I HAVE DRIVEN the Audi TT in Sydney's so-called 'school hour' (at 40km/h tops) and I've driven it at high - but not illegal - speeds in Europe. And now I have driven the Tiptronic version in Hong Kong.
When the TT was first introduced, it featured a relatively sedate 150-brake horsepower, five-speed, front wheel-drive set-up that, despite its outrageously good looks, failed to set the world on fire. Then came the four wheel-drive - the famous quattro system pioneered on passenger cars by Audi - and 220bhp with a six-speed gearbox. But the cry, mostly from North America as well as Hong Kong where so many buyers favour clutchless shifting, was: 'Where's the automatic version?'
Well, it has been a long time coming - more than two years since the initial launch - but now it's here and it's fabulous. Forget watered-down, power-sapping automatics: this is a solid, dynamic sports car that has fingertip control worthy of a Porsche 911. It is every bit a TT but with the added luxury of 'leave it in drive' relaxation or with the option to switch to manual control and drive the thing. It is without doubt the best thing to happen to the TT until we get the 3.2 V6, but that's another story.
Motoring editor William Wadsworth mentioned the TT Tiptronic in a recent Foot Down (Sunday Morning Post, February 16), and in my opinion, unfairly panned the car. The TT's Tiptronic system is a newly developed six-speed version, which allows the driver constant control, either through the buttons on the spokes of the steering wheel - not easy to use because of their awkward location - or a centre-mounted shift lever.
I found it simpler to use the stick than the buttons, although further acclimatisation of the system may well change that. The TT enjoyed tremendous acclaim when it was launched, only to suffer a series of high-speed accidents, particularly in Germany, which were attributed to the car's inherent instability. This was a little unfair as it was only through extremely fast, open bends that the accidents happened, unlikely in most other parts of the world.
The result was an expensive recall by Audi worldwide to equip the TT with an electronic stability program (ESP), larger tyres and a tiny, but effective, rear spoiler. The spoiler does unfortunately alter the classic, symmetrical shape of the car, but it is considered essential to prevent loss of control in those fast, sweeping curves.