First impressions: 2008 Audi TT Roadster
Whew! Another busy week here at About.com Cars World Headquarters. (Doesn't that have a nice ring to it? Sure sounds better than "my apartment".) I'm working on writing up my Scion xD test drive. I'm driving the second of two 2008 Chrysler Sebring convertibles, this one a four-cylinder soft-top. And yesterday I got my hands on... drum roll please... an 2008 Audi TT Roadster with V6 engine, Quattro all-wheel-drive, and S-Tronic, Audi's version of the VW Direct Shift Gearbox.
What's it like? Well, that's best summed up by some notes I made during today's drive on the About.com Cars Top Secret Curvy Test Road:
From time to time I'll test a series of performance cars and none will leave me perfectly satisfied. After a while, I start to question myself -- are my standards too high? And then I'll drive a car like the TT Roadster and realize that my standards are fine right where they are. This is an outstanding automobile.
Though it's a bit early to start making predictions about our Best New Cars of 2008, I can say that that of the handful of 2008 cars I've driven, the Audi TT is the strongest contender to come along so far. -- Aaron Gold
Related: 2008 Audi TT photo gallery
Photo © Aaron Gold
Bravo on your article, and your comments about the TT roadster. It’s true the TT is an awesome sports car, and what’s even more surprising is that a lot of people like the 2.0T even more than the 3.2! They say it feels faster and they like the sound of the turbo. I personally love the 2.0T and the S-tronic transmission with the paddle shifters (which by the way is Audi’s technology which they so kindly allow VW to use). Nevertheless, Audi is finally being recognized for what it is…a very fine automobile.
I like the ‘baseball-glove’ interior (last photo)
Not enough car manufacturers offer all-wheel-drive in their sports cars. Rear-wheel-drive is good MOST of the time, but in the Chicago suburbs between late Nov. and early Mar., those cars are NOT ideal.
Aaron, I figured it’s got to be a great car, after all it’s an Audi and I really like audi…but it’s expensive and at its price range its got some tough competition…do you think that it’s the best car in its price range? Now how much do you like it?
iGet — I’m a big fan of that 2.0T myself. It’s a marvelous engine with lots of torque. The 3.2 sounds great, but uses a lot of fuel. At some point I’ll be driving the TT Coupe, hopefully with the 2.0T.
Don — it’s too early to say if it’s the best in its price range — but rest assured I’ll talk about that in my review.
Any word on the Audi A5? I really really want one, especially with the TDI engine. Dealers I’ve talked to in two states told me not to hold my breath.
Aaron, have you heard of any changes for 2008 on any of the Honda Civics? I’m also wondering about the Audi 1…is that still coming to the US? Or the BMW 1 series? I really don’t want to commit this minute…counting on your info…
I think this is a beautiful car.. a little hairdressers warning but still kinda cool.
/Zen