Article in AutoExpress - Roadster test drive (UK)
11-25-1999, 12:58 AM
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Article in AutoExpress - Roadster test drive (UK)
Rider On The Storm
Issue 577 - AutoExpress -- We borrowed the keys to one of the first right-hand-drive Roadsters in the country to find out. At a price of £29,150 for the 180bhp version or £32,150 for the 225bhp model, the striking newcomer faces some stiff competition from such quarters as the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z3 2.8. But, if it's admiring glances you are after, the TT certainly trumps its rivals. While the TT Coupé attracts attention from passers-by, the Roadster can actually stop traffic - especially with the roof down.
Audi is riding out the storm surrounding its TT's handling characteristics and is pressing ahead with the launch of its long-awaited Roadster variant.
Criticisms about the Coupé's on-the-limit handling have appeared in the press following high-speed accidents in Germany, and the company is now offering to modify the suspension of existing cars to make them more predictable in the hands of less experienced drivers. But should those on the waiting list for the new Roadster ask for their deposits back before the first cars are delivered in January? Or will the new car be worth the wait?
On the road, the main difference to the driving experience compared with the tin-topped version is the noise. Unlike its rivals, the hood is unlined, so you can hear external sounds and see the framework. On the plus side, the thin material allows you to hear the exhaust note - a bonus over
the Coupé - while a heated glass rear window offers good visibility and durability.
At motorway speeds, neither wind nor water can find their way past the seals but, at 70mph, you have to turn up the radio to drown out the whistles. Open the door in a rainstorm and the roof deposits water on your leg. However, you can almost forgive it when the sun is shining. To drop the roof, you twist a slightly stiff handle in the rail above the
windscreen, press a button between the seats and you are in fresh air within around 15 seconds.
The mechanism folds away neatly, but, unlike the Boxster and Mercedes SLK, you have to struggle with a tonneau cover to make it look neat. Most owners won't bother, and will leave the tonneau at home so it doesn't take up the already stingy boot space. But the TT fights back with a clever wind deflector. A switch operates a glass screen behind the roll-hoops to keep some of the buffeting off your new hairdo without disrupting rearward vision.
As with the Coupé, the interior is a tasteful and stylish combination of aluminium and leather. Every detail - apart from that roof - is beautifully crafted. For an extra £725, you can even have better-quality leather with 'baseball glove' style external stitching, as used on the original TT Roadster concept car. On the move with the roof down, the drop-top isn't as stiff as the Coupé of course, but body flex is minimal. Squeaks of protest can only be heard when the fat tyres and hard-riding suspension find a deep pothole.
The reinforced stiffening in the bodyshell, essential to compensate for the loss of roof, adds 65kg to the weight, but takes the edge off its performance. The 225bhp Roadster is three-tenths of a second slower from standstill to 60mph than the Coupé, and the 180bhp model sometimes struggles. But what about the big question mark over the handling? After many miles of hard driving, we can't see what the fuss is about. We drove the TT fast but sensibly, and it was perfectly safe with huge amounts of grip.
As with many hot hatches, the back end will step out of line if you lift off the throttle suddenly or jam on the brakes after entering a corner at silly speeds. Experienced drivers will know what to do to get it back in line, while the uninitiated would be ill-advised to travel so quickly. And, if you drive more slowly, everyone will get a chance to see who's at the wheel - which is sure to be a selling point for many.
Issue 577 - AutoExpress -- We borrowed the keys to one of the first right-hand-drive Roadsters in the country to find out. At a price of £29,150 for the 180bhp version or £32,150 for the 225bhp model, the striking newcomer faces some stiff competition from such quarters as the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z3 2.8. But, if it's admiring glances you are after, the TT certainly trumps its rivals. While the TT Coupé attracts attention from passers-by, the Roadster can actually stop traffic - especially with the roof down.
Audi is riding out the storm surrounding its TT's handling characteristics and is pressing ahead with the launch of its long-awaited Roadster variant.
Criticisms about the Coupé's on-the-limit handling have appeared in the press following high-speed accidents in Germany, and the company is now offering to modify the suspension of existing cars to make them more predictable in the hands of less experienced drivers. But should those on the waiting list for the new Roadster ask for their deposits back before the first cars are delivered in January? Or will the new car be worth the wait?
On the road, the main difference to the driving experience compared with the tin-topped version is the noise. Unlike its rivals, the hood is unlined, so you can hear external sounds and see the framework. On the plus side, the thin material allows you to hear the exhaust note - a bonus over
the Coupé - while a heated glass rear window offers good visibility and durability.
At motorway speeds, neither wind nor water can find their way past the seals but, at 70mph, you have to turn up the radio to drown out the whistles. Open the door in a rainstorm and the roof deposits water on your leg. However, you can almost forgive it when the sun is shining. To drop the roof, you twist a slightly stiff handle in the rail above the
windscreen, press a button between the seats and you are in fresh air within around 15 seconds.
The mechanism folds away neatly, but, unlike the Boxster and Mercedes SLK, you have to struggle with a tonneau cover to make it look neat. Most owners won't bother, and will leave the tonneau at home so it doesn't take up the already stingy boot space. But the TT fights back with a clever wind deflector. A switch operates a glass screen behind the roll-hoops to keep some of the buffeting off your new hairdo without disrupting rearward vision.
As with the Coupé, the interior is a tasteful and stylish combination of aluminium and leather. Every detail - apart from that roof - is beautifully crafted. For an extra £725, you can even have better-quality leather with 'baseball glove' style external stitching, as used on the original TT Roadster concept car. On the move with the roof down, the drop-top isn't as stiff as the Coupé of course, but body flex is minimal. Squeaks of protest can only be heard when the fat tyres and hard-riding suspension find a deep pothole.
The reinforced stiffening in the bodyshell, essential to compensate for the loss of roof, adds 65kg to the weight, but takes the edge off its performance. The 225bhp Roadster is three-tenths of a second slower from standstill to 60mph than the Coupé, and the 180bhp model sometimes struggles. But what about the big question mark over the handling? After many miles of hard driving, we can't see what the fuss is about. We drove the TT fast but sensibly, and it was perfectly safe with huge amounts of grip.
As with many hot hatches, the back end will step out of line if you lift off the throttle suddenly or jam on the brakes after entering a corner at silly speeds. Experienced drivers will know what to do to get it back in line, while the uninitiated would be ill-advised to travel so quickly. And, if you drive more slowly, everyone will get a chance to see who's at the wheel - which is sure to be a selling point for many.
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