Send to a friendchuck goolsbee May 30th, 2007 11:51 AM Link
Could I get one of these, but with a TDI?
50+ MPG, 2-seater open touring.
–chuck
WR Fleet: 2008 Audi TT Roadster 2.0T
Written By: Steven J. Ewing
Audi TT Roadster 2.0T
Price as tested: $41,425
Miles driven during test: 310
In base form, Audi’s new TT Roadster comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as standard equipment. This setup lacks the brand’s brilliant Quattro all-wheel-drive system, and a six-speed automatic with Audi’s S-tronic manu-matic feature is the only available transmission in America. For the enthusiast who needs more, the TT can be had with a 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine, Quattro, and the option of a honest-to-goodness manual gearbox. After spending some quality time with Audi’s latest droptop, we can say that while we are sure that the larger powerplant provides a pleasant boost of power and that Quattro ups the dynamic envelope (especially when it comes to foul-weather fortitude), enthusiasts would do well to not overlook the base configuration– it’s quite good.
Our brilliant black test car had an as-tested price of $41,425. We did without satellite navigation, full leather seating surfaces, adaptive xenon headlamps, and other bells and whistles that Audi will gladly throw into your TT if you pony up the dough. We found our tester to be enjoyable as-is, and rarely wished for more. In fact, we felt that the interior of our roadster was an improvement over the previous TT, which often felt cramped and claustrophobic.
Click through the jump for more driving impressions and a gallery.
Driving the TT proved to be a joy. We would have liked to be able to have a short stick to stir the gears, though the manu-matic function was still very handy. The absence of Quattro didn’t prove to be a major penalty during our time with the car– the only time the TT ever felt unsure of itself was during quick accelerations from a stand-still, and the Audi never lost its footing during tight cornering on twisting roads. With a roadster like this, not everyone will want to pay the surcharge for all-wheel-drive.
The turbocharged four-cylinder engine has more than enough oomph to get the car moving quickly, though we recommend using the S-tronic’s manual facility during enthusiast driving. Normal drive mode does not hold onto the gears long enough, but the sport setting has a relatively harsh transition from first to second gear. This engine makes a great noise as the tachometer needle goes higher and higher, and the exhaust is pleasingly vocal, especially with the top down.
Sure, many enthusiasts will go for the 3.2-liter TT, and we’re sure that it’s a great car, but our 2.0T tester provided plenty of driving fun without a jaw-dropping sticker price looming over our heads. While we’d like to see Audi bring a manual transmission into the base model, we were not turned off with our test car. In fact, we’d drive it again and again.
12 Comments
Mena May 30th, 2007 1:35 PM Link
$41,000 without leather or Nav? No thanks.
detroit9000 May 30th, 2007 1:48 PM Link
2-page adverti$ement (on page 2, no less) $old to Audi in this month’s magazine.
These cars are not very good. Audi schleps reward-purchases to 50-something Americans who wouldn’t know a (proper) Jaguar from a Lexus if they were blindfolded.
Nice interiors and decent build-out, but don’t try to say enthusiasts should consider them.
Reilly Brennan May 30th, 2007 2:05 PM Link
I drove the TT and it surprised the hell out of me. I thought the steering, interior space, and exhaust noise were far better than I expected.
Reilly Brennan May 30th, 2007 4:36 PM Link
I don’t think Audi was attempting to take Corvette buyers, and vice versa. $40k drop tops don’t have to appeal to everyone.
Sharky May 30th, 2007 5:15 PM Link
If I’m understanding detroit9000’s posting correctly (and as you can see by reading the post, understanding it was a major challenge) there is apparently a conspiracy to make “50-something Americans” buy Audis and it has something to do with the fact that WindingRoad has Audi advertising on the site. (That’s actually how advertising is supposed to work; people see your ad, then they buy your product — what a concept!)
And evidently these same poor “50-somethings” are also buying Audis because they can’t tell the difference between Jaguars and Lexuses while their eyesight is compromised (”blindfolded”).
Oh I get it now. That makes perfect sense.
Jim May 31st, 2007 1:30 AM Link
What other dinky front wheel drive car would buyers spend $41,000 on?
The TT is amazing in marketing. Audi hides the fact that it is front wheel drive in all its advertisements.
Right up the ass of people who still think RWD is so so much superior to FWD.
Adhominem May 31st, 2007 5:45 AM Link
What does the price have to do with to which end the power goes?
And 200+ ponies is plenty for a tiny car such as the TT. If it comes from a small engine, even better, because that means better fuel economy. I want the 1.4TFSI 160hp engine. I don’t get this love affair with big-bore engines with pathetic yields. That’s easy. Getting high yields out of small engines is the real engineering challenge.
Don May 31st, 2007 4:30 PM Link
I’m sorry…which big-bore engine did you come across with “pathetic yields”?
2008 Audi TT Review - Winding Road July 19th, 2007 12:46 PM Link
[…] The Winding Road reviews the 2008 Audi TT and writes - ‘The turbocharged four-cylinder engine has more than enough oomph to get the car moving quickly, though we recommend using the S-tronic’s manual facility during enthusiast driving. Normal drive mode does not hold onto the gears long enough, but the sport setting has a relatively harsh transition from first to second gear. This engine makes a great noise as the tachometer needle goes higher and higher, and the exhaust is pleasingly vocal, especially with the top down.’ […]
Joseph Goulet October 26th, 2007 5:30 PM Link
Detroit9000: Have you ever driven the new TT 2.0T Roadster? …how about the 3.2L Roadster?
Audi’s Quattro AWD system functions absolutely amazing. I live in New England and have owned an AWD TT for two years now. I definitely speak from experience. Take a Corvette snowboarding and attempt to pull out of a parking space after a foot of snow has fallen. I hope you have AAA.
If you understood how toned down the power numbers are, you would realize the potential of the vehicle. For a mere $500 you can have the car reflashed, boosting over 20psi while absolutely walking over the annoying ricer teenagers in pre-built wanna-be rally cars in style. Want to take it a step further? A simple swap of the turbo and another reflash can yield you 330awhp. I would consider a car capable of running a 12.9 second quarter mile for under $3000 in upgrades to be enthusiast friendly. Not to mention, this was with a 1.8T. The 2.0T is even more capable! If that isn’t enough, the car is an absolute dream to drive in the twisties.
Why be unique when you can just have a Vette, right?
I’ll take the Audi.
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