Short Take Road Test
TESTED
Despite finishing last in three comparison tests, the original TT still managed to leave a mostly positive impression—a testament to how far looking good gets you—even though, as sports cars go, it wasn't great to drive.
For 2008, the TT—still largely based on the latest Golf platform, but with extensive use of aluminum throughout—has gotten an overtly sporty makeover, starting with a crisper, chiseled evolution away from its rounded-sheetmetal roots. That philosophy also carries over into steering that's quicker to react (although it doesn't offer much feedback), deeply sculpted seats, and a far stiffer structure. Audi isn't shy about this, having tuned the TT's suspension in a way that introduces you to each and every pothole.
The makeover worked: In our June $35,000 coupe comparo ["Four of a Kind"], a TT 2.0T finished second to a Mazda RX-8, and we said the Audi "performs like a proper sports car."
Both coupe and roadster models come in 200-hp 2.0T or 250-hp, 3.2-liter V-6 form, with roadsters starting $2000 to $3000 higher than comparable coupes. The 2.0-liter turbo comes only in front-wheel drive and with the quick-shifting six-speed, dual-clutch transmission (S tronic, formerly called DSG) that's been the gold standard in automated manuals since its 2004 introduction. All 3.2s have Quattro all-wheel drive and offer S tronic or a regular six-speed manual.
The fully automated clothtop is a model of simplicity, as it folds neatly behind the seats in just 12 seconds. Even better is a power-operated wind blocker that noticeably reduces top-down turbulence in the cabin. That cabin, by the way, is extremely well finished—with beautiful gauges, top-notch brushed-aluminum trim, and an R8-like flat-bottomed steering wheel—but lacks the thoughtful design of the original.
