Audi’s Sweet TT

That new car smell is certainly something to be savoured.

Even if you aren’t crazy about cars, you’ll probably still appreciate the addictive aroma exuded by the various materials and adhesives in a new vehicle.

Some may be so enamoured by the scent, they’ll go as far as trying to capture a bit of it for use on themselves – like a sort of “eau de auto”.

I once bought Ferrari perfume. Maybe I was inveigled by the free 1:18 scale collectors car that came with it. Anyway, here I was, thinking that the contents of this nice black bottle sporting the famous prancing horse emblem would make me smell like the sumptuous leather interior of one of Modena’s finest models. But it didn’t, and I hard a hard time distinguishing it from the less expensive Axe deodorant also lying on my side table.

So here’s a lesson: if you want to smell as delicious as a new car, don’t buy one of those gimmicky automotive brand perfumes. Buy a new car.

If you’d like to pervade the air with a faint odour of Alpo dog food, buy a Renault Modus (trust me on that one). If you’d like to smell like a trendy apartment decked out in suede furniture and wood fittings, buy a BMW. If pot pourri air fresheners are your thing, Citroens come with neat inter-changeable fragrance diffusers in their ventilation slots. But if you want something subtle, inoffensive, yet alluring – get an Audi. I’ve driven the current A4 and enjoyed a ride as a passenger in the previous RS4 when it was released – and their interiors have the same sweet, charming scent.

Audi’s recently updated TT had me sniffing vigorously to keep that tasty aroma of leather, brushed aluminium and plush black surface material wafting through my nostrils.

As with all Volkswagen/Audi products, everything inside the TT feels as though it would still function even after being subjected to a bomb blast.

On one episode of 5th Gear, I remember presenter Tom Ford taking a hammer to the dashboard of an Audi-based SEAT saloon – there were no indelible marks, scuffs or anything to suggest that it had just been hit with a hammer. Except for footage of the idiot hitting it with a hammer, of course.

If you’re in the front, the TT’s cabin is very cozy – it’s snug for driver and passenger, with a decent amount of space to move about provided you’re not packing too much Christmas weight. The fascia has a simple layout: there are buttons for the radio and below that, three silver knobs to control the air-conditioner – there’s not much to distract you from the business of driving.

You’d rather give claustrophobic passengers bus fare instead of subjecting them to the TT’s pathetic rear quarters. I’m of average height – not giant-like in stature – but when I folded myself into the back of the Audi, my head touched the back window, even when I tilted my neck fully to one side.

But the guys at Ingolstadt were kind enough to warn about the limited rear headroom, with a big yellow “Achtung!” sticker on the door sills. If you’re carting kids around though, it should be no problem getting them in there. Boot space is surprisingly good – when you fold down the seats it’s about the same size as that of a very small hatchback.

Driving the Audi TT is pretty fun. It has a nimble character on the road – it wants to be chucked around the corners abruptly. The two-litre TFSI engine seems ample, moving the dainty TT with no fuss: plant your foot down and it’s like a gust of wind is gently pushing you forward. It’s nothing savage – just manageable power.

If what you’re after is a leisurely cruise, you could opt for the semi-automatic DSG gearbox. But I noticed that the this ‘box gives the TT a tendency to roll back and lurch forth on inclines – not so good when you’re in one of Joburg’s notorious traffic jams. The manual version will not only be cheaper, but will also give you a chance to fully enjoy the TT’s sporty character.

In conclusion, the Audi TT is a nice car: it looks great, smells great, performs well and has that quality feel. But, it must be said that one could probably get the same thrills for a lesser price from a Volkswagen Scirocco – which also has two doors, four seats and that air of solidity.

Brenwin Naidu
Photo Credit: Motorpics