OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice one Scotty

Thinks - if I get the missus one it means she won't need to drive mine anymore...... Hmmmmmm

Wonder how difficult it would be to retro fit paddles to it?

 

And to think Autocar didn't make it first with the scoop :roll:

Well done for getting the right info first Scotty, thanks and keep it coming.

 

Do you think it would be a good idea to trade in a 180 quattro for a 180 fwd? Or is the quattro that much better? What do people think? :?:

 

All else being equal....

The 180 (manual) FWD should have a better power to weight over the Quattro....

But then you loose out on the benefits of having drive to the rear (not that that happens much anyway).

Think you might get a slightly larger boot also?

Would imagine that the tiptronic box might be a bit of a power drain though?

 

i've got the LHD FWD. and the boot is SOOO much bigger than your Quattro's....

 

Eeeek...

Yet more models to choose from. I'm only gonna say 1 thing. Residuals.

Audi have proved once and for all they plan to milk this cash cow to death!

 

This is NOT GOOD NEWS.

i recon i can see our cars loosing even more money now, mmm maybe its time to sell up and get something else. (cant belive i just said that)

 

Eeeek...

Yet more models to choose from. I'm only gonna say 1 thing. Residuals.

Audi have proved once and for all they plan to milk this cash cow to death!

I wouldn't worry too much. The production of TT's has been cut back at Gyor anyway to 180 cars per day. I suspect only the same amount of cars will be made but the end customer has more choice. These models have been available in Europe for years anyway.

Steve

 

They could put 17 inchers on at least!

A TT with 16 inchers looks dire!

 

I can't help but think Audi are doing this whole thing "arse about face"...

Surely a normal "model cycle" will be to release a "standard version" first, then more sporty models to follow, giving current owners an "upgrade" path, whilst sticking with the brand / marque / car, with perhaps the odd "limited edition" here and there to spice things up, or to run-out production before a major change / facelift. Your "new to the marque" customers are inherently catered for, as the second hand market allows them to purchase a "cheaper" car, and thus enjoy ownership, whilst you (as a manufacturer) raise the stakes upwards, making "better" models until you reach the limits of the chasis / engine or the life / demand of the car itself.

With the TT, on the other hand, Audi seemed to start off "right", with a 180bhp followed closely by a 225bhp, then a pair of Roadsters. The V6 *should* have been a range topper, but the fact that there is even any debate whether it is or not, shows that it certainly isn't perceived as such by everyone - and they price it more to devalue the 225 than enhance the V6, IMHO...

Then a 150bhp Roadster. FWD only. Budget model....

Now a FWD Coupe.

Instead of making the newer cars more appealing, Audi are (if anything) adding LESS appealing cars to the range. Either that, or they have given in to the fact that the TT is seen as a victory for style over substance, and hence think that punters won't care about the engine / drivetrain, and are just buying the bodyshell and interior...

I know these cars (or ones like them) have been available in LHD for a while - and have always represented a good way for those who really really wanted to own a TT (but who were on a tight budget) to buy one. But now is the time for Audi to be improving the model. Bringing us UK buyers something a bit special - a bit different. Something to stretch the other cars in the sector. Not rehashing "old" and "slow" models from the continent instead.

£20k for a new TT is suddenly going to make a lot of year old 225 cars look rather expensive on the forecourt. Hmmm....

 

Once again Audi put another nail into the TT coffin. Intentionaly or un-intentionally, who knows!

I thought about something for a bit whilst contemplating selling mine and didn't think it ' that' much a factor, but with this announcement i can see it becoming more of a reality, where the TT becomes what the Capri was to the 80's image wise. Take that how you will, but i see that as not a good thing, in a few years time as residuals hit and new models are introduced i think it will become more and more of a joke to own one.....

1999-2000 = VERY cool unique Car
2001-2002 = Cool Car
2003-2004 = Common and starting to get an 'image'
2004 > = ? Who knows, but my guess is what ive said above

It really is a genuine shame that Audi could kill a fantastic brand all for the sake of milking the cash cow.

 

When they say 6-speed tiptronic I presume this isn't DSG?

 

When they say 6-speed tiptronic I presume this isn't DSG?

I'm presuming it's not DSG but the Tiptronic box that hasn't been available in the UK yet. Its quite common on the US and German markets.

I did have some pictures somewhere, but i think they are on an old machine which i cant get access to. Anybody else able to help, IIRC its a silver Roadster with a close up of the steering wheel which has the buttons on it?

 

 

Nice one Nick, thats the steering wheeel i was thinking of, but its a different pic to the one ive got. Mines a rear 3/4 top down view.

 

Gentlemen...the 180 Fwd Coupè has been the very FIRST TT to be launched on the Continental Market in 1998...

It weights over 260 pounds less than the quattro version (1999-2000 models some extra 80-100 pounds less)

On the dry, it's the less understeering TT available...

Trunk space is cavernous...

A chipped 180 FWD TT can easily be faster than a 225...mine is even faster than some chipped 225s...

 

exactly !

a classic supply & demand.........

TT sales have slowed and as the coupe is edging up to the £30k mark... & into Boxster / Z4 / SLK lands

Audi need to have a TT back towards £20k where it will get more sales..... away from the Boxster / Z4 / SLK markets....

question is.. will they now phase out the 180 quattro ?

 

So will they phase out the 180 quattro and the 225 is very close to the V6 so get rid of that as well? So its a 150 and 180 fwd and V6 quattro ,the most powerful cars have quattro back to Audi basics

 

Crikey a 180 FWD Coupe Must admit I've seen this coming for a while, and with the UK still the biggest TT market I can't say I blame Audi.

Yes they are milking it (which usually means that the manufactuer are getting ready for the new model). BMW did the same with the Z3, with their 1.8 :lol:

I bought my 180 Quattro coupe last year (and it is a greaTT car) - the 150 roadster had just been launched but I just preffered the shape of the coupe. It's only really us "enthusiasts" that care if it's got Quattro or not, or if it's pushing out 150/180/225/250 BHP.

To the majority it's a TT.....

If I was buying now I'd probably go for the 180 FWD - it's nearly £5K cheaper than the 180 Quattro. Ok it's lacking leather seats and it's got pants alloys. The leather seats aren't a major loss and you could get hold of some top alloys with all that change in yer pocket.

You pay yer money and take yer chances I suppose.

 

Weren't the 180 fwd coupe, the 180 4wd coupe, and the 225 4wd coupe - the very first TTs that were launched in this country?

As an early TTer, I seem to recall the 180 fwd Coupe was dropped in favour of the 180Q. So now it's resurrected with the option of an autobox - what's all the fuss?

 

what's all the fuss?

Well said that man......

 

In Europe, the 180 TT Coupe and Roadster were launched ONLY in FWD. It was 6 months or so after that the Quattro versions were launched.

The TT hit the streets back in 1998 in October, I test drove the 180 FWD on the 6th December that year. The first 225 Q was luanched in the spring of 99, with the first roadsters available in the Autumn.

The majority of cars over here in Munich are 180 FWD Coupes/Roadsters.

Yes, this is a dissappoinment for all present owners, some feeling it is cheapening the brand, BUT, at the end of the day, the car remains an icon, just a little more accessable.....just hope not too accessable (aka Max Power!)

Jae

 

Weren't the 180 fwd coupe, the 180 4wd coupe, and the 225 4wd coupe - the very first TTs that were launched in this country?

As an early TTer, I seem to recall the 180 fwd Coupe was dropped in favour of the 180Q. So now it's resurrected with the option of an autobox - what's all the fuss?

That isn't my recollection, Gary. Certainly not in RHD form anyway. It maybe that the first few dealer sales were of LHD FWD models, as "pre RHD dealer imports", but AFAIK there was NEVER a RHD FWD model available until the 150PS Roadster...

 

Correct. Audi UK targetted a higher market segment than in the rest of Europe. The cars came only with Quattro and you couldn't specify many options as they were all basically loaded (e.g. leather, electric hood, Xenons, etc, etc). On the continent all the standard features of a UK car were options.

I can't help but think Audi are doing this whole thing "arse about face"...

I Audi got it so wrong with their marketing and them doing it back to front then how many would they have sold if they'd done it in the conventional manner? Every person would have one rather than every other person. There marketing plan was obviously to build a sense of desirability. They did this by offering loaded top of the range cars which gave them a certain exclusivity. I'm sure to many this made the car more desirable. After building up this passion for the car they are now allowing more people an ownership experience for a lower amount of money.

To be honest, and judging from the sales in the UK compared to the sales elsewhere, I have to say they seemed to get it right. It may not suit everyone but from a marketing perspective it's worked a treat.

 

Weren't the 180 fwd coupe, the 180 4wd coupe, and the 225 4wd coupe - the very first TTs that were launched in this country?

As an early TTer, I seem to recall the 180 fwd Coupe was dropped in favour of the 180Q. So now it's resurrected with the option of an autobox - what's all the fuss?

That isn't my recollection, Gary. Certainly not in RHD form anyway. It maybe that the first few dealer sales were of LHD FWD models, as "pre RHD dealer imports", but AFAIK there was NEVER a RHD FWD model available until the 150PS Roadster...

Aye just checked, a small number of LHD 180s on S plate were imported by AUK (not dealers) as press fleet cars whilst RHD production got underway.