Petrol-head roadster

The march forward of the convertible and roadster continues. The Audi A3 TT 2.0T FSI Roadster comes hot on the heels of the impressive BMW 335i Convertible I tested recently, a car that changed my view of the convertible forever.

Never on my preferred list, the roadster/convertible may turn heads but proved inept when cornering spiritedly. In fact it was a matter of beauty took preference over road holding refinement. The all-new Audi TT Roadster further reinforces the move toward mating beauty with refined handling qualities. What’s more I enjoyed this Roadster TT more than the 335i Convertible. But do not get too excited, the thing is a two-seater and weighs some 430kg less than the Bee Emm. And, damn! It’s pure enjoyment. And one thing’s for sure! The 120 percent extra stiffness over the previous model is not an idle claim, you feel it during every bend.

Scuttle shake is so negligible you have to concentrate to notice it — perhaps only die-hard petrol-heads would notice. Steering response is awesomely quick and oh-so positive, no doubt a result of the electromechanical power steering that combines direct ratio with sensitive precision. In fact steering feel and seating position are so good, I felt loath to stop driving the car. This is also due to car’s gorgeous but comfy tan leather bucket seats with that heavy, thick leather stitching any Eskimo would have on his anorak. Even the female car-cleaner stood back in to admire the handiwork.

But the biggest surprise came when testing the car. In the past convertibles, by virtue of the extra steel beams fitted to reduce chassis twist, were somewhat heavier than their Coupe siblings. But the new Audi Space Frame technology goes a long way in stiffening the chassis and also leads to reducing the weight of stiffening beams. So when the 14.3 elapsed time for the quarter-mile lit up on the test equipment, my eyes lit up. That’s quick for a convertible and 1/10th quicker than the BMW 335i Convertible.

In fact the A3 TT 3.2 V6 Coupe quattro managed 15.6. If there was a downside, it’s when pushing hard out of a tight bend with the accelerator pressed hard to the floor board when some torque steer sets in. Why not include the quattro all-wheel-drive in the TT 2-litre, I ask? In fact the amount of wheel-spin when the limited slip diff is turned of is a worrying — but in some ways exciting. However for a car with such refined handling is puzzling.

When testing the original TT, engine response was a trite wanting. Nothing of that sort this time around, it’s not only more responsive throughout the rev range but also quieter cruising at higher speeds. However the purposely tuned and throaty exhaust note does add an element of excitement though.

The Audi A3 TT Roadster has taken wind-in-your-hair motoring to new heights, in a car which is not only beauteous but feels, performs and handles like a sporty coupe. Something few convertible/roadsters offer today.