Audi TT Roadster
Driving Seat: Topless in a TT a matter of OPINION
It’s been around for a while now, but Audi’s eye-catching TT has lost none of its sex appeal.
When Audi introduced its amazing two-seater coupe,it was about the most beautiful compact piece of automobile sculpture I had ever seen – inside and out. It still is.
In Roadster configuration, with an electrically operated soft top and a shape that makes grown men sigh, we’re talking serious automotive pleasure and a level of envy that has to be experienced to be believed. Few cars attract quite as much attention.
The roof is simplicity itself to retract or raise. Twist a handle to release the roof, touch a button and 15 seconds later,hey presto,it’s done.
Inside, the Audi TT Roadster has aluminium braces on the centre tunnel, stainless steel pedals and a folding metal cover to hide the Bose sound system to heighten the cool, high-techappearance.
Despite sitting very low, the Audi TT Roadster doesn’t feel too crowded. The seats are adjustable for height, as is the steering wheel, so most people should be able to get comfortable.
In the middle of the metal rimmed gauge cluster is a driver’s information display which shows outside temperature, five trip mileage functions, a vehicle auto check system,current radio station or CD track,and indicates an open door or boot.
Two engines are available,both 1.8-litre but developing either 225bhpor,as in the test car, 180bhp.
On the road, the Audi TT Roadster feels rock-solid and exhibits minimal scuttle-shake when you hit a bump (that is, the body doesn’t flex like an enraged python).
Equipped with Audi’s superb quattro permanent four-wheel drive system,lots of low-profile rubber and a suspension that begs to be tested,it grips the road like the proverbial leech and goes around corners faster than you’d ever believe.
More help comes from such advanced technologies as traction control,an electronic differential lock and an electronic stability programme…
Driving the Audi TT Roadster is an aural and tactile treat. Although the car is by no means sedate at low revs, the action starts to get really interesting after 2500 rpm, when the turbo kicks in and the carefully tuned engine noise rises in tandem with your excitement.
With the engine spinning nicely and the speedo registering a figure far north of legal, the driving experience enters the realm of the sublime. Whence the tactile pleasure?From the slick gearshift, the organically curved controls, the caress of soft red leather …
What I really liked was the wide spread of power. No kick-in-the- back stuff,merely a smooth,powerful surge. From my perspective,it’s a near-perfect combination of urban commuter, traffic light hooligan and highway cruiser.
I also enjoyed the cabin, with its slightly weird design elements and excellent standard of finish,and I found the seats among the most comfortable and supportive I’d ever experienced.
There’s only room for two,of course,and you could have a problem if you want to go on holiday.There’s enough room in the boot for a couple of weekend bags because the roof takes up much of the available space.
Here may be a lot of them around,but the Audi TT Roadster still continues to command a great deal of interest.
In roadster form and topless the impact is more dramatic and the reaction from the sidewalk more riveting.
It is one of the most attractive two-seaters on the market in its class and its sublime but macho-styled sculpturing will guarantee it plenty of street cred for some time to come.
Its unorthodox, eye-catching contours and sporty demeanour has already guaranteed it classic status.
The Audi TT Roadster is certainly a classy – looking motor and its low – slung,predatory stance oozes that all-important fun factor – of which there is a plenty – as well as providing seriously sporting performance.
Such glue like grip on any other car would be hard to better: the adhesion provided by the quattro four-wheel-drive-system on the Audi TT Roadster is brilliant and of course, totally confidence-inspiring.
Zip in and out of traffic and its poetry in motion. The steering is superbly weighted so its finger touch light in town.
Get out onto the open roads in the Roadster and the steering develops a sense of responsibility, with excellent feel fed through to the steering rim.It’s magic even in the smaller 1.8-litre engine option.
One of the best things about the Audi TT Roadster is its beautifully controlled chassis and body which ensures that the occupant’s skeleton is not shaken around.
The suspension is well firmed-up providing an extremely supportive but comfortable ride. The only uncomfortable part about the Roadster is getting into it: those wrap-around seats arefantastic, once you are esconsed in them. They fit like a glove to the body’s backbone.
However, you have first to launch your torso over the fairly hard side lips. Catch your leg,hip or rump in a hasty move and you know about it.
But who cares? It’s a beautiful car to look at and drive the turbo-charged 1.8-litre is extremely agile,punching out 225bhpand achieving a 0-60mph in eight seconds. Not bad at all.
Like any two-seater,it is totally impractical as anything but a fun/driving machine. If you have an occupation which involves carting around samples, weighty documents or suitcase-sized briefcases, you will struggle to fit them into the minuscule storage area. A slim line lap top and some very lightweight shopping is about all you’ll manage.
However, this little disadvantage certainly didn’t discourage me from making a trip to London for a family wedding.
A clutch of credit cards and a toothbrush easily slipped into the shallow storage compartment which closely resembles a glove compartment. The rest was squeezed in by brute force and determination. Crushed silk took on a whole new meaning.
The Roadster can be a bit claustrophobic with the roof in place,but raise the roof and it’s the ultimate dream machine.
This car has the wow factor. It’s a fabulous looker and the package of safety make it an even more attractive proposition: it has air bags all round,ABS and there is a stability-control system for when things get hairy. Go for it.
