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Daily Drives
7.8
The Review
Surprisingly good car for the daily commute along the highway
This is my second Audi TTS, ironically both 2008 models and I have to say that this little car continues to impress me, despite having a bunch of cars that are bigger, faster, more comfortable etc. Sure, the TTS is not the last word in all the categories it sits in, but is certainly more than the hairdresser's car image it has been plagued with.
So, is the Audi TTS a comfortable and practical car? weirdly yes! Until my first TTS, I was Mercedes all the way, and picking up the keys to my first Audi, meant handing in the keys for my 2010 E500 (I will review this also). In driving back on that first day, I noticed that it has more shoulder space than the E500. Also noticed that I (at around 5ft 10) could still stretch out my left leg to rest it on the foot rest. Decent space for 2 people. Of course the cost of stretching out is that the back seats become a coat and bag bench! I do however, put my 2.5 year old comfortably in the back for the daily commute to nursery. I have also lay the back seats down and helped my brother move to University a few years back, so it actually scores pretty well overall in practicality. On the motorway, it will sit at 70mph with a nice hum behind you. So again, not the natural choice for a daily commuter, but works well still.
Am I happy with my TTS? Yes. Despite giving up a C63 for it, I am not complaining just yet. Biggest grip would have to be the steering wheel. I HATE IT! its thin... very thin! and after years of wear and tear, it becomes smooth and very thin. A trip to Royal Steering Wheels in the UK, however, has sorted that with a very professional re-trim. Everything, seems fine. Petrol wise its about 350-370 motorway miles to tank and very little goes wrong between services. So it ticks a lot of boxes for someone looking for a balanced little sports car.
This car is a little pocket rocket. With some 272hp on tap, you are never really short of off the line and overtaking grunt. In normal "D" mode (mine is an automatic), there is a small lag off the line as the turbo chargers wake up the 2.0 litre engine. But once moving, it keeps pace with the rest of them. In sport however, its a very different picture. The revs shoot up to 3000 and there seems to be plenty more power flowing. It gets sharper, louder and a ton more fun. That coupled with the magnetic ride suspension means that this is actually a serious little car for what it is. Obviously 2.0 engines are pushing 300-400+ bhp (SEAT Ateca Cupra hovering up my backside) these days, but that doesn't stop my £12k car holding its own on the road. For the money, there are few others that match this car without compromise.
Yes. For anyone with £12k or less to spend on car, there really is very other cars that will give the balance, performance, comfort and build quality of the TTS. So if you are expecting a hairdressermobile, you should be in for a surprise.
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