Ken Garff - Your Used Salt Lake City Audi Dealer

Audi TT & Dodge Viper Comparison

Audi TT Overview

At its debut as a concept car in 1995 and finally a production reality, the Audi TT was one of the most dramatic cars to come out in the mid-to-late 1990s. Meanwhile, the TT's handsomely executed interior left no discernible traces of the car's rather humble VW Golf roots.

Named after the Tourist Trophy motorsports event held on the Isle of Man (in which a predecessor of the Audi brand competed), the Audi TT is not quite a sports car, not quite a sport coupe or roadster. In essence, the front- or all-wheel-drive TT is a two-seat GT. True, the coupe has a pair of seats in the back, but they are best left for little kids or used as an upholstered package shelf. The TT has the low-slung look and feel of a sports car, but its dynamic personality is closer to that of a luxury sport coupe.

Those zealots seeking a harder-edged driving experience would be better served by more finely focused sports cars. The greater majority of consumers, however, who desire a sporty coupe or roadster with energetic performance and a heavy accent on style, should be more than happy with the Audi TT.

The current Audi TT was redesigned for the 2008 model year and represents the second generation. Although slightly larger, the second-generation TT doesn't stray too far from the timeless lines of its predecessor. The general look is the same, though character lines are crisper and the nose adopts Audi's now signature single-frame grille. Although longer and wider than the first TT, the latest version is lighter (by nearly 200 pounds in the case of the roadster) thanks to increased use of aluminum in the body structure. It also offers a more powerful four-cylinder engine.

Two trim levels -- a 2.0T (200-horsepower turbocharged four with front-wheel drive) and 3.2 Quattro (250-hp V6 with all-wheel drive) -- are offered in a choice of hatchback coupe and roadster body styles. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual and a six-speed S tronic twin-clutch sequential transmission that offers the ease of an automatic combined with the quick response of a manual. The 2.0T is actually the more athletic of the two, as its quick-revving four-cylinder engine, whooshing turbocharger and light-effort, nimble steering combine to deliver a strong sporting impression.

The TT also offers an impeccable sequential-shift manual transmission, and great hatchback utility when purchased in the coupe iteration.

Introduced for the 2000 model year and initially available solely as a hatchback coupe, the first TT was powered by Audi's peppy 1.8-liter, 180-hp turbocharged inline-4. Buyers could choose either front- or all-wheel drive (Audi's Quattro system). A five-speed manual was standard, while a six-speed manual was optional. Along with its low-slung, avant-garde styling, the TT boasted an equally unique interior that featured polished aluminum accents, impeccable fit and finish and, unfortunately, a few ergonomic glitches such as a CD changer mounted behind the driver seat and counterintuitive climate controls.

After a highly publicized recall to fix the twitchy handling characteristics of early TTs, a roadster and a 225-hp Quattro version debuted the following year. In 2003, an automatic transmission (with six speeds) became available. But the biggest news for this generation came in 2004, when the 250-hp 3.2-liter V6 and Audi's superb six-speed automanual gearbox became available. The latter, dubbed DSG, provided rapid yet jolt-free manual-style gearchanges that put a Ferrari's F1 transmission to shame. The Audi TT stood pat through 2006, the last year of this generation.

Potential buyers should know that, although potentially fast in a straight line, this TT was never considered a true sports car due to its potentially heavy curb weight and softly sprung suspension. Still, the TT should satisfy those who prize comfort, style and all-weather capability in their sport coupe or roadster.

Dodge Viper & Audi TT Comparison

How the Dodge Viper stacks up against the Audi TT - by Nigel Cooper, Topanga CA

Utility

The TT will most definitely prove more practical than the Dodge for those of you with frequent kid-cargo.

Performance

With respect to horsepower, the Dodge packs quite a punch and will knock the Audi TT down a few rungs. However, note that high horsepower engines often command higher insurance premiums.

Dimensions

The TT is a little more ponderous than the Dodge Viper. The Audi TT's tank is about the same size as the Dodge Viper's, though the Dodge Viper's is a tad larger. The Dodge Viper rides lower than the Audi TT, which is a good thing for its center of gravity and ease of access. The TT and the Dodge Viper compete for the same parking spaces.

Cost

The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. The Audi TT is quite a bit cheaper to get to the dealership than the Viper. The Dodge Viper is tremendously more expensive than the TT when it comes to MSRP. The Audi TT will save you a bunch of money at the pump every year compared to the Dodge Viper.

Handling

The Viper has tremendously bigger tires than the Audi TT. Keep in mind that wider tires could improve handling, while smaller tires might improve gas mileage. With its tighter turning radius, the TT is quite certainly sprier than the Dodge, something to consider if you do a lot of city driving; however, keep in mind that a vehicle with a tight turning circle may feel a bit twitchy on the highway.

Drivetrain

The Audi TT's engine is tremendously smaller than the Dodge Viper's. Keep in mind that smaller engines can be stressed more; on the flip side, smaller engines are often cheaper to fix. Torque is roughly equivalent to acceleration, and in this respect, the Dodge is tremendously more powerful than the TT. The Dodge Viper packs quite a wallop compared to the Audi TT in terms of torque, which is the force that lets you accelerate quickly.

Comfort

Taller drivers will markedly enjoy the extra head room in the TT's front cabin compared to the Dodge Viper.

Overview

The basic after-sale protection that comes with the Dodge Viper isn't quite as generous as the TT's.

Other

The Dodge Viper emits fewer smog-forming pollutants per 15,000 miles than the Audi TT. 

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