ON THE ROAD: AUDI TT RS COUPE

Can ordinary folk tell this car apart from lesser models?

Not so much. We see a different front end with a new grille, headlights, a front splitter, aluminium side mirrors, and that permanent rear spoiler. Mainly you see the RS badges on the front and rear ends, plus the typically-RS oval tailpipes snuck in between the rear diffuser. To the non-fan it really does not stand out far enough.

Nevertheless each time I looked at it I would get a slight feeling of secret satisfaction, you know, the one you get when you get a preview tasting of the family Christmas gammon before anyone else.

Inside things are more pronounced though?

They would have to be, because that is where we spend most of our time as passengers. The list includes steel foot pedals, sports RS leather seats, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel with TT RS embossed at the bottom. I really enjoy Audi sports steering wheels because their perforated leather characteristics lend themselves to being grippy. Thin, but very grippy. Useful in turning.

She turns well then?

Very well indeed. Despite what I expected from the AWD quattro and its tendencies to send most power up front when you turn hard, as well as to understeer. A neutral feeling is more the style of TT RS, although mid-cornering it does encourage you to put foot down a bit more, but never steps out of shape. One of the best bits about a TT is that it parks well if your garage is atop a steep incline, like mine. There’s no underbody touching at all, thanks to the 2.5 metre wheelbase.

Why a 2.5-litre engine?

I suppose because Audi has always had a good relationship with five-pot turbos going back to the days of Ur-quattro and even RS 2 wagon. As you can see, power is 250kW and torque is 450Nm, more than an S4. I found very little turbo lag on take-off and the 6-speed manual gearbox proved to be engaging. Not much in the way of engine sound was forthcoming, except something like the old VW Golf VR6. I suppose that’s a five-cylinder attribute. At idle it is invitingly gruff, at full cry it sounds like a passing gush of wind.

Do all TTs come with rear seats?

Yes, but I’m not sure why because only people less than 3 years old can fit in them. Perhaps they should consider making the next TT a full-on two-seater and put that extra space to luggage use, like the Nissan 370 Z Coupe. That or put the engine at behind driver and call it an R4…

Buy or ignore?

Buy. Definitely buy. Performance is quite accomplished if you aren’t looking to drift your tyres to shreds every other day. Practicality is also present, albeit as much as any Coupe can be called practical. Pricey? Yes for sure. Pay for performance. But I think it’s worth all that cream. And it’s not sour at all.

QUICK STATS

Audi TT RS COUPE

ENGINE: 2.5-litre (2480 cc) turbo

GEARBOX: 6-speed manual

POWER: 250kW at 5400rpm

TORQUE: 450Nm at 1600rpm

0 – 100KM/H: 5.4 seconds

TOP SPEED: 250km/h

FUEL AVERAGE: 12.0 l/100km

FUEL RANGE:  458km (combined)

CO2 e: 260 g/km

PRICE STANDARD: R707 500 (C02 tax excluded)

NATURAL RIVALS: BMW Z4 sDrive35is, Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG, Porsche Cayman S

*PRICE RIVALS: BMW 335i Convertible, Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 Grand Edition, Volvo XC90 V8 R Design

BABE-MAGNETIC FACTOR: High

*A price rival falls within R20 000 or so of the subject’s price on either side of its price spectrum for cars over R350 000, R10 000 for cars of between R250 000 and R350 000 and R5 000 for cars below R250 000.