A
Anonymous
Guest
G'day from Canberra Australia.
Took a Peugeot RCZ 1.6l Turbo Manual ($61k) and an Audi TT Coupe 2l Turbo Quattro S automattic ($85k) for a short test drive last Saturday. Short version is I am currently talking to my workplace leasing company to order myself a new RCZ!!!! Long version is below. It's not intended as a TT bash, just an average guy's impression of both cars so take from it what you will.
edit: and to clarify, this review is based on back-to-back drives of both cars on exactly the same stretch of road which included some twisty bits, some highway bits and some urban bits
Please note, I'm not a driver's driver and that is probably one of the most important things to take away from this review. I'm just an average guy casting about for my first coupe. I don't want neck snapping performance and I'm not after engineering brilliance. I also don't want something that looks just like another car (those who know what I mean know what I mean), and as a motorbike rider I want something that sounds goooood.
Looks – the RCZ has it all over the TT (imo). The nose does let the RCZ down, but from the middle of the bonnet back just love it. The TT has got better in design in recent years, but still not as unique as the RCZ (Audi comparrisons notwithstanding (and who cares who did what first anway (other than MAC users :lol: ))).
Power – The RCZ is 147kW compared to the TT at 155kW, and to my inexperienced backside they felt a bit same same. If I had to split hairs I would think the TT's turbo kicks in a little sooner than the RCZ, but it could be my imagination. Engine performance alone I would have to say I think the TT just pips the RCZ but you would need back to back drives to pick it.
Handling – Both cars felt very nice, very nice indeed. Both were sporting 19" rims and I would say the TT was just a little harsher/stiffer in the springs than the RCZ. Both hugged the road quite well although the AWD of the TT really gave a sense of grip. For me though, the RCZ being slightly softer (relative terms here, people) had a feeling of more an everyday drive, something you could get in again and again – like a best compromise if you will.
Front Seats – RCZ is fully electronic while the TT is full manual – electronic seats is another $1,400. The RCZ also has heated seats as standard, the TT is an extra $750 – hey I live in Canberra, it would be nice. I think the RCZ was slightly more comfortable under the bum, although the TT felt a bit snugger around the sides.
The Rear Seats – Both suck, period. And we were told by the dealer that the rear seats are tokenistic as apparently genuine 2 seat cars attrack another level of tax again (?!?!?!), so that's why there are rear seats but they serve no genuine function. The Audi dealer was literally crippled when he got out of the TT after a 10-15 minute drive, versus the Peugeot dealer who, while very uncomfortable could at least walk after the exact same loop.
Sound – RCZ wins in the sound department hands down, what a fantastic exhaust noise, I really enjoyed it – just this great medium pitched whhuuuuuuaaarghhhh!!! when you get on it, and barely there when cruising. The TT wasn't too bad, also sounded sporty, but the RCZ had it all over the TT in this regard. Road noise I would say the RCZ is also a little quiter than the TT, but both cars were rather good here anyway despite the 19" wheels.
Emotion – Look, the TT is a nice car, there's no doubt, but I just got nothing from it emotionally. The RCZ, IMO it's sexy, it looks good, it tells me to get in and take it for a spin. The RCZ just moved me more. I wish Peugeot had done something better with the nose, but I will forgive a lot for the rest of the package.
Verdict – For me the RCZ is the easy winner. Price knocks it out of the park, and even to compare it to the base model 118kW TT at $71k by the time you add on all the extras so they are the same features in the RCZ (19" rims, electronic seats, heated seats, hill start assist, etc) the base TT is now around $75k, quite the gap. It goes good, sounds great, handles really well, which I think the TT does as well, just not to the same extent. And the price on the RCZ at around $61k with the 19" rims and so many features as standard compared to optional extras, to me it is a just a much better buy than the TT.
Other Cars – Yes, I know, there are other cars that offer more performance for less money al-la Subaru WRX for example – but I don't want more performance in this car, 200kW+ can be my next one, and the WRX just looks like another 4 door mid size sedan, at the moment they just don't attract me. European reviews talk about the Volkswagen Scirocco being a $ for $ match but a more superior handling car, I'm sorry it just looks like a hot hatch – yawn. The 370Z, a nice car, have been attracted to it in the past, but getting pretty common nowadays and at $75k + 245kW not really what I want in a car *now*.
Took a Peugeot RCZ 1.6l Turbo Manual ($61k) and an Audi TT Coupe 2l Turbo Quattro S automattic ($85k) for a short test drive last Saturday. Short version is I am currently talking to my workplace leasing company to order myself a new RCZ!!!! Long version is below. It's not intended as a TT bash, just an average guy's impression of both cars so take from it what you will.
edit: and to clarify, this review is based on back-to-back drives of both cars on exactly the same stretch of road which included some twisty bits, some highway bits and some urban bits
Please note, I'm not a driver's driver and that is probably one of the most important things to take away from this review. I'm just an average guy casting about for my first coupe. I don't want neck snapping performance and I'm not after engineering brilliance. I also don't want something that looks just like another car (those who know what I mean know what I mean), and as a motorbike rider I want something that sounds goooood.
Looks – the RCZ has it all over the TT (imo). The nose does let the RCZ down, but from the middle of the bonnet back just love it. The TT has got better in design in recent years, but still not as unique as the RCZ (Audi comparrisons notwithstanding (and who cares who did what first anway (other than MAC users :lol: ))).
Power – The RCZ is 147kW compared to the TT at 155kW, and to my inexperienced backside they felt a bit same same. If I had to split hairs I would think the TT's turbo kicks in a little sooner than the RCZ, but it could be my imagination. Engine performance alone I would have to say I think the TT just pips the RCZ but you would need back to back drives to pick it.
Handling – Both cars felt very nice, very nice indeed. Both were sporting 19" rims and I would say the TT was just a little harsher/stiffer in the springs than the RCZ. Both hugged the road quite well although the AWD of the TT really gave a sense of grip. For me though, the RCZ being slightly softer (relative terms here, people) had a feeling of more an everyday drive, something you could get in again and again – like a best compromise if you will.
Front Seats – RCZ is fully electronic while the TT is full manual – electronic seats is another $1,400. The RCZ also has heated seats as standard, the TT is an extra $750 – hey I live in Canberra, it would be nice. I think the RCZ was slightly more comfortable under the bum, although the TT felt a bit snugger around the sides.
The Rear Seats – Both suck, period. And we were told by the dealer that the rear seats are tokenistic as apparently genuine 2 seat cars attrack another level of tax again (?!?!?!), so that's why there are rear seats but they serve no genuine function. The Audi dealer was literally crippled when he got out of the TT after a 10-15 minute drive, versus the Peugeot dealer who, while very uncomfortable could at least walk after the exact same loop.
Sound – RCZ wins in the sound department hands down, what a fantastic exhaust noise, I really enjoyed it – just this great medium pitched whhuuuuuuaaarghhhh!!! when you get on it, and barely there when cruising. The TT wasn't too bad, also sounded sporty, but the RCZ had it all over the TT in this regard. Road noise I would say the RCZ is also a little quiter than the TT, but both cars were rather good here anyway despite the 19" wheels.
Emotion – Look, the TT is a nice car, there's no doubt, but I just got nothing from it emotionally. The RCZ, IMO it's sexy, it looks good, it tells me to get in and take it for a spin. The RCZ just moved me more. I wish Peugeot had done something better with the nose, but I will forgive a lot for the rest of the package.
Verdict – For me the RCZ is the easy winner. Price knocks it out of the park, and even to compare it to the base model 118kW TT at $71k by the time you add on all the extras so they are the same features in the RCZ (19" rims, electronic seats, heated seats, hill start assist, etc) the base TT is now around $75k, quite the gap. It goes good, sounds great, handles really well, which I think the TT does as well, just not to the same extent. And the price on the RCZ at around $61k with the 19" rims and so many features as standard compared to optional extras, to me it is a just a much better buy than the TT.
Other Cars – Yes, I know, there are other cars that offer more performance for less money al-la Subaru WRX for example – but I don't want more performance in this car, 200kW+ can be my next one, and the WRX just looks like another 4 door mid size sedan, at the moment they just don't attract me. European reviews talk about the Volkswagen Scirocco being a $ for $ match but a more superior handling car, I'm sorry it just looks like a hot hatch – yawn. The 370Z, a nice car, have been attracted to it in the past, but getting pretty common nowadays and at $75k + 245kW not really what I want in a car *now*.
