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2004 Audi TT 3.2 Coupe and Convertible Sports Car
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Performance
The 3.2 liter, V6 engine delivers 250-horsepower with 236-lb,-ft. of torque - that’s about perfect for this little topless car. 25 more horsepower and no throttle lag compared to the 1.8T high-output turbo makes a huge difference.
The engine is smooth and its sound is that sexy purr only true sportscars have.
But what truly sets this car apart from the competition is the DSG transmission. There is no clutch, but you get all the performance of a traditional manual transmission with the convenience of an automatic. Shifting is effortless and done using a paddle on the right side of the steering wheel to shift up and another on the left to shift down. And no clutch pedal â€' oh I guess we said that already. The Audi TT now joins the ranks of the few sportscars that can be driven comfortably in stilettos along with the BMW Z4, Ferraris, Mazerattis, Aston Martin, and Toyota MR2 with manual gearboxes.
Audi has developed the best manual gearbox with paddle shifters of all the current makers. Theirs is not sequential as is BMW’s which has all the gears aligned along a single shaft with a single clutch â€' squeeze the paddle, which activates the clutch, the next gear is selected, the clutch is released and the gear engaged. The Audi DSG transmission instead uses two shafts and two clutches. The even gears are on one shaft and the odd ones on the other. When you select first gear, second gear is preselected and in position. When you squeeze the paddle the next gear is engaged, and the gear needed after that becomes selected. This makes for must faster shifting; the connection between driver and transmission is never disrupted.
When the paddle on the left is squeezed to down-shift the transmission’s computer automatically gives a the system a little gas to align the engine and wheel speeds. This avoids over-revving the engine. This used to be a complicated heal-toe maneuver for the driver â€' hitting the brake and gas at the same time while working the clutch peddle with your other foot. Audi’s resolution is a lot easier. Not only will you be a better driver, you’ll sound like one too.
So you want super-fast acceleration from a stoplight? The DSG transmission has a F1-style launch control feature. With the gas and brake pedals depressed simultaneously, the engine revs to 3,200 rpms. When you release the brake, the TT accelerates through the gears as fast as possible, taking you from zero miles per hour to speeding ticket in a heartbeat.
The twin-clutch design of the DSG gearbox is not new for Audi. It has been in use it in their racing programs since the mid-1980s. They have just now brought a production version to market, and it is only available in the TT 3.2.
Ride and Handling
As always the Texas Hill Country is a wonderful place to test cars; the scenery is gorgeous, the roads twisting and pristine, and the weather is often spectacular. The Audi TT 3.2 , with its top down, was the perfect car for that perfect day.
The ride is comfortable and luxurious for the passenger, and the driver gets just enough road feel for precise driving.
The Audi TT 3.2 roadster’s DSG gives the ability to always have the proper gear giving the wheels the right amount of power for cornering, passing, and fast acceleration. The second you think of the gear you need and hit the appropriate paddle, the DSG transmission instantaneously selects the gear you want. Passing is safer and more thrilling.
TT’s braking into, and accelerating out of curves is what every roadster lover dreams of. Accelerating is more fun, and safer, with instantaneous gear selection.
