Audi TT Roadster

Breadcrumbs

Best left to the wife unless you possess a medallion and a doctor’s note confirming your self-awareness deficiency
Our buying tip

Weirdly the lazy and easy-listening V6 suits the character of the Roadster better than the Coupe

The Audi TT Roadster is probably the most reasonable, reliable and value-for-money Roadster in the world.

Comfort

The Roadster is also more or less as comfy as the Coupe - there's space enough and the ride won't crack any significant bones. The triple-layer hood is warm and very good at insulating sound, so should cope with a British winter.
Performance

The convertible gubbins gives the Roadster a weight penalty compared to the tin-top version, but it's only slower by a smidgen; 6.7 seconds to 62mph and 147mph for the 2.0-litre and 6.1 seconds and 155mph for the more powerful V6.
Cool

If you're a bit poor, it's basically a Ferrari spider. So, not cool at all.
Quality

Tip-top quality from Audi again.Nothing will ever drop off. Imagine that...
Handling

The TT Roadster is pretty close to the Coupe in terms of handling balance - it certainly doesn't feel like it's been chopped. Fine body control, virtually no scuttle-wobbles. The four-cylinder is the sportier drive and the V6 has the best noise - handy with the roof down.
Practicality

As practical as you can reasonably expect from a small roadster and one of the easiest to live with. The boot is big enough for non-golfers, even with the roof mechanism in place.
Running costs

High insurance costs for the Roadster hamper it a bit; Group 17 for the 2.0-litre and 18 for the 3.2 feel high. Then again a Golf GTI is 17, so it reflects the market. Go for the 2.0-litre if you like driving and 35mpg - the 3.2 will get just over 20mpg in the real world.