The Audi TT was considered a joke of a sports car, despite coming out with quite an interesting 20-valve 1.8-liter engine. It probably all started with the opinion of one man, Jeremy Clarkson, who took repeated jabs at the "seriously uncool" model.
It's amazing to think that the small "Golf-derived" Audi coupe has been around since 1998. It's even harder to believe that 1998 was 20 years ago. I'm pretty sure I didn't know what a hair scrunchie was back then.
Unless I'm mistaken, the original TT was featured on Top Gear at least two times with a couple more appearances for the second generation. It's funny how the guy who compared it to a VW Golf now won't shut up about how great his Golf GTI is.
If you're one of the over half a million people, who bought a TT and have no idea some hate it, just watch Jeremy Clarkson's review. About half the video is him making fun of men who moisturize, which by the way is completely normal nowadays. Maybe the TT was ahead of its time, and nobody noticed.
As for the driving experience itself, this review focuses on the then new 3.2-liter V6 version. We love that engine... in the Golf R. And while Clarkson is right in saying the standard model with the 1.8T is more balanced, any small Audi with a six-cylinder is now a cult car.
Car reviews were also pretty uncommon back then and YouTube certainly wasn't a thing. So this Top Gear video was one of the first to highlight how amazing DSG gearbox technology was/is - having the next gear already prepared on the other clutch.
But if you want proof Clarkson was wrong for bashing the Audi TT, consider the fact that he says the Mazda RX-8 and Chrysler Crossfire are way cheaper. Honestly, it would make more financial sense to set fire to your money than buy one of these and keep.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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