Once in a while, a truly special package comes along and is seemingly gone in the blink of an eye. The TT RS was that package for Audi, marrying the fantastic 8J chassis with the outrageous 2.5 liter turbocharged inline-5 and a 6-speed manual. With 360 horsepower on tap driving all wheels and a sticker price below $60,000, it was Audi’s answer to the BMW 1M, and it was a good one. Though the driving experience perhaps wasn’t as “pure†as the Munich monster, the TT RS was a potent alternative that was on par with the competition, if not better. It was a Porsche killer at a fraction of the price, and the same rings true today:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2012 Audi TT RS on eBay
Year: 2012
Model: TT RS
VIN: TRUB3AFK1C1900361
Engine: 2.5 liter turbocharged inline-5
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage: 46,000 mi
Location: Coloma, Michigan
Price: $38,500 Buy It Now
About this vehicle
This 2012 Audi TT Quattro is an original with updates to the drivetrain. The owner has had it for 5 years. The vehicle runs great.
Vehicle DetailsReviewed by The Smoking Tire in 2015, this TTRS has been extensively modified by 034Motorsport. The list of modifications made by the firm includes an engine tune, Density Line engine and transmission mounts, rear subframe inserts, adjustable front and rear sway bar links, and stainless-steel braided brake lines. The full list of aftermarket parts installed on this TTRS is provided below.
1,407 units were sold in America during the 2012 and the 2013 model years, according to Audi. 640 were 2012 models and only 140 were painted in Phantom Black.
Modifications
034Motorsport parts:
Engine tune
Density Line performance engine and transmission mounts
Billet aluminum dogbone mount
Front subframe locking collar upgrade kit
Rear subframe mount inserts
Track density strut mounts
Adjustable front and rear sway bar end links
Spherical rear trailing arm kit
Adjustable solid rear sway bars
Billet aluminum adjustable rear upper control arm
Stainless-steel braided brake lines
Rear brake rotor bracket upgrade kit (335-mm)
Billet aluminum shifter bracket bushing kit
Other aftermarket parts:
Carbon fiber intake system
Aftermarket downpipes and midpipes
Wavetrac ATB front differential
HPA Motorsports Haldex controller
Cobalt XR2 front brake pads
Rear brakes from an RS6
“C360R” emblem on the hatch
Boost gauge in the central air vent
You tube walk around and drive videos available
While the seller doesn’t tell us about the horsepower and the mods don’t sound crazy, The Smoking Tire’s review claims the car had a lot more…as in, 540 horsepower more. So you’re basically at pretty new 911 Turbo performance levels in this car, but for the current price of a not-super-nice 997. The car appears to be in good shape, though I do wonder about how the years of performance tuning have impacted the chassis and engine.
Backing the performance mods out, would I rather have a TT RS or…say, an M2 at this price point? Performance between the two is similar overall, but the M2 is newer and has a slightly less claustrophobic cabin – though the Audi’s all-wheel drive system makes it a bit more sure-footed and exploitable in certain situations. Which would you choose?
-Carter
i strongly considered one of these when I bought my 997.2 …but twin turbo AWD seemed like added complexity which would cost me in the future.
Well single turbo awd 🙂
I also almost bought one of these. I think the drive train is superior to the m2, but the cabin is REALLY small. I think I would take an s3 with the same drivetrain over the tt, but of course you would lose the 6mt.
The M2 vs TTRS debate is valid and I think it depends where the car slots in the stable. The M2 is very easy to live with having usable back seats and trunk. Similar in size to our long gone E46. If you need daily driver space and sports car in one hard to argue against M2. If you have a daily and want to add to the stable this TTRS is very compelling.
the engine/drivetrain combo is IMO superior to the BMW unit…
the driving compulsion is strong with this one and the chassis and overall balance is also superior to the small BMW… but as there are horses for courses as Mark B points out the interior cabin and trunk usage could compel the M2’s more useful design… the 034 almost complete rebuild is also worth more than the asking price considering the labor and parts… anyone need a kidney?
Still such a good looking car even 10 years on. -dc