In general, Mk1 TT's have flakey electrics typical VAG from the era.

Buy an early 2.5 Boxter instead. Will still have issues but will be worth the stress.

Trying to get information out of an Audi dealer was like trying to get blood out of a stone! As far as I could ascertain (over the sound of the manager laughing out the back that another mug had decided to stump up over £2k for the repair!) was that it was just a direct replacement part.

The rough explanation is that the actuation solenoids fail because of a break down in oil (they say it should be changed at certain intervals - it was, then they fall back on "it's the sort of usage") and there is no design fault with the part. However they also need to replace the control module as it comes as a complete unit. I am not sure if the official line has been revised since my experiences though.

Basically, if you wanted a DSG box, buy one with a spotless Audi history and some sort of warranty that actually covers the box.

On a side note, it worries me that there are so many VAG products fitted with DGS boxes and I wonder how many people in lesser models are going to have to scrap their cars on cost grounds because of issues like this.

Depends on your ultimate requirements. If it just for giggles, then I would go for the MX5. If you want a rounded, do everything car, then the Hyundai.

The GT is nice and often test drove one considering trading in the Coupe for it. Bought a 147 before the Golf, and was again looking at the GT to replace it. But the GT suffers the same issues as the 147.

Sports seats are too small and set too high, warning lights coming on and off for no reason etc.......but then you can forgive it all for the way it looks

Thanks for the extra info on the TT Nicholas and welcome.To be honest if she hears the V6 there'll be nothing else on the shopping list!

Teg or Nicholas, when fixing earlier DSG boxes do they use a revised component design for extended life or are you stuck with 'early' issues regardless.

As for the alternatives question it comes down to current usage. This will be our only car at present so practicality should take some priority, especially transporting the yearly 8' Christmas tree, which the Celica gobbled whole.

The RX-8 I expected but I get the feeling I should treat rotor-tips with the same scepticism as early DSG's. I've not been in one for a number of years but remember it not feeling like the 231bhp it has on paper. Worth a look all the same.I'm guilty of forgetting the Hyundai which is a sad oversight considering what paul896 makes of it. Same too for the Alfa GT but it'd have to be a petrol.It's saddening though to think that the combination of attributes I'm after were overlooked by so many manufacturers until the advent of the modern 4dr-coupe.

Ok final question for now as it's running round the back of my head.

If I can pursuede my dearest to widen her search and considering our £4k budget, which of the cars already discussed OR an early Mk3 MX-5 and Mk3 MR-2, would you choose?

(S2000, 350Z and G35 have been discounted on insurance, tax and parts rarity respectively)

Teg is dead right, I have a Hyundai Coupe and I love it! Even thought it didnt get the best reviews in the press and the interior isnt one of Hyundais finest, it is a great car, a hoot to drive and looks great. Plus there is an excellent online community and modding scene so you can make you Coupe look a bit different without appearing on Max Power.

I currently own the coupe and a MKV Golf GTI.....if the house caught fire i would grab the keys of the coupe

Other than the RX8, there is always the 2.7 V6 Hyundai Coupe.

Would give you the V6 engine in a reliable package. Plenty around at the money as well.

I would go V6, more character. You live once! Only been in a 1.8 225 tho - which was a nice car to be honest. Feels very solid etc as you would expect. I did own a Leon Cupra R 225 for a while as well (same engine but only FWD), which never gave me any problems and it was a decent powerplant - a bit breathless at the top of the rev range but good mid range pull, economy OK (27-28 MPG fairly hard driving - was remapped also)

I drove a RX8 a few years back, and found it quite disapointing as much as the road tests say otherwise. What with the fuel economy etc, I couldn't personally recommend one. But lots will - and I hear of owners who love them! I would say its a subjective car. Maybe best to look around and try and test drive some cars.

Afternoon all! Long time visitor of the website - first time I've written on the forum but thought I could give you a heads-up as I have a 3.2 TT with the DSG. I drove both the 1.8 and 3.2 and as people have said - there isn't much difference in performance, however there is no comparison between the character and power delivery of the engines.

The mk 1 TT has never been known for particularly great handling - safe rather than exciting and as you can imagine with the heavy V6 in the front it's always going to understeeer, however looks wise; sound wise and performance wise I think it's a great car for the money.

I generally tend to get about 22mpg in mixed driving, however I did drive down to Peterborough and back (from Wilmslow) and managed a frankly amazing 34mpg. You have launch control; and when you place the gearbox in sport - metal baffles open in the exhaust, sounding even better. In auto mode the engine revs unnecessarily high and does not want to change up - however you can obviously over-ride this with the paddles.

The absolute main thing I would want anyone considering buying the DSG unit to know however is be wary of "mechatronic ECU unit" failure. My 2003 TT had done a little over 50k miles when it failed on me. The car went into "limp home" mode initially, and then I simply couldn't put it in any gear. Reading forums suggest this is a common fault, and it cost £2200 to fix - exactly 25% of what I paid for the car initially! Please be wary of that!

Happy car hunting anyway ...