2008 Audi TT Roadster 3.2S Review

We are running out of time here in the north to enjoy a convertible. Fall is beginning to encroach. Fortunately, we worked this fun little Audi TT convertible into the schedule just in time. Unfortunately, I was off on a junket for part of the week, but I still had time to put some enthusiastic miles on the car. The final night of our time together I found myself in the city - an engineering function in Dearborn - about an hour and a half from home by the scenic route. By the time we finished eating and socializing it was late and dark but still warm enough – barely – for a top-down drive home. I’m reminded of why we love our convertibles so.

The last third of the journey passes through some of the finest Michigan farm country. A few large dairy farms, a couple of feed lots, field after field of ripening corn and soy beans, and enough wet lands to punctuate it all produced the smells that remind us of the grandness of mother nature and the richness or rural life. On top of it all the waning moon was still bright enough to light up the soft passing clouds. What could be better than a leisurely drive through farm country with the top down on a cool fall night? Well, maybe the same drive on a warm summer night.

The two-seat Audi TT has been updated for 2008, though we can’t tell by looking at it. The revision is not much we can see, just a smidgen more room and about 200 pounds less weight thanks to some lighter materials. And, speaking of what we can see, the TT is still just as sexy, cool and unusual as it has always been. Not bad for a decade-old design. I remember seeing the concept at the Detroit Auto Show in about 1996. It was first shown in Geneva in 1995. Radically rounded in front and rear it has an upside-down bathtub shape not unlike an old Porsche. The coupe version has a squat, fast look because of the low slung top while the convertible, at least with the top down, reminds me of the old Porsche 356.

The convertible top mechanism is slick. With the push of a button the top folds down quickly (12-seconds) leaving one section of the top flush with the body looking like a finished cover. A rear spoiler extends itself automatically at speed and is manually controllable as well, in case you want that aerodynamic down force at 20-mph instead of 50. A windscreen comes up from behind the seats as well to limit turbulence.

The interior in this two-seat sports car is striking. A rich medium brown (Audi calls it Madras Brown) Nappa leather is used throughout and the seats feature “baseball stitching, that is, the seats are stitched with leather thongs as thick as we would find holding together a baseball glove. Seats have plenty of bolster and I found them comfortable. A thick, leather, flat-on-the-bottom steering wheel with attached paddle shifters contribute to the true sports car feel.

This TT is powered by a strong 3.2-liter V6 with 250 horsepower mated to that wonderful DSG (Audi calls it “S tronic”) 6-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. Paddle shifters on the steering wheel make running through the gears, up or down, a hoot – except when you want to shift in the middle of a tight turn. Then it becomes a little awkward. The dual-clutch transmission design, which is rapidly becoming the choice in performance automatic transmissions, preselects the gear on either side of the one we’re in so that when we decide it’s time to shift and trigger our paddle it shifts almost instantly. Fuel economy is rated at 18-city and 24-highway, and while we didn’t get to drive it enough to evaluate the mileage I’m sure we were within that range.

Handling is as good as you might expect. The suspension layout is conventional with struts in front and a four-link setup in the rear. Alloy 17-inch wheels with performance summer tires are standard. The suspension is tuned to deliver tight, crisp handling without being harsh or jumpy on our often-rough Michigan roads. ABS is standard as are Electronic Stabilization Program, Anti-slip regulation and electromechanical steering.

I hope we’ll get wheel time in the winter with this cutie sometime since it has the legendary Quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system which will allow us to experience a controlled drift on the slippery stuff. We can feel the stiffness of the TT’s chassis, or substructure, particularly with the top down. Audi has pioneered lightweight space frame structures of amazing strength in many of its cars and this one is a good example. Six airbags protect the people inside. Side impact protection and rigid body shell help as well.

MSRP is $45,900 on this well-equipped TT. On our test car we have the optional Sahara Silver Metallic paint listed at $475, the Audi Navigation Plus including iPod interface costing $1,950, Magnetic Ride Suspension at $1,400, Enhanced Interior Package for $1,250, Baseball Optic Leather costing $1,000, Audio Package (Bose Premium Sound and Sirius Satellite Radio) for $1,000, 18-inch alloy wheels at $800, Bi-Xenon Adaptive Headlights costing $800 and Bluetooth Phone Preparation for $450. With the destination charge of $775 our bottom line for this one is $55,800.

Warranty is 4-years and 50,000 miles with a 12-year promise of no corrosion perforation. First scheduled maintenance at 12,000 miles or one year is free. A four-year roadside assistance plan is provided as well.

This TT is assembled in Hungary using about 75% German content.

On a scale of practicality the TT would rate low by most criteria. To my way of thinking, sometimes the value of a car is in its therapeutic quality, that is, how well it satisfies that desire to use a nice road trip as an escape from the rigors of daily drudgery. Well, in that category the TT scores very high. So if you’re looking for a bit of road therapy, take a look at this TT. It might save you some money on conventional in-office therapy.

© Steve Purdy, Shunpiker Productions, All Rights Reserved