Some Great new Video Reviews of the TTRS

[dgszweda]

Here is some great videos from DriveTribe:

Part1: Audi TT RS vs BMW M2 vs Porsche 718 Cayman S: dyno shootout

Part 2: Audi TT RS vs BMW M2 vs Porsche 718 Cayman S: drag race to 130mph

Part 3: Audi TT RS vs BMW M2 vs Porsche 718 Cayman S: Not posted yet track battle


Short Story, the Audi TTRS has more power and quicker off the line. Not too shocking. I was a bit surprised that the 0-60 and 0-100 times are a bit slower than we have seen from a few other magazines.

[Drof]

if you want to see the track battle its posted on drivetribes website already.

Jethro was not a fan of the TTRS lol

[ormandj]

From my other posts on these, all four are available. I'll just cut and paste to save time.

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http://bit.ly/D_TRBvideos

Let me ruin the predictable surprise for you. TT RS they liked for straight line, track the Cayman S with the M2 slightly behind, and TT RS last. TT RS was slightly faster than the M2, both slower than Cayman by over a second on a minute and a half lap time.

Somehow the TT RS was around a second slower than the Cayman S on the portion of the track with the longest straight, and least turns. Reviewer did mention losing time when hitting rev limiter while in manual mode because he doesn't like auto mode. TT is not as "fun" as the other two, but can be if you drive it well. But that's not fun after a lap, apparently. M2 brakes stink. TT RS is bad at braking in track video 1 but good at braking in track video 2. Cayman S is perfect, except it has a horrible engine. /theend

Sigh.
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Honestly, I don't really like the review, not because of the outcome (which I do question regarding the times not matching everyone else, as well as the nearly second off on the straightest part of the track with slower cars), but because of the track only focus. It's a single dimension in which to analyze these cars.

I actually agree somewhat with the outcome, I'm quite sure the Cayman S is more RWD style fun around a track. I just think a lot is lost in not looking at any other aspects of the vehicle. I would also argue that driving a non-RWD car can be fun too, just a very different type of fun. The video even mentions that specifically, but then says after a lap it's not fun. The flip flopping on that as well as the brakes didn't make much sense to me. I also suspect the track numbers could be a little closer if he wasn't hitting the rev limiter like a doofus. :) Nice cinematography though, the style of the video is very cool. All very nice cars and looked like a blast to drive!

[dgszweda]

I agree ormandj. One of the concerns that I have with magazines is that they are so focused on track outcomes, which then drives consumers around numbers and drives car manufacturers to build cars that beat these numbers. We have taken all of the fun out of cars over the last few years. Yes, they produce good numbers, but aren't really built to drive well for most people on normal streets. Most reviewers will tell you that the TTRS is an awesome 9/10's car. Honestly, that is probably more than most people will take there cars on a public road. So why shouldn't that be good enough. I drove an M4 the the other day again, and really it is a nice car, but also a handful on the streets. I honestly felt that my RS5 was a better all around car for driving on the streets.

Cayman is a nice car, but if you order one, expect to pay around $90K+ for the S and getting standard options. The M2 is great, but really a crappy interior. The TTRS won't be the best on the track, but it won't be bad either, and for day to day driving will be a blast.

[ormandj]

Couldn't have said it better dgszweda, that I'd why I ordered the TT RS. I was at the Porsche dealership to buy a 718S, then saw what one optioned out would cost. I considered stretching my budget, then rode in it. It's a lot of fun, but it wasn't terribly great as a DD from a space perspective, and the engine doesn't do anything for me sound-wise. It just wasn't a 90k car for my intended use. I have a dog, I buy things that are larger than a carry on luggage bag, etc.

I ended up looking at BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. The TT RS was the best compromise for daily livability as a single vehicle, while still remaining fun and engaging. I could only drive a TTS, but I enjoyed it quite a bit on the types of roads I'd be at most of the time, and it had plenty of room for stuff/pets/etc. Amazingly comfortable, virtual dashboard was excellent, Android auto worked fine, etc. RS with more power and great sound sealed the deal. Being honest with myself, I'll do a track day every 2months. I'm going to be a lot happier the other 59 days out of 60 by sacrificing a few percent of track performance compared to a Cayman S.

If I was a track rat it might have been a different story, but I probably would have gotten a Miata instead. Tracking expensive cars will quickly cost you more in wear/tear/consumables than the vehicle payments!

At the end of the day, all vehicles are compromises. The TT RS, for me, fell in the right quadrant. Great DD that's a lot of fun driving legally on public roads, sounds good, looks good (except the wheels hah!), and will be sure footed rain or shine. It gives up a little on the 6 track days I'll do a year, and that's a trade off I'm willing to make.

[JohnEnglish]

My sister ordered a TTRS for the same reason. She was considering a 718 but once she saw the cost of the options she went back to Audi for the TTRS (she also had the previous gen TTRS). She also really likes the AWD aspect of the TTRS.

[GaBoYnFla]

My sister ordered a TTRS for the same reason. She was considering a 718 but once she saw the cost of the options she went back to Audi for the TTRS (she also had the previous gen TTRS). She also really likes the AWD aspect of the TTRS.

I looked at the Cayman too but when I added the options I wanted, it when way to much money for me......

[dgszweda]

I also find it odd how car magazine's just always throw the same three cars in comparison tests, when they may not be the ones people are considering in real life when shopping. For example, why would someone be looking at a $90K+ car and a $60K-$70K car? If I could afford $90K-$95K for a Cayman S, I would be looking at different cars than the TTRS. I also have yet to meet anyone who cross shops a TTRS and a M2. They are just totally different cars. And if you are looking at the $50K M2, would you really be looking at the $95K Cayman S? I just feel that car magazines have to throw three German cars together all the time and they just try to find something to match. What about the Jaguar F-Type Coupe, or the Corvette Grand Sport. I was even looking at the Shelby GT350, the Camaro ZL1, M4, used R8... Most of the people I hang around with are not looking at similar specs, but looking at a certain price range and than looking for different things. Yes, the GT350 is not the same car as the TTRS, but it is almost the same exact price and offers a thrilling ride, albeit using a different formula.

[YegorS]

The M2 must be compared with RS3. By the way, our laundry dryer's bearings got worn off and now it sounds exactly like the Porsche. I am getting fixed it tomorrow. But seriously, even if the 718 is 100 times faster and fun, I would buy the the TT RS just for that amazing steering wheel with Start button on the right. The TT RS looks better, has better engine, sounds better, has a better interior, costs significantly less than a similarly optioned 718 and I am sure will be faster in the hands of an unbiased driver. I never liked his reviews and same goes for Chris Harris: it's really boring and annoying watching them slide a car and raving about it.

[dgszweda]

It seems that car reviewers are more interested in how well a car drifts than anything else. You can't really do what they are excited about on public roads, you can't do it on a track day, and it for sure doesn't help your driving any. I am not sure if they should be reviewing cars, or writing for Japanese drift magazines.

[JohnEnglish]

Yeah the drifting thing is really dumb. Almost every new car review video seems to have a bit on drifting the car around a track.

[dgszweda]

Yeah the drifting thing is really dumb. Almost every new car review video seems to have a bit on drifting the car around a track.

Not only that, but if the car can't do that, it is considered dull and boring. They all place some of their highest importance on the ability of the car to slide around track curves in a controlled fashion. If it does that, the car is considered fun. If it snaps out of control, like a Z06, it is considered scary. If it doesn't slide at all, it is considered a car that understeers and is boring. Everyone ignores the fact that this is the most inefficient way to go around a track and something that can't really be done with much bravado on a packed track or a public road.

[Rapture]

While I understand the point some of you are making with these videos showing the drifting I think the point they are trying to make is that these cars are inherently balanced without bad handling flaws. Most of the drivers are biased towards rear wheel drive vehicles and it's much harder to make an AWD car drift unless you build in a software option like they do with the Focus RS. I would probably like the ability to dial in more Rear wheel participation on the TT RS at times (I don't have one of course yet so who really knows) but for the street it is probably really unnecessary. I'm surprised that no one makes an aftermarket ability to do this? I thought they used to have something like this for the R32. Anyway, again on the street it probably wouldn't do much.


Rapture

[GaBoYnFla]

It seems that car reviewers are more interested in how well a car drifts than anything else. You can't really do what they are excited about on public roads, you can't do it on a track day, and it for sure doesn't help your driving any. I am not sure if they should be reviewing cars, or writing for Japanese drift magazines.

Yeah the drifting thing is really dumb. Almost every new car review video seems to have a bit on drifting the car around a track.

Yea, I agree with you guys...I don't get drifting at all....slow way to just show off to me...burn outs are in the same category....I don't need either of them.

[JohnEnglish]

Yea, I agree with you guys...I don't get drifting at all....slow way to just show off to me...burn outs are in the same category....I don't need either of them.

It reminds me of when I was looking at a CTS-V a few years ago and was browsing forums and asking questions and almost everyone was like "Dude, you can do such sick burnouts in it" I mean I guess that's cool for about 30 seconds but that has no appeal to me beyond the first day of ownership.

[ormandj]

Part 3 is out, and as expected, the TT RS is p00p...

Don't worry in part four they contradict themselves a few more times. All the videos have been out a while, see earlier link. It's the same story, some truths in there, neat video, but there is no concern for/focus on the vehicle as a road car.

It doesn't drive around the track like a RWD car sums up the videos.