TT with DSG

I previously posted here regarding me purchasing a new car early next year. However, while I've been looking around the various car sites I stumbled upon this rather nice local TT. Apart from it not really having 4 seats or being particularly good on the mpg front, it does look rather nice.

The question is, does anyone have experience of a DSG box?

Are they thirstier, slower etc with a DSG?

I had a Passat estate tdi with dsg.
Fantastic gearbox,smooth and quick changing with optional semi auto via gearstick.
Made such a big car enjoyable to drive. I believe they do fail and do have very big bills so gearbox maintenance is key.

They do fail. My company car VW Golf, maintained by the main dealer lunched its box at 3year old/80k. Some £6k of bills (box and control unit). Won't be going VW again, it had alreadyy snapped a drive shaft at 65k.

Thanks guys. I think I'll avoid a DSG if I go down the VAG route.

I had the DSG in my Golf R32 which is the same engine I assume. It really suited it as it had plenty of power/torque and just cruised along. Check it's had the Haldex/DSG oil done on schedule. It's each 40K or time based or at least was on the Golf. I really loved the DSG and it made the car for me.

There are horror stories, but many are utterly reliable. More often than not it was the Mechatronic box that failed which can be repaired for £300.

As ever, it's buy on condition with these. The box should be perfectly smooth. If not walk away.

Riding my DSG really hard every day hasn't failed in 160,000 km yet. And still feels like the day i bought it.

It's a a3 3.2 quattro

Indeed don't believe all the horror stories they are around but aren't there always horror stories about cars. I personally think it's more the owner not taking good care of the car.

For instance we know that the belts needs to changed on our cars and we know why this is.

But if somebody ask on for instance on fiatforum about the coupe "is the coupe a good car and how about the belts". Most will shout they s*ck. And on a none fiat forum even worse things are called.

So moral of the story buy a TT with DSG. It's fun especially with the flippy pedals.

Not aways

Whats the budget?

Buy this, look after it and get your money back in a few years...

Linky

I have two Skoda tdi' both with DSG boxes an no problems as yet, my estate has nearly 120k on the clock so will need its 3rd gearbox oil change shortly. My VRS hatch has the paddle change also and is great fun when you want to play!
Service history is important but they are great boxes and deliver fast smooth changes.

My dad's 2011 golf had dsg and whilst it was a fantastic auto, it used to have a slight lag between throttle and the power actually being delivered. I used to spun the wheels coming away from junctions. Im sure he said that this was intentional on VW's behalf and it was explained in honest John's column in the Telegraph's motoring mag but I can't remember now why it was?!

Treat yourself and get the box separately covered under a warranty? I hear the dsg is fine if serviced correctly.I'm looking for a Audi S4 cabriolet with a warranty to cover any big bills.ie the death rattle.

Like I said, I've got one, and won't do it again. No matter if I (my company) were unlucky, it has picked up significant bills it shouldn't have. If I'd paid £20k+ for a motor, I would not expect to pick up £6k in bills within 3 years.

I am so tempted to go for a 3.2 TT but the TT forums have really put me off.

Firstly the 3.2 timing chain. It seems they can stretch and the advice generally seems to be that you should plug in a VAG com and read the sensor parameters BEFORE you buy one. If they indicate the chain has stretched it must be changed, which is rather expensive. Having said that we own a Fiat Coupé so should be quite used to that. Apparently the chain change requires the gearbox to come off too. Then again a failure would be a lot more expensive than replacing. It concerns me a bit that there are so many 3.2's for sale.... How many owners have noted that their chains are close to being worn out and are looking to get shot?

Then there is the DSG. The TT's have a "WET" clutch set up and these do seem to be, if you believe forum chatter, more problematic than the later 7 speed "DRY" clutch type.

But the 3.2 can be found with a manual gearbox, which should half the risk, but I've yet to see one with low miles

Over the weekend I've been doing quite a lot of 'researching' and like BB have noticed a lot of talk about stretched Timing chains on the 3.2

I think with that and the worry over maintenance costs I'll be dropping the DSG version of the TT from my thoughts. Still interested in the 225bhp TT though.

Strange, it does get mentioned on the R32 forums, but I wouldn't say it's seen as a given. I understand the cost to replace is about £500.

I had the 3.2 tt in the manual. Fantastic car. Great noise. But the road tax on the manual for some reason was £500!! DSG with same engine was 250! How does that work? Any way got rid in the end road tax and mpg didn't suit my life style so swapped it for a countryman cooper sd.

That is the case for the later 06-14 model but it's not so simple for the older 99-06 model. All 3.2's registered prior to March 2006 are £290 but both versions when registered after March 2006 hit the £490 bracket!

I've seen a 3.2 DSG for sale which looks really tidy but it has not sold and has now been re-listed three times. The mileage is a little high but the price keeps dropping so it is becoming tempting

There is a really nice 180hp one owner TT Quattro that looks immaculate too. I just know I would always question why I didn't get a 225 if I bought it though.... There are also two Quattro SPORT editions for sale which are not too far away. If I bought one of those though that would push me to sell the Coupé..

Basic TT Buying Info

And a bit more..

Thanks Bob, very useful.

From the brief descriptions, these 2 look pretty good.....

89K TT

94K TT

I would take the DSG "lady owner" TT

THIS ONE looks nice but RED seats

And THIS ONE is quite local but this time it's the outside colour...

Or, do I push the budget and go for a TT-2?

Wouldn't leave much for upgrades at the TT shop though

Hmmm. I would have said that the original TT was such a fresh, iconic design to go for the MkI, but the TT-2 is a much more modern and refined car. It's also a fair bit quicker as standard, so you wouldn't need to spend as much on performance or reliability...

Yikes!!!!

I think I could just about live with the red interior, but the orange one

The TT-2s look like all the other new Audis. From the front it could be an A2, A3, A4 etc.

MK1 for me.

Here you go Bob, this one sounds pretty good.

If it was March 2016, I'd be test driving it.....

For me the newer car looks far nicer from the front but it is uglier from the back!

Inside the TT-2 looks much more modern but in being so it looses much of the quirky charm that made the Mk1 so unusual. indeed when you sit inside the TT-2 you could almost be in an A3, something that you could never say in the earlier car.

I have now looked at loads of different cars at the dealers and traders. Trouble is I've got a wide budget so have been looking at the top end and also bargain basement. I usually enjoy keeping the prices down and buying "a work hack." But I'm thinking what the heck, I've got several years until I retire so why not spend a bit more and get something a bit different. I did live with a Alfa 166 for several years and despite how impractical it was I loved it with all it's toys. But there is no real need for four doors anymore and the car will mainly be for commuting so I think I've now parked the "Big Car" thoughts.

I've not had a hot hatch since the Scirocco GTX so something like a Punto sporting or the Abarth looks tempting. But hot hatches can be tiresome when you just want to cruise. So although I still don't really know what I want, I do keep getting drawn to the GT style cars and the TT especially. I favour the 3.2 version because it has instant power and is generally less demanding to drive, especially with the Auto. I worry that the 225 or 240 TT's would be like driving the Coupé every day whereas the 3.2 would be more like the 166 which, as I already said, I loved.

But I could also go totally sensible and get a much more modern and much lower mileage Fiesta (Zetec S) or Focus TDCi

I might just have to pop up and see that one...

Go for it - looks decent.

I really like This Colour.

I first saw this one for sale two weeks ago, before it was re-listed. My colleagues kept telling me to go for it but I haven't even been to see it

Yes I like that combination. I really wished I'd waited until next year to start looking!

Having gone from a coupe daily drive to a massively powerful / overpowered auto I can safely say that auto + grunt at the bottom is a very relaxing way to drive. I understand your point, a hot hatch / turbo'd car is such hard work, Rev, Rev, gearchange pointy here pointy there... Much better to have the bottom end and auto.

Have you looked at the a5 with a v6 /v8? Maybe that's where you should be looking??

Because of the rain I decided to go along and visit a local Audi-specialist, they also had a later TT-2 with really low mileage, so two birds as they say.

When I arrived I explained that I was really interested in the earlier TT but would like to look over the TT-2 he had for sale. I had a good look over the car and I'm not sure if it was just the weather but the car did nothing for me. It didn't feel special in any way. I expected a 34,000 mile car to look and smell much fresher but it didn't. It wasn't bad but the other day I sat in a metallic red one at another dealer which had over 80,000 on the clock, was over £2k cheaper and it seemed better!

Anyhow I went back to the office and explained how I preferred the classic look, which he fully understood and kind of agreed with me. However when I told him I was really interested in the 3.2, with a DSG his tone changed. He firstly explained all about the chain issues and suggested that far from being rare it should be expected if I planned to keep it for the longer term. He told me that replacement was an engine out of the car job, and to be aware that if the bottom crank pulley was shot it would add significantly to the already expensive job. He then moved onto the DSG. He did say that it is mostly the mechatronic unit that fails and that they can usually be repaired. But he stressed that if they can't it would be "silly Money."

I am not sure what the fellows job there was but he seemed to be doing a good job of trying to talk me out of buying. I did explain that I would be going into the purchase eyes wide open and fully aware that big bills may happen but this was again dismissed with a kind of there is no may about it!

To be honest he hasn't really put me off the car, he's just made me think that I had better go and speak to another Audi specialist

I expect you might have got a similar tale from some Fiat dealers about the Coupe back in the mists of time. Plus I'd imagine the world looks pretty grim from your point of view if you're a VAG dealer at the moment!
Get along to an independent TT specialist for the real story...

That was an independent - Audi specialist But just one guy, must have caught him on a bad day!

It hasn't curbed my enthusiasm though, well maybe slightly.

Yikes! He might be in the wrong job!

Or doing what a good indy should do and steering you away from a possible lemon!

Well yes, but surely they can't ALL be lemons, or he wouldn't specialise in them!

Dunno watching the vw saga unfold on TV....

Seriously though if an indy says the 3.2 and dsg boxes are likely to fail expensively I'd tend to listen and go 240 manual.

Can't argue with you there!

I think that's the way I'm tending to lean now......

Well yes and no!

People told me not to buy a Coupé because they are "Fragile"
People also told me not to buy an Alfa 166 for much the same reason, and when I said it fancied the Auto box version some thought I had gone totally mad

There seem to be loads of these 3.2 - DSG Quattro's for sale and I'm not sure if it is because they were really popular, or if people just want to get shot of them. If I could spend sub £5K on a good one I would still be tempted to take the risk. The other option is to blow the budget on a later, post 2006, 2.0 TFSi, possibly only 2wd, or something else completely.

I will have to do something soon because the 156 is not getting any better.

I know what you're saying Bob. I've had 3 coupes and at the time had the disposable income to maintain them. I won't have as much in the future with children at Uni and others about to go to Uni.

I have noticed a lot more 3.2 DSGs coming onto the market recently. Like you, I wonder why.....

Coincidentally, this local DSG TT has just popped up on eBay. It's done 168k! No idea if it's had problems with the box but does show they can take the miles....

And with just over half the miles, this one likes rather nice.

I've recently moved from over a decade of coupe ownership (3 different coupes) to a Golf R32 mk5 (manual).

Although the R32 does not feel as special or quick once moving as the plus's I used to drive (especially the 335bhp one!) the V6 is velvet smooth and has amazing grip due to the haldex. I'm not sure but I think moving from a coupe to a non V6 TT may feel like a bit of a step backwards in terms of 'that feeling' when driving even though there is little difference in outright pace vs the V6.

If you want advise on the V6 engine and DSG box Vag autocare services in lincoln seem to be held in the highest regard on the R32oc so might be worth a call.

http://www.r32oc.com/garage/vehicle/3257-vw-mkv-r32/page__tab__images

Above is a link to a photo of my R32 sat alongside my 2 old electric blue pluses (sadly gone but not forgotten).

Sadly THESE are starting to look more tempting

Even though you said the TT-2 didn't feel special?
Come on Bob, you can't settle for something that doesn't make you look back at it, even a bit...!

Now, I know this is a little over budget, but you can't argue with the bhp/£ ratio...

Still a bargain.

Or what about this...?

Same number of seats and cylinders as a 3.2 TT

Bob, the 2ltr TFSI is a cracking engine. Having just sold a Scirocco R which I believe is the same lump, it really is a lovely unit.
I think the newer shape TT-2 is also a vast improvement on the older shape but that's just my opinion.

Maybe try a test drive in another TT-2, that might have just been a bad one.

Cracking unit??

audi sport

Maybe some are better than others but given all the issues with vag I'd probably go with the 350 / 370z.

Hmmm, after some googling, it would seem the Scirocco had the EA113 TFSI where the TT uses the EA888.

A friend in the UK has the 2ltr TFSI in an Audi A5, he's just had the rings replaced for excessive oil consumption, it was all done gratis from Audi. My Scirocco didn't need a top up between 15000km servicings and it was driven relatively hard at stage 2+.

Have you looked at the scirocco R Bob? It's a great little car.

I have looked at the Scirocco R but they are just a bit outside my pre-pension lump sum budget

I started off looking at reasonably cheap Mk1 TT's which would have been a cash purchase and left me with some reserve to tinker. this thread has got me fretting about buying cheap and I've now visited the bank. So for the first time in some 20 years I'm considering borrowing money to buy a blooming car! my son is happy to tell me I've sold out on my principles I am though a tight arse at heart so I won't be going mad. I am considering upping the budget to about £14K ish, possibly

The thing is I really do hate banks. They will happily lend me money at 6.8% APR which was approved in the branch. But are being difficult in giving me the 3.6% deal they offered me in an e-mail, so we'll wait and see.

There is a lot more choice in this price region....

Golf GTi

A Scirocco Main dealer car

A very low mileage FOCUS ST

A two year old Fiesta ST

Or an older TT - Audi approved = low miles but quite a low spec list.. General dealer - higher specification but higher miles or moderate condition. Private seems to offer the nicest looking and specified cars.

Fiesta is probably the best car of the bunch for fun, especially in mountune spec. The scirocco r I assume would retain the most value over your time with the car.
Please don't get a golf, every other car is a golf and I can't see how one can ever give a wow factor.

Bob.With a loan it's got to be a Z4m coupe mate. Or a very very nice Z4 coupe.

My neighbor has a TT soft top on a 04 plate. Gill drove it from the uk to Belgium then home to France. She enjoyed it but it was tiny inside due to the soft top needing space when folded down.
Oh and the boot was soaking wet due to being outside full time.
Good luck with the search.

Serious running costs on an m car though!

well said on the Z4M coupe Ive got Just the 3.0L Z4 coupe and its a blast to drive for a daily and ive driven a few M models now and it is brilliant. As for running cost there lower than people think.

On the mk2 TT front I was loaned The 3.2 dsg model for about 4 months while on course and the coupe was rugged up in the garage. I must say i was abit let down by it, I thought it was going to be alot more fun than it was. It felt heavy and lacked pace even in sport mode etc. Coming off the line just didnt seem that fast even with the 4X4. As for living with it i found it lacked space for the passengers in the rear so unless the driver is 5 foot tall you cant get people behind you.

to compare the 2 cars id still go for the BMW due to being more fun to drive and even though it only being a 2 seater its still easier to live with due to the feel of more space and a bigger boot.

good luck in choosing

14K also buys a nice 987 Boxster

Box

or how about an SLK

SLK

I saw a really nice Metallic blue SLK at a local dealer last week. Despite loving the Mustang in the states I don't think I could live with a soft top in the UK, especially as the daily driver.

Had a look over the outside of a Black 2010 Audi A3 "Black edition" today. It was at the local Audi dealers, who were closed, so I couldn't take a proper look. It seem quite nice but just a bit expensive, £13K for 43,000 miles but it is an Audi approved car so I suspect it comes with the usual Audi dealer extras.

Frustratingly all my chatting and looking has had my colleagues looking at cars too... Today one of them popped out and bought a Volvo C30 SE sport edition for his wife, one that we saw for sale yesterday. So I'm now getting accused of dithering, it is going to be a LONG night shift

Blimey! We've managed to move on from my sub £5k MK1 TT to Porkers, Mercs and Datsuns!!!

I'd love a 350Z or even a Porker but I'll occasionally need the 4 seats (My 2 youngest managed to sit in the back of a TT quite easily!).

Bob, your budget increase is quite impressive

I have to say, I'm having very dirty thoughts about an Abarth 500 or 595.

On PCP...... £1000 down and then 48 months at £168.

MeanRedSpider has one, I believe...

Bloody thirsty for the 135cc engine, as quoted on that page!

I had an e46 330 ci, I'm more than aware of the high running costs of a BMW. Much more than the coupe - can't comment against my xfr yet, but if costs on an m car are similar to mine there are many potentially ruinous costs!

Yes, I know I started out with a budget that was using savings and as I've always liked the TT if fitted my budget so this thread was perfect. But having done the research and viewing some cars I have really started to go off the idea. The Mk1 is over ten years old and as I've been looking at them this old car thing has been making itself obvious. So, a trip to the bank and as said before an "EVIL" loan

So the obvious choice was the TT-2 as it is the more modern looking car. But there are downsides to the TT-2. Firstly it seems rather expensive for what is, sadly, a car that just feels like and Audi A3 Coupe. Both cars seem almost identical inside and the same spec A3 is a lot cheaper. So when the Auto trader search is widened a lot more cars seem much better value. For the same money you can get a younger, fewer miles or better specification Scirocco.

Then today I saw an Audi A5 Coupé for sale. Looks Tidy and nicely equipped too.

Do you need to carry people in the rear seats Bob? Access is difficult and there's surprising little space back there. The boot is enormous though with plenty of space behind the rear seats.

Lovely cars to look at and to drive. Shop around though, there's a few versions of the A5 or see if there's an S5 at a similar price, they come with all the toys, 4WD and if you find a well spec'd car, it will have the sports rear diff which makes driving fun.
The 2ltr Turbo A5 is pretty quick, the supercharged V6 S5 is very capable and easily tuned to be quicker than the RS5.

Nice Spec and engine

Watch for excess oil consumption, Audi will replace the piston rings gratis if the car has service history.

Or, perhaps Jonny might speak up for this:

Smooth, fast and quite special.

Wow, cheap! Good find Jim.

Wow £505 road tax & 15mpg.... I'd be skint. Looks rather interesting though

Ha haha, know that feeling.....

This thread seems to be running off all over the place, what's you current thoughts bob? Age, style, performance and economy??
If it's a 4 seater coupe you have a merc c class, BMW 3 series and a tt (or other vag bodies on same golf platform).
Our Japanese friends have some interesting ideas, although most are dull style wise.

A curve ball, the Toyota gt86 is in your price range!

Indeed, I had perhaps better start a new one as it seems quite clear I have moved on from the TT 3.2 DSG.

Considered an e46 m3? Prices start at £5k plus.
Back seats and plenty of power to be interesting.

Apologies, Bob, if my fantasies were a little distracting!

Might struggle with the 30+ mpg..........

Follow up....

I spoke earlier about how a local Audi Specialist had seemingly been putting me off buying the 3.2 DSG. Yesterday I was back there getting the A5 checked over. This time there was a different fellow in the office. I explained that I had been looking at the 3.2 and that his colleague talked me out of it, his response? "Good"

He said that the 3.2 -DSG is a fantastic car but in their experience they are probably one of the most fragile Audi's ever made! His assessment was that most bills are big bills and that because of their current price many owners who buy them aren't prepared for the costs when they go wrong. It kind of reminded me of where we were with the Coupé. Cheap to buy but not cheap to own.

Having now viewed quite a few TT's I do like them but the 4 cylinder versions don't sound right. Looks Like I'll have to wait until the TTRS comes in budget, that sounds like a Fiat Coupé 20V, which in turn sounds like an Audi Quattro