Newer isn't always better.
2009 Audi TT 2.0 TDi Quattro Review:
As you probably know, a few months ago I helped my girlfriend find her first car. She told me she had her heart set on an Audi TT so, being the diligent and loving boyfriend that I am, I scoured Britain hunting for one. This one was on the shortlist. And Christ, am I glad that she didn’t want it.
Initially, I was rather impressed by the second-generation TT. I thought it felt a bit nose-heavy but, overall, not bad. Now, after I’m better acquainted with her older sister, I wonder what I ever saw her.
I’ll start with my biggest complaint. The build quality. It isn’t screwed together anywhere near as well as Audi’s first attempt. You can’t really tell from the photos due to the thick layer of grime, but the front end was covered in stone chips and scratches. In the interior, the paint on the door handles was chipped, the plastics were scratched and flimsy, and the driver’s seat had two friction marks from the arse-cheeks of the previous owners. Oh yeah, and when I tried to open the bonnet, the handle snapped off in my hand and the bonnet catch got stuck.
And yes, I can almost hear you screaming “it’s a nine-year-old-car, Luke, what do you expect?!” at your devices. It had only done 80,000 miles. I don’t know, maybe it was a Friday model. What I do know, is that Dad’s Alfa Romeo is fourteen-year-old, has done 120,000 miles, and there isn’t a mark on it. So wheesht. The first-generation TT’s far better, trust me. The paint’s better, the interior’s better, the quality’s better. End of.
Now. The handling. The second-generation TT quattro suffers from the same problems which plagued Audis of the 80s and 90s; catastrophic understeer. Sure, if you’re pootling down to the salon to get your nails done, you probably wouldn’t notice anything wrong. But, push it hard into a corner and you will feel the front end start to wash wide.
I know this is controversial, but I don’t really think the TT needs four-wheel-drive. At least in the lower specs, anyway. Especially when coupled with that weighty diesel engine, it makes the car feel heavy and slow. The first-generation two-wheel-drive coupé is a full 100kg lighter than its younger sister, which makes it far nimbler through a corner and more fun to drive. It’s more eager and skips across bumps in the road rather than crashing into them. I know which I'd rather have.
The four-wheel-drive system buggers up the rest of the car, too. The engine would have been great if it wasn’t shackled to it. I mean for God’s sake, it’s a twin-cam, turbo-charged, direct-injected lump of pig iron that redlines at 5000 rpm. It’s got 167 bhp and 258 ft/lbs of torque. It should have been brilliant. But, because it has to drive all four wheels, I feel it isn’t being used to its full potential. The revs build quickly, yes, but not as quickly as they should. The chassis can cope with being front-wheel-drive, so why isn’t it? Answers in the post, Audi.
The controls were a casserole of likes and dislikes. The power-steering wasn’t too assisted and provided a decent amount of feedback. I liked the gearbox; it was the only quality item in the car, being notchy, precise and quiet. The clutch wasn’t great, being a bit on the lighter side, probably due to the TT’s brief as a posing pouch rather than a track weapon. The brakes suffered from the same symptoms (also being light and spongey) and refused to engage until my foot reached the headlights.
I’m sure the second-generation TT isn’t an awful car. Maybe I had a bad experience. But, given the choice between the first- and second-generations, I’d take Audi’s first attempt every time. In two-wheel-drive form, it’s a nimbler, more balanced, better built all-rounder that will make you smile on a daily basis. The ’09 model feels middle-aged and lethargic by comparison. Sure, you’re getting a newer car for only a few more pound notes, but I find it pointless to fork over the extra cash for nothing more than extra space and more weight. Wouldn’t you agree?
And I know, those wheels are bloody hideous.
Luke Wilkinson 2018 ©