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?

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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.

 

[Escort Si-130]

Looks good,bar the wheels and the boot spoiler - the cocks would love it, lol

[Escort Si-130]

Estate car drivers???? what are you on about?

Merc = for the person who thinks they have made it in life BMW = drug dealers ride, Audi = cocks

The TT is not bland, in fact it is one of the better Audi's IMO.

fastgerman said:

nonuts said:

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.

I think a fairer test would be against a Z4M no?

Although I haven't been in the TT RS, the other TT's I have been in do feel very bland as does every Audi I've been in. I haven't had the pleasure of a new RS4 or an R8 but I'm sure they're exhilarating.

I always thought Merc was for people who liked a soft riding car for long distances, BMW for thos who like handling and driving and Audi for those who love VW but want something a bit posher? Now everyone wants to be like BMW :-)

Don't think Clarkson is right with the Audi drivers comments, VW Passat estate drivers are easily the worst on the roads and then Audi estate drivers. Maybe it's just something about estate cars all together?

[Escort Si-130]

You have missed the point... fun does not equal price!!!. When you put fun into the factor you forget about price colour etc. you could drive naked,fun is to concentrate on the car itself.

nickfrog said:

LOL. It's more expensive than a Boxster S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which do you prefer : an Haldex equipped front-engine high COG car that will drive like a front driver on the limit...

...or a mid-engine low COG roadster with incredible balance/steering/brakes/grip/etc/etc ?

How can anyone think the Audi be "fun" at this price is beyond me. Another triumph of marketing aimed at people with ZERO knowledge of car dynamics.

There is more in life than traction...each to their own though...

[Escort Si-130]

A true piston head... this guy deserves two pints on the house from the PH bar.

Ex Boy Racer said:

For such a boring car it sure stresses people out!

Cards on the table - my TT RS arrives in September. I looked at a lot of cars, but chose it because:

Very very fast
Very well made
lovely place to sit
massive feel good factor.

Maybe it does lose out in the final few tenths to a boxter or cayman, but to be honest i hardly ever get the chance to drive that way. I'm sure most people are like me - boring, busy roads with the odd chance to really blast. For this the shove of the RS is great, and far better than the porker.

In the final analysis though, the porkers are ugly (IMO) and the interiors are bland, unimaginative and cheap.

Yes, i wish the TT had the same drive as my RS4, but then again it's lighter - and you can tell.

I'm going to have fun and not care about the naysayers.

Vidal

[Escort Si-130]

Of course I know they are stupid generalisations, but idiots like yourself is what angers people like me to post stuff like that. As stupid badge snobbery from people like yourself that love to insult anything that does not come under the BMW,VW,Audi or Merc badge.
So this would then generate others to just do the same back on posts to piss you off.
Care to post a pic of your car or list what you drive instead of just checking mine out to take a swipe at me?

Lost soul said:

Escort Si-130 said:

Estate car drivers???? what are you on about?

Merc = for the person who thinks they have made it in life BMW = drug dealers ride, Audi = cocks

Hmmmm i wonder

gay escort cabriotlets - Gay hairdressers

for fk sake can we stop these generalisations