TT Comes of Age
By Greg Rubenstein
Besides sharing a name, the latest Audi TT has little else in common with its precursor, a car that had more to say about image than driving. Though visually charming in a New Beetle-esque sort of way, the original TT fell into the dubious realm of “chick car”—not that there’s anything wrong with that, if your automotive ideals trend more toward accessory than activity.
For 2008, Audi has addressed the shortcomings of its original TT, which made its entrance nearly a decade ago, and re-created a car that is visually stunning—especially in coupe form—and dynamically satisfying. With a long list of standard features and a very short catalog of options, it can also be a real bargain, a word not often associated with this German manufacturer.
Originally introduced in 1999, the TT fit into the upmarket niche of GT cruiser. While neither overly agile nor particularly fun to drive, it was a capable vehicle for weekend touring and was sufficiently roomy to serve as daily commuter. The trouble was that it didn’t excel in either of those roles, relying upon its looks and hoping you didn’t dig too deep. If you did, you’d find an overly stiff suspension that was jarring when pushed, and numb chassis feedback prohibitive for true sports car enjoyment.
Available as a 2+2 coupe or convertible, the new TT is both longer (by 5.4 inches) and wider (by 3.1 inches) than the old model, though height is increased less than a quarter-inch. The chassis is constructed of weight-saving aluminum, and the bodywork is nothing short of dazzling. From every angle, the TT coupe is now sexy, curvy, and drop-dead gorgeous. Somehow, the styling doesn’t translate quite as well in roadster form, though the convertible is still striking and perhaps simply more of a matter of personal taste.
All that extra size outside translates to improved space and ergonomics inside. Also, there is tremendous storage capacity for a sports car with the rear seats folded down, easily allowing enough room for a pair of golf bags and more. Sitting behind the wheel, the flat-bottom offers a hint of the TT’s sporting aspirations, and the finely executed instrument cluster and beautiful trim exude understated luxury in perfect German technique.
Once mobile, the TT instantly infuses the driver with a connectivity highly unusual for front- or all-wheel-drive vehicles, channeling a Porsche-like presence of fluidity, chassis balance, and control. Though still tending toward understeer, the driving dynamics of this chassis are nothing short of fantastic, and the TT becomes your willing partner for a breathtaking drive through the back roads or a wholly satisfying commute from home to work and back.
The TT is available in a variety of forms, starting with the hardtop coupe or soft-top convertible, in either all-wheel-drive Quattro or front-wheel-drive configuration. For engines, there is a 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder or a 250-horsepower 3.2-liter V-6. You can finally choose between six-speed manual or six-speed automatic dual-clutch gearbox with electrohydraulic control. This latter transmission can be driven as a traditional automatic, or with steering wheel-mounted paddles for switching gears.
Not every possible chassis, engine, drive configuration, and gearbox choice is available, and our “could have been” favorite combination of front-wheel-drive coupe and turbo-four and six-speed manual is not on the list of possibilities. The convertible with four-cylinder engine starts out at $36,800. Equipped with the V-6, the roadster begins at a hefty $44,500.
In coupe form, the TT is a terrific value at about $35,000, offering a superb driving experience and plenty of pep, safety, and luxury in a dramatic body. Though not as fast in a straight line, the turbo-four offers better driving dynamics than the more potent V-6, and returns substantially more economy, coming in at 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway, versus 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway for the bigger power plant.
Go check out the new TT, and you’ll find an inspiring car that’s fun and that can be very practical. Well done, Audi.