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Audi TT 8J, the car that improves on the original recipe and takes it to Michelin stars. And to Michelin tires, given how it can eat up tires. Audi TT 8J, the car for barbers without friends.

The first generation TT was a lethal combination, literally. The first models were famous for leaving their owners carefree while driving at 200 km/h the road suddenly turned right and they kept going forward. But here Audi listened to the people and came up with a car that was easier to drive but also more violent if you had enough money to tick the options boxes.

As with the first generation, most of the technology is straight out of the VW dumpster, both the good and not-so-good. As with most 2010s VW cars, some engine + box combinations are absolutely ok, and others are as good as a draft beer. You paid money for it, you see it’s not so good, but you still drink it because you paid for it. You don’t feel too good after drinking it and you’ll probably have stomach issues, but hey, draft beer is still beer.

At least you don’t get the stability issues anymore, the Audi TT 8J isn’t that old beast that could put you in the hospital. No, this TT also appeals to those who just want a car to drive around in absurd ammounts of fashion, but have too much money for an Astra H convertible and don’t want to blow their bank account on a Mercedes SLK.

Audi TT 8J Engines

Petrol

• 1.8 TFSI of 160 horsepower – The old 1.8T launched in 1296 in the Skoda Octavia I and Golf IV GTI, is now brought in with the TFSI system. Still leaking oil, but nothing disastrous. By far the most balanced engine for the kind of guy who just wants to get around. You get plenty of power, you get reliability, and you get reasonable fuel consumption for a sports car. The timing needs changing every 60,000 miles or 4 years and occasionally eats up water pumps and lots, lots of oil.


• 2.0 TFSI of 200 and 211 horsepower – Lots of power and oil consumption equivalent to petrol consumption. Seriously, you don’t even know what it chuggs down faster – oil or petrol? You could fix oil consumption, but it’s cheaper to top up occasionally. Occasionally means up to 1 liter per 1000 km, which is officially accepted as being within Audi parameters.


• 3.2 V6 of 247 horsepower – An antique of an engine that’s on its last legs in the Audi TT 8J. And in the first generation, it was debatable whether it was worth a 3.2 V6 in favor of the classic 1.8T, but here with the 2.0 TFSI, it’s time for this engine to retire. Need I also mention the timing chains (yes, chains) which when they need replacing the cost is half the value of the car?


• 2.5 R5 TFSI of 272, 340, and 360 horsepower – Audi TT 8J RS, this is the last inline 5-cylinder engine in the car industry. A spectacular engine, where maintenance is no longer even relevant in terms of cost.

Diesel

2.0 TDI of 170 horsepower – Why would you want an Audi TT 8J with a diesel engine? However, for people who want to drive very long distances without rushing anywhere and certainly not rushing to the pump, the 2.0 TDI can be a successful choice. Beware though of the particle filter and dual mass flywheel which wears out faster than you’d like, especially in city traffic.

Audi TT 8J  General Issues

• For the rich people who went with the optional Nappa leather seats, I must remind them the fact that the leather cracks and stretches right out of the factory gates. Either they have employees dressed in chain mail, or it’s just not quality leather. Or just get fabric upholstery for your seats, like the rest of us regular peasants.


• Audi still punishes people with money who think they are superior to us commoners. The optional Bose audio system corrodes prematurely and you can run out of speakers.


• Or you can down the windows to listen to the glorious engine. Except you’ll still have to watch out for them because they don’t always rise back up as high as they should. As an old-timer, the windows don’t rise all the way up because the Audi TT 8J is a coupe, without the pillars in the middle. The windows don’t roll down like a classic car, they slide up or down. Down, always. Up, harder.


• The S-Tronic automatic transmission (an Audi DSG) still isn’t the happiest automatic transmission. Change the oil every 60,000 km and pray every night that the Mecatronic doesn’t break down. Because it doesn’t break down, it just changes. And it costs around 6000 lei.


• The Haldex 4×4 unit is an absolutely explosive part. Literally. Change the oil every 60,000 km and be careful where you do it, so you don’t end up with the Haldex all over the road.

Audi TT 8J Verdict

If the first generation was for fashionistas and/or thrill-seekers, the Audi TT 8J remains a car for people who either want something comfortable or sporty or who know nothing about engines and just want good looks. Even if this car segment is as popular as the “Fully Charged”, the Audi TT 8J will always have a community of fans, and this generation’s TT RS will go down in history as a classic model, especially with that 2.5 in-line monster.

Which engine do you recommend? Like the last round, the 160-horsepower 1.8 TFSI engine remains good enough for most people and you won’t rack up the miles fast enough for the oil consumption to be a real nuissance. I don’t recommend the 2.0 TDI because you’re not going to be going long distances in an Audi TT anyway. Not to say you don’t have anywhere to store some luggage, nor passengers. Theoretically, it has seats in the back, but good luck finding someone to voluntarily sit there.