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2008 sees the introduction of an all-new Audi TT. Not long ago I reviewed the 2008 Audi TT Roadster (convertible) and thought it was absolutely brilliant. Now the hard-top TT Coupe is under the microscope. Will it fare as well? Read on. $35,575 base, $38,470 as tested, EPA fuel economy estimates 17-23 MPG city, 24-31 highway.
First Glance: Score 1 for practicality, 0 for originality
2008 marks the first redesign for Audi's TT sports car. Though the basic shape is unchanged, the 2008 TT loses the "Bauhaus" theme of lines and circles that adorned the old car. Though I think the new styling works well on the open-top TT Roadster, the coupe doesn't fare as well -- it's still good looking, but the character is gone. The new design is longer, lower and sleeker -- just like virtually every other coupe on the market. The old TT coupe may have been a bit stubby, but it stood out. The new TT coupe just fades into the background.
But the practical aspects of the TT's design certainly haven't changed. Though billed as a coupe, the TT is actually a hatchback, with a trunk lid hinged high above the rear window that makes the TT's cargo bay (link goes to photo) as easy to load as a pickup bed.
Like the TT Roadster, the TT coupe is available in two versions, four-cylinder 2.0T and V6-powered 3.2. And as with the roadster, driveline choices are limited: The 2.0T is only available in front-wheel-drive with the 6-speed S-Tronic automatic transmission, while the 3.2 comes exclusively with Quattro all-wheel-drive and choice of 6-speed manual or S-Tronic.
In the Driver's Seat: Cleaner, simpler, roomier
At 5'6" I don't have much problem fitting into most cars, but even I found the old TT coupe a bit tight. The new TT is a noticeable improvement, and the guy who really noticed it was Jason Fogelson, About.com's six-foot-two Guide to SUVs. Jason couldn't fit into the old TT coupe, but he was able to drive the new car quite comfortably. Alas, the improvements extend to the front seat only; the back seat is as tiny and useless as ever.
As with the exterior, the interior décor has been streamlined and simplified. I like the new flat-bottom steering wheel, additional aluminum trim and leather seats with suede-like seating surfaces, but I miss the machined bits and exposed screwheads that gave the old car its unique character.
I certainly don't miss the old car's complex controls. Button-happy stereo and climate controls are a hallmark of German cars, but Audi has shown admirable restraint in the new TT. The radio and A/C use good ol' fashioned dials, which make it far more user-friendly than the old TT. Gauges and instruments are typical Audi fare: Red-illuminated, clear and legible. In other words, perfect.
On the Road: Lots of power but limited choices
The TT 2.0 is powered by Audi's marvelous 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine; its 200 horsepower is more than enough to propel the TT with delightful rapidity. I love the popping noises from the exhaust, even though fuel economy (I averaged 23.5 MPG) is less than flattering for such a small car. The real shame is that Audi offers neither a manual transmission nor Quattro all-wheel-drive with the 2.0T engine -- both are only available with the 3.2 V6.
Granted, the S-Tronic automatic (also known as the Direct Shift Gearbox [DSG]) is, at its heart, a fully-automated manual, and has none of the drawbacks of a traditional automatic. It can shift automatically or you can shift it yourself using paddles on the steering wheel. Regardless, there's something about a clutch pedal that's intrinsic to the sports-car experience.
Even without Quattro, the TT is still a lot of fun to drive. Its grip on the pavement borders on awesome and it's nicely balanced. Still, the TT displays one of the two Major Bad Behaviors of front-wheel-drive performance cars: If you get on the gas while coming out of a tight corner, it scrabbles for traction. With the turbocharger pouring on the power, the front inside wheel tends to spin and the electronic stability and traction control system has to cut the power to reel things in and keep the car on course. The system does so with commendable gentleness, but Quattro would allow all of the engine's power to get to the ground. (The other Major Bad Behavior is torque steer, a tendency to pull to one side under hard acceleration; the TT displays none.)
Journey's End: Price is the deal-breaker
Obviously, I'm not nearly as thrilled with the Audi TT coupe as I was with the TT Roadster. Aside from the extra cabin space, I don't see the new TT coupe as a huge improvement over the old car. In fact, with the less-interesting styling and the lack of powertrain choices, the 2008 TT coupe is almost a step backwards.
All this would be a lot more tolerable if the TT weren't so expensive -- well over $35,000 for a stripped-down model, and good luck finding one of those. Want all-wheel-drive? Then you're into the six-cylinder model which starts over $42k. Oh, you want AWD and an automatic? Another $1,400, please. Check all the options boxes and you're looking at well over $53,000. Unless you're cross-shopping against a Porsche Cayman or a Lotus Elise -- cars the TT 3.2 Quattro could certainly give a run for their money -- the TT just doesn't make much sense.
Consider this: For a bit less money than a base-model front-wheel-drive TT Coupe, you can get an Infiniti G37 with 330 horsepower and rear-wheel-drive. If style is your priority, Nissan's beautiful Altima coupe starts at just over $21k, and even if you check all the option boxes -- including V6, leather and navigation -- it's still $3k less than an el-strippo TT. Better yet, why not just buy a used TT? That's the route I'd go -- I'd get the powertrain I want (four-cylinder, manual trans, all-wheel-drive) along with better styling for several thousand dollars less. Bottom line: Much as I loved the convertible TT, the new coupe misses the mark. -- Aaron Gold
