With the sun comes the roadster
Even though summertime is slow approaching, I tested a turbocharged TT Roadster. The body structure is obviously less rigid but nonetheless impressive for a convertible. I liked the fact that the fully automatic retractable soft top goes from zero to top down in a mere 12 seconds. On the highway, the car proves to be well insulated; wind noises are effectively kept out of the cockpit. Only the noise coming from the Pirelli winter tires of my tester managed to creep its way inside.
The two rollover bars that are characteristic of the open-top TT are carried over from the previous model and are backed by a power-operated wind deflector. A more comprehensive and hopefully sunnier road test will allow me to assess the latter's functionality.
One last word -- or question, to be exact: why is the excellent quattro AWD system exclusive to the V6? According to Audi, the goal was to make the base model more affordable. However the company might offer the quattro system as an option with the 2.0T at a later date. They did not deny this possibility, so stay tuned.
Price :
TT Coupe 2.0T, FWD, S Tronic : $50,600
TT Coupe 3.2, quattro, manual : $59,600
TT Coupe 3.2, quattro, S Tronic : $61,250
TT Roadster 2.0T, FWD, S Tronic: $53,600
TT Roadster 3.2, quattro, manual: $63,900
TT Roadster 3.2, quattro, S Tronic : $65,550
Timeless and attractive design
Modern and tight chassis
Neat assembly
Spirited engines
Nimble and fuel-efficient 2.0T model
Superb S-Tronic gearbox
Quattro system not available with the 2.0T
Suspension a bit too firm (careful if you choose the 19-inch wheels)
Limited rearward visibility
Compact interior
Useless rear seats
None
photo:Alain Raymond
Even though summertime is slow approaching, I tested a turbocharged TT Roadster. The body structure is obviously less rigid but nonetheless impressive for a convertible. I liked the fact that the fully automatic retractable soft top goes from zero to top down in a mere 12 seconds. On the highway, the car proves to be well insulated; wind noises are effectively kept out of the cockpit. Only the noise coming from the Pirelli winter tires of my tester managed to creep its way inside.
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| Who said convertibles are for summer only? |
The two rollover bars that are characteristic of the open-top TT are carried over from the previous model and are backed by a power-operated wind deflector. A more comprehensive and hopefully sunnier road test will allow me to assess the latter's functionality.
One last word -- or question, to be exact: why is the excellent quattro AWD system exclusive to the V6? According to Audi, the goal was to make the base model more affordable. However the company might offer the quattro system as an option with the 2.0T at a later date. They did not deny this possibility, so stay tuned.
Price :
TT Coupe 2.0T, FWD, S Tronic : $50,600
TT Coupe 3.2, quattro, manual : $59,600
TT Coupe 3.2, quattro, S Tronic : $61,250
TT Roadster 2.0T, FWD, S Tronic: $53,600
TT Roadster 3.2, quattro, manual: $63,900
TT Roadster 3.2, quattro, S Tronic : $65,550
 |
Modern and tight chassis
Neat assembly
Spirited engines
Nimble and fuel-efficient 2.0T model
Superb S-Tronic gearbox
 |
Suspension a bit too firm (careful if you choose the 19-inch wheels)
Limited rearward visibility
Compact interior
Useless rear seats
 |
None
photo:Alain Raymond
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