Is BMW Finally Losing It's Mojo? Audi TTS Wins Shootout Against BMW's 135i

Is BMW Finally Losing It's Mojo? Audi TTS Wins Shootout Against BMW's 135i
There is a point in our lives when that 2-seat sports car becomes an impractical dream. Yes, kids are the obvious reason, but there's nothing wrong with wanting space for a couple of extra passengers. Which brings to mind the 2+2. The king of these is the 911, but for roughly the price of one of those Porsches you could buy both of the 2+2s we have here today — the Audi TTS and BMW 135i.

Both cars offer status and performance in a small package. They are the hottest 2+2s on the market, the TTS being freshly minted from the performance group at Audi. In January 2007, we pitted the new TT against a base Porsche Cayman and found it outclassed. Last year, when BMW truncated its 335i to make the 135i, few cars could challenge its performance, apart from perhaps the 4-door rally twins from Subaru and Mitsubishi. But those cars don't have the panache of the BMW. Does the new Audi TTS have it? To find out, Feature Editor Mike Monticello and I headed off into California's low desert in search of every twisty road we could find.



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ucla95ucla95 - 10/7/2009 9:58:19 AM
+11 Boost
I can't believe Autospies would reference this ridiculous comparo - a $52K car vs a $38K car?? that's a 36.8% premium. Comparos should be between cars of relatively similar pricing. Who cares if an Audi that costs 37% more beat a BMW. Put a $38K Audi out there (a base 2.0T TT) and then let's compare!


SpicyMikeySpicyMikey - 10/7/2009 2:07:55 PM
0 Boost
I agree but people do it all the time. Comparing functional equivalents rather than cost equivalents. Which is right? Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If we only did price then it wouldn't be fair to compare an Acura RL to a BMW 535. It's $15-$20k less when comparably equiped. But, we do it all the time. What else can you do, eventhough we know those who are price driven would not compare the two products in reality.


jpighettijpighetti - 10/7/2009 2:32:25 PM
+1 Boost
@ ucla

$52,000 reflects a fully loaded TTS Prestige. $38,000 reflects a bare-bones 135i. Built with the same features, the 135i comes to $47,145, vs a real $53,775 for the TTS. So for $6.5K you get quattro, magnetic ride, a dual clutch transmission, 19" wheels and a (subjectively) better looking car. BMW gives you free maintenance. Seems like a reasonably fair comparison.


ThierryHenry14ThierryHenry14 - 10/7/2009 5:12:29 PM
-1 Boost
They dont even compete in the same target market...




GermanNutGermanNut - 10/7/2009 10:01:02 AM
+11 Boost
These two cars aren't even direct competitors. The Audi TT range was designed from day one to compete with BMW's Z4 lineup. The Audi A3 is the model range that should be compared to BMW's 135i.

Stupid comparison.

Stay tuned for Autospies' next comparison: Audi RS6 vs. BMW 335i!!


KZ258KZ258 - 10/7/2009 10:15:58 AM
-6 Boost
its not autospies' comparo; its road & tracks btw. they're the ones who pinned the two cars together. maybe yoy should go complain to them why your beloved BMW lost and how these two cars are not comparable either.


M53RM53R - 10/7/2009 12:08:48 PM
+9 Boost
GermanNut is the biggest Audi fan on this site lol.


inspirion7inspirion7 - 10/7/2009 1:49:04 PM
-3 Boost
No that would go to Inspirion7. I admit to it.


M53RM53R - 10/7/2009 6:58:44 PM
0 Boost
Do you keep spreading Audi propaganda all over the website? no. Sorry GN does :P


merce63amgmerce63amg - 10/7/2009 10:44:54 AM
+4 Boost
nice link...it goes to a blank page.


PPowerPPower - 10/7/2009 10:57:00 AM
+6 Boost
Do people really not read or at least see where the link goes to? Obviously Autospies doesn't have the pull to get a 135 and TT-S to put a full head to head comparison.

That said, it was a bit silly for R&T to pit them against each other, but most people buying the 135 don't plan on ever using the back seat. My brother, however, has two child seats in the back of his. Try doing that in a TT. Put a Z4 35sdrivecanimakethenamelonger against the TT-S convertible and see the outcome.


phantom330phantom330 - 10/7/2009 11:30:13 AM
+9 Boost
Both are nice cars....but for the price of that TT you could almost get a base M3.....then see what happens.




M53RM53R - 10/7/2009 12:12:13 PM
+10 Boost
Actually, just looking at the prices, you would immediately understand why BMW is the Ultimate Driving Machine.


LexSucksLexSucks - 10/7/2009 12:32:40 PM
+11 Boost
Typical Audi.

In order for Audi to compete with BMW, the Audi has to be more expensive. Compare an Audi in the 135's price range and see what happens.


1dott81dott8 - 10/7/2009 2:18:35 PM
-6 Boost
why does price range matter? if that's the case then they should never compare the R8 V10 to any ferrari (maybe the california) or any exotic for that matter.


LexSucksLexSucks - 10/7/2009 2:45:24 PM
+6 Boost
Why should price range matter?

Are you serious?

You ever heard of price dependent comparisons?






1dott81dott8 - 10/7/2009 4:13:45 PM
+2 Boost
to tell you the truth, that shouldn't really matter in certain cases. look at these two cars that no one ever compared and i don't know why; the bmw 650 and the Audi S5. yeah, most wont compare them because of price but i think that is stupid. these 2 cars match damn near equally. why not compare cars that are damn near equivalant?


LexSucksLexSucks - 10/7/2009 5:27:40 PM
+2 Boost
1dott8,

I see your point. People have compared an EVO to cars like the M3 (last gen). Even though the Evo wasn't in the M3's league price wise, the EVO is in the M3's league performance wise. So a comparison of performance between the 2 cars wouldn't be crazy. Same goes for GT-R vs Porsche 911 Turbo Comparisons. I see your point.


nvmenvme - 10/7/2009 12:44:19 PM
+3 Boost
The Audi won, fine, but what's with the title?
is BMW FINALLY losing its mojo?
I get that this site is sponsored by lexus but I hope this kind of biased title isn't what their money is buying!
or is it just the author that hates BMW so much it thrills him they lost a comparo...
for one, it's not the first nor will it be the last comparison they lose!
second, the 135i lost one to an excellent car, but won several others
and last but not least, i could argue the cars do not compare in any of pricing, segment or targeted demographic...


asternmadkatzasternmadkatz - 10/7/2009 1:25:28 PM
-1 Boost
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=10&article_id=8369


asternmadkatzasternmadkatz - 10/7/2009 1:35:24 PM
-1 Boost
<a href="http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=10&article_id=8369" target="_blank">Linkage...</a>


ForeignerForeigner - 10/7/2009 1:50:46 PM
+8 Boost
"ITS MOJO", no apostrophe. How long will it take for people to learn English, honestly?


HSCenterconsoleHSCenterconsole - 10/7/2009 1:53:17 PM
+6 Boost
Nice catch. Perhaps 009 needs to pick up a book on grammar and word usage.


AnthonyAnthony - 10/7/2009 1:52:26 PM
+8 Boost
Yes it is a weird comparison, but between the two, I'd still buy the Audi. So what it is more money? As most here have already proven, the 1-Series is for value-seekers first and foremost.


LexSucksLexSucks - 10/7/2009 2:46:57 PM
+1 Boost
What if you only had enough money to get the BMW? Would you even be comparing the 2?


1dott81dott8 - 10/7/2009 2:24:49 PM
-5 Boost
i don't get this pricing thing that most are talking about. typically, if a car costs more it should outperform the cheaper car. look at the veyrons, koenigsegg's, pagaqini's and ferarri enzo. what's the problem here? i'll tell you what it is, bmw fanboy's can't hear that a bmw got beat by anything audi.


LexSucksLexSucks - 10/7/2009 2:41:39 PM
+3 Boost
"typically, if a car costs more it should outperform the cheaper car."

- Exactly. The Audi has just enjoyed a Hollow Victory. The Audi is the nicer vehicle. But at $14k more should't it be? Hollow Victory anyone?


david999david999 - 10/7/2009 2:59:15 PM
+4 Boost

"In My Opinion
I'd take the BMW 135i. Not because I think it's a better driving car than the TTS, but I think for a few grand it could be"

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the Audi from one of the drivers, even though it was declared the winner.


GermanNutGermanNut - 10/7/2009 3:20:43 PM
-6 Boost
It doesn't matter what the driver thinks.

The only thing that matters is that the Audi TTS WON and the BMW 135i LOST!


WazzWazz - 10/7/2009 3:37:09 PM
+7 Boost
Please stop being an idiot, I'm asking you nicely.


WillisWillis - 10/7/2009 6:06:54 PM
0 Boost
Why wasn't the Kia Forte included in this test?


pennfootballpennfootball - 10/8/2009 11:49:04 AM
0 Boost
BMW = UNDER-STEER with a 50/50 weight balance, the Audi has a crappier weight balance of 60/40 and still handles better. This has nothing to do with price. Audi makes a better car simple...Audi also makes prettier cars for men, not college kids leasing a 135 working as bar tenders at night.


supermotosupermoto - 10/8/2009 3:18:13 PM
+2 Boost
I like the TT a lot but sitting inside the visibility is terrible.


Type707Type707 - 10/8/2009 10:08:02 PM
+1 Boost
Ive always been fascinated with both BM's and Audi vehicles...


ItsMiItsMi - 10/8/2009 11:14:01 PM
+1 Boost
If you have to buy a BMW, get a Manual over an Automatic, period. Otherwise get one from other brand.
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