Almost a classic.
If you’ve recently been interested in a first-generation Audi TT and have been searching for a unit in good condition, you’ve probably noticed that it’s getting more and more expensive. Let’s see why the German sports car is so desired and at what price it is.
In the mid-1990s, Audi hit the automotive table by presenting a prototype at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show that everyone fell in love with.
That concept broke with the aesthetic canon of the brand, always characterized by conservatism. And the success and favorable criticism was such that in Ingolstadt they had no choice but to take it to production and do it, moreover, respecting, almost in its entirety, the design of the 1995 prototype.
Finally, the little German two-seater hit the market in September 1998, becoming a direct rival to the Mercedes SLK, the BMW Z3 and the Porsche Boxster. A year later, the roadster variant arrived, mainly focused on the US market, where convertibles are very popular.
Audi TT first generation, why it is so desired and at what price it is
Why is the first generation Audi TT so desired? There are several answers to this question. Normally, the first generation of a model is usually the most sought after.
Something similar happens with the Volkswagen Golf Mk1, although, in the case of the German compact, it is the second generation that is the most sought after. However, the former is also increasingly difficult to come by (and expensive).
The first generation is often considered the original. In the case of the TT, two others followed. Audi recently announced that there would be no takeover for the current model, which dates from 2014.
At first, there was speculation about the possibility of seeing a new purely electric Tourist Trophy (that means TT) in the future, but the company’s management has rejected it, arguing that these types of cars are sold less and less. Yes there will be a substitute, but it will be a larger car, under a new concept and fully electric.
All this makes many fans of the model interested in it, especially in the first generation, since it was the one that gave life to Audi’s first two-seater and a car that represented a true aesthetic revolution in the brand.
Nothing was the same at Audi after the TT. A brand accustomed to drawing straight and angular lines dared, for the first time, to make a car with more rounded shapes.
Although it did not pay special attention to aerodynamics, its simple and rounded shapes, the abundant use of exposed anodized aluminum and the absence of defined bumpers made the TT a unique model. In fact, the Audi TT is considered by many to be a watershed moment in automotive design.
Interesting range of engines
On the other hand, we must highlight the mechanical section of the TT. The range was made up only of gasoline engines, based on a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, with 180 or 225 hp and the possibility of having front-wheel drive or quattro all-wheel drive.
A few years later, in 2003, Audi added a third option: a 3.2-liter VR6 that produced 250 hp and 320 Nm of torque, associated with the all-wheel drive system. And, in 2005, the most special version of all arrived: the Audi TT quattro Sport, equipped with an evolution of the 1.8 turbo that reached 240 hp, which allowed it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds.
In addition to having a more powerful engine, the TT quattro Sport lost 75 kilograms compared to the 225 hp 1.8. To achieve this, Audi dispensed with elements such as rear seats and air conditioning, although it could be ordered as an option.
The first car with a DSG
Another reason why the first-generation Audi TT is so desirable is that it was the first car on the market to incorporate the Volkswagen Group’s DSG dual-clutch transmission.
This new automatic transmission made it possible to significantly reduce acceleration times. Additionally, the suspension was revised to increase stiffness, turning the TT into a corner eater.
At what price is the first generation Audi TT today
When the Audi TT began its commercialization, it had a price above 41,000 euros. Without a doubt, an expensive car, on a whim, to enjoy driving and have a more practical second car in the garage.
Currently, you can find a first generation TT in good condition and without too many kilometers for around 10,000 euros, although the more powerful versions are more expensive.
Finding a TT VR6 or a TT quattro Sport today is quite difficult and, if there are any, prices can skyrocket above 30,000 euros.