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2004 Audi TT Roadster
Quattro DSG6
What more could you ask for. That about sums up driving a
bright colored TT convertible in near prefect weather. What is that color
you ask? Papaya Orange. Yellow with a touch of orange, something very
close to the famous Lamborghini colors we have all seen. This TT sticks out
and boy does it make you wonder why anyone would buy such ugly bland colors
like silver, blue, and green on the road. Bright and gorgeous is the way we
like it in a drop top and the TT delivers.
The Audi TT is very much like the Porsche Boxster in that it
retains its original styling from its inception and still looks great. It
is one of the most futuristic looking vehicles on the road. How can you
tell a 3.2 TT from a lesser TT on the road? Well, notice the S line badging
on the sides in red, the larger rear spoiler with a front apron sporting
aggressive side fins, and of course, it will pass you with amazing quickness
and a very Italian howl. Now if only the next iteration could look like the
car in I-Robot.
Today, Audi's TT line
features many different combinations, from coupe to convertible, offering
various engine choices in four cylinder form and a our new V6. Our 2004 TT roadster features a newly developed 3.2
liter V6 engine producing 250 horsepower and 236 lb/ft of torque. Finally
the Germans are catching up with the horsepower race from Japan. This is
combined with a highly innovative gearbox that permits an uninterrupted flow
of power during gear changes called Direct Shift Gear or DSG for short.
Combining this advanced sports gearbox with the Quattro permanent all wheel
drive system and plenty of horsepower makes for a car that is so much fun to
drive.
The new V6 engine, with an
angle of only 15 degrees between the two rows of cylinders, is an extremely
compact engine. It is mounted transversely into the compact engine bay.
All inlets and exhaust camshafts are continuously adjustable for further
efficiency and reduced emissions. This coupled with the DSG providing a
double clutch system means rapid engine control. The new 3.2 liter V6 is
the same engine used in the VW R32 and the Porsche Cayenne base model. It
easily pulls the TT to sixty in 6.6 seconds.
The Direct-Shift Gearbox in the 2004 TT 3.2
is the next milestone in transmission technology, but it is hardly new to
Audi. The twin-clutch design of DSG has its roots in motor racing. In
1985, Audi tested the concept in the legendary Sport Quattro S1, a rally
vehicle that was victorious in the legendary Pike's Peak Hill Climb.
The 2004 Audi TT with Direct
Shift Gearbox (DSG) is the best variation to date of manuals that act like
automatics from the likes of BMW and Ferrari. In automatic 'D' mode the
Audi TT DSG shifts as smoothly as an A4. Shifts are fast and soft with most
happening without you even feeling a thing.
The control logic integrated into the
transmission casing maintains optimum gear selection strategies for
lightning-fast gear shifts that are nevertheless smooth and jolt-free. Two
small paddles just behind the steering wheel allow for instantaneous
temporary manual operation even with the shift selector in automatic "D"
mode. If gears are not changed for 30 seconds, the transmission returns
back to its automatic mode changing to 5th of 6th
gear.
Drive in manual mode with the
shift lever pushed to the right of "D" and the transmission leaves it up to
you to change gears either by paddle or by shift lever. You can move the
shifter forward or backwards as in other Audi's but here the gear shift is
more solid and noticeable. Tap the pedal and the shift occurs quickly and
with a certain click that is not found on automatics. It feels very fast
and now we cannot imagine driving anything else. Reaching redline will tell
the computer to shift to the next gear so that you do not destroy the
engine. We would prefer that the rev limiter simply engage and the gear not
shift to the next gear until we change it manually. The power however is
always on, going to all four wheels which helps in pulling the TT roadster
forward smoothly. Yes this Quattro sticks very very well, pulling .93 G's
on our test track.
The paddle shifter was not
the most impressive function of this DSG equipped TT. It is the sport
setting that makes this car so much fun on daily drives. In "S" mode, just
below "D", the engine is always kept at optimum rpm's. The Sport
"S" program delays up-shifts and advances downshifts, and expedites the
actual shift process.
The engine remains around
3300 to 4000 revolutions in each gear. Push the pedal to the floor and car
races to redline in each gear before automatically shifting to the next gear
awesomely fast. Press the brakes as you enter a corner and the active
throttle blips during downshifts, with a true feeling of neutral for a
millisecond before the next lower gear engages. Drive in Sport mode and you
can pass anything instantly. Power is available so quickly that all anyone
else sees is a small yellow dot blazing by.
Going from 80 to 120 is quick and
effortless. The car is smooth; all four wheels put power down on the road
evenly with ease. There is no push or pull feeling as in rear or front
wheel drive cars; the TT moves forward with ease at great speed. Putting
the car in regular drive mode makes for a comfortable tourer for long
journeys. This is the true versatility of a great car, able to change faces
depending on the driver's mood.
The basis for the new
development is a three-shaft, six-speed manual gearbox that offers
considerable variability in selection of the transmission ratio. A twin
multi-plate clutch with an ingenious electro-hydraulic control allows two
gears to be engaged at the same time. During operation, DSG engages one
gear and pre-selects the next based on the approaching point of the next up
or downshift. When the shift occurs, either automatically or by driver
input via the shift lever or the racing-style steering wheel mounted
shift-paddles, the clutch of the engaged gear opens as the clutch of the
next pre-selected gear closes. The gear change takes place under load, with
a certain overlap, resulting in a permanent flow of power. As on
conventional manual transmissions, the toothed-wheel gears are present on
input and auxiliary shafts. For DSG, the input shaft is divided into an
outer hollow shaft handling odd-numbered gears plus reverse (1, 3, 5 and R)
and an inner shaft handling even-numbered gears (2, 4 and 6). Each shaft is
selected by a separate multi-plate clutch running in oil and packed inside
each other for space economy. This type of clutch permits starting
characteristics ranging from gentle to full-throttle, with spontaneous and
decisive gear changes executed as if at the push of a button like in a F1
race car.
The suspension is firm but
comfortable and has been adapted to suit the new requirements of the
engine. The diameter of the anti-roll bars on the front and rear axles have
been increased compared with the four-cylinder turbocharged version of the
TT. The springs and shocks have been set differently as well in this
model. All this makes for a great handling sports car ride, but a ride that
is never jarring. The wide stance is very noticeable at the wheel and gives
the driver even more confidence taking curves and driving on highways fast.
Overall the ride height of the TT is very low to the ground for a race car
like feel. The main goal is to add to the driving experience and this
suspension setup does that very well without any electronic gadgetry. Added
to this is a 17-inch high performance brake system with ventilated discs.
This brings the 3351 pounds of weight to a stop very quickly.
Rack-and-pinion power steering with manual
tilt and telescopic adjustable steering column and a three-spoke sport
steering wheel are also standard equipment on both the TT Coupe and
Roadster. The steering feel in the TT is superb as in most German makes.
Turning the wheel just a tad will point the car in the same direction. The
steering is very precise and road feel through the steering wheel is just
what it should be in a sports car. The wheel itself is also one of the best
we have ever felt. The wheel is extra thick and having bulges on the top
and the bottom of the wheel helped a great deal in making the drive more
fun.
This Audi TT also features some interior
special trim that is not found in lesser models. An
aluminum gear shift gate and
instrument cluster dials are added for the 3.2 model. Aluminum in general
is used extensively on the interior, from the pedals to the signature trim
around each vent and the large TT embossed flap covering the stereo. It is
a very techno, functional look. The rear spoiler is larger and a honeycomb
pattern in between the two large exhaust valves distinguishes this model.
New titanium colored headlights and standard Xenon beams are a great
addition. A large "3.2 Quattro" chrome badge in back also differentiates
this model. Optional 18-inch wheels lessen the wheel gap and add to the
futuristic car feel.
Seats are quite comfortable
and supportive all around. Because
the TT is more than five inches wider than its competition, there is plenty
of elbowroom. The seats also push back quite a bit leaving loads of legroom
for even the tallest driver.
The manual height adjustment
is a bit difficult to use, and we would have liked fully powered front seats
in a $50,000 vehicle. Our upgraded seats include baseball glove like
stitching on the sides of each seat and alcantera lining the outsides of the
backrest. The thick side bolsters on the seat back and bottom hold you in
place quite well without being overly pushy on long journeys. However the
large bolsters on the seat bottom make getting in and out difficult, Audi
should have used a smaller bolster on the outer edge of the seat bottom.
The wide entry is also not helpful
when the car is wet and you have pants on.
The instrument cluster is a beautiful white
color glowing at night with red needles glistening as if they are wet. Audi
is doing very well in creating beautiful instrument clusters. During the
day the needles also glisten as if they are wet giving a great look to the
driver. One problem we had was with the center display inside the
instrument cluster. With the steering wheel up you cannot see the gear
indicators and that is something that should be changed coming from a German
manufacturer. Moving the steering wheel down makes it even harder to get in
and out of the car without hitting you knees on the wheel. The steering
wheel also lacks controls for stereo, which are needed if you want to be
able to change stations and look at the gleaming metal TT flap in the
console.
It is also a bad idea to put cup holders
way back towards the rear of the central floor console. They are definitely
hard to use while driving, which Americans definitely will do. Since speed
limits are so low in the USA, we can concentrate on so many other things
besides driving, like reading, eating, and talking on cell phones. Also
annoying was the trunk opener hidden in the central console under a cover.
The only other way to open the trunk is by way of your keychain. We wished
that there was a button on the trunk lid itself on many a occasion.
Trunk space is very low in the TT
convertible. Forget large suitcases or even a big cooler as the height of
the trunk is quite small. We wonder how the Boxster can find so much trunk
space in front and back when the TT cannot find much even in the back. The
raising of the soft-top does not effect the trunk space at all. With a
small engine developed now Audi definitely needs to make a TT with a mid
engine design.
The climate controls were a bit difficult
to use as turning the lever to the left or right did not immediately raise
or lower the setting, it had to be held for a second to actually raise the
level. The climate system does include a sun sensor and dust and pollen
filters and it works quite well keeping things cool in the summertime
easily. Especially cool are the seat heater buttons which when pushed pop
outward and light up in a circular pattern as you turn up the heat.
For added cruising enjoyment in our
roadster, an optional Bose stereo system delivered great concert like sound.
A single disc in dash CD slot is available as well as our testers 6 disc
changer located behind the drivers seat in a hidden compartment. The Bose
Audio Pilot noise compensation technology did greatly reduce the sound of
the exhaust however. The most fun is had in the DSG equipped TT listening
to the sound of the exhaust and engine make their beautiful music.
The 2004 Audi TT 3.2 Roadster has numerous
safety provisions, including first-in-class seat-mounted head and chest side
airbags and next generation dual front airbags. All models also feature
three-point safety belts in all seating positions, as well as the LATCH
(Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system. A pre-tension mechanism
for front seat belts takes up slack before a crash, while load limiters
gradually release the belts to reduce pressure as forward momentum is
slowed. An alarm system is standard equipment on all TT 3.2 models, with a
theft-deterrent alarm repeater light on each door windowsill. A first aid
kit and emergency warning triangle is standard on all Audi vehicles. Epa
fuel economy comes to 22 miles per gallon in the city and 27 highway. Our
average came to 20 miles per gallon with spirited driving.
All Audi vehicles sold in North America,
including the 2004 Audi TT 3.2 Coupe and Roadster, come with the Audi
Advantage, an industry-leading combination of warranties and protection.
This top-rated package includes four-year/50,000-mile no-charge scheduled
maintenance with the four year warranty. 24-hour Roadside Assistance for
four years is also included. It is truly helpful to have all regular
maintenance taken care of while owning this new car, from oil changes to
filter changes everything is handled for free.
Our tester's price starts at $42,900 with
the powerful six cylinder engine. However you can opt for lesser TT
roadsters for a starting price of $35,970. Add the special papaya orange
color paint with black fabric roof and you have to pay $1000. 18 inch alloy
wheels with high performance summer tires cost $1,700 more. The audio
package with Bose premium sound and a 6 disc cd changer adds $1,200. Our
exotic baseball optic leather cost $1,000 and the stitching was well worth
it. The Premium package for $700 offers heated front seats and Homelink
remote garage controls. Add the destination fee of $720 and the MSRP of our
tester comes to a wopping $49,370.
The TT convertible is a car for those who
like fun as a couple and love the shape of this futuristic machine. Forget
luggage and anything practical, the TT is for driving pleasure. The TT with
this larger engine and an amazing DSG transmission is a real contender in
the sports car market. We would consider buying this model just for its
transmission. If Audi were to add the DSG in all its models soon it would
truly have an edge in the marketplace. The TT is wider than a Boxster, Z4,
or SLK and with four-wheel drive is a better year round vehicle. While the
Boxster offers a bit more luggage room which may be a selling point in a
comparo, styles are totally different. For those you like the rounded shape
of a TT nothing else will compare. We suggest you try to find a dealer who will let you take a 24 hour test drive in this great machine, it will surley sell that car.
What better time to get into a TT convertible than now.
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