Remove the roof from a coupé to make it a cabriolet and you immediately add weight and reduce body rigidity, both sworn enemies of the sports car. But in the case of the Audi TT it detracted little from the driving fun and the car proved a big hit.

Launched in February 1999, it was the TT Coupé that hit the market first, the cabriolet Roadster following six months later. Both were powered by a 1.8 litre turbocharged engine and drivers had the choice of 180bhp or 225bhp sent to all four wheels via the Audi quattro drive train.

Despite the relatively small engine the addition of a turbocharger ensures good performance and even in 180bhp guise the car is capable of nearly twice the national speed limit. But if your budget will allow, then the 225bhp model is a better bet — 0-62mph in 6.9sec and a top speed of nearly 150mph giving the car real performance credentials.

If the outside of the TT looks good then the inside will not disappoint. The soft blue lighting contrasts with the orange of the dials to make the cabin feel distinctly special. Faultless build quality banishes rattles and used buyers should accept nothing less, regardless of the age or mileage.

Early TTs were hit by concerns about high-speed handling but a factory recall that involved the fitting of a rear spoiler and ESP (stability control system), solved the problem. If you are worried about whether the car you are looking to buy has had the corrective treatment then a call to Audi will provide the answer.

Standard equipment on both the TT Coupé and Roadster is good with leather upholstery, alloy wheels and climate control on all models. Roadsters come with a fully electric roof operation. Used examples of the 225bhp cars will cost you an extra £2,500 but as well as more power buyers also get larger alloys and excellent xenon headlights.

Despite the TT’s compact dimensions the driver and passenger seats are generous and supportive. The Roaster has only two seats but the Coupé has two small rear seats, although these are only really useable if you are eight years old or don’t mind sitting sideways with your feet up on the seat next to you.

Until recently all TTs came with a conventional manual gearbox, the 180bhp model moving from five to six speeds late in 2000. Fuel economy is good and drivers can easily achieve 30mpg on a run.

Servicing your TT will depend on its age. Early 1999-2000 TTs need servicing every 10,000 miles and you’ll pay about £180 for a minor service and £280 for the 20,000-mile checkup, but watch out for the major service at 40,000 miles, which will cost about £450. On later cars the service interval is 20,000 miles. To confirm whether your car qualifies for the longer service interval check the chassis number; if it starts “NY10” then you will be seeing your dealer less frequently.

With plenty of used TTs for sale buyers should be ultra fussy. It’s best to avoid non-UK supplied cars or ones with no quattro four-wheel-drive system (in some foreign markets the TT was available with front-wheel drive only), and keep clear of those with a suspicious service history.

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VITAL STATISTICS

Model: Audi TT Roadster (225)
Engine: Four-cylinder, 1,781cc turbo
Power: 225bhp
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 29.7mpg (combined)
Acceleration: 0-62mph: 6.9sec
Top speed: 147mph

Rear spoiler: Avoid a car with no rear spoiler as the factory recall may not have been carried out - check with Audi if in doubt

Rear hub carrier ball joint: Prone to seizing and corrosion on cars prior to March 2000

Wheels: 225bhp cars distinguished by larger 17in alloys

Roof: Soft top very expensive to replace (allow £4,000) so check carefully

Upholstery: Leather is standard but optional "baseball seat stitching" is not to everyone's taste

Climate control: Digital system standard on all models

Quattro: Four-wheel-drive system is standard on all proper UK cars, but some imports are two-wheel drive only

Spare wheel: It's a space-saver as standard

Insurance: Group 18, many insurance companies will charge the same for a roadster as for a coupé

Headlamps: 225bhp cars have powerful xenon headlamps as standard

Colour: Metallic silver is common but suits the car to perfection

Gearbox: Six-speed on all 225bhp models; 180bhp cars moved from five to six gears in September 2000

THE ONE TO BUY

Audi TT Roadster (225bhp) with full service history, 2000 W-reg with 30,000 miles. Pay £19,495 at a dealer with a 12-month warranty, or £18,000 privately

OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY...

2003 52-reg BMW Z3 3.0
2003 52-reg Saab 9-3 convertible 2.0T SE
2002 51-reg Honda S2000
2000 W-reg Mercedes-Benz SLK 320
1998 S-reg Porsche Boxster 2.5

VALUES


Coupé worth £750 less than Roadster; 180bhp cars worth £2,500 less than 225bhp equivalent.
Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. 'Trade' is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; 'retail' is what you would pay a dealer