Kelley Blue Book ® - 2002 Audi TT Overview

The TT coupe is a smart, stylish sports car with enough room for two adults and their luggage. Unlike many sports coupes, the TT is not confined to a single role. It doesn't matter if you desire a curve-carving, weekend get away machine or a reliable, efficient daily commuter, the TT coupe can comfortably fill both roles.

Inside, the TT offers excellent legroom for driver and passenger as well as plenty of headroom. The dash design is pure automotive art, stunning in its intricate detail and continuity. The sculpted sport seats are very comfortable and the steering wheel is appropriately thick for a comfortable grip. You will likely find yourself sitting low in the TT, which helps foster a feeling of security. One downside to this design is that you cannot rest your arm comfortably atop the door when cruising. The low roofline and skinny side windows take some getting used to, especially if you are prone to claustrophobia, and the sloping roof line renders the tiny back seat good for little more than a place to stow overnight luggage. For those up front, thoughtful touches such as heated seats and a terrific bi-level ventilation system allow both passengers to find their own comfort zone—no matter what the outside temperature. The large hatchback opening provides easy access for bulky items, and is actually quite accommodating when the rear seat is folded.

On the road, the TT sticks to the pavement like discarded chewing gum on the sole of your shoe. Turn-in—the time it takes a car to respond to steering wheel input—is instantaneous, but under hard acceleration the front-drive TT will exhibit some oversteer, which the anti-slip regulator quickly brings under control. If you feel you need better grip and more power, the TT 225 Quattro may be a more suitable choice; its 225-horsepower engine and all-wheel-drive system are much better suited to those who enjoy pushing their vehicles to the limit. Oddly, there is no Tiptronic automatic offered, so if you want a TT, you will have know or learn how to operate a stick. The base TT comes with a smooth shifting 5-speed while the 225 TT Quattro employs a close ratio 6-speed manual transmission. No matter which TT you purchase, once past 1500 rpm, the little 1.8-liter turbo pulls hard and briskly moves the TT right into the fun zone. An unexpected benefit of this engine is the excellent gas mileage it returns: close to 28 mpg on the highway.