THE SPORTY AUDI TTUSED-CARS

The Audi

TT’s looks

has been

described by

most people

as being

‘stunning’

even though

it has been

on sale since

1999.

The cabin

is as

stylish as

the car’s

exterior

and

comfortab

le for all

but not for

the

tallest.

Unlike the Roadster,

the coupe comes

with a back seat

which is extremely

cramped, and best

suited as an extra

storage area.

The TT provides

good performance

from even the least

powerful versions.

Most have four-wheel

drive - and excellent

traction as a result -

while the firm

suspension gives

precise handling,

although the low-

speed ride is rather

firm.

If you fancy a TT,

but are torn

between the hard-

top coupe and soft-

top roadster, the

deciding factor

may well be what

sort of a driver you

are. The coupe's

roof makes the

body stiffer and

improves the

handling, so it's the

only choice for a

keen driver,

whereas the

roadster is better

for those who are

happy to take

things more gently.

As far as the trim is

concerned, things are

easy - just a single,

generous trim for each

engine. The choice of

engine depends largely on

how much money want to

spend.

The earliest models, and

therefore the cheapest

used buys, have a choice

of 133 and 165 Kw turbo-

charged 1.8-litre engines.

The 3.2 V6 is a great

engine, particularly with

the optional semi-auto

DSG gearbox, and even the

front-wheel drive models

with 133 Kw won't leave

you feeling short-changed.

There was a face-lift in 2002, but the

revised front grille (the only major

difference) is almost impossible to

spot, so the best advice is to buy the

newest car you can afford.

If any criticism could have been

levelled at the original TT, it would

have been a lack of interior space

and the fact that it was a less

rewarding drive than some rivals.

Audi has taken both of these factors

on board to create a larger but

lighter TT Coupe with improved

handling and more space inside.

You certainly get the car you’re

expecting when you buy a TT, but

that doesn’t make it cheap. However,

re-sale values on the used car

market