First Drive: All New Audi TT Roadster

With a snarl and a bark, the TT roadster sounded just the way I hoped it would when I set off for my test drive around the twisty roads of the Cotswolds this week. 
 
I was one of a few lucky motoring journalists to sample Audi’s new drop top – and I could hardly call it work. The German company is always on the money when it comes to building quality and driving satisfaction. The TT is no exception. But money is indeed something you’ll need a lot of if you want one.

The car I fell in love with was the 2.0 TFSI S line Quattro 230 PS with a slick six-speed S Tronic dual-clutch automatic gearbox. I drove it with the roof down until my poor bald bonce couldn’t take any more.  Cloaked in Glacier white metallic with a contrasting black hood, and finished off with Rotor grey fine Nappa leather super sports seats, I could easily have taken this car home. But on my journalist’s wage, there’s no chance, of owning a new TT Roadster, because this car costs £41,630 on the road. 

To make matters worse for me, my press car came loaded with options including: 19” five-twin-spoke design alloy wheels (450.00); Advanced key (455.00); Auto-dimming rear-view mirror with light and rain sensor package (110.00); Audi Matrix LED headlights (945.00); Storage and luggage package (175.00); Comfort and Sound package (1,590.00) … the list goes on. Suffice it to say, the total cost for my test model was a whopping £54,180.

Getting the roof down on the all-new Audi TT Roadster takes just 10 seconds. You only need to hold a switch placed near the electronic handbrake and motor along under 30mph. 

Once driving, with the wind in your hair (if you have any), the TT is quiet enough to hold a conversation with your passenger. What’s noticeable behind the wheel is the TT’s new virtual cockpit. This is based on a large LCD display that fills the instrument binnacle and replaces the traditional analogue dials. You can choose between two display modes: in the classic view, the speedometer and rev counter are in the foreground; in ‘infotainment’ style the virtual instruments are smaller. The space that becomes free as a result provides plentiful room for other functions, such as the very clear navigation map.

The engine is muscular, even from low revs, and pushes out power in an excitingly linear manner. A zero to 62mph time of 6.1sec and a 155mph top end equals an utterly invigorating drive - with the throaty note of the turbocharged engine making the experience even more special.

Ride comfort is bang on for a sports car, and the steering, which uses electric power assistance, is precise and satisfyingly weighted. Reassuringly, the brakes scrub off momentum in an instant too. As a matter of fact, the TT’s compressed dimensions make it about as daunting to drive as a family saloon.

So, if you fancy a handsome premium sports car that delivers easy, top-down motoring fun - and can tear up the tarmac with just a blip of the throttle - then the new Audi TT Roadster is for you.  Just make sure you have the cash because even the base models aren’t cheap.

PROS AND CONS:
Fun v
Fast v
Well-built v
Pricey X
 
FAST FACTS:
Max speed: 155 mph
0-62 mph: 6.1 secs
Combined mpg: 43.5
Engine: 1984cc 4 cylinder 16 valve turbocharged petrol
Max. power (bhp): 227
Max. torque (Ib.ft): 273
CO2: 154 g/km
Price: £41,360
 
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