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Every slightest turn of the steering wheel results in messages that the front end doesn't want to turn in. You can force it to do this because the TT has a lot of grip, and I should add at this point that in well over 1000 miles I never experienced the slightest hint of understeer. But you really have to persuade the nose to start moving into a bend. It's very easy to compensate for this subconsciously by turning in too early, thereby taking entirely the wrong line and making the rest of the corner a struggle rather than the delightful experience it should be in a driver's car.

Because of the grip, and indeed the power, this TT is very quick. It's also a comfortable cruiser if the roads are straight and smooth. But I never truly enjoyed driving it along interesting roads, and I can't help thinking that in that respect the TT 3.2 DSG misses the point.

Price: £29,225
Capacity: 3189cc
Power: 247bhp
0-62mph: 6.4 seconds
Maximum speed: 155mph (limited)
Economy: 37.2mpg extra urban, 28.8mpg combined
CO2 emissions: 235g/km
Insurance: Group 19
Audi figures.

Second opinion:
Well, I think you can enjoy this car while driving fairly briskly but without pushing it really hard on corners, although I agree that that is not exactly ringing acclamation for a low-slung four-wheel drive coupé with this amount of power. Top-class grip and traction do count for a lot, though. The TT is indeed very well built, it looks terrific, and on this occasion I never once bumped my head against the roof on the way in or out. I've also got used to the interior, which isn't as claustrophobic as early impressions suggest, largely because the very shallow door windows are continued well to the rear thanks to the additional glass alongside the almost totally "virtual" rear seats. This also makes it easy to see out to the left at awkwardly angled T-junctions. The DSG box works beautifully, and it's handy to have a fully automatic mode as well. The very low profile tyres certainly don't help the ride quality on any but billiard-table surfaces. I'd like to try a car of this kind with much less extreme tyres, but marketing departments rarely give them the nod. Ross Finlay.

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