Parent's new car- Audi TT

[kikie]

We're talking about the Audi TT and you ask that?

Yes, I do!!! Is the handling of a TT that bad???
Understeer is still better to control than oversteer, for the average driver.

 

[Famine]

Not really desirable as a characteristic of a sports car though.

 

[kikie]

Not really desirable as a characteristic of a sports car though.

I have never driven a TT but I think I have to agree on that one.
Jeremy Clarckson (not really a "benchmark" (don't know if this is, in this context, the right word) ) said the same thing on last sunday's episode of Top Gear.

 

[ExigeEvan]

One question...

Why get a 4wd sports car for you mum?

 

[Danny]

I didn't buy it, she did.

Why shouldn't she have a nice car?
She's put up with a pretty, comfortable and smooth 2.0 V6 for too darn long, doesn't she deserve something cramped and ubiquitous?

 

[ExigeEvan]

It just seemed unusual for her to go for a TT of all things. Usually I'd expect an MX-5 or MGTF

 

[Race Idiot]

Oh yeah I forgot about the Torque steer and the fact that I always manage to hurt myself somehow when I try to get out of the car.

Eh, it's about 90000% times more fun than my car anyway and the AWD isn't noticeable. But then i've never driven a fulltime AWD car before anyway.

 

[-Fred-]

One question...

Why get a 4wd sports car for you mum?

Because the TT is a fashion statement for midlife crisis people, not an actual sports car?

 

[kikie]

...and the AWD isn't noticeable. But then i've never driven a fulltime AWD car before anyway.

The Audi A3, S3 and TT are NOT "fulltime AWD" cars. They have an electrical - hydraulic Haldex coupling.

 

[1X83Z]

I don't get it - if the 1.8 can make 225hp, why have they used it for nearly a decade producing no more than 180hp (and at the beginning, 150hp!) in various Volkswagens and Audis? What a ripoff. I'd take a 225hp 4-cylinder any day over a 190hp 2.8L V6. Idiots.

 

[LoudMusic]

There are so many cars I would take before the TT, but it is "cute". I would call it an old lady's car. Much like the Ford Thunderbird remake.

Being that it's useless as a four seater, or for going more than down the block, you might as well get a true two-seater that is FUN. How about a Z4? Boxster? S2000? 350Z with a drop top?

 

[1X83Z]

The TT is very fun, moreso than an S2000 which is only fun if you're really into playing with your transmission. Granted the Z4 and Boxster are more fun but a used TT is cheaper, and while a 350Z manual is just as involving, in my view, a TT looks better than anything you mentioned.

Don't discount TTs just because they aren't RWD; after hating them for two years, I fell in love in 2002 after my very first drive. They're lots of fun.

 

[Famine]

I found it understeers more than my FWD car... It just doesn't like being hustled.

 

[Dave A]

I'd dissagree that the TT is more fun than an S2000, the TT may be a better car to own because it's better for driving around in traffic and around town. The S2000 is better when you let it loose.

 

[LoudMusic]

The TT is very fun, moreso than an S2000 which is only fun if you're really into playing with your transmission. Granted the Z4 and Boxster are more fun but a used TT is cheaper, and while a 350Z manual is just as involving, in my view, a TT looks better than anything you mentioned.

Don't discount TTs just because they aren't RWD; after hating them for two years, I fell in love in 2002 after my very first drive. They're lots of fun.

So the people who have driven everything in my list that put the TT dead last (even behind the Chrysler Crossfire!!) are wrong? Professional car reviewers? I believe their term for the TT was, "Yup, still boring".

I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion, even if it is wrong (:

 

[1X83Z]

So the people who have driven everything in my list that put the TT dead last (even behind the Chrysler Crossfire!!) are wrong? Professional car reviewers? I believe their term for the TT was, "Yup, still boring".

Yes - that's because professional reviewers stop thinking in 'day-to-day' and just play around with the cars. It's easy to have fun with an S2000 for about a week before it gets unbelievably old: the drive, and the sparse interior, which I consider among the worst on a production car. It's easy to have fun with a TT, especially if you aren't used to driving performance cars, another flaw with "professional car reviewers."

The last two times I answered one of your direct replies to me, you didn't reply again, so I don't know why I waste my energy, especially against someone who's so incredibly biased towards a particular car and has likely never driven the cars in question.

 

[Duke]

Actually, the guys fromm Grassroots Motorsports, who are my second-string automotive gurus, love the TT, even the plain FWD ones. They recommended it as a used sports car value.

 

[1X83Z]

You can get an '00 for around $13k...

 

[LoudMusic]

You can get an '00 for around $13k...

The one that was killing people? No wonder.

Yes - that's because professional reviewers stop thinking in 'day-to-day' and just play around with the cars. It's easy to have fun with an S2000 for about a week before it gets unbelievably old: the drive, and the sparse interior, which I consider among the worst on a production car. It's easy to have fun with a TT, especially if you aren't used to driving performance cars, another flaw with "professional car reviewers."

The last two times I answered one of your direct replies to me, you didn't reply again, so I don't know why I waste my energy, especially against someone who's so incredibly biased towards a particular car and has likely never driven the cars in question.

I get tired of arguing mostly. After all this is the internet where everyone is right ... no wait, wrong? And no one cares what anyone says anyway (:

I think the TT is a pig. There are plenty of fake four seaters I'd rather have. How's that?

And yes I am biased to the S2000 because it is a great car. Tens of thousands of people use it as their daily driver and think it's great (`04+ more-so than previous ...) I've driven a few of the older ones myself and find it surprisingly comfortable to sit in, though I've not been the driver for more than half an hour at a time. But isn't that what a 'daily driver' is? Commute to work and back. If you're talking about long trips, several people have done them in S2000s and loved it, frankly I'd take a big heavy highway cruiser myself.

In short I'll go back to an earlier statement. The TT is an old ladies car. Nothing wrong with that, understand, but it doesn't do what it appears to have been designed to do. It's boring and absolutely nothing to get excited about.

 

[barryl85]

The one that was killing people? No wonder.

Isnt the driver responsible?

wat do you mean?

 

[Famine]

The Audi TT was recalled after a series of autobahn accidents where the rear would leave the road in a vertical direction at high (legal) speeds. A spoiler was added to the boot and the suspension received a minor reworking (which made it even MORE understeery).

The Audi TT is not bought for its qualities as a car. It's bought because people like the look of it (fools) and as a "status symbol" ("Look! I can buy a more expensive VW Golf!"). Push it hard through a couple of bends and you'll never try it again.

Despite the crashes, it's very much a marketing success. Pity it's crap, really.

 

[barryl85]

The Audi TT was recalled after a series of autobahn accidents where the rear would leave the road in a vertical direction at high (legal) speeds. A spoiler was added to the boot and the suspension received a minor reworking (which made it even MORE understeery).

The Audi TT is not bought for its qualities as a car. It's bought because people like the look of it (fools) and as a "status symbol" ("Look! I can buy a more expensive VW Golf!"). Push it hard through a couple of bends and you'll never try it again.

Despite the crashes, it's very much a marketing success. Pity it's crap, really.

How the hell could the back end lift off the road??? thats weird!!
Nice to see you really love TT's Famine - i have roughly the same opinion as you!

 

[Famine]

To quote an acquaintance of mine:

"Bernoulli sucks"

Simply, the back end lifted at high speed. Autobahns aren't straight roads, so when they attempted to take gentle curves at these speeds (we're talking 130mph+), the front turned, but the back carried straight on. They nailed a spoiler on and softened the rear suspension so that the back stayed planted.

 

[LoudMusic]

The Audi TT is not bought for its qualities as a car. It's bought because people like the look of it (fools) and as a "status symbol" ("Look! I can buy a more expensive VW Golf!"). Push it hard through a couple of bends and you'll never try it again.

Despite the crashes, it's very much a marketing success. Pity it's crap, really.

Famine is my new best friend.

A local friend of mine told me he was going to buy that Merc C230 (??). I told him to get an Accord V6 for the same money and have twice the car. He said, and I quote, "A Honda won't get me a raise". So apparently status symbols have more to do than just impressing your friends - or at least this individual thinks so.

 

[TheCracker]

The Audi TT is not bought for its qualities as a car. It's bought because people like the look of it (fools) and as a "status symbol" ("Look! I can buy a more expensive VW Golf!"). Push it hard through a couple of bends and you'll never try it again.

Despite the crashes, it's very much a marketing success. Pity it's crap, really.

According to Clarkson on TopGear the other night, Audi sells more TT's in the UK then they do in either America or Germany! - must be more tossers here than i thought!

Having said that, theres even a place not far from my work where they do a roaring trade in flogging LHD TT's - i suppose its for wanabe tossers who can't afford a proper RHD version.

 

[LoudMusic]

If you look at this picture of a TT without the air spoiler and then read about how airplanes work it'll make more sense (:

In short, the TT sans-spoiler is a wing.

 

[TheCracker]

In short, the TT sans-spoiler is a wing.

In short, the TT sans-spoiler is a jelly-mould

 

[LoudMusic]

In short, the TT sans-spoiler is a jelly-mould

A flying jelly-mould.

I made pudding the other night. A pot of chocolate and a pot of vanilla. Then I poured them into clear drinking glasses, chocolate on the bottom half and vanilla on the top. The chocolate flavor came out much better than the vanilla. Might have something to do with running out of milk. But at least it didn't kill me! Can't say that for some Audi TT owners.

 

[ervroark]

Having known TT owners and admirers, I still agree with Loud that the TT is more of a fashion accessory than a car. Sure you get a good looking (now) non-lethal car to zip around in, but it's just not for anybody looking to have some fun. I'm not saying it's bad, I'm just saying it doesn't appeal to lots of the folks who frequent here

 

[ervroark]

I don't get it - if the 1.8 can make 225hp, why have they used it for nearly a decade producing no more than 180hp (and at the beginning, 150hp!) in various Volkswagens and Audis? What a ripoff. I'd take a 225hp 4-cylinder any day over a 190hp 2.8L V6. Idiots.

Just because they can doesn't mean it's cost-effective to do so. I mean the engine in the new 3 series (325 and 330i) is the SAME engine, one's just tuned a little better. Not everyone needs 225hp when 180 is more than enough. The 180 is cheaper for the consumer, and Audi can make a higher pricepoint for those who want the extra hp. It's also cheaper for Audi to sell the same engine at two different tunes than to make 2 separate engines.