When I got the TT I had a shortlist of Boxter, S2000 and TTC225. I decided the Porker was not worth the extra cash so it came down to The 2000 and the TT so I hired one of each for a day.
It was a close call but I chose the TT because it looked a lot better and the Honda was gutless at less than 6K RPM. In traffic it felt like I was driving a Civic 1.3. The Honda did have a few plus points over the TT, rear wheel drive and that big red start button but I found the dash a little too gimmicky and harder to read than analogue dials. The roof rattled quite a bit when it was down and it all looked a bit too Japanese for my tastes. Also do a bit of research on the Honda S2000 forums, like the TT they can also have quite a few problems. One of the more common is using excessive oil due to the fact that you have to keep the revs so high to get the best out of them. Don't get me wrong, the Honda is a great car (after all Vicky Butler Henderson has one) but for my subjective point of view the TT is a better all rounder and people don't notice the S2000 as much.
I guess you can get good or bad in either case, I have had no real problems with my car apart from a couple of minor things, it sounds like you have been unlucky.

 

Thanks for the detailed reply Boggie.

I've heard you have to rev the ar5e out of them & they are no were near as good lookin as the TT.

I have had a lot of problem with the TT tho - Dashpod, Stearing Rack, Powersteering, electric window failure, rear control arms snapping etc.

thing is I still love it & will prob go for another one.....doh

 

Thanks for the detailed reply Boggie.

I've heard you have to rev the ar5e out of them  & they are no were near as good lookin as the TT.

I have had a lot of problem with the TT tho - Dashpod, Stearing Rack, Powersteering, electric window failure, rear control arms snapping etc.

thing is I still love it & will prob go for another one.....doh

if it swings the balance at all, i honestly believe 2002 models and onwards TT`s are pretty trouble free ( someone will come and disagree in a mo ) but if you look at the amount sold compared to the amount with grief its very little. A good friend of mine is the head tech at an Audi main dealer and has advised ( off the record ) not to buy anything prior to that year as he sees more of the early cars than the later. This however could also be due to the fact that the problems may manifest with age

 

Cheers Ronin,

I have had a 1999 180TT & now a 2000 225TT so you might be right.

If I go for another TT I will either get a new one, or maybe a year old, maybe even a V6!, tho I like the idea of modding the 225

 

You do have to rev the Honda VTEC engine to get the best out of it, as the VTEC doesn't kick it until 6000 rpm... but when it does it pulls all the way to 8500/9000 rpm and sounds like an absolute beast!

I had a test drive of an S2000 before I got my AT-R and am probably going to pick one up in the summer if I don't get the boxster.

I have had 3 TTs and yes, the Honda isn't built as well, and yes the ICE is pants.. but don't knock the drive. If anything I'd say that playing with the VTEC is more fun than having a turbo.

Just my 2p. :-*

Mart

 

I was going to pick up a company car - sold the TT - managed to wrangle my way out of the company car and bought a boxster - Love the car, looks, handling, engine noise etc - sticking with this now - oh and it is faster than a S2000 as proved on Top Gear last week!

I drove the S2000 and found it to be really cheap and nasty inside with a lot of sqweaks and sqweels coming from the plastics.

Overall - stick with German engineering!

 

was thinking about 2nd hand Boxter also, wasn't sure what the maintenance costs would be like tho...

Have heard there more reliable than the TT & I do love the looks, especially with the body kit on

Will prob test drive all the cars & take it from there, not gonna be in a position to change for another year anyway.

Thanks for all the views so far

 

The S2 is a good car. A friend of mine collected his, and we drove back from Leeds to London, just a few weeks before I collected my TT. Having driven both cars, I prefer the TT overall. Yes the S2 is RWD, and yes it does have 240 BHP, but well it's just not a TT is it? The S2 is more driver orientated, more of a "raw" Japanese beast, whereas the TT is a classy German engineered, well built all round machine. Drive both (in the wet too) and see how you feel. The S2 is nowhere near as solid, and does have a few rattles and squeaks. If you do get one, make sure you definitely get the optional hardtop - looks soooo much better. You know the TT as you've owned one, but get a feel for the S2 as well. My money is on the TT, I think you'll say bye to Japs, and hello again to Der Germans!