Hostilities can resume. The arrival of the new Audi TT S on British roads calls for the continuation of a contest that will interest a great many sports car fans and that began in Autocar last autumn.
So now that what ought to be the definitive version of the TT is filtering into UK showrooms, who makes the best £40k German sports coupé?
Act one of this story concluded quite memorably back in November. The lesser 227bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre TT ran a BMW M235i close enough to suggest that when Ingolstadt’s bigger-hitting compact coupé pitched up – complete with the engine and driveline from a Volkswagen Golf R, no less – Munich’s muscle-bound 2 Series could be in real trouble.
We liked the TT S very much on first Continental acquaintance with it even earlier last year, when it showed the kind of alacrity and balance in its handling that very few of Audi’s fashionista coupés have ever possessed. But back then, expectations of the Audi as a driver’s car were understandably low. A full road test of the TT has since confirmed that this is indeed a more engaging and dynamically well- rounded machine than either of its predecessors.
Read the full Audi TT S review
Time to ask the ultimate question, then. Today, there will be no adjournments and no excuses – and there is not only a BMW to beat but also our long-time standard-bearing coupé for driver appeal: the Porsche Cayman. Knowing the previous TT, you may think that trumping both is an unrealistic challenge to set the Audi – and that may yet prove to be true for the new version. But it certainly shouldn’t be.
Less than £4000 separates these three cars on list price. Moreover, with our residual value experts suggesting that the market will bring the cars even closer together for those buying on contract, they can be considered to be well and truly on the same shopping list. For now, the TT S trumps even the Cayman on forecast retained value over a typical ownership period.
Join the debate
finecitytom
It might be fun to write this stuff...
Not singling out any one writer but most of the longer articles on autocar feel like bad adverts for a rubbish thesaurus.
Winston Churchill
Yes
I think you're right. It's been run by children for years. The rot started with Jim Holder in my opinion.
manicm
Car tested the Cayman against
manicm
Car tested the Cayman against
madmac
I agree,there is no
Overdrive
autocar wrote:But losing to
The TT outclassing the M235i on performance, practicality and handling precision? Really? The performance of the two seems pretty similar going by the figures. The BMW has significantly more interior space and from what I've read have higher grip and traction don't necessarily make for handling precision.
Regardless, I'm not sure pitting the far larger, heavier and roomier M235i, which is effectively a sporty coupe version of a hatch - and because of its greater size/weight is never going be as agile - to the smaller Cayman and TT, which are focused and dedicated sports cars is that valid a comparison.
Still, it was an entertaining if all too predictable a read.
Sitikchai
i don't know why they even bother
michael knight
Sitikchai - spot on
absolutely. TT is a fine-looking machine but I have never driven an Audi that felt like it had been developed by engineers who 'get' involvement. A great car for those who think they like driving..
RPrior
Strange "comparison"
In Performance, Dynamics, Functionality & Purpose.
Sports car vs All weather GT vs Hot Hatch
The mere fact that there are price & perforformance similarities does not mean that each would have a place in the same purchasers basket.
RPrior
Strange "comparison"
In Performance, Dynamics, Functionality & Purpose.
Sports car vs All weather GT vs Hot Hatch
The mere fact that there are price & perforformance similarities does not mean that each would have a place in the same purchasers basket.
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