Thoughts please> Z4Coupe 3.0si vs Audi TT 3.2V6 S-tronic.

[Hotride]

Should I have been able to only afford the E85, 986 or TT MK1, my decision may have been different. That said, I have owned 3 E85s, 3 MK1 TTs and am now on my first MK2 TT so fairly well qualified to judge the characteristics of each.

IMO opinion the E85 is now an outdated design bettered by the new MX5 in terms of driver involvement and indeed driver comfort. Yes I agree it is the driver's choice in terms of upto £10k budgets, however to dismiss the 986 as you have done shows a lack of insight and indeed knowledge into "driver's cars".

Upto £10k, low mileage pristine E85, upto £20k MK2 TT, £25k+ Mk2 TTS or E89 3.0l upwards.

To dismiss the TT as you have done illustrates you have neither driven a MK2 or indeed sat in one. But, as said, most peoples choice of motor is depicted by their budget which arguably says it all.

Would I pump £15k into an E85 (non M), no chance. Would I pump £15k into a MK2 TT? Certainly would if those were the only two choices on offer.

Besides as E85 prices have dropped it seems the "driver type" has also changed but suppose that is to be expected as with the E46 and indeed E36.

I never dismissed the 986 - I actually preferred the handling / chassis of the Porsche, but my closest porsche dealership is over 1000Miles away , but the zed had the looks, sat nav & a few other comforts I like, which gave it my choice.

Your right I haven't driven a MK2 - only MK1 but I just don't like the AWD/FWD setup personally and I know I only want a RWD car.

I don't live in UK, I'm in Australia and here an 03 Z4 is around 40K (£27k) and the cheapest Z4M is around 70K, due to BMW being more of an exotic import here. the E46 has dropped in price significantly below the Z4 tho - Sometimes I wish I lived in the UK for your unbelievably low car prices :wink: I could have a Z4M and change for a 2nd car for what I paid lol

 

[ColinP]

It's no good asking on a z4 forum if a Audi TT is as good as the car we all love.
But if you cut hair for a living or just prefer the company of men you should go for the TT!!!

 

[sars]

But if you cut hair for a living or just prefer the company of men you should go for the TT!!!

Think you shoud do the custard test on your car, last time I read something that childish it came from a twelve year old

 

[Z4 Beemer]

Think you shoud do the custard test on your car, last time I read something that childish it came from a twelve year old

Well said sars.

 

[easty027]

jesus, this has opened a real debate. I test drove an auto Z4C yesterday at blue bell Bmw in altrincham as it only 3 miles from home. I was dubious about the auto as i said earlier in this thread, however after a 10 minute drive i actually liked it ! love the ease of the paddles......

It was also good to get back in a zed after such a long time (i sold mine in may) and i realised what made me like it so much, its the involvement, noise, long bonnet and low seating position !......im off to test drive a 3.2TT either sunday or monday evening so it has alot to live it upto, suppose it also good to drive them back to back.

i will report back after the TT test !

 

[Taz]

the paddles are very good, but i think in reality not many people use them, you may be different though

the auto gear change is very smooth

 

[easty027]

As mentioned earlier, I test drove a 3.2v6 S-tronic yesterday and took it for a really good country road blast, even the sales guy in the passenger seat was willing for me to give it the beans ! Initial thoughts as a comparison to the Z4C auto I drove on Friday is basically as follows:-

1. The noise of the V6 is way better than the Z4 (with exception to the M obviously). it has an awesome exhaust note which I am sure no car enthusiast would ever tire of.

2. The car is definitely more comfortable, smoother, the interior is a work of art and seems far better finished in terms of quality and is a great place to sit.

3. The s-tronic seems better engineered than the auto/ steptronic you find in the zed, the changes are far smoother. I am aware of the reliability issues of the stronic but that aside, it seems far more 'modern'.

Overall, the TT might lack that 'feel' you get from the zed, and maybe lacks a tiny bit of involvement but these are two different cars which I can only say is a good thing. The TT is more of a cruiser for sure and I imagine it can give the excitement once you are in the mood for some spirited driving once you floor it and start throwing it about.

So there we are, drove the cars back to back, took them both for a blast and do you know what, I still can't decide!

 

[peddy]

Is the Z4 going to be much of a change for you? as the performance is similar. Will you not get bored with it quickly?

 

[easty027]

Is the Z4 going to be much of a change for you? as the performance is similar. Will you not get bored with it quickly?

thats my main concern peddy !

All i keep thinking about though, is a nice Z4Coupe with a set of 19" CSL's on, its like its etched on my brain or something?

 

[DannyBoy]

You've had a Z4, another may not feel "special" to you.

Knowing how you like to bling up your cars, I should imagine the TT may be more suited for your needs and lets be completely honest looks "phatter".

Where did you test drive the TT?

As you say different cars, looks or a driver's tool, but deals are there to be done for each and only you can make the decision.

Come the winter months you'll be pleased for the Quattro.

Good luck!

 

[Herminator]

As mentioned earlier, I test drove a 3.2v6 S-tronic yesterday and took it for a really good country road blast, even the sales guy in the passenger seat was willing for me to give it the beans ! Initial thoughts as a comparison to the Z4C auto I drove on Friday is basically as follows:-

1. The noise of the V6 is way better than the Z4 (with exception to the M obviously). it has an awesome exhaust note which I am sure no car enthusiast would ever tire of.

2. The car is definitely more comfortable, smoother, the interior is a work of art and seems far better finished in terms of quality and is a great place to sit.

3. The s-tronic seems better engineered than the auto/ steptronic you find in the zed, the changes are far smoother. I am aware of the reliability issues of the stronic but that aside, it seems far more 'modern'.

Overall, the TT might lack that 'feel' you get from the zed, and maybe lacks a tiny bit of involvement but these are two different cars which I can only say is a good thing. The TT is more of a cruiser for sure and I imagine it can give the excitement once you are in the mood for some spirited driving once you floor it and start throwing it about.

So there we are, drove the cars back to back, took them both for a blast and do you know what, I still can't decide!

I think thats a pretty fair review. My father bought a 3.2 v6 TT about 6 months ago, I've not driven it much but it did leave me considering one. The noise is excellent, the feel of everything was very nice, it was roomier than a Z4 and the shape has definetly grown on me. I still like the Z4 though...

Be careful with the options. My fatehr wanted steering wheel controls added and says he wishes he'd gone for one with xenons. I looked into the cost of adding the wheel controls and it was stupidly expensive, not nearly as simple a job as it is on the Z4. Xenons are too expensive to add to either car. He also has cream leather, with looks dirty pretty easily, much more so than the silvergrey leather in my car.

 

[easty027]

You've had a Z4, another may not feel "special" to you.

Knowing how you like to bling up your cars, I should imagine the TT may be more suited for your needs and lets be completely honest looks "phatter".

Where did you test drive the TT?

As you say different cars, looks or a driver's tool, but deals are there to be done for each and only you can make the decision.

Come the winter months you'll be pleased for the Quattro.

Good luck!

Bling up my cars? you make me sound like someone who puts 'innit' at the end of their sentences. All i did was install 19"s and a touch of lowering !

I test drove the TT at York Audi. Funny, as when i went to look a the car the salesman was depserate to get out due to the amazing weather so suggested a test drive within 2 mins of me turning up. The salesman only found out this morning after he rang the dealership that my brother is a sales controller at Audi/JCT (York Audi is a member of the same group) and it would be a car i could get for a discounted 'family' price. The salesman wasnt too happy apparently. He was a bit of a dipshi* anyway and i knew more than him, so i wont be losing any sleep over that one.

 

[ga41]

I really like the Mk2 TT. They look great, the interiors are very nice and they go pretty well too. OK so they may not offer that little extra something that RWD does but you can't really say that they dont drive nice... I drove a mates FWD 2.0T a couple of times and quite liked it. Torquey engine, decent steering and just generally felt pretty good to chuck around. Like a sexier, sleeker hot hatch (which it is basically). Oh and there's lift off oversteer aplenty if you're aggressive with it! Not the uptight Audi image you had in mind i'm sure.

I also went up against a few mates with new shape S3's on mountain roads and i tell you even with my M it was hard work to shake them off! Very rapid machines in the real world and with only a 500 euro remap can easily hang with an M on a drag race...

As for the V6 TT, i'm sure it much the same, well built, good interior and real world fast. Some people enjoy the playfulness of RWD and dont mind sacrificing a bit of speed in the process and other simply enjoy going fast with no histrionics, most Audis are the latter.

 

[Garvin]

Some people enjoy the playfulness of RWD and dont mind sacrificing a bit of speed in the process and other simply enjoy going fast with no histrionics, most Audis are the latter.

I agree with this. The TT was much easier to drive fast - you could mash the throttle mid-bend and then adjust the resulting four wheel drift with, mostly, the throttle and exit bends at very high speeds. The Zed is different and I'm having to 're-learn' how to drive a powerful rear wheel drive car properly again - try the above antics and the rear just steps out completely. The Zed needs a lot more concentration and delicate balancing.

Regarding the exhaust note, yes the V6 TTs were very nice ............... but not as nice as the 35is :evil:

 

[Owl wood]

As mentioned earlier, I test drove a 3.2v6 S-tronic yesterday and took it for a really good country road blast, even the sales guy in the passenger seat was willing for me to give it the beans ! Initial thoughts as a comparison to the Z4C auto I drove on Friday is basically as follows:-

1. The noise of the V6 is way better than the Z4 (with exception to the M obviously). it has an awesome exhaust note which I am sure no car enthusiast would ever tire of.

2. The car is definitely more comfortable, smoother, the interior is a work of art and seems far better finished in terms of quality and is a great place to sit.

3. The s-tronic seems better engineered than the auto/ steptronic you find in the zed, the changes are far smoother. I am aware of the reliability issues of the stronic but that aside, it seems far more 'modern'.

Overall, the TT might lack that 'feel' you get from the zed, and maybe lacks a tiny bit of involvement but these are two different cars which I can only say is a good thing. The TT is more of a cruiser for sure and I imagine it can give the excitement once you are in the mood for some spirited driving once you floor it and start throwing it about.

So there we are, drove the cars back to back, took them both for a blast and do you know what, I still can't decide!

Good review Sounds like you had a good spin in it. The price of the V6TT's are good at the moment. Personally, I prefer the TTS but they start low 20's so not really comparable...

 

[aquazi]

i test drove a quattro 2.0 TT a couple of years back and totally agree with the comments about it being a better GT. Especially around town the low down torque made it feel quicker and more effortless then my Z4.

The question is how often will you be wanting a enthusiastic drive? if most of your driving is a commute you'd be grateful for a leisurely cruiser.

Personally if i had a 3.0 Z4 before i wouldnt upgrade to a Z4C... as they are simply not different enough.

 

[paddy wright]

i test drove a quattro 2.0 TT a couple of years back and totally agree with the comments about it being a better GT. Especially around town the low down torque made it feel quicker and more effortless then my Z4.

The question is how often will you be wanting a enthusiastic drive? if most of your driving is a commute you'd be grateful for a leisurely cruiser.

Personally if i had a 3.0 Z4 before i wouldnt upgrade to a Z4C... as they are simply not different enough.

z4 c is not an upgrade!!!! Sunny days would drive you mad!
If you genuinely miss the z- then buy another- they are great cars, however if u fancy a change (even a little) then buy something else, but i wouldnt go TT.

 

[alan1667]

WOW that Audi TT looks AMAZING...

 

[nfbr]

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[Mr Tidy]

There isn't a TT that will ever drive like a Z4!
TT is a version of A3/A4/Golf/Passat/Leon/Octavia, etc, platform so is always going to be a front-heavy understeering POS! And the lardy V6 up front will not improve things.
You probably need to decide whether you want show or go...........