DIY Servicing: Audi TT 1.8

Rob Hawkins travels to independent VAG specialist IVC of Leeds to service a turbocharged all-wheel drive Audi TT Mk1.

When Audi announced the TT in the late 1990s, it helped to change the company’s image and prove that it could make high-performance sports cars. A lot of people already knew this, thanks to Audi’s rallying success and the Quattro name, but the TT opened up a whole new market with a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that could produce 178bhp or 222bhp and propel the four-wheel drive compact coupé from 0-62mph in a little over six seconds.

Does such performance come at a price? Not really. Secondhand values are cheap, starting at around £1000 or less. Servicing costs are similar to a VW Golf and seem to be no more complicated after we spent half-a-day with independent VAG specialist IVC of Leeds watching them service their own 2001 TT. They’ve owned this particular car for more than 10 years and the following steps cover all of the routine checks and servicing.