Audi TT 2.0T FSi
The TT may have started its life as a tarted up hairdresser's car that was all show and no go. The Bauhaus inspired exterior was a masterpiece of design, even if you couldn't tell whether it was coming or going. The interior too, had that magic. The magic that only severe impracticality can bring to desire.
Times have changed. Audi became the purveyors of R8. The TT can now seat four in comfort. As long as two of the four are amputees that is. The S and in particular the RS variants showed off a chassis that certainly could. The engines, drivetrains and absolute thrill of driving them changed our perceptions of TT resolutely. The TT is a proper little sports car.
The hero models of the R8 and TT RS bring a certain expectation further down the range. One has to ask oneself what to expect from the "little" TT. With a "puny" 155kW and a "mere" 350Nm at hand, the TT manages to scrape together a 0-100 time of 6.1 seconds. Supercar league of a decade or two ago. That is bettered to 6 seconds flat in the DSG.
The manual was the one on test and it is a car that slightly confuses me. Being the baby of the range one expects an easy drive. Encouragingly they have not fallen for this lure towards mediocrity and we get a car with some bite. Drop that clutch and you are reminded about concepts like torque steer and struggling to get all the power down. Such is the lot for the front wheel drive. Now I like this. A lot. But it does require a skilled driver paying attention to make this concept fun. For the cruiser buying the TT to be seen in, perhaps the DSG cog swapping TT would soften the delivery.
I am a little surprised that this little beauty can come with such minimal spec if you order it basic. Not even niceties such as iPod connectivity come standard. At this level Bluetooth and basic connectivity should be standard in the package. This is no cheapie.
On the whole one gets the sporty delivery, with crisp steering and a hard suspension. But you need to want this. For the softer at heart look closely at that expensive options list and tick the soften-able magnetic ride with a choice between comfort and sporting settings and definitely consider the awesome DSG box to blur those tyre spinning edges.
