1 ///M Competition on the way: Audi NA announces bringing TT-RS to US

[cstavaru]

I think the 1M will be in a whole new league compared to the Audi TT-RS. M3 suspension, ligher than the M3, N54 with overboost and huge tuning margin...just imagine...

By the way, the Audi press release specifies the TT-RS will also be manual-only, at least in the US. It's stupid, are they copying each other ? I suppose they couldn't have the same "hiccup" that's holding the dual-clutch transmissions back...

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by cpippolo

TT-S weights over 3200 lbs and has 60% of the weight over the front wheels of its Golf platform. I doubt the weight or weight distribution of the RS is much better than the S, so think I'll go with RWD and near 50/50 weight distribution of the 1M.

The ASF (aluminum space frame) platform under the second gen TT has nothing in common with a Golf, and the TT-S is listed as 3150 pounds by multiple sources, but the horrible Haldex and typical Audi understeer will probably be there in spades.

[MyCorvette]

TT is based on a FWD structure (although it has AWD versions). No matter how many letters 'R' or 'S' it put behind the 'TT' tag, it is still a FWD based car.

No serious sports car is FWD based.

[niuniu]

I think it's a very cool looking car - we've had the TTRS in Europe for a while now. But the 1M will completely outclass it. You won't understand the value of the 1M until it's released, test driven and compared to the TTRS.

Definitely a cool machine though. Can't wait to see the 1M/TTRS comparison reviews in 2011.

[mixxer]

HMM - well if bmw drops the ball ?

[niuniu]

Originally Posted by mixxer

HMM - well if bmw drops the ball ?

Then you buy a Cayman S. The TT-RS doesn't have rear seats, so it gets leathered by the Cayman S. At least with the 1M if it's slightly under-performing against the Cayman S you justify it by it being more practical.

[HBspeed]

Originally Posted by cpippolo

TT-S weights over 3200 lbs and has 60% of the weight over the front wheels of its Golf platform. I doubt the weight or weight distribution of the RS is much better than the S, so think I'll go with RWD and near 50/50 weight distribution of the 1M.

Beat me to it. The issue is it has a great engine in a garbage body. Imagine if they put that engine in the R4 concept they have been flirting with for so long.

[Point N Shoot]

Originally Posted by felixcat

TT is based on a FWD structure (although it has AWD versions). No matter how many letters 'R' or 'S' it put behind the 'TT' tag, it is still a FWD based car.

No serious sports car is FWD based.

Evo-Mr

[PyratOne]

Originally Posted by niuniu

Then you buy a Cayman S. The TT-RS doesn't have rear seats, so it gets leathered by the Cayman S. At least with the 1M if it's slightly under-performing against the Cayman S you justify it by it being more practical.

Roger that. I dont think you can mention Cayman S and TT in the same league, can you? I mean, c'mon. The TT is pretty and all, but to me its still a VW bug on steroids. $60K? No thanks.
No, the Cayman S (CPO) is high on the list of cars if this 1M doesnt have the cost/benefit - value.

[mixxer]

I dont really care if it has rear seats or not.

[///M1]

I think both are great cars in their own rights, and probably not a direct and true apples-to-apples comparo (e.g. 2 seater vs 4, RWD vs. AWD, etc.), but close anyhow.

Gotta love the mod potential on either platform. MTM has a good tuning program for the TT-RS in place already: 472hp/442tq. Not bad

http://www.mtm-online.de/en/news?id=117

[Raine]

Meh I'd rather get an S4 at that price range lol

[Robert]

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Robert

The TT has more balance than 135i. It's smaller, lighter and sits closer to the ground. I test drove a couple right after I sold my 135i and TT felt more capable around corners. Biggest downer of the TT was 2.0T has a huge turbo lag and its a bit underpowered. If Audi can ameliorate the turbo and lessen the power steering assist on the RS, TT will be competitive against 135i. Without going into details, the TT is also a better looking car inside and outside. Of course beauty is subjective but as soon as you sit in one you be thinking, "wow, this is nice."

TT-S is already over 50, isn't it? I am sure it will be at least 60

I had a 2006 A4 2.0T of the previous gen vintage.
It responds very well to a tune, and the tuning is done through the OBD port, really easy to change programs, and included a slick "lock out" feature so the dealer couldn't mess with it.
The TT 2.0T also responds very well to a $600 tune. You get a very nice improvement.
My 2.0T A4 had barely any lag, perhaps a wee bit more than my 135i.
But, the 135i has the advantage of 33% more engine capacity to start with, so by it's size advantage it develops more torque at low rpm off the line. For such a small displacement turbo, the 2.0T is quite impressive with less lag than one would think. It does require more revs off the line to eliminate any lag. Driven correctly for the engine, it's nearly lag-less.

[aus135i]

TTRS only manual, and very small on the inside, it has back sets... but u cant even fit a big breed dog @ the back! and its very expensive here down under...abt $140AUD... 135 > TTS 1M > TTRS

[Absorber]

The TTRS is a great car, but it's way too expensive and the back seats are unusable.

[cpippolo]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

The ASF (aluminum space frame) platform under the second gen TT has nothing in common with a Golf, and the TT-S is listed as 3150 pounds by multiple sources, but the horrible Haldex and typical Audi understeer will probably be there in spades.

Audi's website quotes the weight at 3241 lbs. I presume they have no incentive to fudge that number upwards. Also, it uses the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform, which is also used for the Golf and many others from the VW group. Also, ASF stands for "Audi space frame." I don't see any mention of aluminum. I think extensive use of aluminum may be limited to the A8.

Edit - I now see it "features" aluminum in the Audi Space frame. Aluminum up front, steel in the rear. Its a little lighter than the 1 series, despite the quattro, presumably in part because of the use of aluminum, a smaller engine, and a negligible back seat.

[MinusS50]

S-Tronic gearbox plan in September in Europe so you should have it aswell.The weight is slight less than a 135i (50kg) but the TT get 4WD and is one Quattro Gmbh engine (build from the 5 cyl Jetta engine but with a lot of change).

It cost 60K euros in France and around 55K so you should expect the same price in US (which isn't to bad compare to Europe).

[xbook]

Car & Driver lists the TT-RS @ 55,800 Euro. That's about $73k. It's a nice car and all, but for that I get an M3 and have a back seat and usable trunk.

[grant]

Originally Posted by xbook

Car & Driver lists the TT-RS @ 55,800 Euro. That's about $73k. It's a nice car and all, but for that I get an M3 and have a back seat and usable trunk.

You cannot rely on a currency conversion - we get much better prices in the US than a currency conversion would suggest (i.e. we pay fewer US Dollars than the Germans pay Euros for Porsches).

[BMWDAD]

Before I bought my 335i, I test drove a Audi TT and a VW GTI. I felt the GTI was the better car.

[as7920]

A lot is riding on this 1M for me.

As much as I would love a Cayman I really need the rear seats and even the TT cannot satisy this.

If the 1m cam deliver then it has it sewn up in my book.