RE: UK Drive: Audi TT RS

RE: UK Drive: Audi TT RS

Tuesday 18th August 2009

UK Drive: Audi TT RS

PH finally drives the RS on UK roads, but is the meaty TT a bit too tough?



Solid. This is the word that defines the new Audi TT RS, but it is as much a criticism as it is a compliment.

The doors open and close with a weighty thud. The switchgear, major controls and general construction of the cabin are seriously substantial. The looks, it’s probably fair to say, are on the sirloin steak side of meaty. And that 335bhp 2.5-litre turbocharged five-pot isn’t what you’d call a flimsy motor.

All of which is an undeniably good thing. The problem is that there’s a similarly solid feel to the way the TT RS goes down the road. There’s grip and traction in abundance, and the ride isn’t exactly what you would call crashy, but it is a bit distant.


The TT RS is a car that smothers a road, bending it to its will. Which means that the TT RS can go down even a fairly bumpy road very quickly indeed, but it will do so with none of the fluidity or finesse – the sense that the car is working with the road rather than against it – that marks out a truly great driver’s car.

We suspected as much when we tested the TT RS at Zolder and this drive, our first chance to sample the fastest-ever Audi TT on UK roads, confirms it. The TT RS is simply too uninvolving to make you want to take it out for a drive purely for the sake of it.


Look at this from an Audi TT perspective and this is not too much of a problem – TTs have always been more about the style statement (just don’t mention the H-word) and the feel of them than they have been about a Sunday morning blast. From that angle, the TT RS is a triumph. The quality of the interior, the sporty looks and the hugely accessible performance make the TT RS a great choice for a casual enthusiast.

But the original Quattro started raising the bar of expectations for genuinely fast Audis, and stuff like the last RS4 and R8 have raised Audi’s performance game still further. There are now RS-badged fast Audis out there that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with drivers' greats like the Lotus Elise or the 997 GT3RS. And, as competent as it is, the TT RS doesn’t quite make it on that level.

If the S5 or the RS6 was the dynamic pinnacle of Audi’s achievements, then the TT RS would be amazing. But we know Audi can do better and that’s why the TT – by the slightest margin – is a bit of a disappointment.

The coupe version weighs in at £42,980, whilst they'll chop the roof off for £44,880. Watch your barnet, though.





 

Author
Discussion

Escort Si-130

Original Poster:

3,269 posts

179 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Looks good,bar the wheels and the boot spoiler - the cocks would love it, lol

daimo_45

30 posts

175 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Gayest spoiler I have ever seen!!!!!!!!

pilchardthecat

7,483 posts

178 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
It looks like an Audi

....




k-ink

9,070 posts

178 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
My other half's TT was very solid and equally as dull to drive. It sounds like this will be exactly the same. Dull, but with slightly faster scenery going by. Pointless.

Shape Shifter

5,187 posts

236 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Lazy, me-too assessment of the car.

Dr G

15,159 posts

241 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Shape Shifter said:
Lazy, me-too assessment of the car.
You know what? I thought exactly the same thing. Not a very interesting read I'm afraid PH!

ewenm

28,506 posts

244 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Dr G said:
Shape Shifter said:
Lazy, me-too assessment of the car.
You know what? I thought exactly the same thing. Not a very interesting read I'm afraid PH!
Or maybe the car really is as all the reviews have described...

Do you want PH to make up an opinion just because what they really think is too similar to others?

jonlwright

1,825 posts

238 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
pilchardthecat said:
It looks like an Audi

....
Blimey! Who would have thought that? An Audi that looks like.... hang on.... wait for it..... an Audi! wink

mechsympathy

52,479 posts

254 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Dr G said:
Shape Shifter said:
Lazy, me-too assessment of the car.
You know what? I thought exactly the same thing. Not a very interesting read I'm afraid PH!
It's a dull car, what do you expect?

nonuts

15,855 posts

228 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
I doubt I'll ever understand the statements like in that article, I like the fact my car feels solid. I would also hazard a guess that car would be a lot of fun. I guess that's just because I'm an Audi driving cock though.

Would be interesting to see a 335i coupe vs TT RS test.

forzaminardi

2,281 posts

186 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Rather brief review, would have been better with some slightly deeper insights.

Never mind, we all knew this car was going to be a bit zzz. I quite like the 'regular' new TT, it does what it's supposed to do very well - but the RS version is just trying too hard with that spoiler and attempt to hark back to the Quattro Coupe glory days. Better to just buy a nice regular TT, spec some slightly blingy wheels and save the change happy in the knowledge you have a sensible-but-trendy wine bar cruiser. Proof that while Audi have moved on in some ways, you can't polish a t*rd.

mechsympathy

52,479 posts

254 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
nonuts said:
I would also hazard a guess that car would be a lot of fun.
It depends what you find fun really, a solid point and squirt car or something more visceral.

Roop

6,012 posts

283 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
The problem as I see it is that if Audi made this car "involving" then the majority of the market to which this car is aimed would read it as "difficult" or "figety to drive" etc. It's in the mould of the SLK55 which although it can turn it on and go fast if needs be, it's more a pretty cruiser.

jamiesim

35 posts

224 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Has anyone seen how much money it is!!! ludacris for a TT...

Leicesterdave

2,282 posts

179 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
People are really turning into snobby gets. To start calling Audi RS's as dull is going way beyond too far. It's why the world is the way it is, always about wanting the best and never ever being satisfied..
Granted, you can probably get a better value for money motor but aside from that I'd kill to be able to afford to run and buy an RS.

Roop

6,012 posts

283 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Leicesterdave said:
People are really turning into snobby gets. To start calling Audi RS's as dull is going way beyond too far. It's why the world is the way it is, always about wanting the best and never ever being satisfied..
Granted, you can probably get a better value for money motor but aside from that I'd kill to be able to afford to run and buy an RS.
Nothing wrong with buying what you want. If this car floats your boat then do it. I thnk the concencus is that Audi had the chance to build a car that was dynamic and fun to drive, but instead played it safe, which given it wears an RS badge is rather disappointing.

nonuts

15,855 posts

228 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
mechsympathy said:
It depends what you find fun really, a solid point and squirt car or something more visceral.
More visceral? It's not trying to be an atom as far as I'm aware. Just because a car is well balanced and has lots of grip doesn't mean it's not fun to drive last time I checked.

Nevermind, as you say it all depends on what people find fun and I'm clearly in the minority here.

drewcole81

342 posts

205 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Fantasic read, I really liked the part where it mentioned about the engine, performance, 0-60 and top speed data, MPG, Price....

Oh no...

That's right, nothing like that was written in the 'car' review... Good job.

drewcole81

342 posts

205 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
nonuts said:
mechsympathy said:
It depends what you find fun really, a solid point and squirt car or something more visceral.
More visceral? It's not trying to be an atom as far as I'm aware. Just because a car is well balanced and has lots of grip doesn't mean it's not fun to drive last time I checked.

Nevermind, as you say it all depends on what people find fun and I'm clearly in the minority here.
Well I think it would probably be allot of fun, once the gay spoiler has been taken off.

Dupont666

21,604 posts

191 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Serious thought they would do something like shoehorn the RS4 engine into it and give it some proper bite and not the namby pamby engine they put in...

Shame on you Audi