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2008 Audi TT 3.2 quattro Road Test

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Michel Deslauriers
A successful comeback
Don't even think about sitting in back. Those two seats are purely symbolic, but I could still get my kids to sit there while moving the front passenger seat way forward; if an adult also has to sit in that front chair, legroom will be compromised. The TT ain't no family car, but I managed to haul the family around anyhow.

The sound system works well, but the aluminum-trimmed buttons are slippery; you can still use the wheel-mounted controls, but still. The climate control rheostats have the same problem, but since they're bigger, they're easier to grasp.

The 3.2L V6 can be coupled to a 6-speed manual gearbox or an S tronic autobox.

Grunt under the hood

With its 3.2-liter V6 engine that produces 250 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, the TT 3.2 quattro is quick. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and stops from that speed in 38 meters. My fuel consumption average is 12.2 L/100 km.

The 6-speed manual gearbox, which is only available with the V6, is easy to manipulate. It lacks a little precision, however, and shifts from first to second are sometimes rough. I prefer the S tronic transmission with its wheel-mounted paddle shifters, which I really liked in the A3 3.2 that I drove last year.

This TT is also equipped with the optional Magnetic Ride suspension. In short, the shocks are filled with some sort of magnetic fluid (instead of oil or gas) and their rigidity varies according to road conditions and the driver's shifting habits. In the cockpit, normal and sport modes can be selected. The only thing I felt with this suspension is the car's ride which goes from firm to very firm.

The all-wheel drive setup plays a big role in regards to the vehicle's road manners. With all four wheels well in control, there isn't much that can destabilize the TT 3.2 quattro. Mash the gas pedal, and the car just leaps forward; no torque steer, no wheelspin. Even in the tightest curves, the ones that we underestimated and entered too fast, the car sticks to the road while saying: "um, okay, I'll save your butt this time, but be more careful next time." And of course, when that next time comes, you're going too fast again, but that's because we feel confident in this car.

Audi's quattro has always been seen as one of the best all-wheel-drive systems.

Michel Deslauriers
Michel Deslauriers
Automotive expert
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