Upgrading to an Audi TT

ProfessorChef

I'll be 20 in May and I've been driving a 1.4 2005 Ford Focus LX since July 2015. My driving test is on the 31st of March and at the moment I'm with AXA which cost me €2500.

I'm looking to purchase an Audi TT. I'm not quite sure which exact one yet but I'm looking at a 07 TT Cabrio 2.0 and two 05 TT Roadsters 1.8

I'm still 4 months away for NCB and I'd like to stick with AXA if possible, does anyone know how they are with cars like this and what would I be expecting to pay?

Thanks

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

ProfessorChef

LIGHTNING wrote: »

The 07 will be the Mk2 TT and the convertible would be the mk1. As an owner of a Mk1 TT I would avoid the convertible as realistically speaking how often are you going to use the it? The coupe will be a better a buy the interior is nicer in the MK2 but the exterior not so much. It really depends on the colour and trim.

Well I could end up driving from Waterford to Wex daily but at the moment it wouldn't be used for as much as that. There's a nice 2005 Coupe for 7k, it's an automatic.

I'm trying to keep to at least 2005 but there is quite a few 2002 available.

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Well that's a starting point, cheers!

Atlantic Dawn

Don't do anything until you have got your driving test passed, then price quotes before buying the TT.

XLR 8

Check the following before you buy, if you don't they can cost shed loads of money to put right.

1. Broken dip stick funnel.
2. Window drop on drivers door.
3. Smudged up sump and pick up pipe.
4. Haldex lube change.
5. Wiper wash bottle low pressure.
6. Pixilated dash display.
7. Hazard warning lights switch.
8. That you fit in it.

Look for one with plenty of receipts and a good service history particularly early in its life as poor oil change routine cause sludge. Got one for the wife a few years back and having addressed all of the above as an amateur, it is now fault free. Do make sure you fit in though, it's a great car to drive but sadly I'm a bit too big for it.

Henry Ford III

At 20 y.o. a TT must be uninsurable surely?

Jogathon

I was 25 buying my first convertible. It was uninsurable under 25 and Hibernian aviva are the only ones that quote, even now I believe. Don't bother with a convertible, I've had two over the last ten years and both have been more trouble than they are worth. Who wants a wet arse after a winter storm?

ProfessorChef

So can anyone give me any ideas as to what car I could get?

I'm looking to spend about €7,000-€8,000 and would like to just change cars with AXA my current insurer if that's possible. I'd also like to pay insurance upfront depending on how much it is. I'd prefer a BMW or Audi something with a bit of bhp.

ironclaw

ProfessorChef wrote: »

I'm looking to spend about €7,000-€8,000 and would like to just change cars with AXA my current insurer if that's possible. I'd also like to pay insurance upfront depending on how much it is. I'd prefer a BMW or Audi something with a bit of bhp.

Are you purely after speed and BHP? Or do you have a preference?

Getting north of 200BHP is tricky at your budget. Golf GTI would be common choice. Opel Astra OPC clocks in at the same range. Both however are not 4WD. Debatable but I prefer 4WD in the higher BHP ranges as the car just feels so much better putting the power down. The 225 TT is actually a good choice as its the cheapest, highest BHP unit with 4WD that I'm aware of (Albeit Quattro) Dialling it back a fraction to about 190BHP, the Opel Corsa OPC and Renaultsport Clio 197, 182 Trophy and Megane would all come into your price range.

You'll also pick up a 2005->2007 BMW 535D for that money and it is considered the baby M5. They are a very quick car at 286BHP. Much larger than the other offerings but if you wanted to move away from the hot hatch / coupe, it would be my choice. You would also get a very early Audi S3 or S4.

The only caveat with all of them is a cheap one is going to be a money pit. They are all enthusiast cars and a good one will carry a premium as it will have been cared for and loved. They are not the type of car you can just have in the drive way and occasionally spend a little on a service. They need attention and on the dot maintenance. This is something to factor into your costings.

Also, they are all nigh on un-insurable under-25. I guess you'll be asked north of €2k for any of them. The best bet for getting insurance is probably the Renaultsport Range, they don't carry the same boy racer imagine, are rarer and insurance companies don't seem as afraid of them.

Henry Ford III

Anything above say 1.6l or perhaps 125bhp will be prohibitively expensive for a 20 year old to insure imho.

*Kol*

For €7k you would get a decent enough Mini Cooper. Could be an option.

Skatedude

I really dont see you getting insured on a TT at your age, ring around using your details but saying you have passed your test to see what if any quotes you get so you can know before buying

Arkady

It would be a lot cheaper and far more fun to pay for several track days / rally school days every month, month in month out, than pay that amount of insurance to drive around in a used suped up car that can never be used to its full potential on any public road without endangering other peoples lives. A complete waste of a car, maintenance, and insurance money imho.

galwaytt

Arkady wrote: »

It would be a lot cheaper and far more fun to pay for several track days / rally school days every month, month in month out, than pay that amount of insurance to drive around in a used suped up car that can never be used to its full potential on any public road without endangering other peoples lives. A complete waste of a car, maintenance, and insurance money imho.

As someone on their third TT I can tell you are talking rubbish.
Reliable, quick, well built, reasonable to buy, 'normal' tax, same insurance as a Golf, same maintenance as a Golf.

bruce wayne

galwaytt wrote: »

As someone on their third TT I can tell you are talking rubbish.
Reliable, quick, well built, reasonable to buy, 'normal' tax, same insurance as a Golf, same maintenance as a Golf.

As someone on my second TT - I echo these points

Arkady

galwaytt wrote: »

As someone on their third TT I can tell you are talking rubbish.
Reliable, quick, well built, reasonable to buy, 'normal' tax, same insurance as a Golf, same maintenance as a Golf.

Same in every way to run as an ordinary Golf, including insurance, for a 20 year old ? I'm afraid you're the one talking rubbish.

galwaytt

Arkady wrote: »

Same in every way to run as an ordinary Golf, including insurance, for a 20 year old ? I'm afraid you're the one talking rubbish.

Until you own one you're going to have bow to the fact I know more about them than you do. Insurance is one item on a list.

Henry Ford III

galwaytt wrote: »

Until you own one you're going to have bow to the fact I know more about them than you do. Insurance is one item on a list.

Agreed, but for a 20 y.o. without a full license it's a very major one.

Golfgorfield

For someone 20 yrs old paying 2500 insurance on a 1.4 focus, there isn't a snowballs chance of insurance at a ll on a TT. None, nada.

bear1

Before we all jump on the you won't get insurance bandwagon, OP if I were you I'd wait till I have 1 NCB and use the 4 months to find yourself a proper TT that has been well minded.
Your insurance will be cheaper because of that.
Asking how much an insurance companies quote will be is pointless, if you really want to know then do an online quote both with 0 NCB and with 1 NCB and see how they fair.
At 20 years old to have 7-8k saved up for a car you want is impressive so I also imagine you have the money to insurance it.

ProfessorChef

bear1 wrote: »

Before we all jump on the you won't get insurance bandwagon, OP if I were you I'd wait till I have 1 NCB and use the 4 months to find yourself a proper TT that has been well minded.
Your insurance will be cheaper because of that.
Asking how much an insurance companies quote will be is pointless, if you really want to know then do an online quote both with 0 NCB and with 1 NCB and see how they fair.
At 20 years old to have 7-8k saved up for a car you want is impressive so I also imagine you have the money to insurance it.

I was thinking that and it does seem like the best course of action. I'm ok with paying double my insurance now to be able to drive the TT.

I understand that for about 7-8k I'll be looking at the 2002 and 2005 versions.

Golfgorfield

ProfessorChef wrote: »

I was thinking that and it does seem like the best course of action. I'm ok with paying double my insurance now to be able to drive the TT.

I understand that for about 7-8k I'll be looking at the 2002 and 2005 versions.

You are willing to pay €5000 for insurance to drive a 02 - 05 TT??

Jesus wept. :eek:

mickdw

Golfgorfield wrote: »

You are willing to pay €5000 for insurance to drive a 02 - 05 TT??

Jesus wept. :eek:

Ah sure we were all young once. It has to be done.
My first car was a 2.0L audi and I paid 2700 punts at the time for insurance while the car cost 2300. That was back around the turn of the century.

*Kol*

mickdw wrote: »

Ah sure we were all young once. It has to be done.
My first car was a 2.0L audi and I paid 2700 punts at the time for insurance while the car cost 2300. That was back around the turn of the century.

Same here. Though €5k is a bit eye watering!!

ProfessorChef

*Kol* wrote: »

Same here. Though €5k is a bit eye watering!!

Hopefully it wont come to that o_O

GavRedKing

The long and short of it is to get on the phone to the insurers and brokers but prepare to be bent over a barrel at your age and driving experience.

Expect crazy expensive quotes because thats what you're going to get, if the quote is to high start thinking of other fun cars that you may enjoy, do a bit research and ring around again.

Unless of course youre willing to pay the premium, in which case, enjoy your TT.

07Lapierre

Golfgorfield wrote: »

You are willing to pay €5000 for insurance to drive a 02 - 05 TT??

Jesus wept. :eek:

Agree...5k insurance is mad...that assumes the OP can even get a quote!
I had a TT and loved it! Now driving a gt86...great fun car but not as "refined" as the TT! I miss my TT

Arkady

galwaytt wrote: »

Until you own one you're going to have bow to the fact I know more about them than you do. Insurance is one item on a list.

bow to you ?

Lets see these figures then, where according to you, running, maintaining, and insuring an Audi TT for a 20 year old costs them the same as running an ordinary Golf, as you have claimed. Until you do, you're going to have to bow to the fact you've been caught talking complete shyte.

ironclaw

Arkady wrote: »

bow to you ?

Lets see these figures then, where according to you, running, maintaining, and insuring an Audi TT for a 20 year old costs them the same as running an ordinary Golf, as you have claimed. Until you do, you're going to have to bow to the fact you've been caught talking complete shyte.

The Audi TT from the era the OP is talking about came in a 1.8 and 2.0. As did the Golf, give or take. They are nigh on the same car when you lift off the shell. The difference came at the top end when the TT had a Quattro option and the GTI didn't. The GTI had less BHP than the 225 TT, but overall they were fairly evenly matched. From the 1.8 up, they are all no-no's for insurance.

Comparing a 1.8 Golf to a 1.8 TT, you're going to be looking at the same money at 20 years of age for insurance. Maintenance will run you the same as they are effectively the same blocks on the inside. The 225 TT would run you more over the long run as you have the Haldex system to maintain and she will be slightly harder on tyres from the quattro.

Unless of course you are referring to a standard 1.4 Golf and a TT, which would be a nonsense comparison to start with as they are entirely different cars.

Lastly, why are you arguing with three owners?

OP, you'd be mental to sink that money in a TT. You'd be better off getting a year NCB and cutting a little off the insurance tab. €5k, saved well, would get you a far better car in a year to 18 months. I toyed with the idea of a 225 TT as a project car and its the only way I would dream of investing that type of money in that era of TT. Its on my list when it eventually hits classic. If you do have your heart set, get as late in 2005 as you can as you may find by the time you can insure it, you can't insure it fully.

Arkady

ironclaw wrote: »

The Audi TT from the era the OP is talking about came in a 1.8 and 2.0. As did the Golf, give or take. They are nigh on the same car when you lift off the shell. The difference came at the top end when the TT had a Quattro option and the GTI didn't. The GTI had less BHP than the 225 TT, but overall they were fairly evenly matched. From the 1.8 up, they are all no-no's for insurance.

Comparing a 1.8 Golf to a 1.8 TT, you're going to be looking at the same money at 20 years of age for insurance. Maintenance will run you the same as they are effectively the same blocks on the inside. The 225 TT would run you more over the long run as you have the Haldex system to maintain and she will be slightly harder on tyres from the quattro.

Unless of course you are referring to a standard 1.4 Golf and a TT, which would be a nonsense comparison to start with as they are entirely different cars.

Lastly, why are you arguing with three owners?

OP, you'd be mental to sink that money in a TT. You'd be better off getting a year NCB and cutting a little off the insurance tab. €5k, saved well, would get you a far better car in a year to 18 months. I toyed with the idea of a 225 TT as a project car and its the only way I would dream of investing that type of money in that era of TT. Its on my list when it eventually hits classic. If you do have your heart set, get as late in 2005 as you can as you may find by the time you can insure it, you can't insure it fully.

The claim was it cost the same to insure and run an "ordinary Golf" vs Audi TT, not a Gti Golf vs Audi TT.

BreadnBuddha

Arkady wrote: »

The claim was it cost the same to insure and run an "ordinary Golf" vs Audi TT, not a Gti Golf vs Audi TT.

The OP said, well before the Golf entered the discussion, that he wanted something with a bit of power.

A 1.4/1.6 Golf was never the subject of comparison except for you.

Also, a 'suped up' car? A 1.8 TT is not a 'suped up' car. How completely disconnected with reality some people are!

Arkady

ProfessorChef wrote: »

I'd prefer a BMW or Audi something with a bit of bhp.

ironclaw wrote: »

Getting north of 200BHP is tricky at your budget . . . The 225 TT is actually a good choice as its the cheapest, highest BHP unit with 4WD that I'm aware of

. . .Also, they are all nigh on un-insurable under-25. I guess you'll be asked north of €2k for any of them.

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Anything above say 1.6l or perhaps 125bhp will be prohibitively expensive for a 20 year old to insure imho.

Skatedude wrote: »

I really dont see you getting insured on a TT at your age, ring around using your details but saying you have passed your test to see what if any quotes you get so you can know before buying

galwaytt wrote: »

Reliable, quick, well built, reasonable to buy, 'normal' tax, same insurance as a Golf, same maintenance as a Golf.

For the benefit of people who don't read the thread before attacking other posters.

The claim, was, and still is an Audi TT costs the same as a Golf (no mention of a GTI) to insure and run for a 20 year old.

My opinion, and still is, it would be a lot cheaper and far more fun to pay for several track days / rally school days every month than pay that amount of insurance for a 20 year old would need to pay to drive around in a used 225 TT with 4WD and over 200 bhp.

Before anyone else gets their panties in a twist, no one was talking about middle aged hairdressers with a mid life crisis.

ironclaw

Arkady wrote: »

The claim, was, and still is an Audi TT costs the same as a Golf (no mention of a GTI) to insure and run for a 20 year old.

This is a motor forum. Obviously we're not going to be comparing a 1.4 Golf (or 'normal' Golf as you term it) to a 1.8 TT. I agree, your comparison of 1.4 to 1.8 is correct. But the unwritten, and assumed comparsion between 1.8's amongst everyone else on this thread, is valid. They will cost the same.

My opinion, and still is, it would be a lot cheaper and far more fun to pay for several track days / rally school days every month than pay that amount of insurance for a 20 year old would need to pay to drive around in a used 225 TT with 4WD and over 200 bhp.

Not necessarily. Some people just want a certain car and will pay anything to have it. Fair play to them. Rally Days are actually pretty expensive. Cheapest I've seen are in the region of €250 and that's for perhaps a lap or two of Mondeo (Which is terrible if you are a 'driver') It's hardly a fair comparison to owning, looking after and daily driving a car that you always wanted. Thats an intangible value. Honestly, if the OP is living at home, has the cash etc then it's probably the only time in their life they'll be able to afford it. I say, go for it and I'm a uber-shrewd financial person myself.

Before anyone else gets their panties in a twist, no one was talking about middle aged hairdressers with a mid life crisis.

If that's a jab at the TT, it's completely unwarranted. I presume the Mini is a girls car as well? How about the Fiat 500 Abarth? I know a gent who has a garage of Porsche's and his daily driver in NYC is a 500. Search 'APR TT' and you'll see they are far from a 'girls car' It's laughable that people are so insecure in their own sexuality to have a perception of a certain car :rolleyes: Both the TT and Mini are excellent on the road, handle really well and the TT is quick to boot. Tune them and they are animal with many smiles per mile compared to something twice the value.