More than half of the TT 8N in the Netherlands were imported. It is expected that the majority of these were originally delivered in Germany. This also means that there may be differences in equipment and options, as countries decide whether some options are standard. And sometimes new owners are surprised by this. Below is an overview of the main differences.
Air conditioning
As standard, the TT 8N was equipped with a manual climate control with heating only. A simple system with 4 settings of ventilation and recirculation only for the Roadster. You had to control the temperature yourself by adding more or less heat to the air. Of course, the system did have an air filter and different settings to, for example, defog the windscreen.
Manual air conditioning
Climatronic
As an option from day one, there was the option to upgrade to the Climatronic. In which the air temperature and amount and distribution is electronically controlled. Nice system where you hardly have to worry about the right setting. In Germany, manual climate control was standard equipment from the start. Where as of March 1999, Climatronic became standard only for the Coupé. For the Roadster (except the 3.2) this remained an option until the last day.In the Netherlands, Climatronic was part of the standard equipment right from the start. The exception was the Roadster with 110 kW (150hp), which was equipped with the manual climate control for the best possible price.
Cruise control - Automatic speed control
From the factory, the TT did not come with automatic speed control (cruise control) as standard and was an option in most countries. Also for the first few years in the Netherlands. But from MJ2001 (production from about 2nd half of 2000), cruise control became part of the standard equipment in the Netherlands. Using this system, as far as engine power or engine braking allows, respectively, any desired speed from about 40 km/h can be kept constant until you brake, (dis)connect, accelerate or deactivate the system.
In other countries, however, cruise control remained an option. So too in Germany (but also Switzerland and France, for example). And on all models, even the more exclusive TT 3.2 V6 and TT quattro sport. At the end of 2005, cruise control was listed as an option in German price lists for €305. In addition, cruise control was not a sought-after option in Germany and thus many German TTs came off the production line without it.
Incidentally, cruise control is relatively easy to retrofit on most TTs for a few hundred euros. Something that can often be recognised by the slightly different control lever (with the + and - on the head of the lever, originating from VW) than that factory control lever.
Originele cruise control
Achteraf ingebouwde cruise control
Radio preparations for the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the TT 8N was always equipped with radio preparation. Consisting of 6 speakers (both Coupé and Roadster) and an antenna. Ready for an aftermarket radio. Apparently something unique as this standard equipment was not mentioned in the details folder and only in the NL price lists. On the German market, the choice was either nothing at all or go straight for Radio Chorus or Concert in combination with 4 speakers at the front and 2 speakers at the rear. The Roadster then got another subwoofer in the middle of the rear that also controlled the rear speakers (say active speakers). Upgrade to BOSE was of course also possible.
For the first few years (until mid-2001), only the Radio Concert with BOSE could be found in Dutch price lists. An option that cost almost fl. 3,750 (± €1,700) in those days. The reason why most then went for an aftermarket solution. From mid-2001, basic systems with the Chorus II radio, for example, were also offered for around €850. So don't be surprised if your German TT has no speakers or your Dutch Roadster has no subwoofer. Which also makes it worth paying attention to when you want to fit a new radio, for example. What is actually in it? Is it directly connectable or do you need an adapter for the active speakers?
Winter rims
As usual with Audi, the Audi TT 8N was also available with winter wheels ex-factory. Only not so for the Netherlands. The winter wheels were available in different sizes and versions. For both the 16 and 17-inch variants, only the 6J wide rims are suitable for snow chains. A 7.5J wide rim has too little space in the wheel arch for this.
16 inch winter rims
In 16-inch, the winter rim was a steel rim in 10-spoke design until mid-2002. It was then replaced by an alloy variant with 7-spokes.
 | 6J x 16 with tyres size 205/55 R 16 - 10-spoke design steel wheel |
 | 6J x 16 with tyres size 205/55 R 16 - 7-spoke design alloy wheel |
17 inch winter rims
The 17-inch variants came in 2 versions from mid-2003 until the end of production. At first, only the wide variant (7,5J) which is not suitable for snow chains.
 | 7.5J x 17 with tyres size 225/45 R 17 - 6-arm wing design alloy wheel |
 | 6J x 17 with tyres size 205/50 R 17 - 7-spoke design similar to the 16-inch version |
Recaro Pole Position
Midway through its life cycle, the TT Roadster and Coupé were available in Germany with Recaro scale seats (type: Pole Position).
In October 2001, these were the first to be found in the limited edition Audi TT Roadster 24H (Belgium, 25 units) and Audi TT Roadster Le Mans (France, 20 units).
Rather unknown is that later (from early 2002) the Recaro Pole Position also appeared as an Audi exclusive option in German price lists. via quattro GmbH. In the first year even separate option for the driver and passenger seat. The price for this option at the time for the German market was €2,250. In the Netherlands, with BPM at the time, this would come to ~€3,345*. But it never came to that. The Recaro Pole Position were never included in the Dutch price list by Pon. Incidentally, this Pole Position is best known to TT enthusiasts from the Audi TT Coupé quattro sport introduced in March 2005 (1,186 units). With the back of the seat painted in the body colour and part of the standard equipment.
© Header photo: www.audibild.de
[*] Dutch prices are an indication after recalculating VAT (16% to 19%) and adding 45% BPM
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All information has been collected and checked to the best of our knowledge.
Should there anything is missing, incorrect or out of order, please let us know.
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