Audi TT Coupe vs. 911 Carrera...I was surprised

R22tech · R22tech's Garage

Thought I stretch my garage queen's legs a little bit this evening, nice, cool 50s weather put me in the mood. Took the long route to pick up a DVD, probably drove about 15 miles to the store that's a mile away. She was loving the workout and the weather. Shifter felt smooth and precise. Engine.....silk! After finishing the task it was time to head home. Do I go straight home? Nope. I had to hit the twisties just once before I would be done for the night.
On my way, windows open-radio off, I pass a free standing radar with digital read-out letting me know how fast I was going. I decided this would be a good time to check my speedo's accuracy, or lack-thereof. Several passes revealed a VERY optomistic speedometer. I presume this is why I don't ever get tickets in my Porsche, while receiving a fare share in my pickup truck. It was getting late and wifey is waiting, wondering what is taking so long I'm sure. I didn't make it to the twisties, but I wasn't done as it turned out.
Headlights, bright white, in my rear view mirror were approaching quickly. Car in front of me keeps the pace at 35mph. I'm checkin' out the Audi TT Coupe on my bumper, maybe a cigarette pack away. I'm 2 miles from home and I know the road. Is this car in front of me going to turn or what! I'm in 2nd and waiting. Blinker signals left, here we go....

I'm on the gas, hard. Deep into the redline, shift, check mirror, the little Audi feverishly trying to keep up about 4 car lengths back. Here comes the downhill mild sweeper to the left, and then to the right. I'm gone! Not this time Mr. Audi

! I signaled right, hit the brakes, turned into my subdivision- he came up fast, flashed his lights and said, "Porsche...there is no Substitute" with a beep of his horn.

pwd72s · 03-06-2002, 07:11 PM

Good writing & a cute tale. As an aside, do you know who designed the Audi TT? Hint: He's a co-founder of a splinter group often mentioned here. The group? It isn't the SCWDP. Surely, they are mere pretenders to the throne.

Doug Zielke · 03-06-2002, 07:18 PM

The Audi TT is a stupid-looking piece of crap. Kind of like the new V-dub beetle but squashed a bit.
I'm glad you showed that wanker how a *real* German car performs.

R22tech · R22tech's Garage

I don't know much about the Audi, but I thought they were supposed to be pretty quick. Made my night.

adamnitti · adamnitti's Garage

how optimistic was your speedo?

Doug E · 03-06-2002, 07:29 PM

Sounds like a good way to wrap up the day!

pwd72s · 03-06-2002, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Doug Zielke
The Audi TT is a stupid-looking piece of crap. Kind of like the new V-dub beetle but squashed a bit.
I'm glad you showed that wanker how a *real* German car performs.

Doug? In a nasty mood are we????

makaio · 03-06-2002, 07:43 PM

I've given a few TT's a good spanking at Thinderhill a couple times. They are no match for the SC!

I'm not saying I'm a great driver, because my car does all the work.

Jack Olsen · 03-06-2002, 08:09 PM

I've also seen a few at the track. I think they're cute cars, but they seem to be real dogs, when it comes to performance. Of course, I'm sure there's a fully-prepped one out there, somewhere, just waiting for me.

makaio · 03-06-2002, 08:14 PM

True Jack, I wouldn't want to mess with one of the German Touring Car Series (I think this is the organization) TT quattros.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Stock they aren't the quickest, but with a few mods you can get them up over 260hp. If you've got a spare $10K you can push it up to 326hp. Combine that with quattro (although not the Torsen setup) and you've got a pretty competent machine. And the interior is a work of art...

No substitute for a flat six, but a pretty fun ride.

paul571 · 03-06-2002, 10:36 PM

The TT's designer was Freeman Thomas, he is now a big dog @ DaimlerChrysler. A real Porsche fan.

"The Audi TT is a stupid-looking piece of crap. Kind of like the new V-dub beetle but squashed a bit. "

That's funny, I have heard 911 been called a "squashed beetle" few times too. I guess " an acorn dose not fall far from the tree".

'88 911 Carrera
'00 Audi S4

campbellcj · 03-06-2002, 10:41 PM

As you guys probably know, the TT is available in several flavors ranging from a 180HP FWD version to a 225HP AWD version (bigger turbos and Motronic chip tuned accordingly).

Since it's a turbocharged car, it can be "chip-tuned" and fitted with relatively inexpensive exhaust mods for huge power gains.

I could be wrong, but I suspect a well-piloted stock 225HP TT should give just about any pre-3.6 911 a good run for the money. We all know that in a driving contest, it's at least 50% driver and 50% car.

Personally I think they are kind of cool cars and in my mind compare favorably to the stock (2.7) Boxster as well as the S2000, MR2 and other cars in the sports-roadster segment.

At least VAG is taking some styling risks and maintaining a solid focus on price/performance these days, TT and Beetle "S" 1.8T as two examples, whilst Porsche seems to be wandering a bit (Cayenne) and has generally abandoned the lower-end of the market. Porsche is making most of its money on the $60-80K vehicles, and so obviously will keep centering its efforts in that segment.

Yargk · Yargk's Garage

aren't they a little overweight?

03-07-2002, 01:10 AM

A TT Quattro 225 weighs 1300Kg which is pretty normal these days. It's supposed to go from 0-62mph in 6,4 seconds. Top speed 243 km/h.

The guy I bought my Porsche from had such a TT for app a year. He just gave it back to the dealer. He had so many problems with it: bad paint, bad gearbox, rattle sounds, wind noise etc. etc. Instead he gets an Audi S3 which has the same engine/gearbox, but is built in Germany. The TT is built in Hungary.

beepbeep · 03-07-2002, 01:29 AM

Well, i roasted 180hp TT with my 240k miles Saab 9000T...so much about the power...225HP dunno, but they are front-heavy...should be even match for badly driven early 80's SC...maybe :-)

There's nothing wrong with looks tough...they look nice. But it's still VW-golf underneath it...

Yargk · Yargk's Garage

I just checked the Audi site.

Coupe:

Curb weight (lbs)
180 hp, FWD: 2921
180 hp, quattro: 3208
225 hp, quattro: 3274

180 hp
0-60 in seconds: FWD 7.6; quattro 7.7
Top track speed: 130 mph¹
EPA fuel economy estimates² (city/highway): FWD 22/31; quattro 20/29

225 hp
0-60 in seconds: 6.3
Top track speed: 143 mph³
EPA fuel economy estimates² (city/highway): 20/28

Roadster

Curb weight (lbs)
180 hp, FWD: 3131
225 hp, quattro: 3472

180 hp
0-60 in seconds: 8.0
Top track speed: 130 mph¹
EPA fuel economy estimates² (city/highway): 22/30

225 hp
0-60 in seconds: 6.7
Top track speed: 143 mph³
EPA fuel economy estimates² (city/highway): 20/28

If I'm not mistaken, 1300 kg is 2860 pounds.

I see this as being rather pathetic even if the factory performance figures are conservative. A new WRX (even the US model) goes to sixty in something like 5.6. I knew something had to be fishy because if a 227 hp sedan that weighs somewhere around 3100 pounds goes to sixty in less than six, why would something weighing 1300 kg (less than 2900 pounds) with about the same power, take so much longer. The TT is a pig in my opinion and that really hampers its go ability.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Interesting aside; not long ago there was an article,(can't remember magazine), profile of currently hot car designers including Audi guy who penned the TT. Almost every one of them said that their all-time favorite design was Porsche 911. Couple of them owned 911's. Simply amazing that a 1963-64 body can still be so current. Not even VW bug managed that.

When Audi TT came out, I didn't like it; but I liked the fact that I could not like it. Most new designs are so boring and homogenized that I find it impossible to have an opinion on them one way or the other. My .02.