alright so, i'm 16, almost 17 and i've been looking around at cars and right away the audi tt caught my eye, the price is right within, or actually even below my range..now all i need to do is convince my dad to let me get it..the things he mainly would worry about is safety and reliability. and the problem is i can't seem to get a handle on "reliable" reliability tests, if you guys could let me know about this it would be great.


i'm currently looking at a 2000 audi tt with about 65k miles on it..


thanks

 

We recently bought an 1.8T quattro A4 for my son to drive (17) and the main reason was it seems like a safe car compared to many similar cars, he liked it and it was documented. The reliability things is a totally different issue. I looked around at several before finding one I felt would be good for him based on my inspection of it and the documented service records. I recently bought myself a 2000 TT with a stack of service records all from the dealer (everything from timing belt to brake light bulbs all done at the dealer). Again no way to know if that's going to get me a reliable used car but it helps hedge the bet.

First is the car in good physical condition? That's my first indicator. If the car has service records available it's a good sign it has been treated reasonably well. Next a good inspection of the car is money or time well spent, either take it to a trusted mechanic or if dad is one then inspect it on site. If after that it all checks out then it might be a good candidate, if it doesn't have records or the inspection turns up some items of concern then walk, there are plenty of others out there that will pass the inspection and have the paperwork.

If dad is looking for something that taks almost no maintenance then I would honestly look at something other than a European car. It's not that they are not reliable it's that they take a bit more care than the typical Honda Civic but you get a better long term car in return. Maintenance and repair are two different things, most people think they are the same.

 

^agree.
if u buy this TT for XXX amount. add another $1300 for a timing belt/waterpump change , cuz its due for one.
but yes if your dad wants u to get something that all u really need to worry about is changing the oil, sorry but a newer euro car isnt a good idea.

another thing with TT (not sure about the A4s) but they have some electrical problems

but when eruo cars are up to par, they are the best ,hands down, but when u need to fix em, they suck!! (money wise, working on them is awesome!)

 

My experience with the TT was great - I got one at a great price, and only ever had to replace the coil packs and spark plugs (and I drove this thing across the country)!

Not to say that you should EXPECT that, but if you or your dad know how to work on cars, the TT is a cinch. Everybody here complains about maintenance, but if most of them had to do so much as change the spark plugs on my STi,... I think they'd certainly start singing a different tune.

Really, just make sure to have it THOROUGHLY inspected by either a very reputable VW/Audi mechanic, or see if there's a 1.8T guy on here or VWVortex who lives close enough to you to go take a look and some VAGCOM readings.

Good luck!

 

thank you all for your comments, it was very helpful..i was actually just out looking for cars, but it was hard to seriously look at anything after seeing the TT, my dad has a friend who owned one, so i told him to ask him about that when he could. it looks surprisingly good at this point

 

there safe I have seen many photos of the smashed up and they have walked away. They are hit and miss with reliability so do your research so you know what's problematic on them. The last issue your 16 going on 17 you can't afford to properly maintain a TT.

 

at 16-17, I could afford to buy and maintain my mercedes c230 kompressor - don't jump to conclusions about anyone.

 

A 2000 with 65k is a good find however as others have stated you're definitely in the timing belt window. Generally not as reliable as say a Toyota or Honda, but if you have some mechanical knowledge it should be a good, fun, safe car for you.
I would also research insurance because at 17 you'll pay big bucks.

 

If he's getting his own, but not necessarily if his parents have good coverage. I had a couple of nice 2-door forced-induction cars while on my parents' insurance, only cost me $50-60 / mo.

 

The tt's are very safe. I think it's one of the first cars to have side air bags standard.

As for being a first car, I would look elsewhere. German cars are simply too much to repair. Plus a 9 year old german car? I would look into 2000+ toyota MR2's, Honda preludes, anything scion. They would make better first cars. Also- I would get an automatic for your first car. Its too hard to text and shift at the same time, j/k.