Classic & Sports Car - December 2015 UK

Despiteits highoutput,the Golf‘four’is very
tunable;225s have strongerinternalsthan lesser
models, but they can still fail if neglected. Less-
powerfulunitsmay be substituted,so look for a
BAMenginecode to confirmthat it’s a 225.
The naturallyaspiratedV6 has atimingchain,
whichismoredurablebutcanstretchby100,000
miles, causingatickingsound; replacementcosts
morethan £1000.Also rev the engineand check
for blue smoke,indicatingwear:watchthe near-
sideexhaustbecausetheoffsideopensonlyon the
move.Coolanttemperatureshouldreach90ºC
withinacoupleof milesof startingfromcold and
stay there– anythingelse indicatesthermostat
problemsor worse.Hesitancyand excessive
smokeare usuallydue to a failingMAFsensor.
Maintenancemighthavebeenskimpedon
cheapexamples,so go throughthe paperwork
carefully. The Haldex(four-wheeldrive)oil and
filtershouldbe changedeverytwo years.The
DSGis asuperbpieceof engineering,but pricey
ifitgoeswrong(mechatronicunitscosting£1250
to rebuild).The six-speed’box can functionas a
normalauto or , in Tiptronicmode,be worked
sequentially by paddles or by flicking the lever
back or forward–or treatedas an automaticthat
changesup only at maximumrevs. Tryreverseas
well,ideallydrivingin a circlebothwaysand
listeningforuntowardnoises–thereshouldn’tbe
any. The sametest appliesto manualtransmis-
sions,alongwith feelingthat the clutchbitesat
therightlevelandthatallgearsengagesmoothly.
Makesure everythingworks– aircon,audio
alarm– and look for warninglightsthat stay on.

On the road

OWNER’SVIEW

Mike Edwards

“Iboughtmy Roadsterfromamain dealerin ’03,”

recallsEdwards.“InitiallyIwas disappointed:it

was muchmoremodernand quicker than my old

Coupéquattro,and the abilityto drop the roof

helped,but it somehowwasn’tas nice. 12 years

on, I’vegot used to its limitations;it’ssurprising

howmuchcan be carriedin the boot or inside.

“I’vehad the clutchpedalsnap;I’vereplacedthe

rear springsfour or fivetimes,and mostfront

suspensionbushesand joints–all easy DiYjobs.

It has rustyarcheson one side, whichIassumeis

down to damagebeforeIboughtit. I’m surprised

howmuchof the undersidehas rustyedges:hard

to keep on top of, but largelycosmetic.My roof

once lost the abilityto openand close,and was

repairedby the Audi agentat somecost.”

The knowledge

Fine build qualitybut electricalfaults can be costlyto fix

BUYER’SGUIDE

200 Classic&SportsCarDecember 2015

WHATTOPAY

Show3.2 Roadster/CoupéSport£7000/9000

Average 225 Coupé/Roadster £2750/3000

Restoration £1000

PARTS PRICES

Second-handfrontbumper £450

Enginerebuild £2500+

Cambeltand waterpumpchange £370

Stage1remap(+35bhp) £300

DSG mechatronicrebuild £1250

Full service/just Haldexc£200/c£100

Brakepads(axleset) £36

Hi-flowcatalyticconverters £818(fitted)

ONTHEWEB

http://www.ttforum.co.uk

CLUB

TheTTOwners’Clubwww.ttoc.co.uk

BOOKS

AudiTTThe CompleteStoryRuppert,Crowood

You&Your AudiTTShaw, Haynes

AudiTTPerformancePortfolio1998-2006

BrooklandsBooks

SPECIALISTS

TheTTShop 01234853225

TC Garage 01342718556 AmD 01708861827

VAGtech 01908410424 ECP020 3474 0500

Awesome 0161 776 07774Rings 01322

274298 Autograph 01772812843

AnyTTis quick,with good

handlingand grip from

four-wheel-drivemodels.

Manyhavebeen uprated,

but checkthat modswere

done by areputablefirm