There’s something really special about Audi’s TT.
I can always tell which test car has the most appeal by the number of neighbors who stop to talk about it as it sits in my drive. Call it the Curiosity Quotient.
So far this year, the TT tops the list. For the few short days that a denim-blue coupe inhabited my driveway, its unique styling attracted visitors like the flashing blue light at Kmart. As folks stopped to chat, the conversation hinged on its captivating looks. Inevitably there would be some reference to Volkswagen’s New Beetle, which exhibits a similar kind of zest and individuality, which is not surprising since both cars reflect the design skills of Freeman Thomas, a designer in Volkswagen’s California studio. Both, too, share a common platform, or basic structure.
In case you were wondering, the TT’s name comes from motoring’s oldest race, the Tourist Trophy.
My first drive in a TT was for part of a day last spring in Texas. A regular test drive here at home reinforced my initial impressions and brought some new thoughts to the surface.
Clearly, the TT is one of the outstanding cars of the year. Not only is its styling refreshingly clean, but it also drives as well or better than any other front-wheel-drive car I know. On top of that, its base price of $30,500 is quite reasonable.
If there’s one serious drawback to the TT, it’s the fact that Audi will import only about 4,000 of them this year, and maybe just 10,000 next year. Exclusivity requires patience, so if you want one, be prepared to wait.
The clever exterior is almost overshadowed by the interior, where polished aluminum surrounds the air vents and gauges. Aluminum is also used for pedals and the braces from the dash to the floor. The cupholder is a work of art in simple tubing. It’s too bad it is located so far back between the seats where it is hard to reach.
Side airbags that protect body and head are built into the seats.
With a wheelbase of 95.4 inches, the TT is not a big car. The roof is low, the trunk small and the back seat just big enough for a briefcase. The back seat folds down, though, to open up a more useful space when needed.
Snuggled under the TT’s blunt nose is a 180-horsepower, 1.8-liter turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine with five valves per cylinder. This big-hearted gem drives the front wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox,and shifting it is positively delightful because it has one of the most direct shift linkages I have experienced in a front-drive car. The stubby lever is topped by a large round shift knob trimmed in, you guessed it, aluminum. Changing gears is a delight.
Usually, small displacement engines that are turbocharged suffer from turbo lag, which is how long it takes for the engine to react after you mash the throttle. Audi, however, uses a small turbo that spins quickly and adds power at very low speeds, giving the car the responses of a much bigger engine without as much of a mileage penalty.
The car I drove earlier in the year seemed a touch faster than the one I drove at home, but that’s probably because I was already familiar with the engine. Regardless, both had more than adequate zip (zero to 60 mph in a little over 7 seconds). An all-wheel-drive Quattro version with 225-horsepower is planned for the future. A convertible is coming as well.
Some front-wheel-drive cars dart about under heavy throttle as the front wheels fight for traction, and some feel reluctant to turn sharply into fast corners, but Audi has done a good job of taming both of these tendencies with the TT. It tracks straight and true with good feel. Point its nose into a corner and it charges through as if it were held to the road by a magnet, grip courtesy of the optional 17-inch wheels. The quick-ratio steering is ideally weighted.
The powerful four-wheel disc brakes wipe off speed impressively. Anti-lock is standard. P> The TT is Audi’s shining star, the one car whose goodness echoes across the whole model range. It speaks volumes about how a company can bring a concept car to production without sacrificing its essence. The fact that is was done using many parts common to other models is a major factor in keeping the price out of the stratosphere. Now, if they would only build more of them.
Price
The base price is $30,500. Equipped with 17-inch wheels, CD player and the sport package, its sticker price is $33,925.
Warranty@otx: Four years or 50,000 miles.
To get in touch with Tom Strongman call (816)-234-4349 or e-mail:strongmn@kcstar.com.
Point: Concept-car styling and great handling at a reasonable price set the TT apart. The interior is tastefully designed and comfortably appointed.
Counterpoint: Functionally, the TT is a two seater with limited headroom and a small trunk.
SPECIFICATIONS:
ENGINE: 1.8-liter, 4-cyl
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed
CONFIGURATION: Front-wheel drive
WHEELBASE: 95.4 inches
CURB WEIGHT: 2,655 lbs.
BASE PRICE: $30,500
PRICE AS DRIVEN: $33,925
MPG RATING: 22 city, 31 hwy.
