Audi TT vs BMW Z4
With demand tailing off after the summer, you can pick up a classy used roadster for as little as £13k. We’ve lined up two examples from Audi and BMW to put to the test
Either of these classy roadsters can be yours for just £13,000
WHETHER YOU LIKE it or not, the all-too-brief British summer is over. The nights are drawing in, temperatures are dropping and The Great British Bake Off is on the telly. Yes, autumn is well and truly here. And, for most people, that means the idea of buying a convertible is the last thing on their mind.
However, as any savvy convertible buyer knows, this is in fact the best time to make a purchase. That’s because as the leaves drop, so does demand; meanwhile, many buyers, perhaps having had a fling with a roadster during the sunnier months or looking to move on after one last summer with their drop-top, are selling up. This combination means prices are on the floor, making this the perfect time to take the plunge.
If you’re going to do so, a used two-seater like one of the pair we’ve assembled here is a great way to do it. Both are a few years old, so the worst of their depreciation is out of the way. Both have classy, upmarket interiors built from high-quality materials, meaning they should still feel fresh. And both have powerful petrol engines that should mean they’ll deliver an exciting, wind-in-the-hair driving experience.
First up, there’s the Audi TT Roadster. The TT is one of Audi’s best-known models, and while the first generation wasn’t as exciting to drive as it should have been, Audi ironed out the creases with this second-generation version, so it drives as well as it looks. This 2.0 TFSI model is our pick of the range. It isn’t all that easy to find on the used market, but it’s worth seeking out for its blend of performance and everyday usability.
The TT is up against the BMW Z4, which is slightly more ubiquitous – although the basic sdrive20i version tested here isn’t quite as commonplace as the snazzier M Sport model. Nevertheless, the entry-level model’s smaller wheels should mean it’s more comfortable and it, too, features a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, which was made available from 2011 onwards.
DRIVING
Performance, ride, handling, re nement
The Z4’s engine has 181bhp, so it can’t quite match the TT’S 208bhp output. The TT weighs around 180kg less than the Z4, too, so straightline pace is brutal no matter which gear you’re in. Granted, the Z4’s unit is strong at low revs, so it’s more responsive, which means it’s easy
to build speed quickly. What’s more, with rearwheel drive, the Z4 gets its power down better off the line. But once both cars are rolling, the front-wheel-drive TT gains ground and leaves the Z4 trailing way behind.
It’s a closer match in corners. The Z4 leans more as you turn in, but it hangs on gamely and stays balanced as you get close to the limits of grip. The steering is the only letdown, because it doesn’t have enough feedback.
The TT, on the other hand, dives in eagerly with plenty of bite and hardly any body lean. Then if you’re overeager with your right foot, the front of the car will run wide, which some might find less exciting than the Z4’s rear-end bias. Nonetheless, the TT’S precise steering will have you grinning on any winding road.
Our test car was fitted with the optional sports suspension, but even with this stifferthan-standard set-up, the TT isn’t too harsh. The ride is firm around town and you do notice smaller ruts and bumps, but it’s brilliantly controlled on faster, undulating roads.
The Z4 is pretty forgiving at low speeds, smoothing out potholes more readily than the TT, but its softer set-up means it tends to float around when you pick up the pace. Mid-corner bumps also tend to send shudders through the car, especially when the roof is down.
Both are reasonably quiet with their roofs up. The TT’S fabric hood allows more wind noise into the cockpit than the Z4’s folding hard-top, but the Z4 kicks up more road and suspension noise, so overall it’s noisier at 70mph.
BEHIND THE WHEEL
Driving position, visibility, infotainment, quality
Both cars have beautifully made interiors, with classy materials throughout and logical controls. The TT’S aluminium-ringed air vents add a welcome dash of flair, but overall its interior doesn’t look as special as the Z4’s, which is more eye-catching.
Disappointingly, the Z4’s steering wheel doesn’t line up properly with its pedals, which means the driver sits diagonally. The TT’S driving position is better, with a huge amount of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel, and all the controls are within easy reach.
SPACE AND PRACTICALITY
Front space, rear space, seating exibility, boot
If you’re buying a roadster, you’ll want the open air above your head whenever the sun shines. The TT’S fabric roof allows you to do that at the press of a button in just 15 seconds; the Z4’s hard-top takes 25 seconds to fold away.
Stowing the Z4’s roof eats up almost half of the car’s boot space, too. The TT has slightly less boot space than the Z4 does with its roof up, but at least lowering the roof doesn’t encroach on that space. Both cars have storage bins behind the two seats, but the Z4’s are bigger. The Z4 also has a handy ski hatch that allows you to feed longer loads through from the boot to the space between the two seats.
BUYING AND OWNING
Costs, equipment, reliability, safety and security
Prices are fairly similar. True, the chances are you’ll pay less for a Z4 than you will for an equivalent TT – but it won’t be by much. Indeed, the difference is so small that you might find a competitively priced TT will cost you less than an overpriced Z4. It’s worth noting, though, that the Z4’s ubiquity means you’re more likely to find a good example close by.
Official fuel economy figures give the TT an average consumption of 42.2mpg. The Z4
‘The TT’S aluminiumringed air vents add
air, but overall the Z4’s interior is more special’
isn’t far behind, mind you, with an official average of 41.5mpg.
Servicing is cheaper on the TT, too. Whether you have a major or minor service carried out at a main dealer, you can expect to pay slightly less than on the Z4, and those costs are likely to translate to independent specialists. Repair work, meanwhile, will be roughly the same cost for each car. Both will cost the same amount to tax, too, at £190 per year.
You’ll also find reliability on the two cars to be much the same. Both have a good reputation, according to our latest reliability survey. We didn’t get enough responses from owners of TT Roadsters to include it, but the TT Coupé, which is a very similar car, managed an impressive reliability score of 89%. Meanwhile, the Z4 achieved 92%. In other words, whichever model you choose, the statistics suggest it’s likely to be dependable.