Audi TT RS

Expert Rating:

What is it?

Only a handful of cars in Audi's history have worn the RS badge and this TT is the latest. It denotes the fastest, most intense flagship sporting model in the range, the TT RS gaining a 335bhp turbocharged five-cylinder powerplant to make it the fastest TT ever. With a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 174mph - if you've had the electronic speed limiter removed - it's a wickedly fast Audi, but it needs to be more than just quick to compete against the impressive rivals in its class.

Is it any good?

There's some serious history weighing on the TT RS. Its 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged unit nods reverentially to the legendary quattros of the 1980s. All of which means the TT RS has to be good. Certainly against the clock it's mightily impressive, with a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds, it can sprint with some bona-fide supercars, its quattro four-wheel drive transmission enabling it to put to use its ample power very effectively indeed. There's lots of traction and grip, making it fast not just in a straight line but through the corners too.

It might be quick in the corners, but the RS never really involves like its rivals do when tackling a string of challenging bends. The steering is light and fast, but there's precious little feedback through its rim and it feels nose heavy when pushing hard. There's none of the precision, balance, feel or feedback you'll get from Porsche's similarly priced Cayman S, the TT RS feeling blunt in comparison. That's exacerbated by the gearbox, which despite Audi's claims of quick-shifting precision proves neither quick nor particularly precise. It's smooth enough when driving at normal speeds, but up the pace and it's difficult to execute a smooth gearchange, which makes for jerky progress. The RS would be the perfect recipient of Audi's twin-clutch paddle-shift transmission, but it's not available on this model.

The brakes are strong and given this TT's focus it rides relatively well, though for the choice of sporting or comfort suspension settings you'll need to fork out some more money for the optional magnetic dampers. Inside you're held tightly by sports seats, the cabin also wearing its flagship status with aluminium inserts, RS badging and leather upholstery. Externally the TT RS is easily identified by its large rear wing, the overt addition to the TT's rump thankfully a 'delete spec' option for those wanting the purity of the TT's lines left intact on their top of the range model. Other signifiers include larger alloy wheels behind which nestle bigger brakes; the RS also wears R8-like additions to its front and rear bumpers and delivers a soundtrack that's reminiscent of its quattro rally car relatives of the 1980s. There is some appeal there then, but straight line pace and a nice soundtrack do little to compensate for the RS's lack of real driver appeal - of the sort we expect cars wearing the RS badge to deliver.

Should I call the bank manager?

You'll need to, as this is one expensive TT. At £42,985 for the coupé - and a couple of thousand more for the Roadster - before you've added options like magnetic dampers, you might just need a loan. That's a lot to pay for a TT, especially as the TTS offers much the same for a good chunk of money less. The best TTs are actually at the entry point in the range, where their looks, beautiful build and performance feel like good value. Start heading up to the realms of the TT RS's price point and it only adds pace, with little of the interaction and involvement offered by its rivals. A Porsche Cayman S is in a completely different league on the road, yet costs similar money.

Summary

Given Audi's recent track record with its S4, R8 and (no longer available) RS4 we had high hopes for the TT RS; hopes that have ultimately been dashed. It's quick, sounds good and looks great too, but it's seriously outclassed as a driver's car by its key rivals. If we had to have a TT we'd save £20,000 and buy a 2.0 TFSI version instead, as in all but raw speed it's the purer, more involving car to drive.

Kyle Fortune