WHEN it comes to sportscars, Audi's TT is the one many that people lust after and it's not hard to see why.
Audi build quality is second to none, bettering that of Mercedes according to the surveys and yet prices are now low enough to make them really affordable.
The TT was first available with either 180 or 225bhp versions of the same VW group turbo 1.8, but there was later a 150bhp version, and a delicious sounding 3.2 V6 with 246bhp.
Coupe and Roadster rag top are both two seaters with pug-like butch good looks. Most have quattro four-wheel-drive but some, including automatics, are front drive.
Whatever about the aspirational quality of this one, the driving experience is not as involving as the BMW 3-Series.
That said, it hugs the road brilliantly and performance is right there whenever needed even with the lower powered engines.
The ride can be quite lumpy because of sports suspension and prices stay up because of high demand.
Interior
There is a good deal of wind noise and also some from the big tyres in every one I've driven.
The Coupe is a lot quieter than the soft-top and both have plenty of standard equipment and very comfortable, hip-hugging seats.
FAST FACTS
Audi TT
Price: Pay about £8,400 for an '02 02-reg S-line, £10,800 for an '04 04-reg quattro. An '05 55-reg Roadster quattro should be about £13,500
Mechanical: 225bhp, 1796cc, 4 cylinder petrol engine driving all four wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 151mph
0-62mph: 6.4 seconds
Combined mpg: 29
Insurance group: 18
CO2 emissions: 226g/km
BIK rating: 35%
Marks: 9/10
Main rival: BMW 3-Series coupe.