RE: Audi TT RS: Review
Discussion
Terminator X said:
SuperchargedVR6 said:
Tuvra said:
I don't understand why people get so defensive about certain cars? 
Because car hipsters. 
TX.
The same people have massive respect for the old Quattro Sport rally car and an RS2 Avant though.
I had longish drive (Dorchester to Bicester) in a TT-S the other day. A drop top one. It really grew on me over the journey - possibly as it was a sunny early evening and I hammered it over Salisbury plain - it seems to me the S is really as fast as you need. A quick car. The ride though, on whatever huge wheels it was on, was absolutely dreadful. And it sounded terrible. Also it was a manual - the TT, for me, really suits DSG. I've driven many Audis over the past year and I don't really like them if I'm honest. But I liked the TT. It's a sports car in the old mould. Fast enough, practical enough. I'd have a 718 though, if it were my money. On small wheels - it does deal with British roads much better. But I think a lot of people write off the TT without having having driven one. It's the best car Audi make.
It's strange, I haven't ever viewed the TT as a sports car. To me, it's always been a pretty coupe. As time has gone on, it's certainly got more 'sporting' especially with the stonking five-pot, but never managed to be a genuine sports car.
I think Audi missed a trick by not producing a baby R8 - imagine a car the same size as the TT, but with the 400bhp five cylinder engine the middle, instead of the (pretty much pointless) rear seats. Now that would be a sports car
I think Audi missed a trick by not producing a baby R8 - imagine a car the same size as the TT, but with the 400bhp five cylinder engine the middle, instead of the (pretty much pointless) rear seats. Now that would be a sports car
Leo-RS said:
You've sat in a new model TTRS? How have you managed to do that considering they were only released to the press on Monday?
Why will the screens look very old in a couple of years time? They are digital dashes and can be updated through a software update to keep up to date with the times. You mean the screen resolution? The screens in the first TT's released back in 2014 still look very modern today in 2016, same dash being used in the new R8's.
These screens may need an update in about 2022, just the same way the dashes from 2010 could do with an up date today.
Well have you driven one, what makes you the bloody expert? Shock horror a normal TT is the same car as a TTRS... Having sat in a couple of new TT's i feel like i can comment on the new TTRS' interior quality.. Which is good, but glorious? its just simply not, its black plastic with chrome bits.. Classy.Why will the screens look very old in a couple of years time? They are digital dashes and can be updated through a software update to keep up to date with the times. You mean the screen resolution? The screens in the first TT's released back in 2014 still look very modern today in 2016, same dash being used in the new R8's.
These screens may need an update in about 2022, just the same way the dashes from 2010 could do with an up date today.
Edited by Leo-RS on Tuesday 13th September 12:01
Any screen given a few years looks old and outdated, a quality instrument binacle won't. You can update a screen's firmware as much as you want but if the hardware cannot supply modern resolution natively then you would need to rip out the device and replace it. It may look snazzy to you now but in 5 years it will look old and s
te and no amount of 'updates' will sort that.Jam12321 said:
Leo-RS said:
You've sat in a new model TTRS? How have you managed to do that considering they were only released to the press on Monday?
Why will the screens look very old in a couple of years time? They are digital dashes and can be updated through a software update to keep up to date with the times. You mean the screen resolution? The screens in the first TT's released back in 2014 still look very modern today in 2016, same dash being used in the new R8's.
These screens may need an update in about 2022, just the same way the dashes from 2010 could do with an up date today.
Well have you driven one, what makes you the bloody expert? Shock horror a normal TT is the same car as a TTRS... Having sat in a couple of new TT's i feel like i can comment on the new TTRS' interior quality.. Which is good, but glorious? its just simply not, its black plastic with chrome bits.. Classy.Why will the screens look very old in a couple of years time? They are digital dashes and can be updated through a software update to keep up to date with the times. You mean the screen resolution? The screens in the first TT's released back in 2014 still look very modern today in 2016, same dash being used in the new R8's.
These screens may need an update in about 2022, just the same way the dashes from 2010 could do with an up date today.
Edited by Leo-RS on Tuesday 13th September 12:01
Any screen given a few years looks old and outdated, a quality instrument binacle won't. You can update a screen's firmware as much as you want but if the hardware cannot supply modern resolution natively then you would need to rip out the device and replace it. It may look snazzy to you now but in 5 years it will look old and s
te and no amount of 'updates' will sort that.
Vroom101 said:
It's strange, I haven't ever viewed the TT as a sports car. To me, it's always been a pretty coupe
I agree and I just don't see why anyone would class it as a sports car, used to have a mk2 TTS and it was a nice little package with good performance and I liked the looks too. It was as far away from a sports car as you can get, and dynamically it was pretty dreadful but if you can see through that then it's not a bad car to live with for sure.
cerb4.5lee said:
I agree and I just don't see why anyone would class it as a sports car, used to have a mk2 TTS and it was a nice little package with good performance and I liked the looks too.
It was as far away from a sports car as you can get, and dynamically it was pretty dreadful but if you can see through that then it's not a bad car to live with for sure.
I class it as one It was as far away from a sports car as you can get, and dynamically it was pretty dreadful but if you can see through that then it's not a bad car to live with for sure.
I've not driven a Mk2, laregly as they were never on my radar, but a chance drive in a Mk3 made me take notice. 310bhp, a good chassis, magnetic dampers, manual 'box, it's a cracking package. We're 4,000 miles into ownership on wife's TTS and it's been a hoot. I probably drive it harder than most TTs get driven and can certainly say is a good little sports car... in fact, it's nearly time to go and retrieve it from the office car park give it a bit of a kick down the road 
356Speedster said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I agree and I just don't see why anyone would class it as a sports car, used to have a mk2 TTS and it was a nice little package with good performance and I liked the looks too.
It was as far away from a sports car as you can get, and dynamically it was pretty dreadful but if you can see through that then it's not a bad car to live with for sure.
I class it as one It was as far away from a sports car as you can get, and dynamically it was pretty dreadful but if you can see through that then it's not a bad car to live with for sure.
I've not driven a Mk2, laregly as they were never on my radar, but a chance drive in a Mk3 made me take notice. 310bhp, a good chassis, magnetic dampers, manual 'box, it's a cracking package. We're 4,000 miles into ownership on wife's TTS and it's been a hoot. I probably drive it harder than most TTs get driven and can certainly say is a good little sports car... in fact, it's nearly time to go and retrieve it from the office car park give it a bit of a kick down the road The mk2 TTS was very poor dynamically and to say it was 4WD it never gave you any confidence in the corners because the steering was so remote and numb, would love a go in the MK3 to feel the improvements for sure.
I don't class it as a sports car but it is a lovely sports coupe though.
cerb4.5lee said:
I love the looks of the MK3 TTS and they've moved the performance on lots too and I was impressed with the 0 to 60 in 5.2 with ours so the current one must be immense.
The mk2 TTS was very poor dynamically and to say it was 4WD it never gave you any confidence in the corners because the steering was so remote and numb, would love a go in the MK3 to feel the improvements for sure.
I don't class it as a sports car but it is a lovely sports coupe though.
From what you've said, there's certainly been a step change between the two generations then.... no such concerns with the Mk3, the front end grip is strong. The 4WD is very "quiet", it does it's thing unobtrusively, only a couple of times under extreme provokation when hussling in "Dynamic" have I felt it moving the power. Certainly I'd never have classed one as sporty, but the test drive immediately put it above Golf R, Focus ST and the S3. I doubt wifey will let me try it on track tho' The mk2 TTS was very poor dynamically and to say it was 4WD it never gave you any confidence in the corners because the steering was so remote and numb, would love a go in the MK3 to feel the improvements for sure.
I don't class it as a sports car but it is a lovely sports coupe though.
I have a thing for the TT nowadays, an inexplicable urge to buy a Mk1 225, someone in reader rides has just got a lovely one in Nogaro Blue for very little money, the interior still looks great to my eyes, I used to not see the point of the TT until I sat in one and I went from being a bit sceptical to a convert.
I suspect, for myself a TT would be a great all round car, maybe all the feedback and finer points is lost on me, had a 944 that everyone goes on about and never thought it was the pinnacle of driver involvement and most people are like me, one daily car that has to do everything, am sure a Sagaris would be ultimately more involving, until I ended up in a hedge of course
but despite being a petrolhead I realise I have a budget and the realities of the situation it needs to be comfy, reliable, robust, moderately practical and feel at least a bit special.
I can draw enjoyment from different vehicles for different reasons, my Merc CLS is a bit of an old barge but it wafts majestically, accelerates vigorously and I love how it looks, it doesnt hoon or offer masses of feedback but on balance, I love it, and that is where I would be with a TT, but for different reasons, I think a lot on here have much bigger budgets and therefore more refined and defined tastes, a TT is no good for you if you have a stable of supercars and classics.
Its a great all rounder, not perfect but it goes like merry fk, has a nice interior, looks good if a little ubiquitous (familiarity breeds contempt you see) and I am sure a Cayman might offer the more discerning a little more but it does give a hell of a case for itself, I for one would love one, and I think a lot more would but seem to have vicariously adopted the tastes of the more discerning.
I suspect, for myself a TT would be a great all round car, maybe all the feedback and finer points is lost on me, had a 944 that everyone goes on about and never thought it was the pinnacle of driver involvement and most people are like me, one daily car that has to do everything, am sure a Sagaris would be ultimately more involving, until I ended up in a hedge of course
but despite being a petrolhead I realise I have a budget and the realities of the situation it needs to be comfy, reliable, robust, moderately practical and feel at least a bit special.I can draw enjoyment from different vehicles for different reasons, my Merc CLS is a bit of an old barge but it wafts majestically, accelerates vigorously and I love how it looks, it doesnt hoon or offer masses of feedback but on balance, I love it, and that is where I would be with a TT, but for different reasons, I think a lot on here have much bigger budgets and therefore more refined and defined tastes, a TT is no good for you if you have a stable of supercars and classics.
Its a great all rounder, not perfect but it goes like merry f
k, has a nice interior, looks good if a little ubiquitous (familiarity breeds contempt you see) and I am sure a Cayman might offer the more discerning a little more but it does give a hell of a case for itself, I for one would love one, and I think a lot more would but seem to have vicariously adopted the tastes of the more discerning.SuperchargedVR6 said:
It's certainly an improvement on the MK1 TT interior, in my opinion. Round dials are pretty old school now. People want 'smart' everything these days and it wouldn't be very smart of Audi to ignore what their customers want.
Whilst I agree that the best feature on the new TT is the virtual cockpit I also agree with the other poster that this stuff dates quicker than yesterday's news. Nothing dates faster than technology. Just look at a mobile phone screen from 5 years ago compared to the latest Super AMOLED stuff. Leo-RS said:
95% of the general driving population will never ever visit a race track to exploit a cars handling capabilities. On the roads, trying to push a car to the extremes to induce under/oversteer to heighten enjoyment is a lot more foolish than planting the loud pedal and hitting 3 figures in a straight line.
All this Nurburgring laptime handling understeering nonsense that's spouted by motoring journos really has no relevance to 95% of the driving population.
Audi cars are planted, they may not be the most exciting to drive but for people like me, my excitement comes from speed and acceleration, not drifting or inducing lift off oversteer. I absolutely detested my F10 M5 for example, I gave the rear wheel drive thing a go and I was that pi**ed at its lack of traction from 10/20mph I got rid of it and back into Audi Quattro traction (RS6 C7) after only 3 months.
All this Nurburgring laptime handling understeering nonsense that's spouted by motoring journos really has no relevance to 95% of the driving population.
Audi cars are planted, they may not be the most exciting to drive but for people like me, my excitement comes from speed and acceleration, not drifting or inducing lift off oversteer. I absolutely detested my F10 M5 for example, I gave the rear wheel drive thing a go and I was that pi**ed at its lack of traction from 10/20mph I got rid of it and back into Audi Quattro traction (RS6 C7) after only 3 months.
Itsallicanafford said:
i think this not being the sharpest tool on track has little relevance to its actual use in the real world, not too many TT's doing the rounds on track.
I understand what you're saying here, but I think you're missing the point people are actually making.The reason I enjoy cars with great balance, feedback, adjustability isn't just so that I can drive them on track and slide them round corners. These things make a material difference to the way it feels to drive a car even when at 5 tenths, let alone at 8 or 9. In fact, the true brilliance of a great "driver's car" is that it's engaging and fun to drive even when you're not pushing it very hard.
Leo-RS, you say "my excitement comes from speed and acceleration", and that's fine, but I think that is different to many people on here who enjoy driving. Sure, opening the taps on something quick in a straight line is fun from time to time, but many cars can do that without actually being great driver's cars (in fact they can be pretty terrible). For me, enjoying driving is more about feeling the balance, feedback, and adjustability in a car, irrelevant of everything else. I enjoy my current 275 Trophy WAY more than I enjoyed my previous 135i despite the 135i being vastly faster in a straight line, sounding better, and being RWD, because you can feel the Trophy (comparatively) bristling with feedback and adjustability as you drive it.
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