TT Coupe road trip impressions(long)

[Doyt W. Echelberger]

The local Audi dealer called and said he needed someone to do a dealer
trade. I have driven for him a dozen or so times over the years, with no
problems. Even delivered a car for him from Ohio to Florida once.....very
unusual situation. Anyhow, I said OK, and asked what it involved this time.

"Well, this one is a TT Coupe and we need it brought back to Sandusky, from
Cleveland, Ohio. It will only take a few hours, and I'll have somebody
drive you there."

I was in his office in 10 minutes, trying not to let my excitement show. Wow.

An hour later, in Cleveland, I noted that it was the silver 180HP 5 speed
model. Can't imagine what the 225HP 6speed would have made me do. I
probably would have driven off in it, to become a hunted fugitive for the
rest of my life.

OK, off I go in this tight little silver rocket.I'm free, in the real
world, with half a tank of premium and temporary plates.  The first thing I
noticed was that it handled remarkably tight and nimble on the streets,
with effortless acceleration at stoplights and freeway ramps.  Good gear
throws and fairly stiff clutch. Quick steering, very Audilike.  Gauges very
readable at a glance. Air conditioner was a little loud at the top setting,
so I backed it down.  Not much new-car smell.

At one stop sign, I needed to make a right turn onto a 4 lane highway, in
heavy city traffic, including trucks, 18 wheelers, everything you can
imagine.   A brief opening in the flow gave me a chance to floor it in
first and it easily LEAPED out there in about one second.....making the
most satisfying sound, similar but not exactly to what you hear on racecar
soundtracks....... VRRRRRIIIIINNNGGGGG! I wasn't accustomed to this sort of
thing.  Highly satisfying....big smile. OK, it moves out, right now. Turbo
lag? What's that? Remember, I'm accustomed to a type 44 K26.

 From the driver seat, I felt that my ability to be aware of cars behind
and along side was a slightly diminished, compared to driving my old 87
5ktq greenhouse.  Maybe I just needed a few days to accommodate (!) Or,
possibly I should have been driving the TT Roadster, with the top down.
Fantasy mode off.

The trip back from Cleveland on the turnpike took about an hour. No more
vvvvvvvrrrrrriiiiinnnnngggggging.   Staying at the legal limit required
considerable discipline, but I wasn't in my own car, and I wanted to get it
home without any embarrassing encounters. Only ran it up a few times, very
briefly, to about 90, mainly in passing triple-header trucks. I went around
those guys very suddenly, thinking  '...well, the radar will bounce off the
truck first, and I'll be OK....just this once'

With the seat belt on, I noticed that the driver seat held me tightly in
the turns, by exerting pressure along my hips and thighs and rib
cage/shoulders, and my right leg was firmly supported by the console. Very
solid driving position for lateral acceleration.  No slipping around on
that seat.

I couldn't find the window switches at the tollbooth. They are hidden in
the grab bar of the door and are not at all obvious. So, I opened the door,
got out, grabbed the ticket, got back in, and zipped away, as though I did
it that way every day. Paid the toll at the other end the same way and got
a receipt. Didn't find the window switches until I got back at the
dealership and sat there quietly looking around the cabin. Actually, they
are an improvement over switch placement in my type 44. I'm always
unintentionally bumping the passenger rear window switch with my elbow, and
having to wind it back up. I even took the cap off that switch, to stop the
accidental encounters. Good move, TT designers.

The rear seat is essentially a nicely padded parcel shelf, good for a
briefcase or duffel bag. No one, except possibly a double amputee, could
sit there.  Trunk was tiny also, but then again, I lived with a 4kq trunk
for about 5 years. Must admit I've grown accustomed to the endless caverns
of the type 44. Where would I keep 150 pounds of tools and spare parts in a
TT, and still carry home two shopping carts of groceries? :~) I'd probably
take out the back seat. Notice, I'm already wondering how it will be to own
this car.  Hmmmnnnnn.

Not much noise got into the cabin from the road, and the road-feel was
remarkably similar in many ways to that of my old 87 5ktq....and this is
not putting down the TT.  It must be a family trait, eluding description,
but I'm sure you all know what I mean. The handling characteristics of my
old Audi keep me in a 15 year-old car with 254k on the clock. I was
surprised that the TT reminded me, somewhat, of why I like my old 87 so much.

If I had gone into a dealership asking for a test drive in a TT, the
salesman probably would have ridden with me on a 10 minute circle out to
the city limits and back, if I was lucky.  Spending an hour in this great
little car was something very unusual. I came away from the experience
wanting one, and even harboring thoughts of the 225 HP 6 speed back
somewhere in the back of my mind. Not very practical, but.........maybe it
just might happen someday.

That is pretty much the same way I felt about the car I'm driving today (87
5ktq).   When I first saw it on the showroom floor in 1987, it was
incredible, and the images never left my memory. When a used one showed up,
I grabbed it.  And there WILL BE some used TT's out there in a few
years.  I'm going to be interested, and I'm saving my money. I wonder if I
can make that '87 last a few more years.........and,I wonder if I can make
ME last a few more years...:~)

Doyt Echelberger
Ohio   USA