What Car? Magazine group test

[Kev]

This months What Car has a group test of a rising blue manual (why haven't any of the magazines tested a DSG ) vs an Audi TT 2.0 TFSI, BMW 125i coupe SE and Volvo C30 T5 R-design Sport.

For: Keenly priced, excellent ride and handling, smooth strong performance, low taxation
Against: Poor rear visibility, too much wind and road noise, dashboard shared with cheaper Golf siblings
Verdict: Not quite as special as the TT but gives it a run for its money.

Inside, they liked the ipod connection and the touch screen stereo. They disliked the centre tunnel strut sometimes digging in to your leg and no external boot release.


Behind the wheel 3/5
Space & practicality 3/5
Equipment 4/5
Performance 5/5
Ride & handling 4/5
Refinement 3/5
Buying & owning 4/5
Quality & reliability 4/5
Safety & security 5/5

Final verdict
1st TT 5/5
2nd Rocco 4/5
3rd BMW 3/5
4th Volvo 3/5

[iroc]

Well there's a suprise {not} the TT winning. At over £5000 more for a TT with similar spec then so it should win.

[langlord]

I know what you mean iroc, I remember reading another mag review against a TT where the TT supplied was priced at £32k with the options and although they may only make a small difference individually together it can be a big difference.

[wigit]

autoexpress got to a similar conclusion, i ran the options exercise and was approaching £6-£7k more on the tt compared to the scirocco, the boot relase makes me laugh, a3s autolock to you have to press an internal button before you pop the boot, i always use the fob as its so much easier

[Kev]

Yep I don't get that gripe either. I have a external button on the puma but I don't think I've ever used it. Just a double click on the keyfob and I'm in.

I might spec up a TT tonight for a laugh. They're also forgetting the TT will be a lot more to insure and own I suspect, although I guess you might get that back in resale. It's not as practical though and you don't have to wear a pink shirt to drive it

[wigit]

in reality the flaw on that test is all are proper four seaters except the audi, i am optimistic the mountain bike may still go in the back of the scirroco minus its front wheel given the length of the thing, i rejected the tt on practicality (i'd prefer a two seats and bigger boot as I would with a mini) before the cost issue, however, a dolphin grey tt on 19'' wheels is a looker

[danwuk]

Scirocco came out really well considering

1. the TT is about 5k more in basic trim
2. Whatcar is not exactly a sporty car type magazine

[langlord]

I would love to see how the cars would compare if they where both left in standard spec, I think the outcome would be alot closer and thats before the +5k factor is taken into account.

[wigit]

the scirocco aquites itself well in this month car pcoty, i know some to beat on abou it not being a perfomance car, however, track times against astra vxr 'ring thing' and focus st mountoune, quicker than both depsite 50bhp less, they picked it over the tts (despite it being quicker)