2008 Audi TT Roadster Performance Review
Performance - What the Auto Press Says
Most reviews feel that the all-new Audi TT Roadster is a powerful and capable sports cruiser. "A stronger body and redesigned suspension have delivered huge improvements in its handling, finally giving it the performance to back up its come-hither-and-enjoy-driving look," says the New York Times.
Acceleration and Power
The 2008 Audi TT 2.0T Roadster is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 engine that makes 200 horsepower at 5,100 to 6,000 rpm and 207 pound-feet of torque at 1,800 to 5,000 rpm -- which, according to Automobile Magazine, "provides all the oomph you need in a car like this." In fact, BusinessWeek calls the 2.0-liter "one of the most impressive four-cylinder power plants I've ever tested."
The Audi TT 3.2 Quattro Roadster, however, features a 3.2-liter V6 engine that makes 250 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 236 pound-feet of torque at 2,500 to 3,000 rpm. According to Edmunds, "This is enough power to be a blast, yet there's also plenty of power high and low on the tach to make driving effortless, and the engine has the same substantial yet smooth character as a song by Frank Sinatra."
When comparing the models side by side, however, most critics say the 2.0T's turbocharged I4 is their engine of choice. Automobile Magazine explains: "It may make 50 less horsepower on paper, but without the added complexity and weight of all-wheel drive, it feels every bit as quick as the 3.2-liter. It uses far less fuel, sounds great, and suffers from only minor turbo lag." AutoWeek adds, "The V6 turns out an abundance of power, but we'd be every bit as content with the lighter, sprightlier 2.0-liter turbo engine." And while Edmunds says that "the 3.2 Quattro is the better variant [because] it's faster and able to deal with wet weather much more effectively," it concedes that "the 2.0T is still a surprisingly enjoyable companion, as its torquey, if not particularly soulful, engine puts less weight over the front wheels and allows the car to steer nimbly around corners."
According to Audi, the 2.0T has a 0-to-60 mph time of 6.1 seconds, while the 3.2 can reach 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. But Edmunds says that "the front-wheel drive 2.0 T TT roadster feels like the quicker car of the two, as the quick-revving four-cylinder engine, whooshing turbocharger and light-effort, nimble steering all combine to deliver a strong sporting impression." Altogether, Motor Trend notes: "It still won't outgun a mid-engine Porsche Boxster or Boxster S, but nonetheless the new 2008 TT Roadster has stepped up its game big time." An example of the TT's improved game is Launch Mode -- which, BusinessWeek explains, gives an effect "very similar to revving the engine and popping the clutch in a car with a stick shift: The front tires squeal and the TT takes off like a mini-rocket." This is done by placing one's foot on the brake, disengaging electronic stability control, shifting the transmission into sport mode, revving the engine to 3,200 rpm, and then suddenly releasing the brake. Speed demons should know, however, that the Audi TT's maximum speed is electronically limited to 130 mph.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the 2.0T Roadster has a city/highway fuel economy of 22/29 miles per gallon (mpg). The 3.2 Quattro, however, has a city/highway fuel economy of 17/24 mpg when equipped with a manual transmission and 18/24 mpg with an S tronic automatic transmission. According to Automobile Magazine, the 2.0 liter's fuel economy "beats the V-6 by eighteen percent on paper and by probably double that in real life."
The Audi TT features a standard six-speed S tronic automatic transmission which Automobile Magazine says is "probably the best transmission on the market" and "works particularly well in manual or sport mode when it blips the throttle during downshifts, Lamborghini Murcilago-style." BusinessWeek calls the gearbox "one of the smoothest and fastest-shifting in existence." Kansas City Star explains: "The S Tronic is essentially a manual transmission with two clutches. It functions like an automatic, but it can also be shifted manually with paddles on the steering wheel." Many critics, however, say that the transmission works so well in automatic mode that they found no use for the paddle shifters.
The six-speed manual transmission, which is available exclusively for the 3.2 Quattro, also satisfies reviewers. Automobile Magazine writes, "The manual gearbox offers fantastic shift quality and precise clutch feel."
Handling and Braking
Reviews are positive about the TT Roadster's handling. According to Automobile Magazine, "The steering, the brakes, and the throttle are linear in action and beautifully blended in weight, so they instantly convey a confidence-inspiring, in-command feeling." MSN adds, "Road handling is impeccable, even if the ride can be harsh at times." Best of all, critics report that the TT's chop-top design doesn't weaken its on-road prowess. "With the top down, the TT roadster is commendably free of cowl shake - that shuddering of the body and steering wheel over bumps that is the bane of some convertibles," says the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The TT's Servotronic electromechanical steering with speed-dependent power assistance receives mixed reviews. While Automobile Magazine says that its "numb" and Edmunds says that it's "devoid of feel," the Detroit News reports that it's so "well-weighted and balanced" that it makes the coupe and roadster feel as if they're "extensions of your hands." The Kansas City Star adds that it "feels sharp and direct."
"On a rough surface the TT's ride is comfortable, at least for a sports car," says the New York Times. "That means the TT is suitable for enjoyable long-distance travel. It is not one of those rough-riding, tiring sports cars no good for anything more than an afternoon romp." Most critics agree, but still say that the suspension is stiff enough to acquaint passengers with the road's imperfections. "Audi isn't shy about this," writes Car and Driver, "having tuned the TT's suspension in a way that introduces you to each and every pothole." While the TT comes equipped with a McPherson suspension and aluminum subframe in the front, it features a four-link suspension with an enhanced damping system in the rear. Optional is Audi's magnetic ride system which, explains the Detroit News, "uses a special fluid inside the shock absorbers to adjust the ride every few milliseconds, gliding the car on smooth roads or instantly switching to a stiff sports handling mode at the touch of a button."
Helping to stop the TT is a dual-circuit brake system with anti-lock brakes. Audi's Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) also comes standard. The Dallas Morning News comments that the brakes are "mostly unobtrusive until you really need them. As with other Audis I've driven, they have massive bite when you need to seriously drop anchor for that outlaw rock hauler who pulls out in front of you on Stemmons going 13 mph." Edmunds adds that the brakes are "excellent" and that "there's no screeching, shaking or head-bobbing."
All-Wheel Drive
While the 2.0T's drivetrain configuration is front-wheel drive only, the TT 3.2's performance appeal is enhanced by Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. According to Audi, "In normal driving conditions, the clutch directs 85% of the torque to the front wheels, but in extreme circumstances it is able to transmit as much as 100% of the force to one of the two axles." While most critics say that Quattro enhances the TT Roadster's overall handling dynamics, some argue that it detracts from true sports car road-feel. Automobile Magazine says Quattro "turns the TT into an extremely sure-footed and efficient all-weather machine. But that's tempered by a calculated coldness and detached driving dynamics, both of which come as a result of putting the prime emphasis on roadholding. What this approach lacks is feedback and tactility - it's more remote-control self-confident than hands-on intuitive."
