The Audi TT is the Perfect Alternative for a Miata. If you’re a Masochist.

Let’s face it. The days of the cheap Miata are coming to a close. After nearly three decades since the beginning of production of the original NA model, second-hand buyers are coming around to the fact that the Miata is now a classic car worthy of preservation. No longer can one, in good conscience, purchase a clean example with the intent of modifying and enjoying it out on the track or on a twisty country road. Because so many Miata owners over the past 15 years or so have supercharged, turbocharged, or slammed their little Japanese roadsters, the supply of nice, original examples has become rather sparse. In response, prices for good examples of NA Miatas have skyrocketed. This 1992 model recently sold for nearly $13,000!

But don’t worry, the era of the cheap second-hand roadster isn’t over. In fact I’m glad to say, thanks to the magical economic concept of depreciation, we are more spoiled for choice than we have ever been. Of course, that’s if you’re willing to hedge your bets on something a little bit…German.

More specifically, the MK1 Audi TT roadster. A car so stylish that – and I’m being completely serious here – it was sold in the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog. Originally launched in 1999 for the 2000 model year, the TT roadster was meant to be a competitor not so much against the Miata, but rather the BMW Z3, Mercedes SLK, and Porsche Boxster. The TT boasted a gutsy Turbocharged engine, Quattro all-wheel drive, and the auto industry’s fastest automatic convertible top, all wrapped up in an incredibly stylish package. What was there not to like?

Well, as it turns out, the TT wasn’t really that well received way back in the late 90s and early 00’s. Many Journalists proceeded to bash on the TT for not being a precision driving tool like many other similarly sized roadsters. Due to this, the TT was written off by enthusiasts as a cutesy, overpriced, half-assed attempt on behalf of Audi. Not quite a hairdresser’s car, but rather the one driven by the hairdresser’s impeccably groomed, metrosexual boyfriend. Also, it certainly didn’t help that, when it came out, a well-equipped TT roadster cost north of $40,000. But thanks to catastrophic depreciation, you can now pick up a semi-decent example for about 6 crumpled up ones and a PB&J. But should you? Is the TT a decent alternative to the cheap craigslist Miata?

Well, first I would like to begin with the styling. Though the TT first hit the streets around the time the Spice Girls were still popular, it still somehow manages to look fresh today. The bulbous Bauhaus styling is reminiscent of 356s of yore without styling itself into irrelevancy. While the TT is undoubtedly a perfect example of function following form, it’s minimalist approach toward styling cues and ornamentation have kept it from becoming too overbearing. Personally, I think the TT is one of the best retro-inspired designs ever. So much so, I hold it in the same regard as the vaunted BMW Z8. Seriously, it’s that good.

The same can be said about the interior. Though flawed ergonomically, the creative use of materials is phenomenal for a car from this era. Everything in the interior that looks like aluminum is just that. Aluminum. Not some cheap silver-painted plastic imitation. The leather used throughout is simply gorgeous and was available in lots of crazy colors like green, blue, and orange. To top it all off, you could opt to have it all stitched together like a used research cadaver. Lovely.

On paper, the TT looks like a recipe for good fun. With a 225hp turbocharged engine, a six-speed manual transmission, and all-wheel drive, it seems like the TT may redeem itself today as a great performance value. Acceleration is brisk with an official 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds and it has amazing grip thanks to Audi’s legendary Quattro system. However, things begin to go downhill quickly. Despite the Quattro system, it isn’t a great handling car. It may have decent power and loads of grip, but that is completely negated by the fact the chassis is about as rigid as a piece of string cheese. Throw some vague steering into the equation, and you get a driving experience that isn’t as involving as other RWD roadsters from this period. Don’t get me wrong, you can still have fun with a TT on your favorite backroad, much in the same way you could use still do all your accounting on an Apple II. It may work, but it surely could be more pleasant.

Now, these would be minor gripes if that was all there was to complain about the TT, but being a Volkswagen Audi product from the early 2000s the TT, rather unfortunately, possesses all the reliability of a kitchen appliance purchased on QVC. VAG’s 1.8T isn’t necessarily the pinnacle of automotive engineering either. So when something breaks (which it will…all the time), the entire front end has to be removed to gain access to the engine bay. Audi likes to call this the “service position”. I call it ridiculous. In typical Audi fashion, the TT is riddled with electrical issues ranging from failing window regulators all the way to dashboard displays that try to read the car’s every function, simultaneously, using the final three remaining pixels.

Finally, we have to talk about build quality. Or really, the lack thereof. Usually in German cars from this era, despite their inherent reliability issues, they seem to be pretty solidly constructed. Not so with the TT. I didn’t expect a 15-year-old car to be perfect, but nothing prepared me for the rattle fest that ensued. My word was it awful. Over every single bump, the entire interior rattled like it was going to fall apart. When going over railroad tracks or potholes the windscreen had enough scuttle shake to rival Miley Cyrus. While the leather and aluminum used in the interior may be quality materials, the rest of the interior plastics were simply horrendous. Somehow the TT inherited the fantastic Ferrari “melting sticky button” issue on nearly every single plastic surface in the interior. On the particular example I drove, the headlights were so poorly constructed that a moth had taken up residence within one of them. The owner informed me his name is Girard.

Despite all this, should you really consider a TT as an alternative to the cheap Miata of yore? Well, I think it depends. On one hand, it’s a difficult-to-maintain, out-of-warranty European car with less-than-stellar driving dynamics. On the other, it’s still a great-looking, quick, and unique roadster with AWD that is still quite fun in most situations. Considering how cheap they’ve gotten and if dominating your local autocross isn’t a priority, I think the TT may potentially be a risk worth taking. Just remember that when your wind deflector regulator decides to munch itself to pieces: Caveat Emptor!