In 1995, Audi unveiled a new concept, a slickly designed, small, two-door sports car called the TT. I remember how there was hype over this car as it was a small sport 2+2, and later roadster, a class that did not have too many entries in. People were polarized by the design; some loved it, others thought the front and rear looked the same (to the point that I remember in a car magazine, I think it was Car and Driver but I can't remember for certain, someone photoshopped a TT picture so the rear had headlights instead of taillights). However, the TT is definitely a fun, small car, as this 2002 TT's owner, Harrison, can attest to.
Harrison is a mechanical engineering major at ASU. He loves the AWD of Audi's quattro system, as well as the very respectable 225 hp the turbo 4 puts out. However, interestingly enough, the TT was not Harrison's original first choice, nor even close to what he was originally thinking of as a first car. He originally wanted something with power, so naturally he was looking towards American cars with V6 or V8 engines, but with the cost of fuel and insurance for them, he looked towards turbo 4 engines. He says he was sold on the TT on the test drive, which, although he was too young to drive at the time and his dad drove it, he knew he had to have it when his dad said it was too fast for him.
Harrison's main concern is to keep the car in the best shape possible, meaning he stays ahead on maintenance and fixing any issues the car may have, such as recently with his power steering pump and turn signal relay. The care and attention to the car shows since even though it's over a decade old it still feels and looks amazing. While there are no performance mods on this car, Harrison has it riding on Drag DR-33s for the red-and-black aesthetic, an aesthetic I love. He also had the original grey interior replaced with black, as well as painted the brake calipers red.
Harrison says his goal for this car is to keep it running smoothly as a reliable daily driver in hopes of a project car in the future. While he'd love to have a GT-R, for the sake of variety he'd still love to own an American muscle car, like a Challenger, because as he says, "there is something undeniably sexy about having more horsepower than your tires can handle." However, before any of this occurs, he says "I should probably get a garage that I don't share with 300 of my closest friends...".
But, regardless of what dream car is bought, there will always be the original, the first car. And for Harrison, it's this wonderfully taken care of Audi TT.