The first time I saw a TT in person was in late 1998. I had never seen anything like it, and I thought it must be something really special. It looked amazing then, and it still looks really good almost nine years later.
I bought my own TT in spring 2003. At that point it wasn't just the design that affected the purchase decision, but I thought it was a great combination of performance, everyday usability and low running costs. Since the purchase, I've sacrificed some of the usability by installing H&R stabilizers, Bilstein shocks, Eibach Springs and polyurethane-bushings to improve the handling.