chicagotribune.com's view

The Audi TT coupe is a poor man’s Plymouth Prowler, if you define poor man as one having only $30,000 and change to spend on a sports car.

The TT coupe is a dream machine. Knock-your-socks-off styling–another gem from the folks who reincarnated the Volkswagen Beetle.

The TT that went on sale last month as a 2000 model very simply is a sports coupe built off the same platform as the Beetle (as well as the new Golf and Jetta). The TT and Beetle share the same rounded body panel design (yet only 20 percent of the same parts and components). The Beetle heritage is obvious though TT stands a little lower and comes off a little more dramatic.

Some will insist you can stand back, stare at the silhouette a moment or two and see an evolution from the old VW Karmann Ghia sports coupe.

While design is the initial attraction–and if you don’t carry a cover to hide the prize each time you park, be prepared for swarms of admirers, young and old, to surround the coupe–the performance is equally exceptional.

The TT is fun.

And Audi promises even more fun very soon.

The front-wheel-drive TT coupe is offered with a 1.8-liter, 180-horsepower, 20-valve, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine–the same engine as in the new Beetle 1.8 T but with tweaks to the turbo and exhaust system for a 30 h.p. boost.

Late summer or early fall, Audi will add a Quattro or all-wheel-drive version of the coupe with the 1.8-liter, 180-h.p., turbocharged 4.

Next spring, Audi will add a 2001 roadster with the 1.8-liter turbo and a Quattro roadster with a 225-h.p. rendition of the 1.8-liter turbo. Quattro models initially will offer only a 6-speed manual transmission. A 5-speed Tiptronic will come later, offering automatic with the choice of clutchless manual shifting.

The roadster will offer manual or power top for the European market. No decision as to which top the U.S. version will get.

And for your trivia file, the TT was first sketched as a roadster and only later was thought given to a coupe. But the coupe concept was built and shown first.

The TT coupe is a pocket rocket with the 1.8 liter turbo (zero to 60 m.p.h. in 7.4 seconds). The TT’s small dimensions and light weight and the turbo allow the 1.8-liter 4 to flex its muscle as if a small V-6. The four is teamed with a short-throw, smooth-shifting 5-speed manual, a combination rated at a most pleasant 22 m.p.g. city/31 m.p.g. highway. Automatic won’t be offered until later in calendar 2000.

The TT’s suspension has above-average road manners. Very precise handling with flat cornering. The optional performance package ($1,000) with 17-inch, performance tires contributes to its road-holding.

If there’s a complaint–and it’s a minor one–the suspension seems to control lateral movement better than it does vertical reaction to bumps in the road. Have to suspect that with the all-wheel-drive Quattro version, ride and handling will benefit, as well as the car’s ability to perform even more aggress ively than it does now in front-wheel-drive version only.

While built on only a 95.4-inch wheelbase and only 159.1 inches long overall, the TT has a surprisingly roomy cabin–once you manage to twist your body in just such a way as to slip inside.

The roadster will help cure the TT’s constant annoyance–a rounded eggshell-style roof line that is sooooo low that the simple act of getting into or out of the vehicle forces you to play contortionist to slip under the roof rail above the door opening.

We recall 20 years ago taking a tour of Ford Motor Co.’s styling studios, where a series of small cars with egg-shell roof lines were on display. The reason for the design then was to allow for a periscope-like mirror to rise from the roof to give the motorist a panoramic view of what was behind the vehicle that he couldn’t get with the traditional mirrors.

Periscopes never materialized. At the time several designers expressed concern not only with the ugly periscope, bu t with the fact that egg-shell rooflines play havoc with occupant entry and exit.

If it weren’t for the fact that once you squeeze your head under the too-low roof rail barrier that the eggshell design allows for ample headroom inside, trying to get in or out of the TT would be intolerable. If 6 foot or taller, wait for the roadster.

While headroom is ample, visibility isn’t, limited by the low roofline and wide pillars. When backing from a parking space, look all ways–several times.

The TT is a 2 plus 2 coupe with a pair of seats in back that serve as decoration and are best used with backs lowered flat to increase cargo capacity.

Most front-seat occupants will have their seats pushed back to the point they rest against those rear seats, meaning no leg room for occupants in back, other than for little kids with little legs.

The rear hatchback lid that opens to expose a rather spacious cargo hold carries an achtung warning label, advising that two things could prevent you from closing the rear hatchback lid securely, and both of those “things” are rear-seat occupants’ heads. With limited knowledge of German we can only assume the warning meant to have the rear seat occupants lower their heads until chins touch chest or drive with the hatchlid open.

The interior features polished silver trim that complements the sporty image. The pedals are stainless steel with rubber inserts. Nice touch, as is the little storage compartment under the dash that hides three buttons to 1) release the fuel filler door, 2) release the hatchlid, or 3) turn off the motion detector so that if you leave a pet inside momentarily while running an errand it doesn’t set off the alarm system.

Inside the glovebox there’s a key switch to turn off the passenger side air bag in order to carry an infant in a child seat up front. A light in the center console warns when the bag is deactivated.

On the outside, the aluminum fuel-filler cap resembles those quick release caps used in racing. Nice touch, as are the exposed Allen screws holding the cap down. A delightful detail.

The 2000 Audi coupe starts at $30,500. The list of standard equipment is impressive and includes four-wheel anti-lock brakes, full-time traction control, fully galvanized body with aluminum hood, quick ratio power steering, dual front- and side-impact air bags, power locks, headlight washers, power mirrors with defoggers, electronic climate control with dust and pollen filters, power windows, AM/FM stereo with cassette and eight speakers, remote keyless entry, carpeted floor mats, pre-wiring for CD changer ($1,200 for Bose sound system with CD changer) and phone, cruise control and tilt and telescoping steering column.

Audi estimates it will sell 4,000 TT coupes in this the first year, and 10,000 annually starting next year when the roadster is added. With a TT roadster coming, can the Beetle convertible be far behind? Still no timing yet on the Beetle convertible, VW says.

2000 Audi TT coupe
Wheelbase: 95.4 inches
Length: 159.1 inches
Engine: 1.8-liter, 180-h.p., 20-valve, turbocharged 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Fuel economy: 22 m.p.g. city/31 m.p.g. highway
Pluses: Fabulous styling that will draw crowds in any parking lot. Most pleasant performance teamed with above average handling. Abundance of standard equipment.
Minuses: Need to purchase stick to chase the crowds away from the car. Low eggshell-shaped roof line makes entry/exit most difficult. Visibilit y also suffers from the low roof line and wide pillars.