Road Test: 2004 Audi TT Roadster vs. 2004 BMW Z4 vs. 2004 Porsche Boxster S vs. 2004 Nissan 350Z
So why isn't the fetching Audi in the winner's circle? Underneath it all, the TT can't deny its VW Golf/New Beetle origins. At its core, the TT is a front-drive economy car that's undergone serious upgrading to get it to sporty-car territory. Driven aggressively, the TT suffers more body roll and fore/aft pitching than its sports- car rivals and communicates less road feel to the driver. It bounds and hobby-horses over rough road, although ride quality isn't the issue it is with the Z4. The TT's structure is the least solid of our group, with potholes, speed bumps, and uneven pavement setting up cowl shake and steering-column wiggle. Quattro AWD grip does a lot to restore the car's balance and is reassuring when driving at the limit or in poor traction conditions. That said, the Audi is also weighed down by all the extra pieces of the all-wheel-drive system (at 3650 pounds, the heaviest car in the test) and is slowed by the friction involved in turning those parts.
But in most driving conditions, and when driven at eight-tenths or less, the TT is a happy place. On the other hand, if you want a sports car that can do it all, bring your wallet and check out our first-place finisher.
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