2009 Audi TT 2.0T With S tronic

Pros

It's a sports car you aren't ashamed of driving

Cons

You're paying $40k+ for an exotic VW GTi

Purchased As New

Built on the VW Golf platform, sharing many parts with the VW GTi and Audi A3, the Audi TT 2.0T is far from a bargain. Looking at performance stats alone, this car is almost twice as much as it should be. 200 hp and FWD (or the obviously-an-after-thought AWD system) are competitive with the Civic Si, not the BMW Z4 that is much more close to the TT's price.
So what do you get for all this extra money? Well, for starters, you get a beautiful exterior. Unlike the squished-minivan looks of the GTi, the TT has the lines of a true sports coupe. It's not as bubbly, or feminine, as the last TT. Instead, it's much more refined, more mature. The front is low and wide, a bit aggressive, but very subtle. Flared wheel arches give a sense of power, but the smooth side panels keep it in check. The rear hatch swoops back in Porsche 911-esque style. The taillights have a unique, and absolutely stunning, 3D appearance. The retractable spoiler changes the car from svelte to serious. Certianly, no one would dare call it boring or vulgar.
You walk up and open the pillarless door, only to be greeted by one of the best interiors on sale today - regardless of price. Seats are shared with the R8, and the steering wheel is shared with the R8 and Gallardo. In fact, the TT shares parts with cars costing many times more - door handles, side mirrors, climate control, the list goes on. Make no mistake, the interior of the TT is a wonderful place to be, entirely focused on the driver.
And it should be. Driving the TT is the best part of the car. By using aluminum in the chassis, Audi were able to keep the TT light - despite the additional luxury bits. This chassis allows the TT to be very stiff - resulting in the power being put down so efficiently that you'll swear it's a more powerful car. Add to that the speed of the S-Tronic transmission and you end up with a car that can accelerate faster than the manual-equipped competition.
The steering sacrifices initial feel for a trick power steering system that makes the steering lighter at slower speeds. You'll hate it on a hairpin, but love it every time you have to park. Additionally, the car has a strong tendency to squat mid-corner. When you turn in sharply, the front end bites well. Then, as you begin to power-on, the car goes worryingly light for a moment, before squatting down and pulling itself from the corner. It takes some getting used to, but once you trust that it's not going to fly off while you transition through the corner, it's a very competent sports car.
Best of all, the TT has none of the image problems of similar cars. It's no longer a hairdresser's car. It's not boring like the A3, childish like the GTi, or vulgar like the Z4. It's grown-up. A true gentleman's (or ladies') sports coupe. And try finding that for anything less than V8 Vantage money.