Models · Audi
Audi TT RS 8J buying guide
The first TT RS, built from 2009 to 2014, uses a 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder with quattro, as a coupé and roadster, with the more powerful TT RS Plus from 2012. The engine is strong, and the checks are about maintenance and how the car has been used.
The versions
- 2.5 TFSI turbo five-cylinder (CEPA), 340PS
- TT RS Plus (from 2012): 360PS (CEPB)
- 6-speed manual, or 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic from 2010
- quattro four-wheel drive with a Haldex coupling
- Coupé and roadster bodies
What to check on a Mk2 TT RS
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Misfires and coil packs
What to look for: Listen for an uneven idle once warm, and on the drive feel for hesitation or a flashing engine light under hard acceleration.
Why it matters: Ignition coils are a known issue on this 2.5 TFSI five-cylinder, which the TT RS shares with the RS3 8P. They cause misfires, often under load, and specialists replace all five together so they match.
A rattle on a cold start
What to look for: Ask for the engine to be cold and listen in the first seconds after starting for a rattle before it settles.
Why it matters: The 2.5 TFSI drives its camshafts with a chain and is regarded as a very strong engine. On the shared RS3 engine, a worn chain or tensioner shows itself as a rattle on start-up, usually where oil changes have been missed, so oil changes every 10,000 miles or so and a quiet cold start are reassuring.
S tronic gearbox
What to look for: On an S tronic car, once it's warm, drive slowly in traffic, pull away gently several times and slow to a crawl. Feel for stuttering or hesitation. Look for gearbox oil and filter changes in the history.
Why it matters: The seven-speed S tronic was used here because the six-speed gearbox couldn't handle the five-cylinder's torque. Stuttering at low speed points to the mechatronic control unit, which specialists can rebuild.
Also in the full guide
- Haldex and driveline
- Modifications and hard use
- Roadster hood
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the Mk2 TT RS
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Audi.