TTRS AESTHETICS

[Flying Pig]

I’m new here. Got my ‘19 TTRS as my “Fixed Income Flyer” retirement vehicle. While I like the Mk 3’s improvements over the earlier vehicles (particularly the aluminum engine block), I think the Mk2 cars were/are the best looking. Also, if I were building a TFSI 2.5 into some sort of 700 hp mega motor, I’m not sure the iron block wouldn’t be a better starting point. How do other TTRS owners feel?
The tunability of the 5-cylinder is impressive. Mine will remain stock (because it runs as well as my Trackhawk, aside from top end), and that’s plenty fast enough. I do like the 2.5 TFSI five so well I’m working on the purchase of an RS3.

[mtwallace85]

I’m not sure about which one can make more power when properly built and tuned, but I imagine it’s fairly close. What I do know is, you can get the same steel 07K block from the MK2 TTRS out of most 2.5 VWs. You could source a block for next to nothing and throw some rods and pistons in it. Word is, there’s also an alternative for the heads and the TTRS intake manifold isn’t that expensive. I don’t believe the MK2 has port injection from the factory, but that can be added. I’m considering buying one as a side project. I found a new one on eBay for $1000.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/291761002102

[Huey52]

Congrats on your retirement and nice self-gift. My TTS was similarly mine back in late 2015.

All I know is that the all-aluminum 2.5 is very close to the same weight as my iron block/aluminum head 2.0 which is very impressive in keeping the overall vehicle weight the same while providing much higher performance!

Enjoy!!

[RyanS3]

Congrats.

for starters, I prefer the mk3 looks > mk2, for sure.

RS3 and TTRS in one stable?
RS3 is a bit of a swiss army knife, as it does have a functioning backseat, sport performance, and awd!

Please shed some light on your entire fleet.
for me, I would prefer to have unique siblings in my home, like a Jeep or Range Rover, and an M5, and a TTRS.
to each their own, obviously!

all the best,
cheers

[Huey52]

An RS3 Sportback would be even more of a Swiss Army knife in the way that the TTRS lift back provides ease of loading/unloading vs. a trunk with its interfering rear window spar.

Having said that, I once somehow got a wall locker into my A5. It too certainly would have been far easier with a current sportback.

[Thumper3]

An RS3 Sportback would be even more of a Swiss Army knife in the way that the TTRS lift back provides ease of loading/unloading vs. a trunk with its interfering rear window spar.

RS3 Sportback was my original desire, ended up with the TTRS when they refused to send the Sportback to the states. Wish they would get over the butthurt from a couple hundred years ago and let us buy the fun stuff, dang anti-colonials. lol I ended up going out and buying a Golf R to have as well as the TTRS because as awesome as the TTRS is, it's not a hatchback. :)

I defiantly like the mk3 over the mk2 personally, the mk2 looked like a slightly butchier version of the mk1, but the mk3 just looks floor to ceiling designed as a mean machine. It really is a baby R8.

[Flying Pig]

Thank you for your replies, gentlemen,

MT, I was unaware of the Volkswagen block. I appreciate the information. I will probably keep the engine stock, at least for the life of the warranty, but it is good to know the 2.5 TFSI is so durable. APR claims 700HP on stock internals. I don't think I have to worry about the durability/longevity of the stock engine

Huey, thanks for the congratulations! The original 'Fixed Income Flyer' was to be a Focus RS, but then Ford stopped making them. The Subaru WRX STI was a possibility, but its performance is a bit less than I wanted (unless i could have scored one of the S209 models), and I don't find the car attractive. I originally planned on a TTS. However, the dealer really wanted my Trackhawk and gave me a great deal on the TTRS. I didn't fully realize the performance upgrade until later.

Ryan, thank you also for the congratulations! I think the Mk3's are quite good-looking, but think the Mk 2's are just a bit prettier. In the photo thread of the TT hub, on page 21, there are photos of a gorgeous black 2012 Mk 2. But I would not trade the mechanical and interior improvements of the Mk 3 for the looks of the Mk 2. I do think the 2018 TTRS has a little cleaner appearance than the '19. I don't like the fake vents in the back of the rear wheel arches or the black "spears" on the lower body sides. Right now, my entire fleet is the TTRS. The RS3 is more versatile than the TTRS, but the main appeal - for me - is that it has that wonderful Audi 5-banger. Until now, I've never owned more than one motor vehicle (aside from various marriages when the wife and I owned "our" cars jointly). Besides, i miss a sunroof and the RS3 has that (even if it the front seats have to be manually adjusted for fore-aft travel and height).

Thumper, if Audi imported them, I would prefer either the RSQ3 Sportback or the RS3 Sportback, to the RS3 sedan. But, I've owned seven SRT Grand Cherokees and never really needed all that additional internal capacity. So I think the RS3 will provide sufficient interior space for my modest needs. And, even though the RS3 is more "practical", I don't want to give up the (slightly) better performance of the TTRS. The TTRS will match the acceleration of the Trackhawk, both 0-60 and quarter-mile.

In Motor Trend's Trackhawk test, they managed 0-60 in 3.3 seconds. The two Car and Driver TTRS tests neatly bracket the M/T time with 3.2 and 3.4 seconds. The numbers cannot be directly comparable, because the test conditions and driver ability were different, but clearly the TTRS is a very quick little car.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...s-test-review/
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...mparison-test/
https://www.motortrend.com/cars/jeep...t-test-review/

The RS3 is no slouch either. It's 3.7 second 0-60 time matched a RWD Hellcat Charger:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...nd-track-test/

Car and Driver managed to get their RS3 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...3-test-review/

I'm too stupid to have yet figured out how to post working links (yes, i see the link button), so those are all cut and paste into your browser. Well maybe I'm a little less stupid than i thought, because the links appear to work when posted.

Paul