Man this thing sounds pretty cool!
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...leId=116006#10

I'm especially interested since they make mention of what sounds like a pretty fun to drive DSG transmission - my wife is whining that our next 'fun' car be an automatic.

 

I cant get excited over a 250hp bubble. If I want a lightweight two seater, a wicked interior, and a good handler, Id save myself 15 grand and get a Sky RL. Seriously, what about this car realy justifies its price? It might be fun to drive off a mountain....err...down a mountain, but 40 grand?

 

Which has always been the TT's problem...

For 40ish grand you get yerself a Corvette.




Hmmm...
TT or Vette? TT or Vette?
Wow...
I'm really gonna have to think on that one HARD.



Oh...

And one more thingy...

Am I wrong or does the big-gun Sky and Solstice motor make 10 more horsepower than the 3.2 liter in the TT?

Wow...
GM just won a hp/L argument...
Imagine that...

 

Well... at least it doesn't look quite as ghey as it used to.

 

Very likely the interior is much nicer, all wheel drive stability (very popular up north especially), higher feature content, and a chassis/steering setup that is almost unbeatable in the predictability and fun department.

Kinda the same reasons why people still buy a 3-series BMWs even though on paper it doesn't really seem all too impressive in any one area...

The 3.2L V6 will likely be seeing an upgrade after the first year.

And for 43 grand this thing should from what I've heard come loaded to the hilt including the DSG trans, magnetic ride control, navi, etc. That's not far from the Vette's price point but still almost 10 grand lower and with a driving experience that some people may prefer over the Vettes as I doubt they're very similar in the way they drive.

With that said I'd take the Vette hands-down if I were buying something... but Audi tends to have favorable lease rates. In fact I'd be surprised if leasing a 40k dollar Audi 07 TT would cost me anything past 500/month with zero down for 36 months. I've priced out lease rates on the Vette and it's retarded... like to the tune of 900-1000/month. I could get a almost 90k dollar E63 AMG Benz for a lease rate like that and it'd be nearly as quick!

 

Does it come in a convertable? If not why would you compare it to the sky/solitce?

 

Just make sure you have a chase car to pick up all the pieces that fall off of it.

Audi = looks good, doesn't last.

 

Having seen and driven multiple VW/Audi's during my 3 year stint in germany... I will second that point. I don't ever want to work on a German car ever again.

 

What am I missing here?

2.0L + turbocharged + direct injection = 200hp? Why such pathetic output? GM pushes 260hp out of their boosted, DI 2.0L motors.

 

This is a very strange position we're in here...

Not only is GM out-powering another manufacturer (which is normal), they're doing it on only 2.0 liters...

Will wonders never cease?

 

See what doesn't make sense though is that 6 years ago the 2001 Audi TT was available with a 1.8L turbo 4 making 225 horsepower and 207 torque and that was WITHOUT direct injection, either!

The current direct injection 2.0T is only rated at 200hp/207 torque. Though there are several programs available from various third party companies that boost hp to around 260 and tq to around 290 on the Audi 2.0T running 93 octane, and supposedly say it won't impact reliability at all, though I'm not sure how true of a statement that really is... unless of course Audi just didn't want to compete with their own 3.2L? Maybe once the 3.2L V6 is revised to produce a more competetive power output they'll increase the boost?

 

Well, the numbers do sound pathetic. Yet the performance derived from this engine is astounding to me.

Picture 3500 lbs all-wheel-drive Audi A4, with this 2.0L engine and 6-speed manual transmission. That engine propels the car through the 1/4 mi in 14.9 - 15.0 seconds at 94 mph.

 

Well, there are many things available with this car that aren't available with Saturn/Pontiac.

DSG, for one thing.

All wheel drive, for another.

Advanced magnetic suspension.

A more wicked interior, fit and finish.

Does it all justify the 43K? Personally i would not buy that car. But I wouldn't buy BMW M3 either, or Lexus SC430.

 

My 100% stock FWD 2.0T A4 did 15.1 @ 93 on my first time to the track with it (best of three runs and I'm not a great stick driver, either).

 

I happen to be driving a new 1.8T jetta everyday (no choice of my own) and it sucks! the car has been in for warranty work 6 times! in as many months. I cant stand it, The console broke today. The button to open it just broke right off. Its a total piece of crap. Every Audi I have been in uses many of the same parts inside and under the hood as my loaded Jetta, so....i would say that anyone that says they can increase power by 60hp without sacrificing reliability is in dreamland. Just starting the car or touching it sacrifices the reliablity. Didnt I see VW/ Audi near the bottom of a reliability test recently? Imma go look it up...