Audi TTS or BMW 135i?

[Rx8]

Hi all,

The lease on my RX8 is expiring and I’m looking for a new car. I’ve grown to love my RX8 over the past few years. It handles like a dream, is fairly practical with its 4 seats and 4 doors and in my opinion is a decent looking car. Like most RX8 owners, I’m not satisfied with the low end torque and gas mileage.

I’m looking at cars in the $40-50K (USD) range and the Audi TTS, BMW 135i and Porsche Cayman are at the top of my list.

I checked out the Cayman and really liked it, but it’s really not practical in any sense. I want to be able to take the car out to dinner, run errands and take road trips. The last which would be impossible with the Cayman since the trunk space wouldn’t fit our luggage. My wife and I love to take several road trips a year, so the Cayman is out.

I test drove a 135i with a DCT and loved it. The turbo charged V6 was powerful and smooth with no real noticeable turbo lag, it had a nice exhaust note and the DCT was lightning fast with rev matching. However, it felt soft in the corners with a fair amount of body roll and I’m not in love with the lines on the car. I haven’t driven stick since I was young and I’m also a victim of traffic since I live in the city. I like the lines of the 335i better, but it doesn’t come with the DTC.

I went to an Audi dealer (who was terrible) and test drove a regular TT since they didn’t have the TTS in stock. The dealer took me on one of the worst test drives I’ve ever had, literally once around the block in traffic, so I didn’t get a great feel for the car. I definitely noticed the turbo lag and lack of exhaust note, but I’m thinking these may be remedied in the TTS model. The handling seemed ok and the S tronic transmission worked well. The lines on the car are much more attractive and the interior is better than the 135i.

There is a great comparison from road & track (2009 Audi TTS vs. 2009 BMW 135i - Article - RoadandTrack.com), but I still can’t seem to decide.

What car would you go for?

BK

 

[Mr Robert]

Hi and welome!

I think you should try and get a proper drive in the TTS before deciding. What is your opinion on the luggage space in the TT?

By the way, the sixer in the BMW is, of course, an I6... that is what makes it so smooth.

 

[Sunny]

If you are ready to spend $50k, wait till next year, BMW is coming out a M1 (or 1M officially) if you want something more sharper than normal 135.

 

[klier]

135i, M1 or Cayman (S)

 

[footie]

Hi all,

The lease on my RX8 is expiring and I’m looking for a new car. I’ve grown to love my RX8 over the past few years. It handles like a dream, is fairly practical with its 4 seats and 4 doors and in my opinion is a decent looking car. Like most RX8 owners, I’m not satisfied with the low end torque and gas mileage.

I’m looking at cars in the $40-50K (USD) range and the Audi TTS, BMW 135i and Porsche Cayman are at the top of my list.

I checked out the Cayman and really liked it, but it’s really not practical in any sense. I want to be able to take the car out to dinner, run errands and take road trips. The last which would be impossible with the Cayman since the trunk space wouldn’t fit our luggage. My wife and I love to take several road trips a year, so the Cayman is out.

I test drove a 135i with a DCT and loved it. The turbo charged V6 was powerful and smooth with no real noticeable turbo lag, it had a nice exhaust note and the DCT was lightning fast with rev matching. However, it felt soft in the corners with a fair amount of body roll and I’m not in love with the lines on the car. I haven’t driven stick since I was young and I’m also a victim of traffic since I live in the city. I like the lines of the 335i better, but it doesn’t come with the DTC.

I went to an Audi dealer (who was terrible) and test drove a regular TT since they didn’t have the TTS in stock. The dealer took me on one of the worst test drives I’ve ever had, literally once around the block in traffic, so I didn’t get a great feel for the car. I definitely noticed the turbo lag and lack of exhaust note, but I’m thinking these may be remedied in the TTS model. The handling seemed ok and the S tronic transmission worked well. The lines on the car are much more attractive and the interior is better than the 135i.

There is a great comparison from road & track (2009 Audi TTS vs. 2009 BMW 135i - Article - RoadandTrack.com), but I still can’t seem to decide.

What car would you go for?

BK

You have already ruled out the Cayman as it offers insufficient luggage capacity and you found the TT with the normal 2.0TFSI engine to have too much lag and not a decent enough exhaust note. That leaves you with the 135i which is a perfectly decent sportscar, it might have a bit of lean in the corners compared to the Cayman but any suspension kit will cure that small issue and at least with it you do have a decent boot and room for four instead of 2 in the Cayman and 2+2 in the TT.

I think you already have your answer.

 

[Levi68]

I think you already have your answer.

Maybe for him the 135i is the better car, but he prefers TTS design and styling. If I take BMW over anything else, it is because I do not pay much attention to design or styling (IMO they do not look bad at all). If only design: Alfa Romeo 159 > BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes C Class,...

 

[Poverty]

TTS is a completely different experience to that of a normal TT.

The normal TT isnt a drivers car, lack of noise, lack of power.

The TTS engine is dramatically different to that of the normal lower 2.0 TT.

Its has a bigger turbo, stronger pistons, better injectors, bigger intercooler much bigger brakes to name a few.

TTS remaps to straight over 300hp. With such a power to weight ratio you are looking at a car that is as quick as an RS4, and quicker if specced with DSG.

Some people in england have taken this engine up to 380hp.

TTS has basically the same engine as my cupra, and I can beat new M3, RS4 with ease, V8 vantage just to name a few. All my car lacks is 4wd!

MPG when flat out everywhere whilst running 360hp is 14mpg, just around town I get around 28mpg, and on the motorway up to 40mpg. Remove the mods and the MPG increases.

Either way you cant go wrong between the beemer and the audi, but you really need to try a TTS as its a differnet driving experinence.

 

[Zafiro]

If you want a Roadster feeling then forget about TT becuase it feels like you driving a A3.

What about Golf R?

 

[footie]

TTS is a completely different experience to that of a normal TT.

The normal TT isnt a drivers car, lack of noise, lack of power.

The TTS engine is dramatically different to that of the normal lower 2.0 TT.

Its has a bigger turbo, stronger pistons, better injectors, bigger intercooler much bigger brakes to name a few.

TTS remaps to straight over 300hp. With such a power to weight ratio you are looking at a car that is as quick as an RS4, and quicker if specced with DSG.

Some people in england have taken this engine up to 380hp.

TTS has basically the same engine as my cupra, and I can beat new M3, RS4 with ease, V8 vantage just to name a few. All my car lacks is 4wd!

MPG when flat out everywhere whilst running 360hp is 14mpg, just around town I get around 28mpg, and on the motorway up to 40mpg. Remove the mods and the MPG increases.

Either way you cant go wrong between the beemer and the audi, but you really need to try a TTS as its a differnet driving experinence.

But there is a smidgen more lag with the TT-S and if I read him right he didn't like the amount that was with the normal TT so he isn't going to be thrilled with what appears on the TT-S?

Other that that I completely agree with your comments, the TT-S is a different animal and can actually corner harder than an M3. But it still has a fwd feel to it that isn't there in the other two cars mentioned.

 

[Levi68]

With my cupra I can beat new M3 with ease.

The TT-S is a different animal and can actually corner harder than an M3.

Can also beat RS5 and can also corner harder than RS5.

 

[footie]

Can also beat RS5 and can also corner harder than RS5.

Quite right, that's the benefit of less weight. Though the same is true for the TT-RS which not only out corners them both but when combined with DSG will probably out gun them too.

 

[Sayyaaf]

I have a better proposal for you, or I would say, the Ultimate proposal

Z435iS ... yes that is the perfect car for u. Sharp, fast, big boot, top down, Very very handsome car and fresh out of the oven

Believe me you won't regret it.

Regards.

EDIT: Just checked the price, it is 10K above your budget, so maybe a 35i ?

 

[Human]

I have a better proposal for you, or I would see, the Ultimate proposal

Z435iS ... yes that is the perfect car for. Sharp, fast, big boot, top down, Very very handsome car and fresh out of the oven

Believe me you won't regret it.

Regards.

EDIT: Just checked the price, it is 10K above your budget, so maybe a 35i ?

> Sayyaaf

PERFECTO! It is the better proposal. Z4 S-Drive 35i, has the looks, changes from cabriolet to coupe and back in seconds, has the toys, drive, award winning engine and 'that' BMW-ness....

 

[footie]

I have a better proposal for you, or I would say, the Ultimate proposal

Z435iS ... yes that is the perfect car for u. Sharp, fast, big boot, top down, Very very handsome car and fresh out of the oven

Believe me you won't regret it.

Regards.

EDIT: Just checked the price, it is 10K above your budget, so maybe a 35i ?

I never thought of this option but you are right, it's the perfect motor.

 

[Poverty]

Can also beat RS5 and can also corner harder than RS5.

true, but no need to mention the RS5 because the M3 is the benchmark of that category

 

[Mr Robert]

Can also beat RS5 and can also corner harder than RS5.

So can this:

Does not make it a more fun drive, though...

 

[klier]

^ And so can your Mini Cooper S too most probably.....

 

[Mr Robert]

I think my little metrosexual car will have a hard time beating any of the above mentioned...

 

[Rx8]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I will definitely get a proper test drive in the TTS before making a decision.

dr Dunkel – the truck space in the TTS isn’t too bad, especially if you fold down the rear seats. It’s not quite as big as the 135i, but it is sufficient for our weekend warrior or slightly extended road trips.

I know you can tune the heck out of the 135i with BMW performance or Dinan parts, which would likely remedy the suspension. I thought the M1 was just a rumor? If not, I might just have to wait!

The Z4 is nice, but just a little above my price range and the 335i lacks the DCT. The Alfa is a beautiful car, but not available in the US. The Golf R is a great performance machine, but it looks too much like a roller skate, no offense to anyone that has one (I also have a Scion XA which is even more roller skate like than the Golf) … either you love them or you don’t.

 

[NarutoRamen]

I would go with the 135i if you want extra space. The back seat in the 135 is actually quite usable. I was able to fit in it fine without my legs hitting the back of front seats. I'm 5ft. 10in for reference. And the boot is also quite large, it's larger than my 99 Audi A4, or seems like it at least. If you do get the 135, I suggest the DCT if you don't want the manual.