adc
09-27-1999, 09:56 AM
I just had the opportunity to drive a TT 180 Quattro this Saturday, while waiting for my complimentary carwash.
Overall comment - It's a great little machine, but like so many other things in life, not perfect.
Here's the bright side:
- Better steering and turn-in. How much of this is due to the 17 inch wheels, I don't know.
- Less weight, meaning very fast weight transfer from one side to the other. The feeling was that you could shuffle the car on the road as if by placing it with a giant hand. Very precise and reassuring, very flat.
- Fabulous brakes! I would break twice as late into a corner than with my A4. And no brake dive at all. Like a sports car should be.
- Zippy engine. Felt a little more nimble than my 0.8 bar A4, meaning the boost came on a little sooner and smoother. My A4 has more lag, but boy when that turbo hits it pushes you in the seat :).
- Better exhaust sound. I wish the A4 (at least the sport option) would sound like this (although it wouldn't be perfect for all :). Raspy and deep, with just a hint of pops and the right amount of rumble when downshifting.
- Obviously very nice interior, not claustrophobic at all. Very good seats. Excellent ergonomics.
- Shorter clutch travel, excellent shifter. Very precise, machine-like with a positive engagement click (shifter).
- Good suspension - flat in the curves without being harsh. Excellent compromise.
Here is the dark side:
- Brakes were good, but too grabby. Fairly hard to modulate.
- Pedals not good for heel&toe. The same as my A4.
- Not as solid as my A4! This was a big surprise! There was a hatch clatter noise on rough surfaces.
- Front-heavy car, much more so than my A4. At the limit in long sweepers at high speed, the back was too light. I could definitely sense some lift over there (not aerodynamic I think, more like weight transfer). Just not as planted as my A4 would be with a similar low suspension. By far this was the biggest dissapointment.
- Steering heavy, but not as communicative as a beemer. Heaviness somewhat artificial (felt like reduced servo assist, not better geometry).
- Radio with Bose sucked bigtime. My regular Concert with Infinity front speakers is two classes above.
- At least the first time (and obviously for a regular Joe as myself), a little more difficult to drive hard than the A4. Shorter clutch travel means more hesitations and shudders in the driveline, harder on the engine.
I would buy one, no question about it. It is a much more involved car than the A4, much lighter with similar power. More nimble too, can be placed with great precision in curves, can brake on a dime. It has a fantastic interior with good ergonomics. Just that at the limit my A4 felt more responsive.
Maybe I'll wait for the 225HP and pile all my sports goodies in the trunk :).
No need to flame, this is just an honest assesment from an impressed fellow A4 owner.
adc
Red 1.8T QMS no longer stock
Overall comment - It's a great little machine, but like so many other things in life, not perfect.
Here's the bright side:
- Better steering and turn-in. How much of this is due to the 17 inch wheels, I don't know.
- Less weight, meaning very fast weight transfer from one side to the other. The feeling was that you could shuffle the car on the road as if by placing it with a giant hand. Very precise and reassuring, very flat.
- Fabulous brakes! I would break twice as late into a corner than with my A4. And no brake dive at all. Like a sports car should be.
- Zippy engine. Felt a little more nimble than my 0.8 bar A4, meaning the boost came on a little sooner and smoother. My A4 has more lag, but boy when that turbo hits it pushes you in the seat :).
- Better exhaust sound. I wish the A4 (at least the sport option) would sound like this (although it wouldn't be perfect for all :). Raspy and deep, with just a hint of pops and the right amount of rumble when downshifting.
- Obviously very nice interior, not claustrophobic at all. Very good seats. Excellent ergonomics.
- Shorter clutch travel, excellent shifter. Very precise, machine-like with a positive engagement click (shifter).
- Good suspension - flat in the curves without being harsh. Excellent compromise.
Here is the dark side:
- Brakes were good, but too grabby. Fairly hard to modulate.
- Pedals not good for heel&toe. The same as my A4.
- Not as solid as my A4! This was a big surprise! There was a hatch clatter noise on rough surfaces.
- Front-heavy car, much more so than my A4. At the limit in long sweepers at high speed, the back was too light. I could definitely sense some lift over there (not aerodynamic I think, more like weight transfer). Just not as planted as my A4 would be with a similar low suspension. By far this was the biggest dissapointment.
- Steering heavy, but not as communicative as a beemer. Heaviness somewhat artificial (felt like reduced servo assist, not better geometry).
- Radio with Bose sucked bigtime. My regular Concert with Infinity front speakers is two classes above.
- At least the first time (and obviously for a regular Joe as myself), a little more difficult to drive hard than the A4. Shorter clutch travel means more hesitations and shudders in the driveline, harder on the engine.
I would buy one, no question about it. It is a much more involved car than the A4, much lighter with similar power. More nimble too, can be placed with great precision in curves, can brake on a dime. It has a fantastic interior with good ergonomics. Just that at the limit my A4 felt more responsive.
Maybe I'll wait for the 225HP and pile all my sports goodies in the trunk :).
No need to flame, this is just an honest assesment from an impressed fellow A4 owner.
adc
Red 1.8T QMS no longer stock