Audi TT Coupe 1.8 TFSI S-tronic (A) Review
31 May 2013|18,482 views
Cars with two doors always feel more special. Gaining entry into one feels like attending gala events - only the selected few gets the invite.
They appear shamelessly with space for only two on board, but always manages to steal the limelight away from their four-door compatriots. For the well heeled, these are almost the perfect choices of commute.
There has been a rich seam of coupes and cabriolets from Audi, and never has one been less of an item of desire. The R8, perhaps, tops it all. But even at the bottom of the list, the TT has tricks that its bigger brothers can't inch up to. Its nimbleness in our constrained cityscape is one of them.
Exterior
The second generation TT has been around for seven years now. Time, though, seems to have little effect on the junior coupe.
The stylish lamps contribute to the 'age-less' look of the TT
They appear shamelessly with space for only two on board, but always manages to steal the limelight away from their four-door compatriots. For the well heeled, these are almost the perfect choices of commute.
There has been a rich seam of coupes and cabriolets from Audi, and never has one been less of an item of desire. The R8, perhaps, tops it all. But even at the bottom of the list, the TT has tricks that its bigger brothers can't inch up to. Its nimbleness in our constrained cityscape is one of them.
Exterior
The second generation TT has been around for seven years now. Time, though, seems to have little effect on the junior coupe.
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The oval greenhouse on the first gen has been ditched for a more sweeping roofline. And it doesn't take a car enthusiast to tell that the current generation looks much more streamlined than the previous.
With help from the myriad of curves that are carefully laid out on its body, the TT remains stylistically sound. And even in a faceoff with newer models such as the Z4 and SLK, the TT is still able to hold its head above the shoulder.
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Interior
In terms of quality, the TT's cabin certainly does not fall short of expectation. The ergonomics is almost hard to fault - driver-centric centre panel, gear lever, and rake-and-tilt adjustable steering fall in the right place.
The only complain, perhaps, is that the bits are starting to look dated. We have seen how recent sport offerings vividly display their intent, like crayons of colours on art pieces. In comparison, the TT's interior has less flair, and makes the ambience feel a tad 'cold'.
Interior is faultless and good to work with, but starting to show its age
In terms of quality, the TT's cabin certainly does not fall short of expectation. The ergonomics is almost hard to fault - driver-centric centre panel, gear lever, and rake-and-tilt adjustable steering fall in the right place.
The only complain, perhaps, is that the bits are starting to look dated. We have seen how recent sport offerings vividly display their intent, like crayons of colours on art pieces. In comparison, the TT's interior has less flair, and makes the ambience feel a tad 'cold'.
As expected of a two-door coupe, space is not the TT's best attribute. At the back, especially, the sweeping roofline obliterates headroom and makes it almost impossible for anyone taller than 1.6 metre to fit into the seats.
Few other coupes can lay claim to 700 litres of load lugging capability (with rear seats folded)
That, however, should not hamper anyone who's in the market for a coupe. Because the TT will grant you the intimacy that people desire from a sports car. The small package will naturally gel and form a close bond with the driver - and of course the one lucky occupant.
And while the rear seats are fruitless in carrying humans, they can be folded flat for lugging around goods - offering up to 700 litres of room.
That, however, should not hamper anyone who's in the market for a coupe. Because the TT will grant you the intimacy that people desire from a sports car. The small package will naturally gel and form a close bond with the driver - and of course the one lucky occupant.
And while the rear seats are fruitless in carrying humans, they can be folded flat for lugging around goods - offering up to 700 litres of room.
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The Drive
Clinical handling is what Audi cars have been renowned for, and the TT is no exception. The coupe is easy to drive fast, and the clean, clear steering feel allows you to join the dots effortlessly on any winding road.
Riding slightly towards the harsh side, the taut suspension makes the drive confident-inspiring - with part credit to its low-slung seating position. Other than the occasional jolts from the spruced up springs, commutes are usually done in much serenity.
The refined nature is also noticeable in other areas of the drive. Cog swops are done with the slightest hint until you decide to switch it to Sports mode - where the revs hang on closer to the redline before making a swop.
That said, the TT will do so with less of a pop, lacking audible notes which are adrenaline-inducing and vital for sports car junkies. This means those looking for more aural drama will be a wee bit disappointed with its benign character.
Audi's 1.8-litre Turbo FSI puts out 160bhp and 250Nm of torque, which allows it to complete the century sprint in 7.2 seconds
Clinical handling is what Audi cars have been renowned for, and the TT is no exception. The coupe is easy to drive fast, and the clean, clear steering feel allows you to join the dots effortlessly on any winding road.
Riding slightly towards the harsh side, the taut suspension makes the drive confident-inspiring - with part credit to its low-slung seating position. Other than the occasional jolts from the spruced up springs, commutes are usually done in much serenity.
The refined nature is also noticeable in other areas of the drive. Cog swops are done with the slightest hint until you decide to switch it to Sports mode - where the revs hang on closer to the redline before making a swop.
That said, the TT will do so with less of a pop, lacking audible notes which are adrenaline-inducing and vital for sports car junkies. This means those looking for more aural drama will be a wee bit disappointed with its benign character.
That is not to say the smaller 1.8-litre (down from the previous 2.0-litre) is any backwards in terms of performance. In fact, the TT feels like it has more than 160 horses, munching through traffic with relative ease.
Flat-bottom steering wheel is sweet and precise, adding on to driving joy
Conclusion
The TT is much more about poise and style than pure driving involvement. The prestige badge will almost immediately bring a tall level of establishment - or recognition so as to speak. And having stood the test of time, it still stands stylishly inclined amidst competition.
Having seen what Audi is capable of in its more recent offerings, we reckon it's only a matter of time those improvements follow suit in the TT. The 1.8-litre may be the last hoorah before a well deserved makeover. But for now, this current is as good as it gets.
Conclusion
The TT is much more about poise and style than pure driving involvement. The prestige badge will almost immediately bring a tall level of establishment - or recognition so as to speak. And having stood the test of time, it still stands stylishly inclined amidst competition.
Having seen what Audi is capable of in its more recent offerings, we reckon it's only a matter of time those improvements follow suit in the TT. The 1.8-litre may be the last hoorah before a well deserved makeover. But for now, this current is as good as it gets.
Cars with two doors always feel more special. Gaining entry into one feels like attending gala events - only the selected few gets the invite.
They appear shamelessly with space for only two on board, but always manages to steal the limelight away from their four-door compatriots. For the well heeled, these are almost the perfect choices of commute.
There has been a rich seam of coupes and cabriolets from Audi, and never has one been less of an item of desire. The R8, perhaps, tops it all. But even at the bottom of the list, the TT has tricks that its bigger brothers can't inch up to. Its nimbleness in our constrained cityscape is one of them.
Exterior
The second generation TT has been around for seven years now. Time, though, seems to have little effect on the junior coupe.
They appear shamelessly with space for only two on board, but always manages to steal the limelight away from their four-door compatriots. For the well heeled, these are almost the perfect choices of commute.
There has been a rich seam of coupes and cabriolets from Audi, and never has one been less of an item of desire. The R8, perhaps, tops it all. But even at the bottom of the list, the TT has tricks that its bigger brothers can't inch up to. Its nimbleness in our constrained cityscape is one of them.
Exterior
The second generation TT has been around for seven years now. Time, though, seems to have little effect on the junior coupe.
The oval greenhouse on the first gen has been ditched for a more sweeping roofline. And it doesn't take a car enthusiast to tell that the current generation looks much more streamlined than the previous.
With help from the myriad of curves that are carefully laid out on its body, the TT remains stylistically sound. And even in a faceoff with newer models such as the Z4 and SLK, the TT is still able to hold its head above the shoulder.
With help from the myriad of curves that are carefully laid out on its body, the TT remains stylistically sound. And even in a faceoff with newer models such as the Z4 and SLK, the TT is still able to hold its head above the shoulder.
Interior
In terms of quality, the TT's cabin certainly does not fall short of expectation. The ergonomics is almost hard to fault - driver-centric centre panel, gear lever, and rake-and-tilt adjustable steering fall in the right place.
The only complain, perhaps, is that the bits are starting to look dated. We have seen how recent sport offerings vividly display their intent, like crayons of colours on art pieces. In comparison, the TT's interior has less flair, and makes the ambience feel a tad 'cold'.
As expected of a two-door coupe, space is not the TT's best attribute. At the back, especially, the sweeping roofline obliterates headroom and makes it almost impossible for anyone taller than 1.6 metre to fit into the seats.
That, however, should not hamper anyone who's in the market for a coupe. Because the TT will grant you the intimacy that people desire from a sports car. The small package will naturally gel and form a close bond with the driver - and of course the one lucky occupant.
And while the rear seats are fruitless in carrying humans, they can be folded flat for lugging around goods - offering up to 700 litres of room.
That, however, should not hamper anyone who's in the market for a coupe. Because the TT will grant you the intimacy that people desire from a sports car. The small package will naturally gel and form a close bond with the driver - and of course the one lucky occupant.
And while the rear seats are fruitless in carrying humans, they can be folded flat for lugging around goods - offering up to 700 litres of room.
The Drive
Clinical handling is what Audi cars have been renowned for, and the TT is no exception. The coupe is easy to drive fast, and the clean, clear steering feel allows you to join the dots effortlessly on any winding road.
Riding slightly towards the harsh side, the taut suspension makes the drive confident-inspiring - with part credit to its low-slung seating position. Other than the occasional jolts from the spruced up springs, commutes are usually done in much serenity.
The refined nature is also noticeable in other areas of the drive. Cog swops are done with the slightest hint until you decide to switch it to Sports mode - where the revs hang on closer to the redline before making a swop.
That said, the TT will do so with less of a pop, lacking audible notes which are adrenaline-inducing and vital for sports car junkies. This means those looking for more aural drama will be a wee bit disappointed with its benign character.
Clinical handling is what Audi cars have been renowned for, and the TT is no exception. The coupe is easy to drive fast, and the clean, clear steering feel allows you to join the dots effortlessly on any winding road.
Riding slightly towards the harsh side, the taut suspension makes the drive confident-inspiring - with part credit to its low-slung seating position. Other than the occasional jolts from the spruced up springs, commutes are usually done in much serenity.
The refined nature is also noticeable in other areas of the drive. Cog swops are done with the slightest hint until you decide to switch it to Sports mode - where the revs hang on closer to the redline before making a swop.
That said, the TT will do so with less of a pop, lacking audible notes which are adrenaline-inducing and vital for sports car junkies. This means those looking for more aural drama will be a wee bit disappointed with its benign character.
That is not to say the smaller 1.8-litre (down from the previous 2.0-litre) is any backwards in terms of performance. In fact, the TT feels like it has more than 160 horses, munching through traffic with relative ease.
Conclusion
The TT is much more about poise and style than pure driving involvement. The prestige badge will almost immediately bring a tall level of establishment - or recognition so as to speak. And having stood the test of time, it still stands stylishly inclined amidst competition.
Having seen what Audi is capable of in its more recent offerings, we reckon it's only a matter of time those improvements follow suit in the TT. The 1.8-litre may be the last hoorah before a well deserved makeover. But for now, this current is as good as it gets.
Conclusion
The TT is much more about poise and style than pure driving involvement. The prestige badge will almost immediately bring a tall level of establishment - or recognition so as to speak. And having stood the test of time, it still stands stylishly inclined amidst competition.
Having seen what Audi is capable of in its more recent offerings, we reckon it's only a matter of time those improvements follow suit in the TT. The 1.8-litre may be the last hoorah before a well deserved makeover. But for now, this current is as good as it gets.
Photos by Low Fai Ming
Car Information
Audi TT Coupe 1.8 TFSI S tronic (A)
CAT B|Petrol|15.6km/L
Horsepower
118kW (158 bhp)
Torque
250 Nm
Acceleration
7.2sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Audi TT Coupe
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