Audi TT RS

Our RS embraces the return of more clement conditions

WITH ITS QUATTRO FOUR-WHEEL drive, the TT has been a trustworthy companion throughout the winter, but the arrival of spring – and therefore dry, warm roads – has brought some welcome opportunities to dig deeper into its abilities again.

One such was on an old favourite route of mine in Lincolnshire, a tortuous and intense rollercoaster of a B-road that can be a riot in smaller cars and not much fun at all in larger ones. A Mk5 Golf GTI and a Series 2 Elise have provided particularly memorable passage along it in the past, and our Audi once again showed its aptitude for technical tarmac by rivalling those two in the entertainment stakes.

Snapping through sharp direction changes seemingly in defiance of its nose-heavy weight distribution (61 per cent over the front wheels) and with its 394bhp making the already short straights seem almost non-existent, it was properly pulse-raising stuff. The only dampener on proceedings was the dual-clutch gearbox. Such a unit ought to be in its element on a road that keeps a driver so busy, but the momentary lag between requesting a new gear and it actually engaging felt a touch out of sync with the quick reactions from the rest of the car.

Another early spring highlight came on a latenight run along some larger-scale roads with more sweeping turns. LED headlights comprehensively illuminating the deserted view ahead, the TT soon settled into a swift, flowing rhythm that lasted for 15 very satisfying miles. Afterwards I realised that I hadn’t even switched the car away from Comfort mode, which makes me think it could easily be rebranded in the Drive Select system. ‘Fast Road’ perhaps?

Date acquired July 2022 Total mileage 7290 Mileage this month 929 Costs this month £0 mpg this month 28.7