Audi TT Roadster 2.0T FSi S tronic
The standard reproach seems to be “isn’t that a hairdresser’s car?” pointing at the overly good looking soft top roadster, clad in perfect brooding dark metallic sheen. The previous generation TT was, of course, initially famous for being all show and no go. All talk and no trousers. Looked fabulously fast, but heaven help you if you entered a decreasing radius corner with your speed dialled up to eleven tenths.
Not so the new TT. I must point out immediately that the TT in TFSi S-tronic Roadster guise is flawed. Driven calmly all is sublime. Easy to drive, unassuming, a real effortless cruiser. With the top down, the clichéd perfect hairdryer. Shove it in sport mode and let rip, and it is not quite the German icon of perfection. Something in the drivetrain is just not quite right. You can’t quite put a finger on it but it is there, in the back, making you perfectly aware of it. Take off at full throttle and there is a relentless surge of acceleration sure, but then something else, a little scrabble for grip perhaps, or maybe it is a little lumpiness to the power delivery. Yes the new TT under duress has something many cars used to have, something that we always used to call Character. And it is great. Jaw grinningly great. With an impressive snarling soundtrack as if to reinforce the point.
Crisp turn in with plenty feedback, overeager throttle, sublime, quick handling. The call feels light, yet safe and solidly built. A real mountain pass carver. The little roadster expressing zero scuttle shake. While not as oversteeringly hedonistic as the Nissan 370Z or the BMW Z4 in its more potent versions, it is quick and predictable and happy to let you switch off the traction control and let the back hang out from time to time. The gearbox is the predictable perfection of Audi’s twin clutch setup. My favourite gearbox type by far.
With the little flat bottomed steering wheel with it gearbox flaps and the thing set in sport you just want to rev all 155kw and 350NM of the thing through its gears, and feel that character ooze through into your delight. Instead of straight progressive smooth power delivery that leaves you impressed but somehow cold, the ripping lumpiness has you playful. Let me clarify this isn’t a fault, at least I hope not, it feels like an over-cammed soupedup special at full throttle without any of the drawbacks. It ends up feeling substantially quicker than the claimed 6.1 seconds to 100km per hour.
The interior is modern Audi with their well thought out ergonomics, with great lockable oddments stowage options, a curiously two level cup holder system and just enough comfort and sophistication in “bare bones” format. Avoid the options list on this one. The retractable standard diffuser works to keep hair billowing in the right direction, while the retractable spoiler seems more of a style based decision. At R476 560 it faces some stiff opposition.
