I drove an Audi TT. Only read if you're bored.

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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
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Friend's FIL has a 5 speed TT Convertible. It's a few years old. It's an interesting car. Its trunk space is at least twice that of a miata, it would seem. Its doors are too high (you sit down and feel like you've fallen too far), so that kind of sucks. It's not the fastest thing on the road, slower than my Maxima, but obviously handles incredibly well.

One thing that sucks on these cars, and I noticed it the last time I drove a turbo VW, is TURBO LAG. Holy fvcking turbo lag batman. My friend said this wasn't the turbo version (I confirmed later they all are), but when he said that I thought "damn, something's responsible for this crap ass lag", and yep it was the turbo. Edmunds says peak torque on this car is at 1950, but fvck that. The car has NO pull until about 2k at all. I entered one corner and coming out in 2nd gear the car just felt sluggish (obviously going to fast to have it in 1st).

Nonetheless I had a ball. I'd love to have on or a miata (yes, I'm gay).
 

sisq0kidd

Lifer
Apr 27, 2004
17,043
1
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Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: sisq0kidd
That's cool.
For rizzle? I can go on!

Please do. I was watching a re-run of Top Gear about the miata and mr2. He likes the miata very mucho. Please tell me why you like it so much.
 

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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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Originally posted by: sisq0kidd
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: sisq0kidd
That's cool.
For rizzle? I can go on!

Please do. I was watching a re-run of Top Gear about the miata and mr2. He likes the miata very mucho. Please tell me why you like it so much.
I've not driven one, unfortunately :( I want to, but buying one is terribly impractical at the moment, unfortunately.

The TT, BTW, is FWD, whereas the miata is not and I doubt the MR2 is either.
 

Shmabbles, how does the TT feel handling-wise? Especially as a convertible, I'd expect it felt like driving around a top-heavy jello-mold.
 

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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
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Originally posted by: jumpr
Shmabbles, how does the TT feel handling-wise? Especially as a convertible, I'd expect it felt like driving around a top-heavy jello-mold.
It felt pretty good, though realize I'm used to driving a maxima, which comparitively is more boat-like in handling. I'll admit that one of the corners I took hard the car felt a bit off balance, or too heavy for its suspension or something. I can't describe it very well because, well, I'm not a professional driver or anything :). I don't know what its weight distribution is, but I'd suspect a miata would have better balance and surely outhandle this.
 

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: jumpr
Shmabbles, how does the TT feel handling-wise? Especially as a convertible, I'd expect it felt like driving around a top-heavy jello-mold.
It felt pretty good, though realize I'm used to driving a maxima, which comparitively is more boat-like in handling. I'll admit that one of the corners I took hard the car felt a bit off balance, or too heavy for its suspension or something. I can't describe it very well because, well, I'm not a professional driver or anything :). I don't know what its weight distribution is, but I'd suspect a miata would have better balance and surely outhandle this.
Thanks. I'm used to driving a 4-door Accord (and before that, a 2000 Sentra, and before that a '96 Sentra), so I don't think I've ever driven a "good" handling car.

One of my GF's friends has a Miata though (her dad works for Ford), so maybe I'll ask her if I can take it out one day.
 

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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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Originally posted by: jumpr
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: jumpr
Shmabbles, how does the TT feel handling-wise? Especially as a convertible, I'd expect it felt like driving around a top-heavy jello-mold.
It felt pretty good, though realize I'm used to driving a maxima, which comparitively is more boat-like in handling. I'll admit that one of the corners I took hard the car felt a bit off balance, or too heavy for its suspension or something. I can't describe it very well because, well, I'm not a professional driver or anything :). I don't know what its weight distribution is, but I'd suspect a miata would have better balance and surely outhandle this.
Thanks. I'm used to driving a 4-door Accord (and before that, a 2000 Sentra, and before that a '96 Sentra), so I don't think I've ever driven a "good" handling car.

One of my GF's friends has a Miata though (her dad works for Ford), so maybe I'll ask her if I can take it out one day.
Do it. make sure you find a nice twisty road and you WILL be impressed!

 

wasssup

Diamond Member
Nov 28, 2000
3,142
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Originally posted by: Skoorb
I've not driven one, unfortunately :( I want to, but buying one is terribly impractical at the moment, unfortunately.

The TT, BTW, is FWD, whereas the miata is not and I doubt the MR2 is either.

You're right Skoorb, the MR2 is uh, well, a MR. Mid-engine, rwd layout.
 

LiQiCE

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,911
0
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The Audi TT isn't really considered a true "roadster" in the sense that it has more creature comforts, and is more oriented at a comfortable ride rather than all out performance. Like you said, the base Audi TT model is a 180hp FWD car, and the 225hp / 250hp models are both AWD with a FWD bias. The fact that its nearly 3200 lbs doesn't help either. Its not really meant to be compared to a Miata or MR-S.

For less than the Audi TT, the Honda S2000 makes for a much more enjoyable ride if you're looking for all out performance versus comfort. (The S2K isn't really designed for long highway drives its designed for tearing up twisty backroads).

The S2000 is the only RWD lightweight "handling oriented" car I've driven, but its a 100% pleasure to drive. I've never understood people's attraction to RWD vs. FWD, but if the S2K is any indication then I can 100% understand. Its a completely different feeling when pushing through corners.

The Miata is also a great car for handling from what I've heard, but it seems like it'd need a bigger turbo (for the MazdaSpeed version) or a supercharger to help in the performance category. Its still going to be fun in any form though, taking twisties doesn't require a lot of power to be fun.

An old Miata can be had fairly cheap if you're looking for a fun weekend beater car. Take it out to a local Autocrossing event or spend some money and get some track time on a training/beginner day and you'll have a blast.
 

djdrastic

Senior member
Dec 4, 2002
441
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0
TT Handles like a boat sorry . The 3.2 ones are allright , but it still keeps feeling like they forgot a sports coupe needs handling and speed . A well maintained miata will date rape the 1.8T around the twisty stuff . The TT's brake pedal feels like a tub or lard and the huge ammount of lag means the 165kw takes forever to actually happen . There is no 'bum feel' in the TT and the steering is completely dead slight ly off centre . Nice interior if that counts for something


 

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No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
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An old Miata can be had fairly cheap if you're looking for a fun weekend beater car. Take it out to a local Autocrossing event or spend some money and get some track time on a training/beginner day and you'll have a blast.
I continually toy with the idea. I'd go so far as to consider having it and the minivan, but then we'd have only one functional vehicle for movign people/things, so mrsskoorb says no! If I had about $4k I could have it sit in the garage. that would work, but I don't have a spare $4k :(
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
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Nonetheless I had a ball. I'd love to have on or a miata (yes, I'm gay).


Then it's good to see you have the correct tastes then :D


I joke! I joke! It's joke of old!

 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
33,615
13,312
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im guessing its the 1.8T engine? my passat doesn't start to move quickly until 3k rpm, usually. once i hit 3, im flying:D
turbo lag for me isn't all that bad, at least in low gears
 

mercanucaribe

Banned
Oct 20, 2004
9,763
1
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Your friend didn't know that his car has a turbo? You need to stop being his friend.
You thought that the MR2 could possibly be FWD? You need to stop existing!!
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Your friend didn't know that his car has a turbo? You need to stop being his friend.
You thought that the MR2 could possibly be FWD? You need to stop existing!!
Reading comprehension is your friend! The second word in my first post was "FIL", which is an acronym for "Father in law" :)

My knowledge about the MR2 is correlational to my interest in it. Toyota has sold about 12 of them in the past few years, so you never see them!