07 Dec 06
The poor weather on our test days was a blessing in disguise, because it allowed us to find out whether the Quattro all-wheel drive that comes with the V6 version is integral to the TT's driver appeal. The argument has generally been that you don't really need all-wheel drive on a road car in the UK, but that it can be very reassuring if you're trying to get a move on in driving rain.
Well, the stability control system got called in to play much more on the front-wheel-drive 2.0 car than on the V6, but at no stage did we think we needed the reassurance provided by the clever but heavy Quattro system. And when you're paying nearly five grand extra for the more powerful car - starting prices are £26,915 for the 2.0, £31,535 for the 3.2 - it all seems a bit unnecessary, in much the same way that many of us reckon the Golf GTI is more fun (and better value) than the R32.
As before, the roadster is a two-seater, but it's bigger than the original version inside and out. The cabin is far from cramped, and the boot capacity is up to a healthy 250 litres in both the 2.0 and 3.2 - which doesn't shrink when the roof is lowered. There's also a ski hatch, allowing long but narrow loads to protrude into the cabin.
The roof lowers itself at the push of a button and folds flat behind the roll bars. There's no separate cover - that's built in to the roof. It's a neat, practical solution, and the fabric of the roof - available in two colours, black and grey - is thick enough to keep out almost as much external noise as the metal roof of the coupe. Obviously it's not as crook-proof as the folding hard top of the Mercedes SLK, but nor does it have the Merc's weight penalty. Plus, an electrically operated mesh wind deflector rises up behind your head at the push of a button to reduce buffeting with the roof down.
