Are there any petrolhead alternatives to the Mk2 Audi TTS?
Discussion
I like a lot of things about the mk2 TTS but many people say although very good in some aspects it is not really a driver's car because of light handling/poor feedback.
So are there any similar but better handling alternatives (without a big drop in power such as with a GT86/MX-5)? Another common suggestion is the BMW Z4 but for some reason it simply doesn't appeal to me. The BMW M235i looks good on paper but styling wise it looks like a box on wheels.
The other good alternatives I can think of have a big jump in price such as the BMW 4 Series. The Nissan 370Z seems like another obvious option but road tax is in the highest bracket and if I'm going to pay the maximum road tax I may as well go for a V8 XK or S5 rather than a V6.
Any suggestions are very welcome.
So are there any similar but better handling alternatives (without a big drop in power such as with a GT86/MX-5)? Another common suggestion is the BMW Z4 but for some reason it simply doesn't appeal to me. The BMW M235i looks good on paper but styling wise it looks like a box on wheels.
The other good alternatives I can think of have a big jump in price such as the BMW 4 Series. The Nissan 370Z seems like another obvious option but road tax is in the highest bracket and if I'm going to pay the maximum road tax I may as well go for a V8 XK or S5 rather than a V6.
Any suggestions are very welcome.
If you like the TTS, keep going regardless of what others think.
Nice looking, secure handling, refined, well built little coupe with a decent enough turn of speed.
Sure, it's 10/10ths handling might seem more numb than an MX5 / GT86... but if you don't do track days, or push the car hard on the commute and you're not a car journo, I doubt it matters to 99% of drivers.
Nice looking, secure handling, refined, well built little coupe with a decent enough turn of speed.
Sure, it's 10/10ths handling might seem more numb than an MX5 / GT86... but if you don't do track days, or push the car hard on the commute and you're not a car journo, I doubt it matters to 99% of drivers.
isbjorn said:
How do you want to use the car? Daily, weekend special etc?
That should shorten the list, then go for the car that makes you go all tingly. But do some research on repair costs etc (I got stung)
As my primary/only car but currently I don't do a huge amount of driving. The TTS seems to be pretty reasonable with repair costs with the only big concern being the magnetic suspension. That should shorten the list, then go for the car that makes you go all tingly. But do some research on repair costs etc (I got stung)
The spinner of plates said:
If you like the TTS, keep going regardless of what others think.
Nice looking, secure handling, refined, well built little coupe with a decent enough turn of speed.
Sure, it's 10/10ths handling might seem more numb than an MX5 / GT86... but if you don't do track days, or push the car hard on the commute and you're not a car journo, I doubt it matters to 99% of drivers.
I don't really care what others think, but my concern is that they may have a point about the steering. My current car has hydraulic power steering whereas the TTS has electric power-steering. Nice looking, secure handling, refined, well built little coupe with a decent enough turn of speed.
Sure, it's 10/10ths handling might seem more numb than an MX5 / GT86... but if you don't do track days, or push the car hard on the commute and you're not a car journo, I doubt it matters to 99% of drivers.
I don't do track days but do like to sometimes push the car while driving.
The only thing I can think of that's a proper ground-up sports car, similar power, realistically dailyable and comparable price would be an early 987 Cayman 2.7
Some reports suggest that the Peugeot RCZ THP (267hp) is a sharper drive than the TT, although FF only.
The Mazda RX-7 meets the power and true sports car criteria, it's literally the power/torque/performance of a TTS combined with the balance/poise/adjustability of an MX-5. But they're pretty old now to daily, and are also generally £20k+.
Some reports suggest that the Peugeot RCZ THP (267hp) is a sharper drive than the TT, although FF only.
The Mazda RX-7 meets the power and true sports car criteria, it's literally the power/torque/performance of a TTS combined with the balance/poise/adjustability of an MX-5. But they're pretty old now to daily, and are also generally £20k+.
Edited by samoht on Wednesday 29th June 18:01
Late NC MX5 and a trip to BBR?
I'm running an early NC with the Super 200 package, which is a great N/A hoonmobile, however, for a daily driver, I'd consider getting the BBR Turbo package. 270+ bhp depending on level of tune, and presumably a similar amount of pound feet.
They are actually quite nice inside, and if you got the folding hard top, a very practical and comfortable car.
However, 1150 kg and up to 300 bhp? I'll let you do the math
Much cheaper on consumables and should be reliable too. Steering and handling with a few fairly inexpensive mods, or even without to be fair, will be on another level to a TTS for involvement.
Either that, or the Porsche 987 suggested above. Or a Nissan 370Z Nismo if I could get into one of those. I'll have mine in white.
Is a Z4M Coupe within budget?
I'm running an early NC with the Super 200 package, which is a great N/A hoonmobile, however, for a daily driver, I'd consider getting the BBR Turbo package. 270+ bhp depending on level of tune, and presumably a similar amount of pound feet.
They are actually quite nice inside, and if you got the folding hard top, a very practical and comfortable car.
However, 1150 kg and up to 300 bhp? I'll let you do the math
Much cheaper on consumables and should be reliable too. Steering and handling with a few fairly inexpensive mods, or even without to be fair, will be on another level to a TTS for involvement.Either that, or the Porsche 987 suggested above. Or a Nissan 370Z Nismo if I could get into one of those. I'll have mine in white.
Is a Z4M Coupe within budget?
DOCG said:
The spinner of plates said:
If you like the TTS, keep going regardless of what others think.
Nice looking, secure handling, refined, well built little coupe with a decent enough turn of speed.
Sure, it's 10/10ths handling might seem more numb than an MX5 / GT86... but if you don't do track days, or push the car hard on the commute and you're not a car journo, I doubt it matters to 99% of drivers.
I don't really care what others think, but my concern is that they may have a point about the steering. My current car has hydraulic power steering whereas the TTS has electric power-steering. Nice looking, secure handling, refined, well built little coupe with a decent enough turn of speed.
Sure, it's 10/10ths handling might seem more numb than an MX5 / GT86... but if you don't do track days, or push the car hard on the commute and you're not a car journo, I doubt it matters to 99% of drivers.
I don't do track days but do like to sometimes push the car while driving.
A lot of people rate the Z4, but I struggled to get on with the Z4M I had, I wasn't very keen on the manual gearbox/chassis/ride/suspension. I did like the hydraulic steering in it though.
TameRacingDriver said:
Late NC MX5 and a trip to BBR?
I'm running an early NC with the Super 200 package, which is a great N/A hoonmobile, however, for a daily driver, I'd consider getting the BBR Turbo package. 270+ bhp depending on level of tune, and presumably a similar amount of pound feet.
They are actually quite nice inside, and if you got the folding hard top, a very practical and comfortable car.
However, 1150 kg and up to 300 bhp? I'll let you do the math Much cheaper on consumables and should be reliable too. Steering and handling with a few fairly inexpensive mods, or even without to be fair, will be on another level to a TTS for involvement.
Either that, or the Porsche 987 suggested above. Or a Nissan 370Z Nismo if I could get into one of those. I'll have mine in white.
Is a Z4M Coupe within budget?
Z4 M Coupe is about of budget, they seem to be 20k+.I'm running an early NC with the Super 200 package, which is a great N/A hoonmobile, however, for a daily driver, I'd consider getting the BBR Turbo package. 270+ bhp depending on level of tune, and presumably a similar amount of pound feet.
They are actually quite nice inside, and if you got the folding hard top, a very practical and comfortable car.
However, 1150 kg and up to 300 bhp? I'll let you do the math
Much cheaper on consumables and should be reliable too. Steering and handling with a few fairly inexpensive mods, or even without to be fair, will be on another level to a TTS for involvement.Either that, or the Porsche 987 suggested above. Or a Nissan 370Z Nismo if I could get into one of those. I'll have mine in white.
Is a Z4M Coupe within budget?
Porsche Cayman could be an option, but practicality and running costs could be a concern. I would like to be able to fit a suitcase in my car for a road-trip.
DOCG said:
I don't really care what others think, but my concern is that they may have a point about the steering. My current car has hydraulic power steering whereas the TTS has electric power-steering.
I don't do track days but do like to sometimes push the car while driving.
The simple answer is to test drive one because only you will know what you'll be happy with.I don't do track days but do like to sometimes push the car while driving.
ZX10R NIN said:
DOCG said:
I don't really care what others think, but my concern is that they may have a point about the steering. My current car has hydraulic power steering whereas the TTS has electric power-steering.
I don't do track days but do like to sometimes push the car while driving.
The simple answer is to test drive one because only you will know what you'll be happy with.I don't do track days but do like to sometimes push the car while driving.
Another vote for a Porsche Boxster - here's a lovely 987 S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205205...
Slightly larger size-wise, but what about a BMW 4 series? - here's a 435i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204024...
edit - I was also going to suggest a Vauxhall Monaro but I changed my mind. Probably a bit too old and thirsty. Definitely not the last word in handling either, but certainly more fun than a TTS!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205205...
Slightly larger size-wise, but what about a BMW 4 series? - here's a 435i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204024...
edit - I was also going to suggest a Vauxhall Monaro but I changed my mind. Probably a bit too old and thirsty. Definitely not the last word in handling either, but certainly more fun than a TTS!
Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Wednesday 29th June 21:47
DOCG said:
Z4 M Coupe is about of budget, they seem to be 20k+.
Porsche Cayman could be an option, but practicality and running costs could be a concern. I would like to be able to fit a suitcase in my car for a road-trip.
My Cayman has more luggage space than my wife's SLK, for example I can get a medium size suitcase in the frunk (which is pretty cavernous considering the size of the car. Then you have the parcel shelf (engine cover) and the little boot that you can put a load of squishy stuff in. There's certainly enough room for a road trips worth of luggage. Running costs, OK, I have a 2.9 (987.2 base model), and fuel is bad, I'm getting 23.5 mpg with my commute and spirited driving. Servicing is every 2 years, alternating between major and minor service, so that spreads that cost out a bit. The stuff to worry about is when stuff goes wrong, but that'll be model/variant dependant and if you get a good one you may not have any problems at all (cars are always a bit of a lottery when it comes to reliability after all).Porsche Cayman could be an option, but practicality and running costs could be a concern. I would like to be able to fit a suitcase in my car for a road-trip.
I'd say have a look at one and take it for a drive and have a good poke around it and the documented history etc.
Another shout for the 370z. It has most of the practicality of the TTS (minus the non-existent rear seats) but is great fun to drive. I did look into the TTS as one of the few other compact cars with sufficient space, but in the end it didn't feel quite special enough to drive (nice place to sit though). TTs are also quite common.
I did look at 987.1 Caymans but in my budget they were too old and didn't have the practicality I needed (dog). Plus the reliability questions at the age I was looking at and higher running costs ruled one out.
I considered Jag XKs and Audi S5s (and Merc SLs) but in the end they were top of my budget and were large GT coupe barges not sports cars (the 370z is more Sports GT but much smaller and more fun).
I did look at 987.1 Caymans but in my budget they were too old and didn't have the practicality I needed (dog). Plus the reliability questions at the age I was looking at and higher running costs ruled one out.
I considered Jag XKs and Audi S5s (and Merc SLs) but in the end they were top of my budget and were large GT coupe barges not sports cars (the 370z is more Sports GT but much smaller and more fun).
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