Posted: Thursday, March 16, 2006. (10:17 PM HST)

2006 Audi TT 3.2 Coupe with DSG: Shifting Differently

By Ed Kemper
Honolulu, Hawaii
Courtesy of Audi of Hawaii

Although the Audi sports car, the TT, has been around a few years and likewise the wunderkind Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG), the latter is beginning to show in more and more Audis.

Last year’s best car for Hawaii awarded by Wheels was the new Audi A3, a wagon like hot rod offered with a 6-speed stick or DSG. Because of demand for the DSG model, Wheels tested the 6-speed stick. To try out this transmission magic, Wheels turned to the original source—the Audi TT 3.2.

In order to obtain this transmission trickster, the top of the line TT must be purchased, which also has the largest powerplant of the coupe and convertible duo. At the bottom of the horsepower pecking order is the 180 hp, 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder unit with a 6-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. Next up is a 225 hp engine with the same displacement with a 6-speed stick and all-wheel drive. On top of the heap is a 3.2-liter, 250 hp, V-6 with DSG and all-wheel drive.

Of course, the pricing and features build from one model to the next with the TT coupe starting at $34,710 and ending the range of $41,360 for the most powerful version.

Shifter Heaven
So what is so special about this transmission, you say? First, it still has classic gears just like a stick, which is good for both power and efficiency. Second, there is no clutch pedal, but there are clutches—two to be exact. Third, there are various modes for shifting.

Here is the way it works in a simplified way. The DSG engages one gear and then pre-selects the next based on the approaching point of the next up or downshift. When the shift process occurs, the clutch of the engaged gear opens as the clutch of the next pre-selected gear closes.

Put the lever in drive and the transmission shifts seamlessly just like your best automatic anticipating your every need. Want more power? Then move the lever into "S" for sport and the gears are held up into a higher rpm range for more speed. But true fun and performance comes when you want to control the power flow just like a Formula One driver. With either large paddles on the steering wheel or with the gearshift lever moved over to the plus/minus notch, you shift up or down, as you want.

In this mode, the shifts are lighting fast—far beyond the speed of a human manually shifting gears. Moreover, the driver can keep his foot on the accelerator without having to lift to change gears. So there you have it—a fully automatic or a gear-heads' dream.

Shiftless On Saratoga Street
To test not only the TT but also its transmission, a fairly loaded TT Coupe was the Wheels car for this week. With the DSG transmission, the 2 plus 2 coupe starts at $40,640. Our TT had an upgraded audio package ($1200), premium package (home-link remote transmitter and heated front seats for $700) and a Sirius satellite radio set up ($400) for a total MSRP of $43,660.

Certainly the look of the TT, whether coupe or convertible, is like nothing else on the road. The rounded inverted bathtub style reminds one of the 356 and earlier Porsches, but only in the remotest of ways. All in all, it is a compelling design.

In daily driving, the DSC is as billed. In the auto mode, it is just like an automatic transmission, and you would never realize the gearing was not based on fluid dynamics as opposed to real gears. Likewise, the shifting option is great—you never miss and the gear changes are fast as lightning.

With the largest engine of the line, power is there all the time. The 3.2-liter V-6 is sweet and emits an entertaining exhaust note. The 0-60 time is in the less than 6 second range. Gas mileage centered around 20 mpg with low of 19 in heavy, rain drenched traffic and a high of almost 22 in the town to Kailua commute.

In line with the sports car motif, the ride is crisp and does not tolerate large potholes well, but never feels super harsh. Grip, however, with the large tires and all wheel drive is tenuous and never with a feeling that the car is going to let go.

As with many German cars, the steering has a heavy sense to it, but is very direct—the slightest tug of the wheel gives you results.

In line with the Audi theme over the years, the otherwise black interior is filled with real metal parts to spice up the look, including a large bright metal cover for the stereo that folds out of the way with a touch.

Also speaking sports car are the front seats, which have plenty of side support, and the cushioning is on the firm side. Oddly, the driver’s seat is manually operated rather than powered.

No armrest or storage bin is found between the front occupants, and the beautifully designed cupholders are set back on the driveshaft tunnel and are somewhat awkward to use as a result.

Much better are the central controls for the stereo and auto climate control system. In what deserves a design award, the two dials that control the temperature and fan speed have a plus/minus marking and by simply moving the dial causes the system to go up or down as needed.

At night, the gauges present a red glow and are easy to read all the time. In the center of the dash pod between the tach and speedometer is a useful information window providing the status of the stereo and computer readouts. Less entertaining are the location of the power window buttons, which are between the door handle and the door panel—in a word people with large hands will find their use awkward.

2 PLUS 2?
Unlike the convertible TT, the coupe allegedly is a 4-passenger vehicle with shoulder harnesses in the back "seat". At best, small keiki could seat back there once the difficult maneuver of getting there is achieved. The rear seats are small, there is no meaningful legroom, and there is even a warning that the hatch should not be used as a head banger on any person with any height.

In the two little wheel wells are storage for a first aid kit and the bin for 6 CDs.

On the brighter side, the 50/50 split seat backs can be dropped with a handle on the backside of the seats to gain additional storage to add to the trunk. With the seats up a modest sized storage bin is available. The hatch can be opened with the remote.

Shifting Forward
Certainly the look of the TT is like nothing currently on the road and is offered with a number of powertrain options (and corresponding price bumps). But if you have the money, the top of line 3.2-liter version with the DSG transmission is powerfully entertaining with essentially the option to shift automatically or manually with latter as if you were a Formula One driver. As a bonus, you can look good shifting in either mode.

High Beams
• Entertaining exterior look.
• DSG transmission works just as billed.
• Interior with metal and simply controls works well most of the time.

Low Beams
• Some interior aspects are awkward and rear seat is not a seat.

Q&A
Q: The TT has been around for a few years are there any plans to change it?

A: Yes, the 2007 model will some exterior redoing like adding the larger more open month grill from other Audis and adding a new model (the third) with a roof that goes straight back and is more of a true hatchback with the ability to really handle four people. On the power front a 2.0-liter 260 hp engine will be added.

– Ed Kemper is the auto columnist for the Honolulu Star Bulletin and MidWeek, the Weekend. He also hosts Wheels Hawaii TV on Oceanic Cable-Channel 16 in Hawaii, which is shown on Wednesday at 12:30 PM, Thursday at 1:00 PM and 5 PM, Friday at 10:30 PM and 9:30 PM, and Saturday at 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM.

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