'01 Audi TT Quattro, Manual, $2300, NMNA

Ticks all the right boxes.  

https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/orlando-audi-tt-quattro/7410635844.html

"Audi TT, this works that works these things work more stuff works this thing is new that is new this is great those things are great all the things are great it's wonderful it's magnificent it does not run"

In reply to Mr_Asa :

I still love the styling of these, but I'd rather own a BMW than try to keep one of these alive. 

In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :

I go back and forth on the looks of these.  Next gen for sure, but this gen bounces back and forth between "squashed beetle" and looking good.

It's listed as a 6 cylinder, ad says new turbo.

In reply to Mr_Asa :

Right after I posted that, my brain immediately went to "turbo - check, manual - check, awd - check. Hmm..."

Then I remembered it's basically a MkIV VW and last I knew there wasn't a good way to get any negative camber up front. Plus of course all the other MkIV issues. So that made me think owning a DSM might not be such a bad thing. 

The biggest issue with the TT is the front has to come off of it to access anything. And until you go north of 340hp, a fwd gti puts the power down just as readily and without the weight penalty of the haldex. Not to mention you don't have to disassemble the front end to work on them. My .02 regarding styling is that it's the only thing that they have going for them. 

Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to Mr_Asa :

Right after I posted that, my brain immediately went to "turbo - check, manual - check, awd - check. Hmm..."

Then I remembered it's basically a MkIV VW and last I knew there wasn't a good way to get any negative camber up front. Plus of course all the other MkIV issues. So that made me think owning a DSM might not be such a bad thing. 

Why DSM as the alternate that came to mind?

And the styling is a stretch for me. Definitely a Beetle cousin, not in a good way like a dune buggy either. Only redeeming quality is the wife likes them and I'd glom onto anything car-wise that she liked

In reply to P3PPY :

Because I already have a DSM disassembled in my garage & it was cheaper than this TT. :-)

I also used that comparison because I'm an awd/turbo fanboi, but finding the balance between cheap & good within those constraints is more challenging than fwd or rwd. 

In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :

Sheesh man, I've been on the hunt for 3 months for a decent $3k-ish AWD - turbo or not - and even relaxing the turbo requirement it's been about impossible to find. FWD and RWD for days tho

In reply to captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :

I have done a lot of work on TTs and never had the nose off.

It would certainly make some things easier, but it isn't engineered to slide forward with nice S-loops in some of the fluid lines like the longitudinal cars have, so I never bothered.

I'm actually really happy that this thing is far away.  It would be perfect for my needs, as I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on significantly more expense on the next rallycross car...

I think the goofy look is great.

And  VAG "issues" don't bother me.  

(I drive a Jetta, so what can I say.)

Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to Mr_Asa :

Right after I posted that, my brain immediately went to "turbo - check, manual - check, awd - check. Hmm..."

Then I remembered it's basically a MkIV VW and last I knew there wasn't a good way to get any negative camber up front. Plus of course all the other MkIV issues. So that made me think owning a DSM might not be such a bad thing. 

The TT has slightly different front bits than a standard MkIV.  One of the Golf/Jetta mods is to use TT front components to get a better camber curve. Not perfect, but at least better.

That said, the "trouble with motor will not run" bit at the end makes this car mainly for the VAG faithful.  Could be a cheap fix. Could cost the asking price.

challenged price TTs have been on my radar for a few years, think it could make great  challenge fun and then rallyx it,  but everyone always talks me out of them.

I know people love their Audis with AWD, but a FWD TT would be my pick. I have looked at some in the past and came close to pulling the trigger. Basically gets you access to the Mk4 VW aftermarket in a lighter car with better front suspension. IIRC you can get them pretty damn light too.