Friday 25th May 2018

Exige 410 v. Cayman GTS v. TT RS: Pic of the Week

This is PH's Bank Holiday bonanza of a group test - here's a new wallpaper to whet the appetite

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Does it frustrate you when people say new cars are all the same these days? It does us. Which is why, among other reasons, it was nice to bring these three cars together. Because despite their common sports coupe remit, between TT, Cayman and Exige you have a front-engined, five-cylinder, all-wheel drive car, a mid-engined, rear-drive, turbocharged flat-four and a supercharged V6 in a mid-engined, RWD car. All quite different then, yet all tasked with delivering as much fun, performance and style as possible. Because that's what you want in a sports car, isn't it?

There was plenty to discover in this test - is the GTS the best version of the four-cylinder Cayman yet? And does that make it good enough to tackle another Exige derivative? What can the more affordable TT bring to the party? Did Audi actually make it rain on the south coast to hinder its rivals?

Answers to three out of those four questions will be forthcoming over the weekend, when the group test is published. For now here's chance to eye up the contenders, where Olive Green takes on Catalunya Red and, er, Crayon. Place your bets now!

16:10
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[Image: Luc Lacey]

[Macboy]

Usually a fan of the POTW regardless of its subject matter but this is just a bad picture that is really poorly composed. Is the picture archive that empty that this is the best choice?

[British Beef]

Lotus wins - for drivers
Audi wins - for wealthy hairdressers
Porsche wins - for all the uphill gardeners out there

Only joking!!!

Im sure Porsche will win..... due to the quality of the soft plastics and the noise emitted by the turbo 4 pot engine.

[Fetchez la vache]

I haven't got my glasses on - is there an Audi in the pic or is it behind a bush?

[Loyly]

That picture is crap. Three great cars and that's the best one you had?

[MikeGalos]

OK, I know it's not legal to do a group test without including a Porsche configured exactly how Stuttgart wants so that no article happens where they don't get virtual advertising. I understand that.

But I do have to ask what an Audi TT and a Lotus Exige have in common?

[bobo79]

MikeGalos said:

But I do have to ask what an Audi TT and a Lotus Exige have in common?

It is to help weave the narrative that the Porsche, which resides precisely in between the Audi and Lotus, is the best, least compromised solution...

(From an Audi and Lotus owner)

[99dndd]

I think it's a decent picture, although you can still see a little too much of the Audi.

[MikeGalos]

bobo79 said:

MikeGalos said:

But I do have to ask what an Audi TT and a Lotus Exige have in common?

It is to help weave the narrative that the Porsche, which resides precisely in between the Audi and Lotus, is the best, least compromised solution...

(From an Audi and Lotus owner)

Of course. How silly of me not to have figured that out.

[T25UFO]

Macboy said:

Usually a fan of the POTW regardless of its subject matter but this is just a bad picture that is really poorly composed. Is the picture archive that empty that this is the best choice?

. . . and dust spots on the camera sensor.

[Scoobysaurus]

Should take about 2 minutes to confirm the Exige is superior in every way.

4 pot Cayman - scoff scoff.. and an Audi TT, the car for people who don't actually like driving but want to fit in when cruising around town.

[anonymous-user]

Where’s the F-Type ?

[SmudgeQ4]

99dndd said:

I think it's a decent picture, although you can still see a little too much of the Audi.

Gotta admit, that made me chuckle

[Shiv_P]

Scoobysaurus said:

Should take about 2 minutes to confirm the Exige is superior in every way.

4 pot Cayman - scoff scoff.. and an Audi TT, the car for people who don't actually like driving but want to fit in when cruising around town.

The new TTRS has good reviews and is a good steer - obviously in the given company it lacks a bit but it certainly has the most special & best sounding engine

[anonymous-user]

Urban Dictionary: "He hasn't got a scooby". Utterly clueless.

[bobo79]

Shiv_P said:

obviously in the given company it lacks a bit but it certainly has the most special & best sounding engine

Special - quite possibly - there are not many 5 cylinders knocking about, particularly these days. But best sounding? Have you heard the V6s coming out of Hethel recently? They sound utterly sensational...

[SidewaysSi]

Schmed said:

Where’s the F-Type ?

No point. The Porsche and Lotus would kill it.