So I just drove an 05 TT and an 02 S4 back to back

[//EsFour]

Ok guys. I have a bit of a dilema. Long story short I need a new daily driver/winter beater.

Im throwing around a few ideas, but basically the car needs to be AWD or RWD, Turbo, and stick. I would prefer not to drive a sedan, but that is a compromise I am willing to make.


Now, I never really considered the TT, but my buddy has the 225 roadster, and I like the interior so perhaps it can be made to look decent? Is what I thought. Personally I think the TT looks a little ghey and feminine, but I have seen pics of them tastefully modified to such an extent that they become something totally different.


So onto the test drives:

TT - I fit into the coupe! (I'm 6'1", cant fit in the convertible). That was plus number 1. The drive itself was decent. Car handles ably and is fairly zippy. I wouldnt call it fast, but I wouldnt call it a slouch either. We come back, I get out and look at the thing and just cant picture myself driving one.


S4 - I wasn't impressed the first time I drove one about 2 years ago so I wasn't expecting much this time around. Let's pretend that never happened. After letting it warm up a few minutes we take off. I floor it and the thing just moves. Shifting into 2nd was a joke though, as it seemed the syncro was beyond finished and the transmission kept grinding 2nd gear. Car had what seemed to be a Milltek or MTM exhaust, carbon ***gor hood, and aftermarket interior trim and seat covers. Could it have possibly been a K04 car? I'm not sure. It was a night and day difference between the S4 I drove 2 years ago, this one being 10 times faster.


Now let's look at the big picture. I am a returning college student. Money is fairly tight. Obviously the reliability of the S4 is suspect at best. Parts are also expensive when compared to those of the TT (aftermarket included). I am mechanically inclined and know how to maintain my vehicles.

I'm keeping it unbiased as I don't own either of the cars.

What do you guys suggest I do? What do I buy? Also if anyone has other suggestions I'm all ears.


No EVO
Considered the STI. May still be an option but a bit too boy racer for me.
No Volvo S60R (Haldex - No thanks. Yes I know about the TT, but HPA makes an aftermarket AWD unit that distributes toque 50/50 upon acceleration.)
Nothing front wheel drive.
Nothing without a turbo(s).

[s vier]

FYI convertible has MORE head room with top up than Coupe does. I'm 6'3" and I fit better in the COnvert. I've been in and out of about 50 of them.

[Rated S]

I'm 6'5 and fit in my moms MK1 TT Roadster(conv)?
I like the looks of the coupe better, and I actually think the TTs look good.
If there was a 2.7T TT I would be all over it.
Maybe an E36 M3, though it's not a turbo, they are fun as hell to drive and pretty damn reliable.

[AMC]

well to rebuild your tranny to fix the synchro would run you aroung 1400 or so for parts and not sure labor or if you can find a trustworthy person to do it, but 1400 and JHM has a video to show you how to rebuild it so that can help you rebuild it yourself if you can... good luck the TT's r nice but s4's have all that plus faster lol

[eliTTe]

this one to girly for you??





TT's are only girly if you make them that way lol. I LOVED mine. I just traded it for the S4 about a month ago. the cars are so close in desireability in my opinion. I would have loved to keep both but I'm a student aswell and don't have the funds. I'm very happy with the S4 so far... it has a lot more potential than the TT. but if you want a beater, you'd be better off with the TT since its a little less complicated and cheaper to fix... however mine did break a lot so its still a gamble.

[Militant-Grunt]

^^ that is a mean car.

Though I wouldn't want a TT just because of the fact that it is not a torsen AWD setup, it is haldex, which means 90% fwd 10% rwd most times, that sucks. Not only that, these cars are known to be twichy as hell.

Really surprised an 02 S4 had a bad 2nd gear, someone must've mis-shifted the crap out of that car. You can't really go wrong with an S4, bigger brakes, easy power, and a hell of a lot more comfortable not to mention practical.

[Audi S4 Turbo]

Really surprised an 02 S4 had a bad 2nd gear, someone must've mis-shifted the crap out of that car. .

Uhh B5 S4s are notorious for faulty 1 - 2 syncros.

[RolledMySTi]

I think your decision comes down to your ultimate goals for the car. If you want something that is quick and more stylish go with the TT. If you want a car that will leave your passengers grabbing the oh shit handle in fear go with a S4.

[Rajan147]

i suggest a 2.8L A4 or Passat with PES Supercharger, 300 hp and decent reliability. But what you want is probably the S4 and the JHM tranny kit, along with a few other items. See if you can take some pics of the s4 and post them

[eliTTe]

^^ that is a mean car.

Though I wouldn't want a TT just because of the fact that it is not a torsen AWD setup, it is haldex, which means 90% fwd 10% rwd most times, that sucks. Not only that, these cars are known to be twichy as hell.

Really surprised an 02 S4 had a bad 2nd gear, someone must've mis-shifted the crap out of that car. You can't really go wrong with an S4, bigger brakes, easy power, and a hell of a lot more comfortable not to mention practical.

thanks lol. and yes, the biggest downside of the TT quattro is the haldex system... god it was horrible and embarrassing to call it a AWD car. it felt like a FWD car with kinda wide front tires that were hard to spin... and it has understeer out the wazoo!!!

but what do you mean twichy? I was a little lost on that statement...

[Militant-Grunt]

Uhh B5 S4s are notorious for faulty 1 - 2 syncros.

In a 2000 / 2001.0 Yeah, 2001.5 + received better synchro in the transmission.

[Militant-Grunt]

thanks lol. and yes, the biggest downside of the TT quattro is the haldex system... god it was horrible and embarrassing to call it a AWD car. it felt like a FWD car with kinda wide front tires that were hard to spin... and it has understeer out the wazoo!!!

but what do you mean twichy? I was a little lost on that statement...

Twitchy like the old 911s were, prone to spin (lift off over steer), same sort of deal with the TT's. The whole suspension and wings were messed around with to make the car more under steer prone. The old TT was a Golf in a leather suit anyway. B5 is def the way to go.

[McKennaS4]

they are expensive for parts and maintenance, but the scene is turning. cheaper parts are becoming available, and more turbo options. its becoming quite the tuner car i'd say. like a low scale dsm sor something. but still not cheap now. that said I love it and this is my 3rd b5s4 which just shows it can't be replaced for the price. try to buy one from an enthusiast so you know the maintenance is on par. for whatever car you go with i recommend that. GL bud.

[eliTTe]

Twitchy like the old 911s were, prone to spin (lift off over steer), same sort of deal with the TT's. The whole suspension and wings were messed around with to make the car more under steer prone. The old TT was a Golf in a leather suit anyway. B5 is def the way to go.

oh your talking about the early 2000 cars, they had a recall because of several crashes/deaths from higher speed crashes. the rear spoiler, front control arms and ESP was added from the recall. you really don't have to worry about that though, its VERY rare to find a car that didn't get the updated recall done.

[Auburnsky1287]

like a low scale dsm sor something.

rofl, i'd never compare an s4 to anything DSM.... ugh.... that gives me chills just thinking about it

[csre9]

Have you thought about the 2002-2004 Passat W8 4motion?

[Rajan147]

w8 suck if you want to mod, go passat 4mo (its only comes in tip but the tranny can hold the hp and torque made by a PES supercharger) or 5spd passat.

[//EsFour]

Have you thought about the 2002-2004 Passat W8 4motion?

I hate Volkswagen. Irony I know.

[FrimmelNoJerz]

rofl, i'd never compare an s4 to anything DSM.... ugh.... that gives me chills just thinking about it

the b5 s4 is getting there.

[BurnAll4S4]

get the tt if you dont want to waste money into the s4. i love my s4 to death, but lets be realistic.

[RxDlr]

I think your decision comes down to your ultimate goals for the car. If you want something that is quick and more stylish go with the TT. If you want a car that will leave your passengers grabbing the oh shit handle in fear go with a S4.

i love making people do that lol and i'm only stage 2+ at the moment

[3 bar]

College student+ need room+ reliablity+ German= 05 B6 Audi A4 Avant. I know you wernt thinking of the soccer mom car but really. If you want to haul all your stuff and have something somewhat realiable along with having relatively inexpensive parts whats better? Thinking cool instead of practical is going to get you in trouble every time.

[VonPooper]

damn, you murdered that TT...GRILL EVERYTHANG

[Dimcorner]

You could always shoot for a A4. They make decent power chipped and they save more gas.

[AudiA4_20T]

Get the 3.2 VR6 TT and turbo that, itll make the S4 seem like a joke

[///M3 TO S4]

i love making people do that lol and i'm only stage 2+ at the moment

wait till you're stage 3.....the last guy I took for a ride in my car (on pump gas even) said "can we uh......go back and pick up my balls that you left 1/4 mile behind" while he was giggling like a little school girl.......it's funny when you take someone for a ride and they don't know what an S4 is....much less a stage 3 and they start screaming for you to slow down.....after a 1-3 pull......on the highway....with no other cars around.....