Item: Used Audi TT Roadster 2006 - 2014
Author: What Car? Team

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Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV have all won their classes at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards in recent years, while the TT coupé is the most decorated car in the history of the ceremony.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

The Audi TT Roadster may be pricey but its solid build quality, reliability and handling make it worth the money

Used Audi TT Roadster 2006 - 2014

The newer diesel is the most economical model with lower emissions, and therefore cheaper road tax, and official fuel economy of 53.3mpg. Second-hand values are high, though, so you'll pay a high price for one. The 2.0-litre petrol isn't excessive, with 36.7mpg and 183g/km of CO2, and better than the V6 model, at 27.4mpg and a high 247g/km of CO2.

A service history is essential, and with cars less than three years old, it's best to stick to franchised dealers. This will cost more, but you'll reap the benefits when it's time to sell the car on. There's a good selection of quality independent garages who will care for older cars.

So far the second-generation TT is proving durable, with few reliability problems. However, it's hard to know how it will fare long-term. The original TT can become troublesome in later life.

This is a sports coupe so insurance premiums reflect that and you need to budget accordingly.

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The Audi TT Roadster may be pricey but its solid build quality, reliability and handling make it worth the money

Don't be put off the 2.0-litre 197bhp TFSI version. It feels more alert than the heavier V6, and sounds great under hard acceleration. The 3.2-litre 247bhp V6 is faster and comes with four-wheel drive as standard to make the most of the extra power.

In 2008 Audi introduced a 2.0-litre 168bhp TDI diesel TT. The smooth engine has got plenty of pull, so you can afford to be lazy with the gearchanges. It comes with quattro four-wheel drive as standard, but the best feature is the low 138g/km CO2 emissions.

The standard six-speed manual gearbox is slick and well matched to the engines, but the optional S-tronic semi-auto is slightly more fuel efficient and will change gear faster than you can. Some TTs also have the Magnetic Ride suspension system fitted, which can be used in Comfort or Sport settings, although the standard suspension is brilliant anyway.

Equipment levels are good, with climate control, alloys, electronic stability control, curtain airbags and half-leather sports seats as standard. Metallic paint is essential for good residual values.

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> Practicality is not essential but nice to have </li></ul>

Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.

The Mazda MX-5 embodies sports-car spirit without wearing an exotic price tag, and has deservedly gained a strong following over the years. Much newer to the scene is the mid-engined Alpine A110. It may carry a name from the past, but this potent, mid-engined sports car was designed with the very latest lightweight thinking.&nbsp;

Rounding off our shortlist, though, is a name that'll be familiar to even those to whom sports cars hold little interest. The Porsche 911 was born an icon in 1964, and the latest generation bridges the gap between sports car and supercar. Yet, somehow, it manages to preserve a distinctly civilised character.

Owners are generally very happy with their cars, and there are few reported faults.

The leather seats can wear quickly - particularly the side bolsters of the seat base. You can help prevent excess wear by regularly applying a quality leather cream, but it can't restore the seat if it's already badly worn.

The front brakes can make a squealing noise, although it doesn't appear to reduce the brakes performance. There is no exact cause and sometimes only replacing the brake pads cures it.

A few dashboard and glovebox rattles can appear over time and the door seals can whistle and higher speeds. Poor-quality paintwork has also been reported, although it is rare.

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Although it's not as visually arresting as the original Audi TT Roadster, the newer model is a better car.

Usually, losing the roof effects the stiffness of a car's chassis, so the ride and handling suffers, or adds extra weight, but not so with the TT. Most of the bodywork is made from aluminium, making it light yet strong. This low weight gives the TT amazing agility and, combined with the peppy engine options, it's very fast in a straight line and grippy through the bends.

The ride is firm, but not excessively so. Despite the performance, the TT is easy to drive and refined at low speeds. Wind buffeting isn't really a problem with the roof down.

The interior feels solid and durable, and quality materials are used throughout. Unlike the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/review/n12">Coupe version</a>, there are no rear seats, as the electric hood takes up the space. Rear visibility is restricted with the roof up and the boot is a bit small, too.

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Used Audi TT Roadster 2006 - 2014 review

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