1 ///M Competition on the way: Audi NA announces bringing TT-RS to US

[///M1]

Bring it on, Ingolstadt, all to the benefit of consumers that have more good machinery to pick from:

http://audiusanews.com/newsrelease.d...0C9E38?id=1939

Thoughts?

[marvenmassey]

That is nice..I sat in my friends Audi the other day and was impressed with the int. IMHO heads and tails above BMW and I am HUGE BMW fan. This might even be my next vehicle, although I hear that Audi's are notorious for electrical. Case in point my friends older Audi's power lock and windows didn't work. You had ///M1, what do you think?

[randomquickness]

I like it but I'd still rather the 1M

[Tochenzo]

Nice! Always liked the looks of that car...and looking at Audi's history this will probably be available longer than the 1M's "limited production" which means it should be available when I'm ready for my next car

Would love the 1M...but would prefer not to pay the dealer's markups on BMW's poor decision to make this car limited production.

[spiderz17]

Quick price checking with the German Audi website puts the price point at about $51k for the U.S. Hopefully the 1M comes in well under that.

[///M1]

Originally Posted by marvenmassey

That is nice..I sat in my friends Audi the other day and was impressed with the int. IMHO heads and tails above BMW and I am HUGE BMW fan. This might even be my next vehicle, although I hear that Audi's are notorious for electrical. Case in point my friends older Audi's power lock and windows didn't work. You had ///M1, what do you think?

I actually still have the RS, and it delivers only smiles. Knock on wood, no electrical or other issues (short of a suspension issue which I've cured with Ohlin adjustable coilovers). Funny thing is, when I was shopping for both the RS4 and 135i shortly thereafter, the M3 was on the short list and passed on it twice. I am def a BMW fanatic, have had an M5 before and several non-M BMWs, this is my first Audi in fact, but I have to say Quattro GmbH (the in-house maker of RS cars) is simply magic. If the RS6 Avant were offered here, it would be in my stable already. The RS5 seems great, though not having a manual is a huge letdown in my book. It seems it too may come our way, hopefully by then Audi will come to its senses and stick a no-cost manual option, as clearly they can use the one from the RS4 (RS5s engine produces 30hp more and same tq, despite slightly smaller compression).

Glad that us US consumers are finally getting more of a taste of the Quattro GmbH offerings. Not heard of Europeans complaining of issues on the TT-RS, if anything been reading how tuner houses such as MTM have made these into even bigger monsters (and R8 eaters)!

[marvenmassey]

///M1, so how do you compare the 135 and the RS4, although I know we are not comparing apples to apples here... I am talking about the balanced feel that BMW has? I had my heart set on the 1 so I got it BUT sometimes I see the S5 and I really like it and almost regret not waiting and really driving a few test cars like the S5.

[PrimoM3]

Eh, they can keep it. Gonna be way over $51K in the US, count on it.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by marvenmassey

///M1, so how do you compare the 135 and the RS4, although I know we are not comparing apples to apples here... I am talking about the balanced feel that BMW has? I had my heart set on the 1 so I got it BUT sometimes I see the S5 and I really like it and almost regret not waiting and really driving a few test cars like the S5.

The TT has more balance than 135i. It's smaller, lighter and sits closer to the ground. I test drove a couple right after I sold my 135i and TT felt more capable around corners. Biggest downer of the TT was 2.0T has a huge turbo lag and its a bit underpowered. If Audi can ameliorate the turbo and lessen the power steering assist on the RS, TT will be competitive against 135i. Without going into details, the TT is also a better looking car inside and outside. Of course beauty is subjective but as soon as you sit in one you be thinking, "wow, this is nice."

TT-S is already over 50, isn't it? I am sure it will be at least 60

[TunedM2C]

Woah, this has me thinking now. I like this bad boy and was hoping they would bring it over!

[HERR FSTIR]

The TT-RS could prove very compelling compared to the 1M.

The car will probably be lighter (3200 lbs) with similar power (350-360 hp). Most likely will offer DCT/DKG. And I suspect Audi will also offer more than three colors.

Maybe BMW knew this was coming which might account for the marketing campaign of the 1M.

[friscogypsee]

Maybe this will piss BMW off and they'll offer a full line of exterior colors + DCT + Carbon fiber roof

[spiderz17]

Originally Posted by Robert

TT-S is already over 50, isn't it? I am sure it will be at least 60

$47k starting price for the TT-S, so yeah $51k for the RS is probably a bit low, mid-to-high $50s is probably more accurate. The 1M will definitely come in well below that.

[spiderz17]

Originally Posted by friscogypsee

Maybe this will piss BMW off and they'll offer a full line of exterior colors + DCT + Carbon fiber roof

And you're absolutely right, they definitely will... in about 2014 on the next-gen 1M.

[HERR FSTIR]

Conflicting information regarding availability of DCT/DKG:

Autoblog Review of Audi TT-RS

Car & Driver Update on TT-RS

[arsenyc]

Checked out and sat in a TT-RS at a VW/Audi show, car was brought out by Audi USA who claimed they have had a few in the states being driven around. Car looks good, very sporty, but its still a 2-seater and the representative said it would probably start in the $60's which is absolutely ridiculous. Car is powered by that turbo 5 cylinder engine which was built solely for the TTRS...I cant lie it is a pretty looking car, but the price tag will ultimately determine its fate in the states.

Pics:

[HERR FSTIR]

Mid 60s would be insane. For that price go get a Cayman.

They should try to keep it in the mid 50s range. But I wouldn't count on it given the price points of previous RS vehicles.

[Point N Shoot]

Audi over prices all their car as much as I like their engineering..
I hate to agree 1M would prolly be a sick deal for the buck
but that tt-rs is going to be special..
Cant wait to see what the 1M is gonna look like
tired of renders..
Besides the center console on the TT I hate, thanks to ArsenyC
the whol car inside outside is dope city..

[UdubBadger]

tt rs is a bad ass ride and I would love to have one but for that money and the stereotype of driving a 'chick car' (it's hard to deny the tt has a reputation just like the eclipse and vw beetle of being a girly car) I think an M badged 1er will eventually win out in the sales department.

[GeeRam]

I've had a test drive of one..... and they are manual only (at the moment).

It's only a rival to the BMW in the posing/image stakes, not from a driving point of view.
The engine is great, endlless poke with that old school UR Quattro 5 cyl warble...... but the awful Haldex awd is still fwd biased in feel and the steering still has a bit of the typical Audi deadness.

BMW has a way better 'drivers' chassis, and from that point of view alone it's not a contest.
Audi is very small inside as well for me and I'm only 6ft.... head was brushing the headlining.
They do look good, but looks alone isn't enough for me.

They are seriously chuffin expensive as well, with options ticked off it priced up at almost GB£50k........... that's about US$75k......

[cpippolo]

TT-S weights over 3200 lbs and has 60% of the weight over the front wheels of its Golf platform. I doubt the weight or weight distribution of the RS is much better than the S, so think I'll go with RWD and near 50/50 weight distribution of the 1M.

[Madozu]

Originally Posted by cpippolo

TT-S weights over 3200 lbs and has 60% of the weight over the front wheels of its Golf platform. I doubt the weight or weight distribution of the RS is much better than the S, so think I'll go with RWD and near 50/50 weight distribution of the 1M.

+1

Well said